Early labor signs?

[Rainbowbird]

Hi everyone!

I have a question if anyone has time to answer it...I'd be very grateful. I am due with baby#2 on May 24th. Baby#1 was born one day after my due date.

I have been having painful contrax since Sat. They are irregular but they hurt. Today they became more regular, 20 min. apart for about 6 hours. Now they've stopped again. They feel like menstrual cramps and there is some back pain with them. They are not unbearable but definitely feel worse than Braxton-Hicks. Haven't lost my mucous plug or anything like that.

With my son, I didin't have any pain with contrax. til the day he was born. Is it common with second babies to have painful ones early? Is this baby on her way out, or could this go on for another week?

I hope not!!

[iamama]

Its called predomal labor and it can go on for awile but it all means your body is working and getting ready. Rest and take care that baby will be here soon...mine too I hope!

[mightymoo]

I don't think prodomal labor is more common with 2nd time moms or anything, and labors can vary widely for the same mom. Sadly it can go on for a long time, but isn't a waste of time, often the prodromal labor is doing a lot of the work of early labor and labor itself can be shorter as a result. Just remember, your body is getting the baby into position and ripening the cervix.