How am I supposed to know???

[anstar]

DH asked this morning, "is it baby time yet?" I had been up since 5am (I usually get up at 9 or later), and timing contractions to 10 minutes since 7am. All I could say was, "How am I supposed to know???"

With both boys, I was induced. I have NO IDEA what the onset of natural labor is supposed to feel like - in many ways, I feel like a first time mom.

So, now it's 3 in the afternoon, and still having regular contractions every ten minutes. They don't hurt - just a little achy as in, "I'm going to be sore tomorrow!" I don't know what to think. I'm certainly getting impatient!

[amaayeh]

Have you tried varying your activities to see if that changes the pattern?? I have heard that if it is the real thing, you should walk, bounce on an exercise ball, do squats, etc. and that will help.

I hope it's not just prodromal labor!! Labor vibes!

By the way, my dh is asking the same thing. It's REALLY annoying.

[Organicavocado]

Go to sleep! If they are labor, you'll be glad for the rest. If they aren't labor, you'll probably know when you wake up.

[cmi]

I'm in the same (or very similar) boat. I have had way too many distractions to actually time them during the day, and my activity varies a lot and sometimes it's kind of hard to identify what is a contraction and what is just the discomfort of having a baby head burrowing into my pelvis (at my MW visit yesterday she said she could feel only two fingers worth of head above my pubic bone).

Also, an incident at the park that would have normally just upset me had me sobbing on the way home. Could it be hormones? Or just frustration over the uncertainty of whether today is the day or next week is the day?

With my first, my water broke and contractions started thereafter, so it was pretty obvious. I had none of this gearing up business.

Best of luck to you! Hope things get clear and obvious soon.

[paphia]

I don't know that I would bother sitting around timing them if they were 10 minutes apart. I'd drink a small glass of wine and take a shower and try to get some sleep. This time I was in such denial that when I started timing, they were already 3-4 minutes apart.

[anstar]

Well, they're still typically 10 min, though some as close as 7. I already took a shower and a nap. DH had to go to work this evening, so I'm stuck with two boys and their bedtime routines, plus ctx. They're getting more uncomfortable, but since all I know is Pit ctx, I don't really know how much pain is good, or likely. That's part of what's frustrating me.
I can't sit for too long - my pelvis doesn't like to try and stretch while I'm sitting on it. :P Which means I'm up, cleaning things....
Oh, and did I mention that since I knew gender with both my boys, I don't have a stitch of anything that isn't blue? No green, no tan, and definately no PINK. What the world am I going to do if I finally get my girl?

[Incubator]

I also say GO TO BED! if you are in labor or will be soon, not only will you need the sleep, but you're definitely know for sure when they wake you up.

[anstar]

Fizzle

So, I went to bed. It was hard to sleep at first, but I'm rested now, no baby, and no more ctx. *sigh* I had to tell myself that nobody is pregnant forever.

[nursemom2]

i felt the same way. i was induced with my first 2 and was really hoping for a homebirth with my 3rd. i treated this as my "first birth" as well and was dying to know how i would "know". as 41 weeks approached i just about gave up hope and then i woke up in labor! there was no question about it. ctx felt just like when i has pitocin with the other 2. i had thought that they would be a little easier but they were very intense and four hours after the start he was born in our kitchen in the pool. it was wonderful. stay positive it will happen for you.