having contractions- question and way TMI

NatesLady1309

I've been having pretty painful contractions since 3:30 or so this AM, started out around 15 mins apart, stayed at around 10 mins apart for a while, fizzled to 20 mins apart for a time, then picked back up to around 10 mins apart when I got up and moved around. There is also persistent pain in between them. Not constant, but almost always still lingering pain/pressure. I've had about a million bowel movements ever since they started and just about 10 mins ago I had bloody show I think- it was a clearer based discharge than usual with brownish and reddish streaking throughout. Not a TON or a "glob" of it but a pretty good thick "string" worth of it. Very different than my usual discharge. Does this sound like labor is starting to you, ladies? Especially those of you who have already gone through this. Honestly I would not even bother posting this but I HAVE to figure out when to tell my parents to start driving in from out of town 8 to 9 hours away so that's what I'm trying to get a feel for. I do NOT want them coming if this is just going to fizzle out but the bloody show part got me even more in a tizzy. Please talk me down if I'm just making something out of nothing. I feel like I have no clue what I'm doing- because wow, I don't.

ETA- I'm not trying to get my parents here in time to witness the birth, just for them to at least arrive the same day and as close to the birth as possible if that makes any sense.

liberty95

My contractions started like that, they were every 15, then fizzled out, then back to a more predictable schedule.  I started having contractions on Saturday evening and they weren't close enough to go to the hospital until 4:45 am on that Tuesday so you may have a whil yet.  I also started losing my mucus plug on Saturday and that continued in pieces the whole time.  Sooo, sounds like labor to me!, good luck!

alysalouton

Last Sunday i woke up at 430 am having contractions 15 minutes apart. I didn't think they were contractions becuase it felt like i needed to go to the bathroom and then at 830 I did go potty, and I went for like an hour, so I thought it was over. They got more intense througout the day and by 10:09 pm I had a baby! I finally went in to the drs at 330pm which I'm thankful I did because right after they got way closer together. 

BoilerUp1

I feel like we are having the same symptoms at the same time (minus that I haven't had any bloody show/loss of mucous plug).  Mine started around 4 or 5 AM at about 15 minutes apart and are now 10 minute apart and have been that way since about 8 AM.  Lots of bowel movements and gas here as well. Good luck!

jennylove1084

It sounds like early labor.  I'd probably just call your parents when you are admitted.  Chances are youll be in labor for awhile even at the hospital.  Mine tool 5 hours after I was admitted and it was much faster than my first birth.