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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

Can anyone shed any light??

17 replies

Baretoes · 16/12/2006 00:17

I am 40 + 6 and for the past few days I've been getting very frequent, strong and long braxton hicks - each one lasting about 3 minutes ish. My DH has commented that the bump is hard more often than it is soft. I THINK I had a show last weekend but aside from that, nothing else is going on. Could this be the start of labour / does this sound right??

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QuootiepiesChristmasName · 16/12/2006 00:19

Sounds about right. Are they regular in time between them?

TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:20

Sounds to me more like preparation for labour rather than the real thing (but I've only had one so I'm no expert). I had days of am I, aren't I - when I was, I knew I was. I think the received opinion is that if you have to ask, it's not. But do ring the labour ward if you're not sure.

TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:21

Oooops - two completely different answers there! Quootiepie's probably right!

Original poster

Baretoes · 16/12/2006 00:23

They do seem regular but it's been going on for literally 3 - 4 days and it seems to be hard for 3 mins, soft for 5-15 mins. They are essentially painless but with a slight crampy feeling that I only notice if I concentrate. What's the next stage?? I presume that my cervix isn't dilating with these?!?!

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QuootiepiesChristmasName · 16/12/2006 00:25

Sounds like preperation. Mine we quite sore from the start, but I had gel in so don't know if its worse with that. You will know if your in labour, you wont be able to sleep through them...

TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:26

Well, personally I'd say that your baby could be positioning itself and your cervix is softening in preparation. But like I said I am absolutely no expert. And apologies if I x-post with Quootie again!

Panyanpickle77 · 16/12/2006 00:28

There will be no doubt in your mind once you are in true labour as it it is unmistakeable (my MIL words of wisdom to me with my first baby, which I thank her for forever!). its probably best to carry on as normal until something more obvious happens, but this is truly the most frustrating part of pregnancy (especially your first). Good Luck!

Original poster

Baretoes · 16/12/2006 00:30

That's great - I'm mildly alarmed that as the BHs are lasting 3 mins or so, that the real contractions will last for that long too when they first kick in too! I was hoping for a slow build up! Any guestimates for how long I've got to go?? they'll be threatening induction at my appointment on tuesday.....

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TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:36

Impossible to say Baretoes. I doubt your real contractions will last 3 minutes. I'd try not to think about it too much. And btw what are you doing up at this hour, you should be resting and saving your energy!

TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:37

Come to think of it - what am I doing up at this hour?! Oh yes, worrying about work, that's what!

Original poster

Baretoes · 16/12/2006 00:37

I'm afraid I am too full of curry and meringues to sleep

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TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:39

Both together? Now I know pregnant women can have strange tastes, but that's plain weird!

MKGnearlyimmaculateconception · 16/12/2006 00:42

All you can do is wait. That's the part that sucks. Of course you don't always know when you're in real labor. I had an image of what labor was with my first. Honestly if I wasn't induced I wouldn't have had a clue. I didn't really get the pains I thought were labor until 10 minutes before I was told to push. I had this image that labor was going to be much worse.

It sounds like your body is getting ready to go.

mears · 16/12/2006 00:43

It isn't labour at the moment, however the BHs are not wasted. They will help soften the cervix in preparation for labour. You will probably get more show once the contractions become painful. Hope it won't be too long for you.

Original poster

Baretoes · 16/12/2006 00:49

It would be utterly fab if I turned out to be one of those women who never really felt any pain or didn't realise that they were in labour BUT - that would just be too much to hope for! Thank you all - I was beginning to wonder if 3-4 days of these enormous BHs were a little unusual but you've reassured me that I'm not a medical freak just yet.

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TwinkleInSantasEye · 16/12/2006 00:52

Good luck Baretoes - hope you'll post an announcement after the big event.

lulumama · 16/12/2006 09:45

what mears said !!

no contraction is ever wasted..they all play a part in softening the cervix and getting you ready..when you begin in labour, the contractions last a minute or so....increasing in length as labour progresses...but not usually as long as 3 minutes !! try a visualisation of the cervix softening and opening...

you';ll know when it;s real...you won;t be able to post on here !!

good luck , happy birthing

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