Mixture of Braxton Hicks and contractions

[ladamanera]

Hallo,
I wondered if I might ask the hive mind for some advice-i lurk reguarly but my first post.
39+5 with my second child, firat baby was 2 weeks late.
For the last two months have had increasing Braxton Hicks as normal. In the last three days though, i have had the occasional contraction too- but only ze one, intense, unmistakeable- then nothing for 8 hours or 12 hours, other than periody back pain. I'm also still getting increasing reflux/heartburn even though baby has dropped. In my last pregnancy i had braxton hicks then bloody show then contractions, and reflux then dropping and relief from reflux- in "by the book" order, not all mixed up. Cant find anything online about Braxton Hicks continuing through labour or contractions before labour.
Has anyone else had this? Apart from wanting to get this child out asap of course, my DH has been taking DD1 throughout the night and during whole day for three days now while I languish in bed (very tired) in anticipation of an imminent labour that just refuses to kick in, - he's due back at work on Monday and seems so tired- i feel like have not pulling weight with toddler/DH this holiday, and that if it isnt labour i need to try tongrin and bear the exhaustion - almost "sh,t or get off the pot"- also Regularly harrassed by parents as to predictive times for likely start of proper labour (as they both still work and have to inform jobs/drive 4 hours to get here to look after DD1 when it starts) but with these symptoms i have no idea!

Get diahorrea (sp?) and headaches and euphoria/tingling and think "whoa here we go"... Then, nothing. I guess im hoping people say "thats definitely labour" do i can feel im getting somewhere- but any stories/anedotes appreciated!

Thanks!

[ladamanera]

Should add i also feel a very slight bearing down/need to poo a lot, (TMI) but there's rarely any poo.

Prhaps am just being impatient...

[Diddlydokey]

I had this for about 10 days. It's just your body getting ready. I like to think it was doing something as the labour was really fast once it got going.

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

I've been having exactly the same thing. Also baby number 2. Been going on for a week or so now. Not even due until tomorrow but it's making me very impatient!

[ladamanera]

Ten days! You must have been scratching at the walls!
And Poodles- i don't know about you, but i read all the "second baby comes quicker" stuff and coupled with the earlier awarenesses and symptoms of second pregancy, just presumed i'd be before due date- wishful thinking i guess! hope yours comes soon!

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

My last labour was 1.5 hours so I'm terrified that this one may be faster. I was induced last time so was totally resigned to being overdue until all these symptoms gave me false hope I'm so grumpy with it I'm scaring dp.

Bloody pregnancy!

[ladamanera]

My contractions are mild but coming every few hours now so is ramping up, finally- going to try and sleep, but if they dont stop i give myself another 30 hrs max based on last time... hope yours is progressing ok

[MrsJK]

Any news op?

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

My contractions buggered off. Were coming 5 mins apart yesterday afternoon but were very weak. Due date is today.

Hope you've got you're baby now lada or that it's at least progressing

[ladamanera]

Mine stopped too! Were 60 mins apart but relatively mild, until 6am (thank you, little one) then nothing since then until now. Desperate measures- despite resembling a small angry whale i am off to try to seduce DH to get this baby out (partly as i cannot eat any more of his meals, i have had his specialities of frozen pizza, bacon sandwiches, fishfiger sandwiches and sausage and pesto pasta for three days. North London is out of ketchup and I really need some chlorophyll)

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

These babies can't make up their minds!

Mine seem to have started again. Just did a big sainsburys shop stopping to lean on the trolly quite often. I need to go into hospital as soon as labour starts so I wish it was more clear! I'll give it an hour and call them if I'm still unsure.

[Shelbycobra]

Im a ftm and 12 days over my due date at 41+5, on monday at 40+6 i had my last sweep and was told my cervix was soft and i was 1cm dilated.

Ive been having painfull contractions since but theyre irregular and i dont get as many when im active, they can be every 10-30 minutes, calm down for a couple of hours and come back every hour or at the same as before at 10-30 minutes, some are breathtakingly painful for 30 seconds and some are just uncomfortable.
Ive also been losing loads of mucus plug since my sweep and tends to be when i wake up in the morning and after being active.

I have an induction booked on wednesday and ill be 42+1 which scares me as its changed over the years from being allowed to go 10 days over to now being 14 so ill be being left the extra day.



How long is normal to get from 1-4 cm at this stage of pregnancy?
I understand that women can take weeks to get from 1-4 but ive only heard of this before 41 weeks so surely being so late it wouldnt take as long especially as shes been fully engaged since 40 weeks and ive been walking alot, up and down hills and also been squatting and staying on my feet more than i sit down.

Shes still active but not as much as she usually is (which is ALOT) and im starting to get fed up as the pains are quite strong and are starting to take up all my energy making me grumpy and upset with my partner and mom who are being nothing but supportive.

ANY help or advice would be appreciated as im at my wits end. I dont want to go up to l&d and spend hours waiting for them to send me home because im not ready for admission (even though id much rather be at home until im about 6-7 cm and ready to go.

[ladamanera]

No idea as each pregnancy is different, (sorry!) but if I were betting i'd say yours may be quite imminent- and possibly before the induction (lucky you!).

For what it's worth, last time i had 30 hours of contractions all being consistently 20 mins apart. When i called the midwife they repeated that I was not to come in until they were 5 mins apart- but by end of 30 hours i was so sore and tearful and worn out (but mainly sore) that i was frightened and really needed the reassurance of a hospital and we decided to try going there even if they turned us away. Contractions zoomed from 20 mins apart to 4 mins apart in the 30 minute taxi there - i was 7cm dilated when i got there and was accepted immediately. Gave birth a few hours later.
That's just an anecdote of course but the point is that i was expecting it to progress incrementally in even stages and it didnt, so to some extent trust your instincts and go when you feel you must, I say- unless its a very arduous journey.

[originalusernamefail]

OP I could have written your post - at least misery loves company . 39+3 today with DC2 and sooooo ready to have this baby ( which then makes me tearful as this is last pg and I'll never be pregnant again even though I've hated/suffered every minute). Been having contractions/ tightenings at night since Xmas day, although none in daytime and no real pattern. DS1 came after 3 days of contracting every 5-7 minutes got me to 3.5 cm and the hospital took pity on me and let me stay. Hope this is good signs for both of us!

[ladamanera]

I hope so! Hope everything ok for you. My contractions have paised- havent had one for 24 hours now... Just the odd Braxton Hicks. Ffs

[ladamanera]

*paused

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

Mine have stopped too! Feel like baby will be staying put a bit longer.

[originalusernamefail]

Baby still firmly in place, must be clinging to the sides .

[ladamanera]

So the lesson seems to be: that a mixture of BH and contractions is not a good thing, and in fact a sign of a comfy scamp of a baby who will take their sweet time. I also read recently that odd, sporadic contractions may come from dehydration. given am drinking lakes of Gavsicon and water an hour am surprised at this news

[OiWithThePoodlesAlready]

I've heard that too about dehydration but am also trying to drink loads. I'm trying to keep myself sane by rembering that she'll be out soon one way or another. It just feels like the longest wait ever!