Are the early stages of labour not all that painful?

[NorkyButNice]

Yes this is another "Am i in labour" thread - apologies!

Am 38+4, and woke up this morning having period pain style cramps every 7 to 8 minutes. I've been having Braxton Hicks for a while, but from what I remember with ante-natal classes for DS, they say once they are every 10 minutes it's "proper" labour?

They're uncomfortable but not painful - I've had a long soak in the bath and they've not gone away.

No sign of any show (bloody or otherwise) - had a check up with midwife yesterday and baby is engaged and in good position.

You'd think I'd know what I'm doing with DC2, but with DS my waters broke before any contractions started, and as their was meconium we were straight into hospital and hooked up to an epidural before I knew what was happening.

I think this is a 'how long is a piece of string' question to be honest, which I appreciate isnt much help! I had the same as you are describing all night then nothing for a morning, then back again for the afternnon until I went in to hospital at 6pmish..
You have my sympathy, its so annoying. Too uncomfortable to sleep or do much but not uncomfortable enough to actually be in hospital having a flippin baby.
If its any conselation, after the 24 hours of crap pathetic twingy contractions I did the remaining bit in less than 2 hours.. good luck!

Different for everyone, I think. I was in agony at 2cm dilated and could hardly breathe through them. Have had friends who were 5cm before they felt anything more than mild period cramps. If the pains are not going anywhere and getting stronger, it sounds like labour is starting. Exciting!

Mine felt like gripey 'I've got the squits' kind of pain. Or period pain. But they got worse steadily over 2hrs. Then I delivered after 45mins of 'proper' labour!

Good luck!

I am in the same boat as you norky, I am 39+2 saw midwife monday and she said any time as baby engaged etc.
This is my 2nd baby and first baby my waters went and I had to be induced epidural etc, so I dont have any idea what to expect this time. Woke up this morning feeling a bit light headed and some back pain but ntg else. Havent had a show either, but some people dont get one do they?
hopefully this is it for you!!

It is different for ever labour. I had 4 and they all happened differently in a different order.

DD1 water broke at home, went to hospital, no contractions at all. When contractions started once I was there, I did not have little "warning ones" and got into full blown ones from the start, short labour (just under 5 hours).

DS2. had mild contractions, a show, took a bath then called the hospital to say I was coming when the contractions got close and a bath was no longer enough to relief (live 5min journey to hospital). Very short labour(1 1/2 hour)

DS3 contraction started at home quite strong but my waters did not break, they had to do it for me in hopital. Short labour (3 hours)

DD4 I had very little contractions , not painful enough to worry me for over a day, sometimes every 20 minutes. then suddenly after a day rapidely went from very mild to unbearable got to hospital without even calling them, Waters broke as I got inside the delivery suit and had a 10 mins speedy delivery.

PS. I refer to labour as the time from when I gt to hospital to the time I held my babies rather that start of contraction to time I held my babies because exept for DD4 there is only about 1 hour max difference between first symptoms anf actual going to hospital.

my bhs were quite painful and sometimes only 2 min or so apart. when labour really started I thought how could I ever have mistaken them for the real thing...

Thanks for the replies - DS chose the perfect moment just after I posted to throw up everywhere which is so not what any of us needed today!

Pains seem to have eased a little but have put my folks on standby for childcare in next couple of days (fingers crossed).

Good luck to anyone else close to birthing!

I'm sorry to say that last time I had this every day for a month before ds2 was eventually born! (but then he was out in 3 hours, so all the 'practice' was worth it in the end)

With DS I was in agony at 2 cms.

With DD I had what sounds like what you are going for...and went to starbucks, out for a walk on the beach, out to lunch...grimacing now and then but fine.

Didn't get really painful til at least 6 cms.

With DS I'd been having pains on and off all day, hadn't thought anything of it. It was only once it got to the evening and they were getting really quite painful that it occurred to me I was in labour.

By the time it was too much for me and I wanted to be in hospital, it was 11pm, and when they checked me I was 4-5cm, and even then I think it was more how tired I was making it harder to cope with , than the pain being unbearable.

Hope things are happening for you!

Well I finally fell asleep at about 4.30 this morning, after a middle of the night bath. Woke up intermittently till I got up at 11am (thanks DH for disappearing with DS!), to find I'm still having regular cramps every 6 minutes or so, but they're still not painful - I managed to sleep through them once I'd got to sleep.

Am bouncing on birth ball in attempt to bring things on properly!

Any news?

ooh norky!hi from the july thread!
i've been having the exact same! from 6 o clock sat eve til this morning.getting closer together all the time and went to 5 and half mins apart and lasting for 1 minute 20 secs. didnt go away after a shower or a bath but stil weren't painful but very intense.but they've all but stopped now! im seriously hoping they weren't all for nothing and that it was like some of you describe as dialating but not in pain.
best of luck norky and keep us posted!

No news I'm afraid (sob) - pains were down to between 5 and 6 minutes, and more painful. Kept me awake most of the night, continued through a bath this morning, but have now tailed off and back to 10 minutes apart.

Am so frustrated and tearful - need to snap out of it!

Aahh.. poor you... It's feckin infuriating isn't it? Is there anything you can do to take your mind off it?

Am waiting as well, but not even as promising as yours - just constant BH every time I do anything for the last week or so but nothing is happening! AAAArrgghhhh....

Fed up of analysing every twinge.

What you are going through sounds like my labour with my daughter. It was uncomfortable from pressure but not painful.

3 days of strong painless contractions that sometimes stopped for a while from time to time. The midwife was still convinced I wasn't in labour 4 mins before DD was born. They'd packed everything away and were about to take me to hospital for an induction!

The last 4 were painful but it was over quickly.. so if it isn't hurting.. feel blessed and let your body get on with it.. If you have the energy stay upright and move around but don't wear yourself out...

Good luck

Norks I had this with DC5. I even got to the tearful bit because I couldnt tell what was going on and felt that I was being stupid.

It was labour. It was just not what I was used to.

Good luck (AKA chegirl )

Thanks for the reassurances everyone!

I just called the community midwives and they've told me to just hang out at home till the pains are 3-4 minutes apart and more painful.

If nothing happens overnight then she's going to come and see me tomorrow to see how things are going.

I think it's just because I'm knackered - everything is worse when you're tired!

I'd suggest having something to eat, then a nap.
I'd also try this and /or this, as it could be your baby is back to back and thats why its taking a while to kick in.
Selina x

Bumping in case we have news on any of you (babies to coo over? ).

No news here (but thanks for checking!).

Having stronger and stronger pains, but they come and go. Saw midwife yesterday who has booked me in for a sweep on my due date if nothing's happened - she said he feels like a 10lber and is as engaged as he's going to get before he arrives, so fingers crossed!