False Labour!

[Queen of my Castle]

Well I've officially had a nice bout of false labour. Yesterday, after days of cramps, bh contrax, pooping, aching and all that pre-labour stuff I started feeling really crappy yesterday just afternoon. Ds and I came home and napped, and after my nap I woke up to really strong back ache and cramps all waving around my front, as well as a strange emotional state and a weak and shaky body. After 1/2 hr or so, I called my sis and Barb, my mw, thinking 'this is it! the beginning, but who knows how it'll go!'. Well, she came out, my mom came out, my dh came home after work and everything slowed down and stopped. Mom and Barb went home around supper, at least until something progressed. Well nothing progressed, and I had a nice bath and a great sleep!
This morning I'm still having light contrax, but now I know that until they're regular, require my attention and progressing, forget about them! I'm officially in the '2nd baby, false labour theatrics' group!
A

[13Sandals]

aw...a little theatrics never hurt anyone! sounds like you are definitely gearing up though! keep us posted!

[CityChic]

Sounds like you are close!!!!

[CarolynnMarilynn]

Hang in there - you are sooooo close! That little bout probably softened your cervix and will make things just that much easier when active labour kicks in!

Carolynn

[LilMomma83]

Don't worry - you are not alone!

My SIL (32wks) has been to the hospital twice already thinking she was in labor (once she even decided not to board an airplane back to her house after her bags had been checked and everything!)

Anyway, at least you are falling towards not thinking you are in labor when you really were - and than no DH or MW or anyone there!

I hope all that brought you closer to the real thing!!!

[Millie Ivy]

I *SO* know! Last wednesday I had some serious labor through night. My poor midwives and family were all up with me till like 5 am. Then it totally and utterly stopped. I had contractions off and on for like three days.

But that probably softened and opened your cervix! You are closer now than before! Yay for Mama bodies!

[Marcimama]

Ugh...I did the same thing last night! It is annoying!

[doudat]

Yep, that was me a few days ago. I stayed in the bath forever. It was the only thing that helped. I felt like my back would break in half.All I could think of was that there was a spot on the top of my tummy that wasn't hard during the cx's, and that's the only thing that kept me knowing this wasn't the real deal.

[Queen of my Castle]

Aww thanks guys for the encouragement! It's nice to hear 'you're so close' rather than, 'see you next week'! Of course, next week is fine too, but not really encouraging. At least my mw did the same thing with her 2nd, she told me.

Originally Posted by doudat

Yep, that was me a few days ago. I stayed in the bath forever. It was the only thing that helped. I felt like my back would break in half.All I could think of was that there was a spot on the top of my tummy that wasn't hard during the cx's, and that's the only thing that kept me knowing this wasn't the real deal.

About the top of your tummy- see, I'm having a hard time telling BH apart and real ones. The bh make my tummy go rock hard, but I thought real ones didn't, or worked their way up to the top of the uterus differently. It's been hard to tell for me- especially since the bh seem to be pulling down into my pubic area too. Anyone have insight on the difference, especially in early labour??
A

[doudat]

Originally Posted by Queen of my Castle

About the top of your tummy- see, I'm having a hard time telling BH apart and real ones. The bh make my tummy go rock hard, but I thought real ones didn't, or worked their way up to the top of the uterus differently. It's been hard to tell for me- especially since the bh seem to be pulling down into my pubic area too. Anyone have insight on the difference, especially in early labour??
A

I read this in a midwife book somewhere, and while it might not be true for everyone, I did notice it when I was laboring with Liam. The spot I speak of is between my ribs, right under my boobs where my stomach starts (I do carry really high, where I know you're carrying lower). There a spot that does not harden during contractions, but it did when I was in labor with Liam. So yeah, the stomach does harden during contractions, but I remember it hardening starting from the very top of my stomach down to the bottom, and not from the bottom up (as with the false alarm contractions I got), while the pain was starting at the bottom of my stomach. I guess it can be different for everyone, but that's what keeps me anchored!!

[Doula Gina]

Originally Posted by Queen of my Castle

Well I've officially had a nice bout of false labour.
A

it's not 'false', it's PRACTICE. Like the pre-game show. Still fun and serves a purpose - also more entertaining than the actual game.



Every one of those contractions helps to make more oxytocin receptor sites on your uterine muscles, so that when labor does kick in, your uterus can work in a smoother, more coordinated effort. Almost there!!!!

[MonTana Mama]

Glad to hear all of this bc I am experiencing the same feelings/doubts.

[treemom2]

For about a week now I have thought I was in labor almost everyday. I've had strong BH that I have to breath through, tons of mucous, bowel cleansing, not too hungry, etc. . . Still no baby though. I did make DH try to check me to see if anything was happening and he thinks I am about 4cm now and fully effaced so at least all these sensations are doing something--this little one is just trying to teach me patience:

[SashaBear]

Mine were 2 minutes apart for 4 hours Wednesday night. I was walking trying to induce labor. I sat down to eat and they pretty much stopped. GRRRR! If I had been a newbie I probably would have been to the hospital. But here I sit!

[habibekindheart]

BTDT this week, and it's getting OLD.

I feel like my body is just tormenting me. I wake up every morning and have a few contractions that make me go 'uh oh...' and every day they're stronger than the day before, with more 'real labor' symptoms but never enough. I wait them out to see if they'll turn into anything.

The worst though is that every night for hours (until the last contractions peter out in the morning, actually) I have contractions and sometimes they get so nasty I have to vocalize through them.

I had my husband check me, they're barely doing a darn thing.

The frustrating part is that this is my 10th baby, and I have NEVER made it this far in a pregnancy, and though sometimes my body shows signs that it's absolutely ready to go into labor any second, I have days like today where I feel 2nd trimester all over again and feel like I could be stuck this way for weeks.

I'm about to lose my mind.

[Queen of my Castle]

Originally Posted by SashaBear

Mine were 2 minutes apart for 4 hours Wednesday night. I was walking trying to induce labor. I sat down to eat and they pretty much stopped. GRRRR! If I had been a newbie I probably would have been to the hospital. But here I sit!

Yah, when mine starts the contrax are always really close together too- 2 min or so. The difference is, when I sit down or lie down that's when they start, if I do things I don't notice them so much.
I was up last night again... sweeping the floor after 1 am is what put me back to bed...
I feel bad for you HABIBEKINDHEART-- it must be super frusterating for you being you're 10th!!
A

[Velvet005]

I have been having the same thing. For 2 days I have been having the backache, cramps, nausea and hardly any appetite. I have been sure I am not in labor though. I'm not 37 weeks yet - but I will monday.

[13Sandals]

braxton hicks feel different for me too...rock hard and leave me breathless - but I remember labor contractions as waves that are initiated from the top. i think the BH are a great sign and I'm getting a lot of them - but i definitely haven't felt the kind of contractions that feel like labor..