Is this labour?

[Zerorightanswers]

I had an induction for my first pregnancy so I’ve no idea what’s going on!

2-3 days ago I started having painful contractions, probably only 2-3 per day lasting for a minute or so each time. They haven’t been getting closer together and I’m only having 3-4 per day now. I’ve had no other symptoms of labour except diarrhoea and backache. The maternity unit said I should just monitor until there’s a distinct pattern.

My question is: wtf is going on? Is it possible to be in labour for this long without any kind of progression?

Yes it probably is. You can go quite a while with just a few contractions. I was a few days both times with very weak contractions every 15 min or so before it got going.

I had awful backache for about 13-14 hours and then v gradually it changed from constant pain to waves of pain with distinct peaks and troughs.

I had what you described for about 10 days before labour actually started. This is called latent labour. Annoying but no, not technically labour in the sense of progression. You are probably pretty close to meeting your baby though, congrats!

Hi OP, I had what you described every day for about two weeks before the birth of my DD. It was infuriating, and it hurt too! Every time it started, I'd think 'Is this it?!' and then the contractions would go away again.

Hopefully you're not waiting too much longer. All the best!

Thanks everyone for answering :) every time I've tried to Google things relating to irregular contractions I get results about them being 20 mins apart, not hours! I'm hoping that it starts to speed up soon as it's frustrating not knowing what the Jeff is going on!

I'm having this too! How are you doing today?

I'm currently 36 weeks. Was told by the hospital it's Brixton hicks. It's not comfortable at all. I come over all funny, feel really hot ( separate to this heat) and have tightenings. I'm having them a few more times in the day. I got checked at the hospital as I lost a little fluid too. I get a pushing down pain too. Have you had that? I was also told that urine infections can cause tightenings so that might be worth checking.

Dr said labour will be very very strong waves of pain. More frequent and a pattern. Who ever said BH aren't painful surely hasn't had them

@c9590

I'm having this too! How are you doing today?

I'm currently 36 weeks. Was told by the hospital it's Brixton hicks. It's not comfortable at all. I come over all funny, feel really hot ( separate to this heat) and have tightenings. I'm having them a few more times in the day. I got checked at the hospital as I lost a little fluid too. I get a pushing down pain too. Have you had that? I was also told that urine infections can cause tightenings so that might be worth checking.

Dr said labour will be very very strong waves of pain. More frequent and a pattern. Who ever said BH aren't painful surely hasn't had them

Hi! I didn't have any more for ages and then this afternoon I've had 4 really painful ones about 5 mins apart and no more since! When I first started getting these contractions I'd assumed braxton hicks but, like you've said, braxton hicks isn't supposed to hurt... No wonder it's hard to know what's going on!!

That makes sense about UTIs - I phoned the maternity unit about the suspected contractions and they didn't seem particularly interested so just playing it by ear really.

This is an interesting read. I've had backache and pains on and off for the last few days but I'm only 34+4 so thought it was probably just things getting ready down there. I haven't called in about it...I figure I'll know when labour gets started properly and obviously it will probably be weeks yet.

This is really common when dehydrated in late pregnancy. Particularly when the weather is warm!

Are you drinking enough?

@ShowOfHands

This is really common when dehydrated in late pregnancy. Particularly when the weather is warm!

Are you drinking enough?

Usually this would be a concern for me but I'm drinking so much more than usual lately - mainly because I've discovered how nice ice water is! Urine is really light in colour too. I just wish I knew what was going on

Contractions have pretty much stopped altogether now so I can only assume it was braxton hicks.

Feeling like Rachel on Friends - they hurt like a bastard so was 99% sure they were the real deal!