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January 2012 Moms
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....So this whole contraction thing...

kes487kes487
in January 2012 Moms

I know it's different for everyone, but I just started getting BHs recently and I was just wondering, how do you know if it's the "real thing"?  Right now I'm sitting here with contractions and my stomach keeps feeling SO TIGHT.  It isn't, "Omg, I can't take it," painful, but it is very uncomfortable.  I mean, for my stomach to keep getting rock hard, that can't be too fun, can it?

Also, I heard that your baby will no longer be moving when you have contractions, is that true?  Because I guess I can say that since she's still headbutting my cervix, she's just kidding around with me, right?  My friend also said that I would feel my "vagina contracting" - is this true???  I don't want to head to the hospital when I'm in TRUE, SUPER pain, because I have a little bit of a drive...

I just keep thinking I'm supposed to drop more before I go into labor...I don't know. Can someone help me get a better understanding? 

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Re: ....So this whole contraction thing...

  • mylove2005mylove2005
    I am no help on the contractions as I had back labor with my DD but I can tell you I did not drop before labor
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  • namara5532namara5532 member
    From what I've heard, the thing to really look out for is timetable contractions.  If you have more than 5 BH in an hour, let the doc know.  If they last longer than 45 seconds or so and are <10 min apart, it may be actual labor.  I've also heard that more likely than not they will be unmistakenly strong, but I've read a few birth stories where that wasn't necessarily the case.  Consistancy and length of contractions are really the best way to know.
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  • kes487kes487

    imagemylove2005:
    I am no help on the contractions as I had back labor with my DD but I can tell you I did not drop before labor

    Well, that's good to know that not everyone "drops"...Here I am thinking it isn't time bc I have yet to drop... 

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  • Kristine SchillingKristine Schilling

    the general rule for real labor is the 5-1-1. 5 minutes apart, lasting about 1 minute for more than 1 hour. Also, most women feel like they cannot think/breath/move during a "real" contraction, where as Bh's you can still function.

    My PTL contractions, I was still functioning, but very very uncomfortable, and they were real contractions, not BH's.

    BH's usually come and go. USUALLY. Also BH's are often localized in one area, not the whole tummy. As to baby moving, well, you wont be in a permanant cramped up tight contraction forever, so baby can move between them, just like you I suppose....

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  • kmm2150kmm2150 member
    It's different for everyone, but I've had BH for a while and just this week had a few "real"/"practice contractions that felt very, very different from BH - I'm about 37 weeks.  Whereas my BH feel like my stomach is just hard like a tensed up or flexed muscle, these contractions definitely came in a wave, felt like strong menstrual or upset-stomach cramps in my low stomach, and were much more uncomfortable than BH for me.  As pp said, I think the main ways to know it's getting serious is if they are more regular and consistent for an hour or more, and if you can't get them to stop by moving around or changing your position - when in doubt call your dr. - I called and went in this week to be told everything was fine, so I felt kind of silly, but it's better to be safe than sorry at this point!
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  • StacemacdStacemacd member

    In the beginning it can be hard to know.  But if it is really happening, you will know...I think.  Here is a good article on it

     https://bellybelly.com.au/birth/labour-signs-could-i-be-in-early-labour

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  • lowboilingpointlowboilingpoint

    my "real" contractions with the first were obviously different than the BH i had been having, although that is not going to be true for everyone, sometimes it really is hard to tell the difference.

     my real contractions also were actually painful, felt like really bad menstrual cramps, really bad ones. 

     I know a lady who just accidentally had a baby on the way to the hospital because her contractions werent bad at all, she didnt know to go earlier. Indifferent

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  • DEBBIE33CASEYDEBBIE33CASEY
    BH are in your abdomen, labor contractions are more in your vagina (in my experience and from what the midwife confirmed for me at my last appt).
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  • mrs.larrymrs.larry member
    imageKristine Schilling:

    Also, most women feel like they cannot think/breath/move during a "real" contraction, where as Bh's you can still function.

    just to cloud the matter further. I was on pitocin for my entire labor (which everyone says makes the ctx harder) and even then found that I was pretty functional even during contractions that were most definitely "real" until I got to the point of transition. 

    consistency is the key. 

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