Can you have a real contraction before labor?

Tweets06 · May 2012

Is a 'contraction' just a Braxton-Hicks contraction that happens to lead to a baby?

I just wondered because I am a FTM and I have had belly tightening (non-painful) which I assumed were BH contractions. However, I've also had a painful belly tightening that made me stop in my tracks and just breathe for about a minute. Obviously, neither situation has led to labor yet, but it does make me wonder if all of these fall under the umbrella of BH or have I had an actual labor-like contraction. Can BH actually be that variable. Any thoughts?

T

Zilelabelle · May 2012

I had some pretty breath taking contractions this past weekend that eventually stopped completely. My MW told me that unless I was really working hard for a whole hour through each contraction and they were less than 5 min apart that it wasn't active labor.

Gismo123 · May 2012

Yup...at least that's what my doc told me. She said that they don't consider it "full labor" until you've had consistent contractions for 3+ hours.

goldie11883 · May 2012

I' haven't had too painful of BH, just light menstrual cramping in my lower ab and back. At my 37w appt today my dr told me that if they stop you in your tracks, take your breath away and start coming closer together then to call. He doesn't like the 5-1-1 rule because he said since that's considered active labor I'd be cutting it close getting to the hospital.

clemons5928 · May 2012

The way it was explained to me is "real" contractions (or labor contractions) are ones that change your cervix.

lilredj · May 2012

Yes you can. i had a couple prior to going into labor.

courtfsu · May 2012

clemons5928:The way it was explained to me is "real" contractions (or labor contractions) are ones that change your cervix.

This. Or else no one would dilate or efface prior to active labor. With DS I must have had several while I was 33/34 weeks. I had a bleeding episode which I went to L and D for (they didn't want to check me), and when I followed up with my OB two days later I was 2-3 cm and 80 percent effaced.

khill86 · May 2012

I had one painful BH that I can think of. It was just this past Tuesday and someone (a former pre-natal nurse) actually asked if I was having a contraction because my face was so red. I had to actually breath through it. It wasn't unbearable, but definitely different than any other BH I've felt!

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