Since about 6 pm or so, I've been kinda crampy in my upper abdomen. Kinda feels almost like my tummy is cramping, like with diahrea {but no sign of this thankfully} or gas that is stuck. It's fairly constant, but does worsen/get better every little bit. Nothing rythmic though. It's hard for me to tell if it's just my upper abdomen or the whole abdomen because I have decreased sensation in my lower abdomen due to a back issue.
Might be having a little bit of extra discharge too - it's hard to tell. I put on a pantyliner, and we'll see how long it takes to soak.
My lower back was twinging a little earlier, but nothing bad.
Could just be that I got really really mad earlier today {long story, but a store tried to cheat me out of $$$}.
I'm measuring ahead {36 weeks at visit lasty week}, so I dunno what to think.
Baby is moving okay, but does seem to more more when the pain/crampy isn't quite so bad.
hummm...The best way I can describe it was it made my belly feel "pointy" when real contractions started.. my Braxton hicks made me feel like I had PMS cramps..but I dont have any discharge...Do you think its Leakage or discharge? Discharge is normal during contractions, but if your leaking Id call your caretaker..
For me there's never been a difference between prodromal labour, bad BH contractions and early labour - which is why I pay it no heed unless there's no question in my mind.
Id love for you to explain the difference, as with DD#1 I was induced with a epi at 4 cm's and barely felt any pain, just the "pointy belly "feeling..
It sounds like maybe you're feeling a bit, well, crappy? But not labor-labor.
I had a scare this weekend with contrax every 6 minutes apart lasting 20-30 seconds for about three hours. I did freak out a bit but without seeing anyting getting longer/closer together, I did let everyone else continue sleeping. LOL.
But I did feel like it was a bit of a refresher on 'what labor feels like'. For me, anyway, a bit crampy does NOT describe labor contrax, it's like a band across the belly tightening and sort of pushing down. Some low sensation that is hard to describe but again not crampy, instead rather sharper. The whole body is really involved and during a contrax it is really hard to docus on anything else. Oh, yeah, the other thing I remembered --- again ymmv -- it's like a charley horse! At least in terms of the overwhelmingness of the sensation. Not so bad in the sense that those muscles are actually doing something useful instead of just hurting for no reason.
So, anyway, what you describe doesn't sound so much like early labor as, well, over exertion and maybe constipation/gas? Are you feeling better now? Remember to walk (or sit, or change position, or take a bath) and take some sips of water, some deep breaths, and give your body some time to show you what's going on ... I can so much more easily see, after this weekend, how mommas end up rushing to the hospital wayyy too early b/c they think 'this is it' when really the body is just going through a practice run.
OK, I totally threw my own story in there but I hope that was helpful anyway!
My midwife told me that you can tell when its real labour when the contractions become closer together and more intense in feeling to the point where they last about 55+ seconds and you can't talk during them. If only it was like in the movies when your water just breaks, things would be so much clearer!!!
I'm having some cramping like that and it's gas/constipation. Moving around seems to help. Getting on hands and knees to take some pressure off things. Deep breaths, relaxing, and lots of water.
Not in your ddc, but wanted to share. Labor felt like period cramps and by the time they actually hurt (couldn't talk through them- transition about 20 mins), I pushed for 20 mins, and baby was out (for both kids). With ds, dr. told me to not come in until cnx. hurt, thank God I didn't listen! I went when I was still comfortable, got comfortable there and he was born. They say that you "know" when you're in labor... that's true! There's no mistaking it when it's the real thing.
Could be early labor. Could be something else.
My water just broke an hour and 20 minutes ago. Amazingly I've not had any hard contractions this time (unlike my other two), but I think it's likely due to baby being posterior.
But I'm feeling that upper abdomen sensation like you're describing. I had the mucus/discharge yesterday afternoon and the day before. My back was a bit twingly.
But I had diarrhea about 1/2 hour after my water broke, pretty normal to "clear the pipes" so to speak.
Maybe it'll be soon for you too! Hooray!!
Originally Posted by RainbowsMum
My midwife told me that you can tell when its real labour when the contractions become closer together and more intense in feeling to the point where they last about 55+ seconds and you can't talk during them. If only it was like in the movies when your water just breaks, things would be so much clearer!!!
:
Well, all three times it's been like the movies for me.
:
But then all of a sudden the contractions come on full blast, which hasn't happened yet. But I'm waiting until 6am to start walking around so that everyone else can get some sleep.
Originally Posted by littleteapot
If you can talk during the contractions, it's not labour.
With DS I had ctx for a few hours before they got to that point & my total labor was only 9 hrs. Fortunatly my water had already broke so I knew it was the real thing. I am worried this time I won't be sure unless my water happends to break again, because my ctx never established a regular pattern either.
Originally Posted by maciascl
With DS I had ctx for a few hours before they got to that point & my total labor was only 9 hrs. Fortunatly my water had already broke so I knew it was the real thing. I am worried this time I won't be sure unless my water happends to break again, because my ctx never established a regular pattern either.
Yes but if you went in bright and early in your labour your chances of receiving pitocin and other interventions skyrockets. So, don't go in until you can't talk through them.
Wow, Veganf I'm jelous!! It'd be great to go into labor and be certain!
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