How painful should BH be? Are these actually contractions?

[Gemy]

Hello mnetters, I am feeling a bit stressed.
Am due 27th Dec and since about 0400 this morning, I have what my midwife believes is a "watery show" and have been experiencing (what feels like) contractions off and onn through the day. Currently, they have been
1918
1938
1945
1954
2003
2013 and
2022. They last about 20 seconds.

I have just had one and can sit at the laptop ok, but I really am unsure if these are just BH or whether my body is getting ready for the real thing.

My parents are at my house now, shall I ask them to stay just incase (to look after DD1)?

I've heard that being dehydrated can make BH seem worse - has anyone else heard this? I have not drunk all that much today and am sat here with a massive glass or squash in the hope this helps!

If you were me, how often would your contractions have to be and how long would they have to last before you considered going into hospital?

F&CK!!

Braxton hicks can peak and fall as well, the same uterine muscles are working , just not in a way that dilates the cervix, just keep on doing what you are doing and you'll know when thing start to move, the whole feel of it changes. Good luck Gemy!
Mars - I had a silent labour with DD, not because i possess huge amounts of control -It just didn't hurt (not until last two pushes anyway) It was very odd to experience and is making me bloody nervous this time - I could probably have slept through the 4 or 5 very early contractions I had, and wouldn't have been any the wiser if i'd not had a show

frosty... it wasn't control. I promise you it wasn't.

It was just the way that they managed their pain!

Ohh! Contractions! Mince Pie anyone?

Seriously though - you sound like I was in early Labour. Start to Finish 26 hours but most of that was the type you are describing.

Will pop back later - let us know how it is going

I still think its spooky - the only way to manage that much pain is to make a lot of noise Although suprisingly enough I didn't swear at all and I can't think why as I do in everyday life a lot

There again I am convinced my labour was worse than anyone elses

Tell you what frosty. I'll come to your next one... cos it's probably my preparation that makes them silent (or is it my never ending chatter that makes them seem silent? )

can you come to this one mars? as im sure as hell i wont be silent !!

im getting twingey back pains oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

As long as you wait for me to have my Christmas dinner Pecca!

Are You a mid-wife Marsy or a Doula?

Ooh pecka, sounds like you are on your way . Got everything handy? Have you rung the MW or labour ward? If this is your first it might be a while before anything much happens, but it's as well to make sure you have your plans in place - and you probably shouldn't be alone right now.
Good luck. You'll probably have a Xmas Eve baby

She is a miracle frosty. An enigma. With the sexiest voice ever. Her voice is made of Galaxy chocolate!!

Madamez I very much doubt I am but sounds like Gemsy is

Ooooh a labour thread

I was a silent labourer....up to a point. Then I sounded like grunting groaning elephant with each contraction.

I suspect I ought to have been pushing at that point.

Mars, if I have another, will you do me?

My theory is that silent labour is a psychological response to the shock of the reality of labour - a labouring equivilent to a catatonic state

OR its the gas and air

Of course VVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVQV!

Doula.

Pecka.... you need a nice, long, slow labour though to give me time to get there. You're kinda out of my normal 90 time zone!

i am missing all the labour threads at the moment !

i see mars has it under control

hey lulu, if mars is taking too long can you nip up here?

i hope when i go into labour everyone is online. I will be well annoyed if I dont get my own thread!!

Hope all goes well Gem and Pecka!

(will leave mars to it - its been a long time she she was at a birth - around 24hours now i think!!)

Hi lulu!

cx

hi herts, hvae a lovely xmas!

pecka, text me and i will make sure you get your labour thread, as long as it is not between 12 and 6 on xmas day

how exciting....

u2 lulu!

good luck ladies!!!

Hi gemy it sounds like things are starting. just carry on as normal for now, stay at home for as long as possible and most importantly keep us updated

Well there's something in the water cos my client is also on the way to giving birth.

Going to sleep but gud luck girlies

WHoops, sorry Pecka& Gemsy...
When I was in early labour I sang scales (sort of) holding one note on a long outward breath and then going up the scale depending on the pain. At one point a MW commented that I was unnerving some of the other women in the corridor (was individual rooms down a long hallway until you actually went into the delivery room) I remarked that I had been disconcerted by everyone else screaming and howling the day before.
At one stage, by which time I was getting stuck into the Entonox, I heard lots more yowling which turned out to be some local schoolkids who liked to hang out in the hospital gardens and yowl back at the windows of the labour wards - this sort of transmuted into some Mythical Meaningful Stuff in my gas-and-air daze. Anyway, those about to pop I salute you