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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Do you just know when it's a contraction?

26 replies

1978andallthat · 18/12/2012 10:37

Due date today. Tightenings, a stitch, discomfort, backache. But how would I know if it's normal discomfort or things starting? Or do you just know?

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SledsImOn · 18/12/2012 10:44

No, you don't always know. Labour can take many forms and sometimes it starts with generalised back ache etc.

Usually though at some point it moves on - I thought I just had wind with ds2, then it started coming every few minutes and stopping in between. Then I knew iyswim. I still had a good 3 hours before he was born.

If you are getting any definite pains, then start writing down what time they come and how long they last. You'll see a pattern starting to emerge eventually.

cupcake78 · 18/12/2012 10:44

In my experience contractions can start as niggles but once they really start you know about it!

It has always felt like a squashing sensation coming from my hips and either round bump or round your back. It began as bad period pain/cramp with the tightening feeling of braxton hicks. The pain increased as did the tightening as things went on to the point where I would have to stop and concentrate on breathing.

Ladylike1 · 18/12/2012 10:48

I was in full blown labour, and still insisted I had a kidney infection, and was not, in fact, in labour at all
Ddc2 was born an hour later..... Whoops....

milkybrew · 18/12/2012 10:50

I had same feelings as you for around a week before labour started, eventually they become proper contractions. They became more intense, lasted longer and were getting closer together. However I still didn't think they were proper contractions as they didn't really hurt! So I didn't "just know" IYSWIM. It was only when I called hospital, explained what was happening and they said come straight in that I actually realised things were imminent! Had DD that afternoon!

Original poster

1978andallthat · 18/12/2012 11:44

I have midwife appt this pm anyway though it involes driving to station as have nerve pain too bad to walk since baby dropped, getting tube across London and then walking five mins at other end (no biggie normally but as I said cannot walk). Think I just had contraction though but maybe a Braxton hick.

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sleeplessinsuburbia · 18/12/2012 11:48

Nope, I only knew when the dr confirmed it (except when my waters broke). 4 times.

Ring the hospital and if you don't have childcare worries I'd try to go in considering your pain.

Original poster

1978andallthat · 18/12/2012 12:11

Yes good plan. Dd is in nursery but shall arrange for my mum to pick her up in case they keep me there.

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beckie90 · 18/12/2012 12:19

I was in slow labour for 5 days with ds2 it started as backache and constant period ache in lower tummy, i started as just uncomfortable tightnings every 6 mins they kept getting stronger n stronger then on the 4th day they turned really painful and had gotten to every 5 mins, I went into hospital that night I wad 3.5cm that was at 10pm they then turned to every 2 mins stronger then ever but 7am I was still 3.5cm lol, turned out he was back to back and thats why labour had been so slow.

Sounds to me like it could be start of something for you

Original poster

1978andallthat · 18/12/2012 12:46

I hope so...

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digerd · 18/12/2012 13:38

My waters broke, but only because I was stupidly pushing the top of my bump down - gently- as was 3 days overdue and soaked the chair. First signs of discomfort for me was a very bad period like pain.

planestrainsautomobiles · 18/12/2012 13:44

You will definitely know a real contraction as they are like a wave - the pain increases and hits a peak and then ebbs away. If its more just a dull ache then I wouldn't call it a contraction. HTH and good luck

digerd · 18/12/2012 15:43

Yes, the bad period pain was just the beginning - soon afterwards the real contractions began, just as last post described. But my period pains at the beginning were not just a dull ache, they were so bad I felt sick and faint and I remember leaning on the wall moaning and groaning, but that was me.

Original poster

1978andallthat · 18/12/2012 15:48

Thanks. Midwife didn't think it was labour. Just twinges. She said I'd know when it's labour.

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digerd · 18/12/2012 16:05

Good luck for the birth. It is different for everyone. Sometimes the waters break first naturally before any other signs, so you will definitely know!

Original poster

1978andallthat · 18/12/2012 18:47

That happened last time hence not knowing what a contraction feels like. Water broke 4pm and was induced midnight next night as infection risk. Was fully expecting to happen again.

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digerd · 18/12/2012 18:59

Well, as I said it is different for every woman, I had contractions quite soon after the waters broke and after the awful period pains, but they were agony for 36 hours as baby was birthing on her back, and nobody knew in those days before scans, until she suddenly appeared with her face upwards!!

sleeplessinsuburbia · 18/12/2012 22:33

My midwife told me it was Braxton hicks. I believed her (even though I had been through it so many times). The dr then came along, hooked me up and said they were contractions so its impossible for someone else to tell you they're not. Actually with my last I thought they were contractions, midwife said maybe but too irregular, she went on her ten minute tea break and came back into the room after I had delivered the baby.
If you would feel better getting checked out go in to the hospital, you have said you can barely walk!!!!

DinosaursOnAnAdventCalender · 18/12/2012 22:39

I can't describe how a contraction feels, but when I got them with ds3 I had to walk around the room until it went away.

Pudgy2011 · 19/12/2012 02:35

I was in early labour for about a week and didn't know it. Just had slightly more regular Braxton Hicks contractions and walked 3 miles the night before I had the baby with my dogs, then went for a long dinner with my girlfriends whilst they all sat there laughing at my tightening stomach every few minutes!

Even the next morning when my OBGYN told me that I was 3cms dilated and to come back to the hospital when my waters broke, did I believe I was actually in labour.

Even when a contraction floored me in my car park at work and I was walking like the baby was about to drop out of me did I think I was in labour.

The only thing that made me think "holy shit I'm in labour" were my waters breaking in my car a mere half an hour later. 4 hours later DS arrived.

I'm lucky I live a mile from the hospital - I remember having to breathe through the contractions around midday which was an hour after my waters broke and I was about 6 cms at that point.

It is so hard to tell and even when I have the next one I know I still won't be able to tell if it's actual labour!

Pudgy2011 · 19/12/2012 02:38

And just to confuse issues, my sister had warned me that her labour pains felt like really bad wind - so that's what I was expecting! Did I get wind like pains? No. I didn't. I wish I had.

AhCmonSeriouslyNow · 19/12/2012 02:54

With my second, I was pretty sure it was actual labour when I had a pain, not particularly a bad one, just a period-like dull pain, but it made me think "if I have another one of those, I want to stand up" - a response from my body, not my mind, if you know what I mean.
Having said that, hours and hours later I still half-expected to be sent home from the hospital when I turned up, contractions about 3 minutes apart!

I think you will not necessarily know you are in labour but you probably will get a sense that you want to go to the hospital to find out, if that makes sense!

AhCmonSeriouslyNow · 19/12/2012 02:55

P.S. GOOD LUCK!

Radiator1234 · 19/12/2012 10:00

I know everyone is different, but last time I thought I was in labour for about three weeks as I kept having what I thought were contraction like pains. On the actual day though my waters broke and an hour later the "real" contractions started, even the early ones were loads worse than the supposed ones I'd been having for three weeks. Then a few hours in, I started vomiting with the contractions and the pain just got unbearable and hideous! I guess I am a subscriber to the "you will know" when you are in labour school of thought....based on my frame of reference.

Everyone is different though! My mum said she didn't know with baby #3!

ItsMyLastOne · 19/12/2012 11:02

First time I started with proper unmistakable contractions.

Second time it was like period pains and discomfort and developed into stronger tightenings over the next few hours, then quickly turned into proper contractions. However they slowed down again even after being every 4 minutes for several hours, and started up again properly 24 hours later. So even having proper contractions, didn't necessarily mean I was about to have the baby any minute.

There was a woman in the same ward as me when I had DD2 who had also just had her second child. She had been up in the night feeling like she needed the loo. Got up a couple more times. Then suddenly shouted to her husband that she thought the baby was coming. By the time he'd got from the bedroom to the bathroom, the baby was out!

Original poster

1978andallthat · 19/12/2012 11:03

Thanks all.

The can't walk is because baby on a nerve since dropping a week ago

All calmed down yesterday pm and quiet night and all very boring this morning. Am hoping for a pre Christmas baby...

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