Really REALLY dumb question

[starry_mama]

:

Ok, so I have never actually gone into labor before. With both boys my water broke, no labor, then pitocin, THEN contractions started. How the hell am I going to know when I'm in labor? I have been having contractions all morning, and it occurred to me that although I am most likely NOT in labor, how will I know when I AM in labor?

Please be nice to me, I feel like an idiot.

[mama2rey]

I don't think it's a dumb question at all. I have been wondering the same thing.

[bumblebeej]

My contractions started making me really uncomfy and were 7 minutes apart. So I figured that was it and went to the hospital and I was right.

[guest9921]

It wont stop.
Nothing you can do will be able to make it stop. (Except get really scared/be confronted by tons of crazy interventative hospital staff. )

Haven't gone into labor either, but knew when I was having painful contractions every 3-4 minutes for HOURS that it wasn't 'real labor' because I could make them slow/stop by sitting, laying down, etc.

[starry_mama]

But mine are closer than 7 minutes apart! And they have been many many times before. Sometimes they are only like 2 minutes apart. But I clearly wasn't in labor, because, well, I have no baby yet.



(Do I have one of those timer things like a turkey somewhere on my body that pops out when the baby is all done?)

[look11]

NOT a stupid question! It can be hard to tell. If they won't stop and they get progressively worse to the point when you can't even talk through them, then you're probably in labor.

Last time, mine came on 5 minutes apart and were incredibly intense with bloody show, so I really had no doubt. MW told me to take a bath, but I was too uncomfortable to do that for more than 20 minutes.

I'm wondering about this time, too. It could be totally different, then how will I know? As everyone says... you just know. Is that helpful? Probably not

[vagabonder]

Join me in clueless as well. And while I've had cramping here and there, I don't think I've even actually had any BH, so I have no idea what to expect. I'm really hoping the saying "you'll just know" falls true for me!!!

Sorry I couldn't be of any help!

[Momma2DoubleCuties]

You'll have the bloody show and like someone else said, contractions that can't be stopped. They are a different kind of pain then the other ones you have had.

[Mom2Wilmo]

My midwife says this:

Lie on your left side and drink 3 really big glasses of water back to back. If contractions stop you aren't in labor. If not then you are probably in labor. I don't know exactly why this works but since I get tons of contractions for weeks before I have a baby I have to do this a lot. It worked during my last pregnancy too.

[mom2liv]

Count me in on this club--I've been worried about this also. My first started with spontaneous rupture (no ctx at the time) and almost immediately went into back-to-back ctx. It did not follow any "textbook" timetable, and there was no way to even time them--they just immediately rolled one on top of the other. So knowing that it's unlikely I'll start that way again, I've been quite concerned that I won't know.

[photogirl]

I hope nobody minds me jumping in as a newbie! I've been lurking for a couple of months and find this site so helpful! I had TONS of contractions with my first pregnancy but the real contractions really felt different... they felt like menstrual cramps, didn't stop, grew stronger and other signs followed (bloody show.

[cravenab00]

with all 4 of my kids, my water broke first, and then labor. so i have to wonder, if i will know its labor, if for some reason, my water doesnt break first this time. which i am hoping for.

[tayndrewsmama]

I hope you don't mind me posting here. I got all excited when I saw your post, so now I want to be subbed in hopes that you'll be updating things here.

I agree with the others. With ds I was 7 minutes apart and from there on it just didn't stop. It's definitely not a dumb question at all. With dd I had all back labor and that was completely different than what I had with ds.

Happy baby thoughts coming your way!

[onlyboys]

The key is

Longer, Stronger and Closer together!

Happy laboring!

[MCKH]

I had a couple of bouts of really uncomfortable, even painful prelabor with bloody show and contrax every 4-5 mins. It hurt - sometimes badly.. I wondered if it was labor, but after several hours it would stop and it didn't really *increase* in intensity.

Then I went into real labor. There was no question, I aboslutely knew it was the real deal. It was extremely intense; beyond my ability to think clearly and WAY beyond my ability to hold a conversation or do laundry. And it lasted for 15 hours

[transformed]

my MW told me to call her when the ctx are "60 sec long and 5 min apart."

I dont think thats a rule or anything...but at least a guideline.

I think you'll know you are in labor eventually....cause a baby will be born. kwim?

[starry_mama]

Originally Posted by transformed

my MW told me to call her when the ctx are "60 sec long and 5 min apart."

I dont think thats a rule or anything...but at least a guideline.

I think you'll know you are in labor eventually....cause a baby will be born. kwim?

Yea totally. I guess I'm just trying to figure out when I am supposed to call my DH. Currently they are painful, and a few minutes apart, I'm not timing them or anything. They continue whether I am sitting, standing, walking, bending, etc. No bloody show. (Which I never had with either of my boys) BUT........The same thing happened last week. And a few days before that. And No Baby.

[transformed]

Originally Posted by starry_mama

(Do I have one of those timer things like a turkey somewhere on my body that pops out when the baby is all done?)

my belly button has been reading "done" for a few months now. I think mine is broken.

[SheBear]

I've always subscribed to the "you'll just know" school of thought.

But I'm starting to wonder....

My current method of dealing with the random ctx (as well as the ones that seem to keep going, and going, and going) is to just try to ignore them. I figure that by the time I'm no longer able to ignore them, they will no longer be "just" bh ctx, KWIM? Last Friday night, I was just SURE that "this was it!" but I decided rather than waking dh or calling the mw, I'd drink a glass of water, then lie down and wait out 2 more ctx. Obviously they didn't come.

Wishing you the best and hoping that the "you'll just know" thing proves true--for both of us!

[mama2rey]

Originally Posted by starry_mama

Yea totally. I guess I'm just trying to figure out when I am supposed to call my DH. Currently they are painful, and a few minutes apart, I'm not timing them or anything. They continue whether I am sitting, standing, walking, bending, etc. No bloody show. (Which I never had with either of my boys) BUT........The same thing happened last week. And a few days before that. And No Baby.

Originally Posted by SheBear

I've always subscribed to the "you'll just know" school of thought.

But I'm starting to wonder....

My current method of dealing with the random ctx (as well as the ones that seem to keep going, and going, and going) is to just try to ignore them. I figure that by the time I'm no longer able to ignore them, they will no longer be "just" bh ctx, KWIM? Last Friday night, I was just SURE that "this was it!" but I decided rather than waking dh or calling the mw, I'd drink a glass of water, then lie down and wait out 2 more ctx. Obviously they didn't come.

Wishing you the best and hoping that the "you'll just know" thing proves true--for both of us!

I have the same exact experience. I'll have some really painful ctx and I lie down to wait out 2 more-or try to time them for an hour-and it never happens. I'm trying to be patient-what is encouraging is that things are happening-I am effacing, and I am dilating-so when the real thing comes, hopefully it will be quick. So even if it isn't the real thing (which it could be)-hopefully things are changing to get things going!