Irregular strong contractions?

[wispaxmas]

Hiya, after a few days of grim bloody shows, back aches, cramps, a few random contractions that felt real and loads of BH, tonight I've had several really painful contractions that have lasted about 40 seconds each, but they didn't start out at 20-30 minutes apart and then get closer together. They've come with breaks in between of 20 minutes, 15 minutes, 4 minutes, 15 minutes, 10 minutes, etc. they've not been consistently getting closer together. And in between them I've had a fairly constant back ache and brief less painful tightenings as well.

Can labour actually start out like this? I would hope that generally they start getting closer together, but if they keep fluctuating like that how am I supposed to know when to go in to hospital?

I hate this!

I never had regular contractions with my first. I went to hospital when the pain was getting unbearable and found I was 8cm dilated.

Good to know. I was 2cm dilated and 60-75% effaced Thursday morning when I had a sweep, and with all the aches and pains since I can only hope things have progressed since! even if I've just effaced more and not started to dilate more until tonight.

I also never had regular contractions - I spent 8 hours bouncing on my gym ball and hitting the TENS machine while praying that this wasn't false labour. When my DH persuaded me to go to hospital, I was 8cm dilated. I'd go - they can only send you home again. Good luck!

Another here! 4 days of on and off contractions, GP thought I had a urinary infection so sent me in... Was 4cm and dd popped out 6 hrs later. Good luck!!

Oh well, turns out it was nothing and fizzled out anyways about 5 hours later.

Still bloody painful thing to have to go through for nothing. Had MW appt for 2nd sweep at noon today and my bishop score has gone from a 7 to a measley 3 since Thursday and the MW couldn't even do the sweep when last time it was quite easy.

I'm really upset and annoyed. How can 3 days of bloody shows, cramping, back ache, and contractions make things to backwards?!

Mother Nature is a bitch :) So sorry you're going through this but good luck with everything. I think your baby may have just talked itself out of free driving lessons at 17.