Labour false starts, wtf is going on??

[Tomatefarcie]

This is my third pregnancy, I am now 40+5.

I had a sweep last Wednesday, lost the mucus plug on Friday, and got woken up last night at 2am by contractions.

They were mild-ish to start with (much stronger than BHs though), every 6 minutes. Then it escalated to one every 2 minutes, at which point I woke Dp up. I told him to stay in bed as the contractions were still bearable, but I went downstairs and started gathering my notes and bits and bobs, breathing through contractions, which were still coming every 2 minutes.

I made myself a cuppa, went and watch a bit of telly (pain was bearable), and by 6am, contractions had died down a lot, they were back to every 6 minutes or so, then 10. I even feel asleep inbetween!

Eventually I went back to bed and woke up half an hour ago....to nothing at all!

WTF is going on???

Fell asleep, not feel asleep, sorry for typos!

I heard a rumour once about third labours. Stop, start, stop, start, stop, start. And apparently when it does happen for real, it's usually pretty quick as the stop starting is actually doing something. A rumour of course, but I have heard people confirm it.

My friend had pretty straightforward labours with dc1 and dc2, when it started it had started iyswim. No 3, was convinced she was in labour, contractions coming closer together and lengthening etc, it was her 3rd, she knew what labour felt like. Nope. 3 times she went in over the course of a week to be told she wasn't dilating and it was a false start. When it happened for real in the middle of the night, she woke up with contractions on top of one another, straight to hospital, fully dilated, 4 pushes and a baby. I was her birth partner, was astounding! The birth obv, not me.

your body is getting ready, and baby is probably moving down. it will happen, you know that as youve had 2 already!! good luck xx

I do not knowe but I had several "false starts " with my fourth prenancy in the last 10 days.

When I actually strted being in labour I was not sure anymore I was and actually walked to school to pick the DCs up, thinking the contractions would go. By the time we made it back home they were starting to be a bit less bearable , DH got me to hospital and 10 mins after I was holding my beautiful DD4.

Blimey G!!! Imagine having the baby at the school gates!

Thanks for your replies, it makes me feel a bit better that I don't seem to be alone experiencing this. It is just extremely frustrating, being overdue is no fun whatsoever, and I'm being teased on top of it!

All the best when the time really comes!

hi
i've had almost indentical experience with my 3rd pregancy - was convinced i was in labour last night (am 38wks) but all fizzled out to nothing. glad to know its not just me as husband seems incredulous that i can not distinguish real labour after two previous experiences! Bit concerned about the speed though having read other posts - will take me good hour to get childcare sorted and on to hospital etc...visions of baby born on roadside...

Hey, I'm the same too. 3rd pregnancy and have no idea what's going on! Things keep stopping and starting and, unless I have a dreadful memry (possible) I don't remember anything like this with the previous 2. I'm now 40+6 and off for a sweep at 4.30pm (once the other 2 have been collected from school and dropped at ballet!)- ahh the joy of childbirth!

Good luck all. xx