Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Childbirth

Contractions - how to time them - help!

16 replies

Asur · 11/05/2006 05:50

Ok, this may sound like a really stupid question but how do you time contractions? Is it the time from the start of one to the start of the next one or is it the time between them, so from the end of one to the start of the next one?

I'm just not sure how it works... Hope someone can help, thanks :)

OP posts:

Report

PiccadillyCircus · 11/05/2006 06:30

I think I timed from the start of one until the start of another, but can't really remember .

Are you having contractions?

Report

Asur · 11/05/2006 06:41

Thanks for reply. Yup, I'm having them just now... Never really thought about the timing of them till they started and then I wasn't sure how I should do it... Guess it doesn't make too much difference, does it, so long as I time them all the same :)

OP posts:

Report

Cuppatea · 11/05/2006 06:42

Hi Asur! I think I timed them from the end of one to the start of another! Good luck!

Report

Asur · 11/05/2006 06:47

Thank you :)

OP posts:

Report

Cadmum · 11/05/2006 06:51

Start of one to the start of the next...

How far apart are they? And how long have you been contracting?

Report

Asur · 11/05/2006 08:01

They're about 5mins apart (start to start of next)... Only lasting about 25 secs though. From what I've read they should be longer than that to count as 'established labour.' Been having them for about 3 hours now (ish)

I expected it to start more slowly but have just been close together since they started, guess I just need to wait for them to get stronger/longer. Hopefully won't be too long though...

OP posts:

Report

flutterbee · 11/05/2006 08:06

Good Luck Asur, keep up posted if you can

Report

Cadmum · 11/05/2006 08:10

Is this #1?

Just to warn you that it doesn't always follow the 'published pattern' dd2 was nearly born at home because I didn't think that I was in established labour--yet.

Hope it all goes well!

Report

fuzzlepelts · 11/05/2006 08:15

How exciting!! I think it's start to start and I'm sure 25 seconds duration feels like half an hour - good luck

Report

Esmummy · 11/05/2006 08:51

Good luck :)
It really is hit and miss with number one, like cadbury said but then i was having contractions every 2 minutes lasting for 1 minute, got to hospital and was only 1 cm, stayed this way for 7 hours.
Fingers crossed for you

Report

Asur · 11/05/2006 08:56

Thanks for the messages... This is first so I'm expecting it to take a while... Don't want to head to hospital too early but I'll see how I go, it's all so unknown - don't want to leave it too late but don't want to get there too early... So complicated..

Will try to keep you up to date though :)

OP posts:

Report

Esmummy · 11/05/2006 08:58

Just go with your gut Azur, if your not far enough along they will just send you home to progress some more.

Report

HunKeRMunKeR · 11/05/2006 08:59

How exciting! FWIW, mine only lasted 45 seconds or a bit less right up till I had DS2 - nobody believed I was in established labour until the midwife examined me just after my waters went and said "OK, baby's here, can I have a delivery pack, please?"

Good luck - and ohh, enjoy every bit of that snuggly newborn blinking up at you!

Report

Munz · 11/05/2006 09:01

ooh so exciting good luck honney.

Report

jessicaandrebeccasmummy · 11/05/2006 09:06

same here hunker - my MW didnt believe i was in est labout, as none of my contractions were longer than 20 seconds.... but they were only 45 seconds apart!!! I didnt get an ounce of peace! (having next baby at home me thinks!)

Good luck hun, and try to keep us updated!

Report

Asur · 15/05/2006 18:05

Hi there,

sorry for taking so long to leave an update but been busy... Labour went on and on and on... Eventually after 57hrs of contractions, full labour, and pushing, MW's decided that it wasn't getting anywhere... Ended up with an emergency section - at that point though I was so tired, I was just glad it was going to be over with and the spinal was a major relief!

Little Hamish was born on Saturday afternoon. He was apparently in a posterior (back to back) position and his head was just completely stuck. He's healthy, happy and feeding well though which is the important thing I guess and I'm recovering well - home today which is a huge relief, hospital was just so noisy, not restful at all.

Anyway, thanks for all the help! :)