I think I'm in labor (?)

[Bookworm]

Mamas who have been down this road, please offer any feedback you have! :)

Okay, so I woke about three or three thirty, and my whole abdomen and my thighs were incredibly achy. I had a few contractions, but I've been having those for weeks, so no big thing. But these did feel a little different. I felt wired and unable to sleep. At first I wondered if I was vitamin defficient and that was causing my legs to ache. I decided to get up and have a snack and take a bath to try to help with the pain. When I was about to get in the bath, pink fluid suddenly ran down my leg. It's almost seven now, and timing-wise, my contractions are still erratic, but they do hurt in a different way than the other contractions I've been having for weeks. I've had a little more pink stuff in my underwear.

Is this it? I can hardly believe it is, since this is the day I wanted her to come, if I could pick any day on the calendar. Surely this is too good to be true? Then again, these contractions do really hurt, and I guess all this achiness is ligament pain.

[aishy]

Sounds like early labor for sure. I had a couple of labors where I mentioned in my birth story that the contraction pain would start in my thighs, and as soon as my legs hurt i knew one was coming on. Keep us updated as you can ;) or just post a birth announcement. LOL

so nausious this morning,
aisling

[allgirls]

sounds like it!

I never started out that way but everybody is different!

Good luck!

[Bookworm]

Thank you, Aishy!

One more question for anyone up and about this Saturday morning...

I'm wearing a panty-liner so I can keep an eye on whatever I'm leaking, and it looks sort of deep beige at this point. My gut tells me this is okay, since it's about the same color as my discharge after my last cervical exam last week, but I know color can be a sign of meconium. I don't FEEL worried it's meconium, but can it be normal for amniotic fluid to have a pink or beige or even light brown tint to it? Thanks Mamas! What would I do without you?

[allgirls]

it may be tinged with the mucous plug as well...

I have never seen meconium fluid but it was described to me as dark coloured fluid.

how much are you leaking?

[Bookworm]

Not leaking a ton. More like a trickle. The first time was maybe an eyedropper full down my leg. I've soaked one thin panty-liner since then, and that was maybe 4:30 in the morning.

[allgirls]

My discharge has been a beige colour for a while..I could see a light beige colour just being some fluid mixed with that.

How are the contractions coming?

Are you birthing at home or going to the hospital?

[Bookworm]

Thank you so much for being there for me! Yeah, my gut tells me this is a very slight amount of blood mixed with clear fluid. We'll hope that's so. I am birthing at a hospital, but am staying home until much, much later. I have a doula and a naturally-minded family practice doctor, so I'm hoping for a drug-free and pleasant hospital birth. I'm going to call my doula at about nine. It's Saturday and her kids are a little older, so I figure they might get to sleep in on Saturdays.

My contractions are not evenly spaced, but most of them are enough to stop me in my tracks. They're different from what I've been experiencing for weeks. If these aren't labor contractions, I can't imagine what would be! But then again, they are still erratically timed.... not sure what that means for me.

[allgirls]

That's the reason I asked..if you were birthing at home then you could just call your mw and ask...

I figure if you are birthing in the hospital you still want to stay home as long as possible.

I trust your instincts that this is just a bit of blood/discharged and you have a slight tear in the membranes...leaking slowly. Maybe it's up high and the head is blocking it coming out.

How exciting!!!

Try to get into deep relaxation...use your breathing or coping method, light some candles, set a mood...

also rest if you can...hard to do with the excitement of it all but it may take a while.

eta...my contractions never got regular with my last birth..they were all over the place to the end..but the intensity increased so I knew they were real. Those "regular, perfect, 5 min apart contractions are sometimes a myth"

Good luck!

[zonapellucida]

OOHH!!! how is it going??? have they regulated???

[starlein26]

popping in to tell you that ds passed meconium before he was born and i noticed it when my water broke...it looked like pea soup. medium to light brown...

[allgirls]

popping in to tell you that ds passed meconium before he was born and i noticed it when my water broke...it looked like pea soup. medium to light brown...

That helps...is this what it looks like Bookworm?

[Bookworm]

That does help! Thank you! My friend had meconium in her waters, and she said the same thing, greenish brown. This is pinkish beige, so I think we're all good. Now I've got some mucous mixed in with it. I think today is my daughter's birthday! My contractions still aren't long or regular, but some are as close together as two minutes, so I guess I will just be one of those people...

[starlein26]

how exciting!! i wish you the very best!

keep walking so that she can really push on your cervix!

[onlyboys]

Mec stained water can be light green, dark green, brown, darker. It's not hard to mistake, really. If you are having pinkish fluid, then I think it's your sac of waters!

Yippee! Congrats!

Enjoy labor! Take one ctx at a time and stay on top. You can do it!

[allgirls]

That does help! Thank you! My friend had meconium in her waters, and she said the same thing, greenish brown. This is pinkish beige, so I think we're all good. Now I've got some mucous mixed in with it. I think today is my daughter's birthday! My contractions still aren't long or regular, but some are as close together as two minutes, so I guess I will just be one of those people...

Ok for me I think the irregularity of the contractions was due to position..head wasn't down on the cervix properly...maybe do some nice belly dancing, hands and knees(no squatting until you get baby in position) and no reclining. Try different things until it feels right to you..you will know! and of course a nice romantic stroll with honey around the neighborhood

Your doula will help you with this I am sure...

Relax, breath and follow your instincts...you know what to do...trust yourself and your body

And one piece of advice that has helped me the most in labour...

use the time between contractions to refocus and talk yourself through and prepare yourself for the next one. Don't let anyone interrupt that time too much..it's as important as not being bothered during a contraction.

:Peace :heartbeat :Peace :heartbeat :Peace

[Bookworm]

Ok for me I think the irregularity of the contractions was due to position..head wasn't down on the cervix properly.

Wow, this is helpful. The baby was posterior, and I think still is, so this probably explains alot.

[jemaco]

I hope things are progressing well for you... keep us posted!! :D

[lovnbnhome]

Hoping you get to meet your little one soon!! :throb

[Artisan]

Best wishes for a safe and speedy delivery!!!!

[operamommy]

Keep us posted as you can! We're all thinking of you!!!!

[phnx0221]

Wanted to stop by to say good luck! How exciting this is, I'm so happy for you! :D
:throb :throb :throb :throb :throb :throb :throb :throb

[Rach]

Congratulations!! I think this may be the beginning! :)
I hear being down on all fours may help the posterior position!

[elizaveta]

Woo! Good luck! :down Hopefully you'll be holding your little one soon!

[allgirls]

Thinking of you!!

[Aka mommy]

:love Just wanted to send you good and loving birth vibes (you got me all teary eyed just out of sheer excitement for you and your first birth day!!!!)

[Worldshakerz]

So exciting! Sending peaceful birthing vibes your way.

[kidspiration]

How wonderful! Sending you peaceful labor vibes! *~*~*~*~*~

[RachelGS]

Hope you're laboring peacefully and that that little one is safely on the way!!!

[andreac]

Hope you're laboring peacefully and that that little one is safely on the way!!!

:yeah: :love

[MotherWhimsey]

:throb hoping that everything is going well or has goine well and you both are safe and happy. :love