I'm a first timer and keep getting tricked! *vent*

[xelakann]

Starting last Sunday I started have mild practice contractions, pms like cramps... I knew they weren't the real thing, but I was excited something was happening. They were very regular, but mild.

At my mw appt on Tuesday I asked for a cervical check (the curiosity was killing me)... was very happy to find out I was 2 cm and 80% effaced. Even though I know I can stay that way for weeks, I was still happy.

All the while I am still have mild practice contractions. On Thursday I start losing my mucus plug... again exciting.

Then things change Thursday night. Contractions start getting much more "noticeable"... starting in the lower back then moving to abdomen... they were about 15 to 20 mins apart... and intense (I wouldn't say painful) and different from what I had been feeling. All night.

So yesterday (after 10 hours of the above mentioned contractions) I have my DH stay home, I am convinced I have started early labor... I make RRL tea, go on a walk and take a shower...then suddenly they stop. Ugh. Tricked. So I send DH to work... and have nothing all day.

Last night around 9ish, they start up again, this time closer together 10 mins or closer apart, and much, much more intense. To the point where I go in the bathroom with the light off just to hang out and breath through them (listening to my hypnobirthing cd's).

I call my doula to give her the heads up... she suggests taking a bath so I can try to get some rest... then to call in the morning.

After having less intense contractions most of the night, but still having them, I once again get excited and think this is it.

Tricked again. They have totally stopped.

I'm ready for my baby to come, but I'm at a very zen place when it comes to when. I trust my body will know when it is the right time. HOWEVER, I keep getting tricked into thinking its the right time... then nothing. I feel kind of foolish. We were so sure last night, that DH packed the bags in the car and we called our pet babysitter to give him a heads up.

Again, I'm a first timer, so I know I can easily go past my due date, I'm fine with that. I feel pretty comfortable right now in my pregnancy... it's just the trickiness of it all.

Anyway... thanks for letting me vent.

[Undercover Hippie]

That is really frustrating! I know exactly how you feel. Hopefully your body is doing some important work now though, even if it's not opening your cervix it might be helping baby move into a more favorable position or some other changes that can't be "seen." I hope you are getting some rest during the day to make up for the nights of ctx. Good luck!

ETA: It's not just because you're a first-timer either... many of us have done this a time or two before and still have been tricked this time! So even when you've done it before, you don't always know until you just... do. Sounds cryptic but somehow it makes sense in retrospect!

[Curlita]

It seems like real labor will NEVER start until it actually does. I asked my doula about figuring out whether or not my contractions were the real deal and she said that once they get to 45 seconds long, then they aren't backing off. So maybe pay attention to how long they are instead of frequency.

Hope they start and stay for you soon!

[xelakann]

I asked my doula about figuring out whether or not my contractions were the real deal and she said that once they get to 45 seconds long, then they aren't backing off.

So most of my more intense ones were around a minute each. So they were pretty convincing.

My doula did explain to me the 5-1-1 thing, about them needing to be 5 min apart, 1 min long, for at least an hour. That should hopefully help me in not getting tricked again.

We'll see what tonight brings!

[Da WIC Lady]

I've been getting tricked too... I'm hoping this is it though. After sporadic contractions earlier this morning, and pretty regular and noticable contractions about 5 min apart at the store and at home, I've got low back pain and achy hips/butt/pelvis... It's like where I sit, but not quite where my legs attach, and too low to be considered lower back... Of course I can remember the names of all the other bony landmarks of the pelvis at the moment but these... I'm hoping this is it. Mom kinda wants me to go in and get checked, but I just want to stay close to home right now. She didn't really push the issue, so I'm happy about that. I have two crockpots of food I've set to precook and freeze for later. And I had this compulsion to go to the store this afternoon as I realized we were out of milk and sandwich stuff and it needed to be done before Josh gets home tonight. I got enough cheese for a week and a spiral sliced ham since it's cheaper than getting deli slices and much yummier. I also went ahead and got the WIC stuff so neither Mom nor Josh has to do it, and we're good for two weeks on milk as I found really good expiration dates. Maybe after I get the kids some dinner if things are going the same I'll give Mom another call.

Anna

[Curlita]

Fingers crossed for you, Anna! Sounds like you are on you way! !

[GinaRae]

Frustrating!

There were a few times on Wednesday night I thought that my labor would go away. My water had broken, but thru the first 6 hours cx's were weird. They would back way off and sometimes back to 8 and 10 minutes. BUT the thing that held it together was the intensity didn't back off much (just once when I was sitting in a particular position).

Good luck, mama! You sound close! I would try the cumin tea I heard about.

[marisa]

I wish the 45 second thing were true - but I was using contraction master a few nights ago where my contractions were 1 min 5 - 10 secs long with definite peaks, 4 -5 minutes apart for FOUR hours.

And I'm not holding a baby yet! :

[mittendrin]

Aaaah, yes, frustrating! Hugs, mama!
Has nothing to do with being a first timer tho, I think. With my first 2 I knew exactly when I was in labor. This one tricked me for a while, I thought I was supposed to know how labor felt...nope, I wasn't sure until I was in transition and 3 minutes away from pushing. Funny how that goes.

[BarefootinBrooklyn]

i'm having the same thing...for the past few days. last night on the way to a party i was having them every 10 minutes, then had only a few contractions during the party, and some crampiness....then when i got home pretty late and layed down on the couch, they were every 5 minutes, but only 4 or 5 of them, and then they stopped.

now it's morning and nothing, of course. i'm telling myself that it's just things "getting ready," and that once it's really time, they won't stop. i'm also thinking baby wanted me to get out and have some fun last night so maybe now things will start up again.

[xelakann]

Thanks for the support mamas!!

We walked around Ikea yesterday and I had a few contractions again there, but as soon as we got home they stopped again. I feel like they are shy and they don't want me to notice them.

I guess when it's time, I'll know, and hopefully they will get over being shy and stick around until the baby comes.