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FTM, question about contractions

shepherdblueshepherdblue member
in 3rd Trimester
Just out of curiosity, about how far apart were your contractions when you first noticed them coming regularly? So many people have said, "Oh, you'll definitely know when your having them." But my own mother never felt hers at all until they broke her water at the hospital. She just felt like she had bad indigestion, and went to the doctor to get checked out just in case. Turns out she was 6 cm dilated and in active labor, but she wasn't feeling her contractions! I'm just a bit worried because my stomach has been feeling a bit off today, and I've had lower back pain and what feels like menstrual cramps. Nothing crazy intense or anything, but with my due date only 3 days away, there's definitely a chance that things could be starting. I just don't want to get caught off guard at the last minute! Have any of you had close calls?
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Re: FTM, question about contractions

  • 4lilmunchkins4lilmunchkins member

     No close calls here. Everybody's pain tolerance is different. I labored at home for 3 hours. My contractions started out 5-7 minutes apart and within the hour they were 3-4 minutes apart. I arrived at the hospital at 5cm and labored there for 4 hours before delivery.

    With DD2, I also arrived at the hospital at 5cm, contractions 3-4minutes apart. She was born within 2 hours of arrival.

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  • parenthood4parenthood4 member
    When mine started, they were immediately intense and 4-5 min apart I think. No real build up. When I got to the hospital an hour later I was 5cm. He was born 4.5 hours after I got to the hospital. Earlier in the day I had my membranes swept and had some light cramping for a few hours, but it felt very similar to how I had felt several times over the week or two before. I called the drs office and they told me I would know when I was really in labor because it would bring me to my knees. Forty minutes after that I found out they were right! So maybe soon! Good luck!
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  • MissusPearsonMissusPearson member

    Good luck!!

     

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  • dovienash13dovienash13 member
    My water broke naturally while I was at home and I was always told I would KNOW when I was in labor and having contractions but I felt none of my contractions and was very content running around doing errands that day. In fact I probably wouldnt have gone to the hospital had I not had a Dr Appt that day.

    Not everyone feels their contractions, so just listen to your body. If you feel different or are worried then call or visit your Dr.
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  • NiniM22NiniM22 member
    Mine felt like menstrual cramps that came and went. They started about every ten minutes and then when they got to every 5 minutes we went to the hospital.
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  • a4smitha4smith member
    Congrats and good luck!

    DS #1- Ares Christopher

    DS #2- Taj Lee

    DD #1 Alba Gray

    Baby #4- coming in May




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  • iverske9iverske9 member
    I felt them being more than just indigestion but didn't go to the hospital and was 6 cm. If you do not feel it until later you will feel it but have already gone through alot of the pain so it will be good. Everyone is different and if you think you are in labor just call your doctor. They will let you know what criteria they have to have you go in. 
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  • ktpaladinoktpaladino member
    edited January 2014
    My water broke in the middle of the night while I was sleeping, and it woke me from a deep sleep so I'm not sure if I was having contractions before then. But I felt them immediately after my water breaking and they were 4-5 minutes apart. When I made it to the hospital an hour later, they were at 3 minutes apart and stayed at that interval for the remainder of my labor. I was at 1 cm a few days prior to my water breaking and was actually still at a 1 when we got to the hospital. It took a few strolls around the halls to get me to start dilating.

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  • cMichelle0423cMichelle0423 member
    I knew the second i had my first real contraction. Some women are more in touch with their bodies than others, and some women have a better pain tolerance. With that said, if you feel like you might be in labor, it's best to call your OB/MW and see what they recommend. Good luck!
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  • shepherdblueshepherdblue member
    Update: Our healthy baby girl was born on January 27th at 2:05pm! 7 lbs. 12 oz., 19 inches long.

    As it turns out, yes, I was having contractions, but they were too weak to get labor to progress much. I went to the hospital after my water broke (we arrived about midnight), and I was 4 cm dilated. The monitor was picking up contractions that were pretty regular, but I actually had to watch the screen to see when they were happening, because I could only really feel some of them (yes, it was the faint menstrual cramp-like feeling). By morning, I still wasn't quite at 5 cm, so they started me on Pitocin. I definitely felt my contractions after that!
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