what does the very start of contractions feel like?

[lisalewis]

hi i have had funny pains all over tummy for the last 12 hours or so.they have been feeling like i was in the need of going to the loo but i didnt need to.also they are starting to get a bit stronger now and are more across the middle of my belly like an in digestion. is this contractions?

Have a bath if you want to slow things down (stopped my ds for 24 hours by having a bath !) & go for a walk to speed things up and try to keep moving.

Good luck !

does baths slow things down then? i thought it might speed it up. am going to go for a walk in abit with hubby and son.

water is a good pain relief...if you get in a birthing pool too early.and stay in it.it can slow things down...but having a bath at home before you are in established labour as a way to ease discomfort is ok....

i think you need to listen to your body...if you feel like a bath, have one, if you feel like a walk , take a walk....

if you are in labour...a bath won't stop the labour..contractions in true labour do not stop until the baby is born...labour can be slower or faster,...but it won;t stop.

agree your body will tell you what to do. good luck!

thanks have just had a walk and am now going to get into the bath things seem to have slowed down now anyway so am just going to see what happens.

hi all still here i my contractions stopped at 5 yesterday and then re started at 8 but alot more painfull. they then stopped again about 10pm. and have had nothing since apart from the occasional period type pain and tightenings but nothing to take my breath away.

oh dear..........nothing more to add at this point! except you are due on saturday aren't you..when are you due back at mw? is it before saturday..she could sweep you ( if you have not had baby by then)

your body is gettint here

you are 2-3 , stretching to 4. each of those contractions is playing a part in getting you to established labour. encourage them as much as you can..don't be too downhearted.....xx

thanks. i was gutted when they stopped even though my midwife had warned me it would probally happen. am seeing her again 2morrow and shes doing anouther sweep then so fingers crossed.
she did tell me to have intercourse lastnight which i did not enjoy at all and was very uncomftable so stopped but did try again with sucsee this morning. if thats not to much information for you all.
i have also tryed walking,pineapple and squatting exercises.
anybody got anymore suggestions

The only natural induction technique I found to be at all effective was reflexology (all that other stuff, pineapples, curry, etc. a bunch of cobblers IMO). I had it done by a professional but got my dh to do it afterwards and it did work to bring on contractions.

If I remember right, it's rubbing in a gentle circle in that slight 'pit' just behind your inside ankle. Sounds like poop doesn't it, but it did help me. Sending you lots of luck for the labour.

will try this tonight am up for giving anything a try

more sex & nipple stim....sorry!!

anybody got any information on reflexoligy been told it helps not sure where to press though

hi still here
had second sweep today and midwife said that i was very streachy and that she couldnt streach me anymore cus her fingers wouldnt open anymore.she said im 4cms and was shocked i hadnt gone in to labour yet.she has told me she thinks when it does start it will be very quick and should be ready and not be by myself as im so ready and she could feel the head.she doesnt think sex would be good now as she thinks my cervix are 2 far apart and might be uncomftable for hubby.so am just wlaking squatting and nipple stim

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((HUG)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

4 cm is fab.......!! almost half way to full dilation..focus on that!!!! excellent........tried to find some reflexology info....but failed! couldnlt find a 'foot map' LOL......the bit around the ankle someone else suggested is definitely one of them and somewhere aroung hte little toe (or the big one????)) not well versed in this..!!

Lavendar, clary sage & jasmine oil mean to help induce contractions........xx

baby will come out....promise!

all those contractions you hace had up till now are positive ones..they have dilated and thinned your cervix to almost half way!!

Good luck!!

thanks i didnt really think of it that way being nearly half way. am going to walk to supermarket soon will see if they got any lavender oil. can it be something with lavender in or should i try to get the oil? what do i do with it ??????

oil is best...us it in a burner..or a few drops mixed with a carrier oil in the bat...or in a carrier oil for your DH to give you a lovely soothing back rub or foot and leg massage.....!

ooh how exciting. I remember being 4cm and had no labour feelings at all. And a fast delivery (make sure no pushing until your midwife says). Good luck x.

ok thanks will give it a go. what about the clarey sage and jasmine oil? is that the same?

thanks frumpygumpy. how long after you was told you was 4cm was it before you started getting contractions?

I was actually 41 weeks pg with DTs and so was in to be induced. They found me at 4cm and didn't need to induce me. I spent about three hours bouncing on one of those balls and had the babies not long after. It was my second birth though so everything was loose . Good luck with it. Stay strong and focussed. I kept a picture by me of my DD to remind me what I was getting here. Try to put the labour feelings out of the way and look towards what this little baby is going to be like.

i havent got one of those balls so will do some squats been told they will help.even considering to go and bouce on sons trampoline.

NOT the trampoline...you don;t want to end up in a&e with a broken ankle......deep squats and giant steps ...!!

yeah hubby said that.how the best to do the squats

i just re read the last message and it dont really make sence.i ment to say whats the best way to do the squats.and how do you do it?