We had our regular appt at the birth center yesterday morning - I was 36w 4d. All was well, the midwife did a vaginal exam... our birth center is 1 1/2 hrs away, and because I have a history of going a bit early and fast, and I've been feeling like something was probably changing with all the BHs lately, we wanted to know where we are starting from should I go into labor any time now. She said I was 2 cm, 60-70% effaced, and baby is head down at -1 station.
So, we had lunch, spent the afternoon a our friends' house, then headed home after stopping to have dinner. Just as we were arriving back to our town, a little after 8 pm, I noticed that I had just had 3 contractions that were 7-8 minutes apart (something made me look at the clock in the car). I mentioned it to DH, and said we'd go ahead and run the errand across town we had planned to do before going back to our house. Meanwhile I kept writing down the times, and continued to have contractions an average of about 8 min apart (some 5, some 10 or 12). Not painful, but uncomfortable.
I've never had false labor before - even being dilated early with Noah, I never had regular contractions before I actually went into labor with him. So, instead of going home, we just turned around and headed back up the freeway towards the birth center again (we had everything in the car already, thankfully). Got to the birth center another 1 1/2 hrs later, where one of the midwives was already with another mom in labor, so she let me in and checked me...3 cm now, but contractions weren't getting any stronger or closer.
So we went back to my friend's house, stayed the night to see if anything was going to progress. I kept having contractions, but they didn't get worse or closer and we all slept some. Had some bloody show this morning (a bit heavier than the spotting I had already had after the vag exams), but contractions were no longer regular. So we came back home again!
I'm crampy, sore, tired, don't feel great...but not in active labor. Which really is a good thing - the water birth room at the birth center was already in use last night, and then they had a couple more moms go into labor after I got there, so they were unusually busy. Plus my sister is coming in a week and a half and I really want her to be here for the birth...
It was just weird, confusing, and a little embarrassing to think things might be starting up and then they don't go anywhere!
So I'm just going to take it really easy, make sure things stay "ready to go", and wait for the little one to decide he's ready to make his appearance for real!
OH! One kind of nice thing came out of it...DH suggested a new middle name for Ian (rather than the "Conceivable" name he's been insisting on lately, LOL!). He said as we were heading back up to the birth center for the second time last night that we should name the baby Ian Miles (in honor of the approx 400 miles we drove yesterday because of him!).
It's not a bad name, so it might just stick!
So, we had lunch, spent the afternoon a our friends' house, then headed home after stopping to have dinner. Just as we were arriving back to our town, a little after 8 pm, I noticed that I had just had 3 contractions that were 7-8 minutes apart (something made me look at the clock in the car). I mentioned it to DH, and said we'd go ahead and run the errand across town we had planned to do before going back to our house. Meanwhile I kept writing down the times, and continued to have contractions an average of about 8 min apart (some 5, some 10 or 12). Not painful, but uncomfortable.
I've never had false labor before - even being dilated early with Noah, I never had regular contractions before I actually went into labor with him. So, instead of going home, we just turned around and headed back up the freeway towards the birth center again (we had everything in the car already, thankfully). Got to the birth center another 1 1/2 hrs later, where one of the midwives was already with another mom in labor, so she let me in and checked me...3 cm now, but contractions weren't getting any stronger or closer.
So we went back to my friend's house, stayed the night to see if anything was going to progress. I kept having contractions, but they didn't get worse or closer and we all slept some. Had some bloody show this morning (a bit heavier than the spotting I had already had after the vag exams), but contractions were no longer regular. So we came back home again!
I'm crampy, sore, tired, don't feel great...but not in active labor. Which really is a good thing - the water birth room at the birth center was already in use last night, and then they had a couple more moms go into labor after I got there, so they were unusually busy. Plus my sister is coming in a week and a half and I really want her to be here for the birth...
It was just weird, confusing, and a little embarrassing to think things might be starting up and then they don't go anywhere!
So I'm just going to take it really easy, make sure things stay "ready to go", and wait for the little one to decide he's ready to make his appearance for real!OH! One kind of nice thing came out of it...DH suggested a new middle name for Ian (rather than the "Conceivable" name he's been insisting on lately, LOL!). He said as we were heading back up to the birth center for the second time last night that we should name the baby Ian Miles (in honor of the approx 400 miles we drove yesterday because of him!).
It's not a bad name, so it might just stick!
.
Follow Mothering