How regular are regular contractions?

[misscreosote]

Hello - I've been up most of the night with painful 'tightenings' and started timing them at about 4am. But the intervals go from about 5 mins to 9 mins, only lasting about a minute if that. They do hurt enough to make me have to stop arsing around on the computer and breathe through them. Is it not labour until the contractions settle into a more regular pattern? Was induced last time, so not used to this luxury of a 'warm up'

Need to think about whether DH should go to work, and childcare etc if it is the start of proper labour rather than pre-labour pains.

(PS getting excited!)

I'm very excited on your behalf! When mine started I was exactly the same as you. I'd been induced the first time too so knew nothing of natural labour. I rang the hospital and the midwife could tell from my voice and breathing it was time to come in. Good job too. Two and half hours later was all done!

I'd ring for advice. All the best!

OK - been walking about and they're still coming at about the same interval - mostly around 6/7 min but some longer at 9 min. I'm thinking DH probably shouldn't be trekking off to work...

Try having a warm bath. If it isn't labour the pains might ease off. Good luck

have a bath, if they die off, then not time.. if they keep going, it is a sign these are real contractions!!

i would not send your DH off to work

eat and drink lightly, don;t forget to go to the loo aswell

good luck

I still had another 40 hours to go after my contractions were as you are describing with my first. However, I almost gave birth in London traffic with my second because I was at a trade convention and determined to see all the booths and counting on 40 hours again, but actually only ended up having 5 hours after the regular contractions started!

good thinking , phoenix !!

My hospital told me I wasn't in labour as my contractions were very irregular but I asked to go in as had been to toilet and bled alot. I was 9.5cm dialated. They didn't become regular either so it can happen. The longest I went between was about 15 minures though so they didn't actually stop at any point. Good luck if this is it!

Agree with everyone, don't let dh leave the house! Mine weren't regular and I didn't even time them as they were so hit and miss. We're all different. Hope you have a quick one too!

Keep us posted

Thank you everyone - have got DD off to the childminders, DH has stayed home, and have had a bath. Things have slowed down but not stopped, so fingers crossed they pick up again now I'm relaxing and today is the day

Hmmm, maybe I should also cancel my induction acupuncture session this afternoon! OK, going to stop getting too excited now just in case this isn't it. Will let you know what happens if anything....

Just to let you know that I had a lovely baby girl at 10.30 last night, so they were definitely contractions! Almost had the home VBAC I was after, but had to transfer in for the final bit as she wasn't budging after 5 hours of pushing, but a quick snip (wince) and she popped out. Back home again pretty much straight away, so all lovely and relaxed, if more tired than I've been before in my life. Thanks everyone

Awww congratulations

congratulations !! eeek at 5 hours of pushing..

great news xxx

Congratulations

Congratulations! Lovely news. x

congratulations!

Congratulations. What is she called?

Only just decided - Laurie (Laura) Joy and she's all warm and snuggly. Aah

Lovely name! Enjoy those snuggles.