Question RE Early Labor

sarahg8r · July 2014

Woke up around 3 am to pee and couldn't fall back to sleep, which isn't unusual these days! I've been having very minor BHs off and on for weeks now, but around 4 am, they seemed different, so I started timing them. For the last two hours, I've had minor contractions (tightening uterus) accompanied by mild-moderate period like cramping and lower back pain every 5-7 minutes. I'm really hoping this is the real thing, but know it could be a false alarm. So my question is, for you STMs how long can/did these kinds of mild contractions go on before it became real?

gahorseygal · July 2014

FTM but this happened to me saturday. I went for a walk and they got stronger so called L&D and they said wait another hour to see if they get stronger/closer together. In meantime take a shower or bath. Hopped in the bath and 30 min later they practically disappeared. Im glad we didnt go as we would have wasted our time but if they had lasted through the bath I would have gone just to see what was going on! So I would try a bath and /or walk to see if they change.

sarahg8r · July 2014

Agreed @weeklyplanner‌! And thanks @sarahsimon‌, I'll try that!

Jennicillin · July 2014

Take lots of baths, eat something, and settle in. Could be a day, could be weeks...

With my daughter I had contractions like that 4-5 an hour for three weeks. Then they got closer, 8ish minutes apart for about 3 days before active labor really kicked in. For some women, early labor will only last a few hours before ramping up.

Continue to time them, as many and as often as you can, and try to find a pattern. Are there more when you lie down or moving? Worse in the morning or in the evening?

Good luck! You are getting closer!

sarahg8r · July 2014

Thanks @Jennicillin‌...I have pretty much been laying in bed the whole time since they started at 4 am. Just got up to make some breakfast and they continued. For now, I'm going to time them intermittently until they get stronger.

novameh · July 2014

It lasted what felt like forever with DS.

I noticed perfectly timable contractions (5-6 minutes without fail) on a Saturday morning. Walks, showers, rest, nothing made them fade. I didn't hit active labor until late Sunday night. It very well might be early labor for you. GO REST! SLEEP all you can in case. Good luck!

belle785 · July 2014

I had this last night too from 10:30-12:30. One min contractions 4-5 mins apart. Then they started spacing out and then went away. Hopefully this is the real deal for you.

workmm01 · July 2014

Sunday and yesterday I was having contractions and backpain and even had nausea. DH was asking if he needed to rush home. I told him no because it could last for a while or just go away and I'd let him know if there were any changes. So far this morning I feel fine.

Venus04 · July 2014

Doc told me early labor begins when contractions start getting closer. So if they stay seven minutes apart for days...this is not early labor. But if it's seven minutes apart for a few hours, then six minutes, then five...that's early labor. This usually lasts for 8-12 hours (source: American Pregnancy Association). Once they are less than five minutes apart, you're usually officially in active labor.

shutaff · July 2014

I'm a FTM with the same questions, so I have no advice. But good luck! Let us know how it turned out!

BeachM · July 2014

I had what you are describing last Friday for about 2 hours but they went away after I did some chores around the house. Then I had them again starting Saturday afternoon and they lasted for several hours through showering, drinking lots of water, changing positions, and other things that got them to go away previously. The difference for me and why I called the OB was that they continued while I was moving around. All previous contractions would stop when I was up and moving.

GinnyJ2012 · July 2014

With my first I had that for a week before my water broke. It was a long exhausting week and I'm really hoping I don't have that again.

mislogis · July 2014

Mine are opposite, I start moving, I start contracting. I stop moving, I stop contracting. This has been ongoing for over a week now. Hoping this baby comes soon! Only 11 days to due date.

sarahg8r · July 2014

They continued until about 9 am and then ultimately fizzled out. I had more on and off and lots when I was up and moving around, but nothing consistent. TMI alert...I was dilated to 3 last week, I lost my mucus plug a couple weeks ago, had bloody show last week and have had diarrhea all day today, so hopefully labor will start soon!

belle785 · July 2014

Sounds like it could be any day!

CanadianintheSouth · July 2014

Can I ask where you felt the contractions? I just started getting bad pains really really low, feels like period cramps, but below my belly. I thought contractions would be higher up, similar to my BH?

BeachM · July 2014

Kelsbeno said:

Can I ask where you felt the contractions? I just started getting bad pains really really low, feels like period cramps, but below my belly. I thought contractions would be higher up, similar to my BH?

Mine were like period cramps, way down low. I did not feel them up high like BH. They eventually started wrapping around to my back, but not the other way around like I always see them described.

CanadianintheSouth · July 2014

flip_flops said:

Kelsbeno said:

Can I ask where you felt the contractions? I just started getting bad pains really really low, feels like period cramps, but below my belly. I thought contractions would be higher up, similar to my BH?

Mine were like period cramps, way down low. I did not feel them up high like BH. They eventually started wrapping around to my back, but not the other way around like I always see them described.

Good to know! I was not at all expecting it to feel like it did, but I guess I should start paying attention now. My mom was just saying how all three of me and my siblings were born early, and 2 of us born the day of an internal check. Had an internal check today and am 80% effaced and 1 cm dilated... may not be making it 4 more weeks!

pmpkn219 · July 2014

Definitely sounds like things are on the move @sarahg8r‌ ! Fwiw, my real CTX weren't all over like BH, they started hurting just way low by the cervix/where my uterus used to be, before it took up my whole abdomen! Eventually it was a more diffuse feeling, but the most concentrated discomfort was down low

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