Menstrual Cramps and such...

[filewizard25]

Ok, so for 2 weeks now I've had menstrual cramps in my lower back, and tons of braxton hicks that keep trying to get in a rhythm but never get stronger. I just don't remember all this with my first.. with her it was just all of a sudden one day I started having contractions that built into labor.

Has anyone else experienced this long drawn out build up to actual labor? Is this common for the second time around?

I'm a BIG advocate for letting babies come when they are ready, so I'm not looking to get induced, I just keep thinking maybe this is it... and after two weeks of thinking that I'm getting a bit frustrated.

[Contrariety]

I'm the same way. I figure I probably had some amount of all this but wasn't as sensitive to it... I never felt a single BH contrax with DS, but obviously I was softening and dilating.

Bleh. It's irritating, that's about all I know. I have cramping, cervical twinges, BH... but nothing that makes me thing birth is anywhere in sight (I'm 40 weeks tomorrow)

[Kmama2]

Originally Posted by filewizard25

Ok, so for 2 weeks now I've had menstrual cramps in my lower back, and tons of braxton hicks that keep trying to get in a rhythm but never get stronger. I just don't remember all this with my first.. with her it was just all of a sudden one day I started having contractions that built into labor.

Has anyone else experienced this long drawn out build up to actual labor? Is this common for the second time around?

I'm a BIG advocate for letting babies come when they are ready, so I'm not looking to get induced, I just keep thinking maybe this is it... and after two weeks of thinking that I'm getting a bit frustrated.

I was the exact same way. Nothing with my first until the day I was in labor... and with my second BH, menstral cramps, tons of mucus.. I kept thinking I was in labor. My midwife disrupted my membranes and Little guy was born less than 24 hours later.

[beatgenxer]

i've been having all kinds of prelabor (BH, menstrual cramps, cervix pain, backache, diarrhea) for three or four weeks now (i'm at 39 weeks right now), tho lately all of it is becoming more intense. i'm hoping all this means that my actual labor will be shorter since my body has been doing lots of work beforehand hopefully that will be the same for you.

[kjs]

Originally Posted by beatgenxer

i've been having all kinds of prelabor (BH, menstrual cramps, cervix pain, backache, diarrhea) for three or four weeks now (i'm at 39 weeks right now), tho lately all of it is becoming more intense. i'm hoping all this means that my actual labor will be shorter since my body has been doing lots of work beforehand hopefully that will be the same for you.

Me too....EXACTLY!

[DivineMrsM]

oy. i was hoping that my prelabour would last for days, not weeks! crap. but yes, i'm with you on it all.

[jaylily]

Sometimes I have menstrual cramp like feelings and I think "Maybe this is it..." but they don't last long... I am hoping they are doing something and that it means a shorter labour for me this time too!

[StephM76]

I've been having cramping/contractions since this Saturday. I figure its just my body getting ready, but its so hard not to get excited and hope that this is it!