contractions every five mins but only 20-30 secs long??

[EffieB]

When/ what to do?? Been building up since this morning- and been like this for last couple hours-not getting any longer though- has that happened to anyone else or am I getting away with myself? Can- just about- talk through them (mainly swearing and trying to breath though.....)

effieB - its was only at transition that the contractions got longer for me - When you have 3 contractions in 10 mins its usually time to call the midwives. Try not to fight them (contractions not midwives) - breathe through them, it's actually easier. Good luck mama!

I had the same sort of contractions you are describing for DS2.

I called the hospital and they told me to come in. My first labour was fairly quick (less than 2 hours from first contraction to arrival of baby) but it was induced, so I didn't know what to expect.

Anyway, I arrived not really sure if I was in labour on not as it wasn't that painful (in comparison to DS1's contractions) ... and before they could strap the monitor thingy on, my waters broke and I was 8cm and ready to push.

Wishing you a healthy delivery.

My contractions were every 5 mins for 30 secs. I got into hospital to find i was already 5cms and he was born within 4 hours... :)

Mine never got longer than 30-40 seconds. Was a tough call knowing when to get the midwives out (home birth). As it was they arrived only an hour before DS. Was tough pushing him out when the contractions didn't last, had to do some of it 'under my own steam' as it were. Fast labour though.

Mine were 4 mins apart and 30 s long.

DS was undiagnosed breech. Wierd constraction out down to that. I'd go to hospital, I had to have a Em CS.

Oops, that should say TWO hours, not four. Sleep deprevation is making me type crap, lol!

I didn't get the "3-4 contractions in 10 minutes" until pushing, so everyone is different. They sound uncomfortable so I'd recommend speaking to a midwife.

My contractions stayed short and a bit irregular until transition with my second birth, probably about 30 seconds. DS was born after an easy 4 hour labour.

My contractions ended up lasting over a minute each but never got closer together than 5 mins.
I got to the transition stage before I started for the hospital and had the baby outside. 3rd baby mind you.

Yep, you were all right! I was much farther on than I thought, and with complications. Will myself be telling people to trust your own instincts, not the classic 'when to ring the hospital' guidelines, NO erring on the side of caution, if they feel serious, they are... Lovely baby though at the end :)

Congratulations!