Could this be early labor?

[KIMBER1983]

Okkk.....so I woke up at 0450 am feeling crampy and thats when I felt a contraction. It was like a really strong menstrual cramp.
Then there was another and another....each were 10 mins apart. Sometimes 9 or sometimes 11 mins apart.
I could not sleep and laid awake in bed. If i got up I felt extremely achy and crampy in my pelvis. The contractions were kind of increasing in intensity.
Then at 0900 I was able to doze off and they were slowly going away.
Now I haven't really felt any contractions since (its 11:45 am). I have a hard time getting comfy when I'm sitting. So im shifting back and forth on the couch.
My water hasn't broke. I don't think there are any increase in vag. discharge.
i just feeel so crampy and when I'm walking around I feel pressure. Like I have to pee alot.
Hmm.
Were these real cxtn's or were they braxton hicks??
I didn't feel any pain in my abdomen. JUST in my back and hips.
Help...,.....
heh.

[twogreencars]

My whole night was like that...oh, well. Who knows? I had days and days of prodomal labour the last 2 times, but that was years ago - so this time, I'm not sure!

[rainbowfairymomma]

could be or also sounds like your body is gearing up...
I've been having some 'regular' pains on and off for a few weeks now...

[MommyMichele]

I have been having contractions all day today, getting closer and closer together, but few really strong, and I honestly still don't know if I'll be giving birth today or if this is going to go on for a few days! Labor went much much faster with my first two.

[KIMBER1983]

Ahhhh..Contractions started again 10 mins apart @ about 12:50 pm.
They are staying the same intensity.
I was laying on the couch and had to lay on my other side due to the discomfort.
I dunno if this is really labor or braxton hicks??
I'm so confused.
Grr. i'm home alone too. My parents have phoned about 4 times...asking how I'm doing. I hate not knowing what to expect (this is my 1st baby). And as much as I've researched bout labor, its still one thing to experience it for the 1st time.


I have had cramping on and off for the past couple weeks too but this feels different.
I think maybe its my cervix trying to dilate.
???

[EmmetnLindley]

I have no experience either but it does sound like your body is gearing up! How exciting! I think the best thing to do is take it easy (relax and rest).

[Mrs_Hos]

Here is the advice I've been given for this 'point' in early labor--which I'm hoping your in...

1. try and rest as much as possible. If you feel this way at 4am, try and go back to sleep.
2. If the contrax get closer together/harder to work thru, and you can't sleep, then get up, eat something, drink lots of water, walk, sit on the ball, squat, etc.
3. Realize that this could go on (early labor) for a while--don't skimp on eatting and drinking...and make sure you empty your bladder every 1-2 hrs. Also--do something other than sitting around and worrying about every bump and wiggle. This is hard to do since we are all so excited about birthing our babies! Go to the grocery store and pick up some icecream (or whatever)...walk around the block...bake a cake...just make sure if you leave home you wear a pad (just in case!) and you don't go TOO far away. Chances are your water won't break (it doesn't in the majority of labors until you are well into it) and your body will usually take a while of 'gearing up' before you are into hard labor when you don't really want to be in the grocery store. Don't worry if you need to stop and hang over the shopping cart and breathe a bit. People probably won't even notice unless you are making loud 'labor sounds' which are more likely during regular labor, not early labor.

Again--these are the ways people have described it to me...all labors are different--and I have only one in my past to go by. In my case, I was at the 10 min apart stage for about 12-15 hrs...early labor--could walk and talk thru them...then about an hour of harder contrax coming about every 4 min when DH got scared and took me to the hospital...my water broke and very hard labor happened fast, scared me, got drugs, and my labor was then 'managed' for me. I now wish I had stayed at home...even thru the water breaking...and maybe about 3 or so hours after that! THEN go..so...my LAST 'words of wisdom' for ya is this: STAY HOME! hahaha Go to the hospital/birth center when you start saying "I can't DO THIS"...that is a good sign your body is getting ready to push!

Good luck Kimberly...I think you are almost ready to meet your baby!

[Mrs_Hos]

Correction--I know you are READY to meet your baby--I meant that your BODY is ready for you to meet your baby...hehehehe

[KIMBER1983]

Thanks MRS_HOS for the great support and advice.

I went over to my parents house tonite because I wanted to be around someone (DH was @ work). And I wanted to distract myself.
So that worked. I tried not to think about the ctxns a whole lot.
They are fairly irregular. Sometimes every 10 mins, then sometimes every 30 mins.
They got painful again as I neared home. Walking is more uncomfortable than sitting or laying.
Then I went to the bathroom and I lost some of my mucous plug.
This is the first I've seen of it.
Sooo...I'm thinking things are progressing.
It has been 18 hrs since I started having the cramping/ctxns in my back.
My dad thinks I should call the hospital and ask when I come in. but i know that so far things are manageable and I was advised when I took prenatal courses that you call when the ctxns are 5 mins apart.
Soo thats what I'll do.
i am going to try to rest tonite. Hope i get some sleep.
Send me some serious tonite!! Maybe I'll be holding my baby soon enuf.
GOODNITE!!

[Mrs_Hos]

Yep--you're on your way!
I'm glad to hear that the distractions worked--rest and stay home as long as possible...With DD I had contrax around 3-4min apart but wasn't even dialated to 3 adn they would've sent me home, but my water broke...so then they kept me...
So...enjoy your nice home--lean over furniture ( I LOVED that position...couldn't do it in the hospital as much).

I'm so excited to hear your birth story! Trust your body! I'm excited for you!!!!!

[midwestmeg]

Mrs. Hos gave you great advice!

Sure sounds like you're gearing up for labor.... my advice is always to stay home and 'ignore it until you can't anymore'. I had kind of the same experience you did with dd#1 and I'd waited so long for labor, I just couldn't believe it when it happened. Then suddenly I found myself wanting to read the paper, fold my clothes, organize my recipes. When dh came home to find me groaning on my hands and knees trying to finish some project I'd been meaning to do for months, he said 'okay wierdo, lets go' and we had a baby 2 hours later.

Can't wait to hear your story!

[Pandora114]

If you start puking dont be afraid to take some gravol

If anything it'll help you sleep through this early labour.

Gravol will keep you from puking up and needing an IV later.

[babymakesthree]

Go Mama Go! Keep us posted and hope your baby arrives soon.

[xenabyte]

Hey hey! It sounds like this is finally it..and no induction!!

If things 'stall' a bit, have someone rub your ankles (outside area, just below ankle bone) and or try rubbing your baby toes...both help stimulate labor.

I'm thinking of you, as I know you really wanted things to start on their own, and I'd say you are in early labor, at least, and progressing!

With my second, I lost my mucus plug the day before and was 'packing and moving' into a new house all day long. Then at midnight my water broke while going pee, as I couldn't sleep and was really crampy.

Three hours later, with ctx 2 min apart the whole time, (we drove in a blizzard to the hospital), I was at the hospital and and things actually slowed down again, so then three more hours until I delivered baby! But three pushes and I was holding my sweetie!

GOOD Baby Birthing Vibes to you!!

[Mrs_Hos]

Originally Posted by midwestmeg

When dh came home to find me groaning on my hands and knees trying to finish some project I'd been meaning to do for months, he said 'okay wierdo, lets go' and we had a baby 2 hours later.

Can't wait to hear your story!

LMAO!
This sounds JUST like my DH!

[atpeace]

OOO I'm watching this thread very closely! I'm so excited for you KIMBER, I've seen you around on these boards...it sounds to me like labour has truly started, but what do I know?

Crossing my fingers for you extra hard that you'll meet your baby really soon, and keep us updated...you and AngelBee are racing to the finish line...

[huskermommy]

Yeah!!! Let us know!