'contractions' starting and stopping - any advice or experience please?

[happynappies]

I'm five days overdue now with my second baby, and for the last several evenings I've found it very 'uncomfortable' in the evenings when the baby has been moving around. On Friday night I had convinced myself that I was getting contractions, although they were quite mild and about fifteen minutes apart, so I went to bed and they didn't trouble me further. Last night these pains were back but every five or so minutes over a period of about four hours so I rang the hospital as I was caught in the 'have a bath/paracetamol/try to relax - OR - come in now because second babies can arrive quickly' dilemma. They told me to have a bath, and lo and behold the pains stopped and I've had nothing more since.

Are these likely to be 'real' contractions? Is it likely to be a sign that anything will happen soon? Or is it likely that I'll feel like this every evening from now onwards? It is really difficult trying to relax and let nature take its course because I've got to let my parents know when to come over and look after dd, and am about half an hour from the hospital...

My previous birth was very lengthy, so I know there is no point going to hospital unless the pain is really unmanageable, because I could be in for the long haul. Any advice or experience greatly appreciated. Off for a long walk now in the hope that it gets things moving!

I don't know, sorry, but think it would be worth speaking to your midwife again.

Don't want to scare you but I was just how you have been with my second, days of thinking this must be it and regular contractions that went on for 6 hrs one day then stopped completely.

In the end my DH ended up delivering dd because she was born extremely quickly, first contraction at 6.15am and she was born at 6.59am.

I would go and get checked over just to be on the safe side.

Good luck.

contractions that stop when you get in the bath are not real labour contractions. contractions do not stop once you are in real labour

you might stop/start for a few days as your body gears up for the real thing

if you are still pregnant at 41 weeks , then ask for a stretch and sweep, which might be enough to tip you over into labour

labour ward won;t admit you at this point and AN ward might monitor you for a bit but really nothing they can do for you at this point

your body should let you know when it is time to pay attention

try not to worry and obsess over every pain, your baby will be here soon enough!

Thanks for your help - Dragonfly that is what I've been worried about but like Lulumama says I don't think there's anything the hospital can do at the moment as nothing is happening...

I'm just finding it so mentally draining going through the whole 'is it isn't it?' process and at the same time trying to look after dd and stay calm and relaxed to hopefully have a better birth than last time! Arrghh!! Hopefully it won't be too much longer now!

I am in a similar postion. 2 days with regular contractions 8 minutes apart and lasting 40 seconds. Really draining!

I had this too. I had 3 days pre labour with constant cantractions but not dilating with DC1 then a day and a half or 'real' active labour. Was expecting the same thing with DC2 but had about 12 hrs of stop starting contractions that started every time I got up and moved about and stopped when I sat down. As 1st labour had ended in a section, the hospital got me in to check me even though the contractions had stopped again.

When I got to the hopital, nothing and then all of a sudden they came thick and fast and my DS was born just under 3 hrs later. Mental. Was a really scary experience as it was all so fast and drug free (not out of bravery- there was no time for anything went from 7cm to having him out in 20 mins!!). I think you should go and get checked as you may be ready to go at any time. Can you see your midwife tomorrow? I think it's worth a visit.

Good luck

I had this with dc2 & 3 - how lucky am i to get it twice - 2 days of it with ds2 and 3 days with DD. in both cases i'd made it to 7cm without it hurting!!
the positive thing though is that the 'proper' labour - once it [eventually] got going was quite short and not particularly painful