this prob sounds like a really silly question but if you are having contractions does that mean you are in labour ?

[kittenbaby]

hi girls
to cut a long story short
been in hospital today due to high bp probs
one of the machines they wired me up2 the one thats for the babys heart rate showed i was actually having contractions !
if i hadnt of been told this i dont think i would of known as
id just put this down to baby moving alot!
and feeling uncomfortable like a baby hippo!

so my question is this am i actually in labour now ?
even though im not really in pain?
or do you sometimes have contractions for a while then they stop ?
and do u think baby is on way ?
last mon head was 4/5
yesterday was 3/5
today was 2/5

im 38+2
first baby
im at home now as bp went down at hospital

Established labour (as I was told) is being at least 3cm dilated and experiencing painful regular contractions. But there are plenty of exerienced midwives on here that will be able to give their professional answer.

Good luck btw

No - I had 8 admissions to hospital with my last pregancy and was on the deliver suite 3 times with contractions which slowed down and stopped - non of these visits were labour/birth

Am not a professional but, I had contractions all during the day before the night I went into labour. They weren't bad enough to stop me shopping in Sainsbury's or cleaning the kitchen. Some women do experience contractions up to a week or two beforehand.

Unfortunately no it does not mean that you are in labour, you might be, but it is possible to have contractions way before labour. I had them from 20 weeks, I thought that they were a bit strong and that I was being weak and feeble cause they should only be braxton hick contractions at that stage !!!! But I started prem labour at 33 weeks and the contractions were no worse only closer together. On my second pg I got braxton hicks contractions and they were very different! So for me it was 20 weeks of contractions on and off until the baby arrived.

However the good news is that you are at 38+2 so you only have four more weeks at most, and probrably much less, so sit back and enjoy the time before the contractions get stronger, and then before you know it you will be cuddling your baby. I HTH?

Hi Kittenbaby
I don't think it definitely means you are in labour. I was wired up on one of those things today and had 'a' contraction but definitely not in labour . As you are further on than me by just under 2 weeks it might mean something different but they could just be practices.
I'm guessing you want them to be the start so fingers crossed for you!
PPS (36+4) xx

thanks for all your replies
i suppose it could just be bh showing up on the monitor really couldnt it
im ready for my little baby now
i just want to give her a cuddle!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ignore the machine and listen to your body!

my body tells me it wont be long !!! hehe or maybe my mind is sending me those thoughts hehehe

i havent even had a show yet
so i must have a while to go

im so impatient
im a pest !!!!