When did your contractions get painful?

[littlelamb]

I had a sweep yesterday and was found to be 3cm dilated. SInce then I have been having some bloody streaks (sorry tmi) when I go to the toilet and contractions accompanied by period type pains- before the sweep I was having contractions but they were painless. They are now coming quite reguarly, every 4-5 mintues lasting about30-40 seconds, starting painlessly and building up to more of an 'ouch' in the middle, then dying off. This is my second baby. I was on the phone to my friend who I would like at the birth, who lives about an hour away, and she said that her contractions didn't get painful until about 2 hours before her dd was born. I have been assuming that there is no need to panic until they get painful. Am I wrong? I am still in two minds whether I am actually in labour and I don't want her to come all this way just to have to go home. Likewise I don't want her to miss it! What did your contractions feel like and when did you decide to go to the hospital?

i would be prepared for your labour to get going properly very soon

bloody show, 3 cm dilated, pains regularly... i would say you are on teh way !

any i n your back and down your legs?

do tehy die off if you move around?

I found that if I was lying down it hurt like hell but as long as I was up and moving didn't really hurt.

Lulu they are in my back as well, and seem to get worse if I stand up and move around. I am going to have a bath with dd in a minute- if they are real contractions should I expect them to carry on while I am in there?

my contractions got painful and by that i mean stop you in your tracks painful at 12-1am dd was born at around 2pm. I went to the hospital when at 6am when contractions were around 2-3 mins aprt and I was 7cms dilated then.
I held off going to hosptial because I was scared I wasn't really in labour I'm so glad I waited before going in though as I laboured naturally at home for most of it.
sounds as though things are happening for you

I had my first painful contraction at 2am ish and they immediately came every 2-4 minutes. Went to hospital by 3.30am and was 5cm. Went to 10cm by 6am but ended up pushing for 4 hours. Needed episiotomy and baby popped out in one push. Wish I'd had it alot earlier!!

went out not long after i posted...

any news?

real ctx would carry on in the bath, although in early labour it can slow things..

hope you are ok!!

No, nothing I was up all night with contractions but now they have got less frequent- maybe once every ten minutes. I am having another sweep tomorrow morning so I am putting all my hopes on that- I am impatient, but I also don't want another induction. I am hoping that I will have dilated a bit further too, and I am definately losing my show, bits at a time.

Mine with dd1 only became really painful approx 30 mins before she was born! DS and DD" were blinkin painful for several hours though so I suspect it depends on the pg.