Prodromal Labor anyone?

digwriter · January 2015

AKA those annoying false alarm cramps/contractions that make you want to grab your hospital bag and head for the door.

Last night was night 3 of these sucks and I'm so tired of it already. I know that this is an important stage but they're adding to my already sleepless nights.

Good news is that my old ut is getting ready to do some serious work, but my word the cramps sucks.

Have any other late Jan or early Feb moms hit the prodromal phase?

munchkin8590 · January 2015

Pretty sure I have. Last night was terrible. I'm still on the fence about just grabbing my stuff and heading to L&D even though I'm sure they'll send me home

mrsakp11 · January 2015

Yes! This was me on Thursday night! If I was an FTM I would have been in L and D. I was exhausted.

digwriter · January 2015

I was very close to doing the same last night, but they were too irregular to be the real deal.

mommaa1615 · January 2015

FTM and I havent even had a BH so thats making worry..ughh

digwriter · January 2015

@mrsakp11‌ I feel the same way! If not for firsthand experience with real labor I would have been at l&d for sure.

AnotherSun · January 2015

Yup. I don't enjoy the cramping, but I get excited about it. I kind of want to cheer my body on every time.

tropicbreeze · January 2015

Yes! For the past week and it has made trying to sleep at night sooo much fun. They will calm down then bam! Wake me up from a dead sleep.
I remember when I was creeping on the D14 board thinking how awful it sounded.
A nap is in my dance card for today as I didn't get to bed until 4:30 because of them.

loriann091 · January 2015

FTM here - so these are different than BH? I have BH all the time and have since around week 18. Just the way my body is and I grew used to it. I keep hearing "you'll know the difference between BH and real labor".... but now it sounds like there's this. I'm sure "I'll know" when it's happening for real, right?

digwriter · January 2015

Yes these are different. My bh contraction are just really squeezy and uncomfortable; whereas the prodromal labor brings painful cramping.

misshart00 · January 2015

This is why I want my water to break. It's so much more obvious.

tropicbreeze · January 2015

misshart00 said:
This is why I want my water to break. It's so much more obvious.

^this exactly.

kdhuling · January 2015

The BH have ramped up for me, they are usually in conjunction with cramps. I keep wondering if I should go to L&D but they always die down so I don't.

Mommalawyer · January 2015

@amack22‌ - with my first I didn't feel a single BH or a single contraction whatsoever. Nothing. Zilch. I suppose I could have been having them & not felt them, but seeing as how I have them routinely now, I don't think I could have missed them! Don't worry!

mishka29 · January 2015

I never had this last time at all. How long do they last for most people? Do they seem to be picking up then drop off? Any tips to help me avoid running to the hospital (or calling my mil to come) if this happens?

mommaa1615 · January 2015

@Mommalawyer‌ ok phewwm how did you know it was time? Did you feel those contractions?

krysmill · January 2015

@amack22‌ I'm almost 34 weeks and have not had on BH. My Dr said some woman don't get them and that it's perfectly normal.
@digwriter‌ I hope things slow down for you and your able to get some sleep before LO arrives.

Amandabw82 · January 2015

I went into "threatened" preterm labor at 33 weeks and 3 days. I ended up being hospitalized on magnesium sulfate, procardia and shots of steroids. I was having contractions every 2.5 mins. Since I've been home the last week the contractions have been awful, but nothing regular.

Since we had that scare every time I cramp up I want to run to the hospital. They make me nervous she is trying to come out and meet the world.

topolina1215 · January 2015

I've had BH throughout my pregnancy (and with my first) and had the prodromal labor for a while with my first. For me, the difference between the Braxton Hicks/practice contractions and the real ones was location and timing.

My BH start out with a feeling like my stomach drops (like when you're on a roller coaster or going over a hill) and then it moves gradually down and I get a tightening sensation in my uterus (I can also see my belly contract around my baby - usually her little butt and back are clearly visible - but I'm also very petite, so that's probably why it looks so pronounced). The real contractions started out like period cramps and eventually felt like someone was squeezing a vice around my pelvis (they were much lower down and didn't start with the stomach-dropping sensation). Also, they were timeable - they started out at 20 minutes, then 15 minutes, then 10, etc. I may have several BH in an hour, but they're not consistent and they stop.

Hope that helps!

It's pretty exciting to be at this stage!

StephanieLBerg · January 2015

For me it's the back soreness that kills. Not so much pain, but the feeling you get when you've stopped over too long doing dishes or something; that's what I feel. Before, it would just be if I was sitting in the recliner a little too long. Now it seems to be when I'm sitting still for longer than 5 minutes; I feel it when driving, when at home, when riding passenger, when having dinner, and when sleeping. It's like I can't get comfortable. I've had the Braxton Hicks and other mild cramping, but nothing to alarm myself about. I just wish the soreness would stop. I have a prenatal massage scheduled for Monday afternoon, I am hoping that helps with the soreness and sleepless nights; for a little while at least. :-/

kharper88 · January 2015

I was diagnosed with preterm labor at 27+3... I've been having Prodromal labor since then! Talk about exhausting

Now that I'm in the home stretch I'm just waiting for the contractions to be regular, or my water to break, or a bloody show so I can go into L&D and come home with a sweet little babe

(now 36 weeks today..due 2/7/15)

excitedbride11 · January 2015

With my DD I was dilated 4 cm at 33 weeks... for remained that way til the 37 weeks...the pain was horrible! I'm 35 weeks now and thankful...but the past two days my BH have been horrible, and baby girl hits a nerve that sends pressure/pain in my spine from my butt to middle back. The pain is like a knife stabbing and makes me panic at times, but there was NO mistaking true labor...we got this ladies!!!

Maple403 · January 2015

I get strong menstrual-like cramps every night. They never progress and are limited (usually like 3 in a row, then stop). I've been using them as practice for breathing and relaxation.

Isn't it funny how they stop just when you start to really take notice? It's like "ok, one more and I'll call...."

HayleyBug55 · January 2015

If it wasn't for my mom answering my calls in the middle of the night I would've been one of those FTM's that went in! Warm baths are my buddies right now.I'm dilated and know it's completely normal but my bestfriend can't seem to understand that ,so she told me to go to L&D! Lol. No ma'am. I know better and didn't listen but I'm getting tired of these false alarms. I want my princess in there as long as possible!

Edit: has anyone else been told some really rediculous pregnancy advice or been told some off the wall B.S about pregnancy? The same friend told me swimming is dangerous and life threatening to the baby while pregnant!

) apparently holding your breath will starve the baby of oxygen so bad that they can become brain dead or pass away and the water around your stomach can put harmful pressure on baby. She's on her second kid. I couldn't help but laugh! Kind of wanted to start a thread to see what other rediculous things others have been told but decided against it.

mom2xover2002 · January 2015

I had this last night. From 2am until 5am every 3 minutes like clockwork. They felt like the ones I was having in the hospital after the car wreck and were uncomfortable. The last 4-5 though were getting in the "okay this hurts slightly" stage. If it's like this every night DH might sleep on the couch.

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