Contrax Patterns

[tankgirl136]

Should every contrax feel the same? And should it hit the same area of your body? I have been having what I think are contractions, but some I feel really intensely in the area I would get menstral craps and then, a few times, I got some really intense pain across my back. Is this just how I am sitting or could I be feeling things in both spots?

[writteninkursive]

It could be either. Sometimes my contractions (which are realllly frequent now, even though I'm not due til the end of the month) are entirely back pain, sometimes no back pain and just tightening in the front, sometimes just crampy menstrual-like pain. Try moving around, change positions, see if they go away or increase.
They're even different from one pregnancy to another.

[Jilian]

They can come in both spots depending on the baby's position but usually it will be mainly in one area for a while until baby moves. For example, it is really rare to have one back labor contraction, then a few entirely in the front, then a few more only in the back because the baby can't change positions back and forth that fast. But back pain is one of the early labor signs so it is possible that you could be having a low dull back pain along with some contractions.

[tankgirl136]

Everything calmed down last night so in the end it wasn't much, but I am still curious what is what. I did figure out later some of the pain was coming from pain aggravating the sciactic nerve issues I have been having on and off with this pregnancy.

Hopefully when the real thing starts up I will have a better clue! The only thing about all of it that really confused me and frustrated me is that my m/w pretty much insists that I have tons of time left before me, and is judging this on the fact I have not lost my mucus plug. I thought some one can lose that at any time and it is not much of a sign? Am I wrong? She says I should lose it 2 days to 2 weeks before starting labor.

Thanks!

[Jilian]

Not everyone noticeably loses a mucus plug. With DS1 there was no noticeable mucus plug loss. With DS2 I had some mucusy bloody show the day before but not much of a visible "plug". I don't like to rely on a plug as a sign. A friend of mine lost her plug several times over the course of 3 weeks (they think it kept regenerating) and went to 43 weeks before consenting to an induction.

[Abraisme]

With DS I never lost any mucus plug until I was almost fully dialated. Also, he never "dropped" before I went into labor. Bloody show and mucus are really hit or miss, it doesn't mean much..