Can someone tell me how to tell them apart? I've been having contractions all day yesterday and the night before. They started out as just a tightening/hardening of the front of my belly and didn't hurt. Just tightened like you tighten your fist. Well, as the day progressed yesterday they started involving my back. Now the front still didn't hurt it just tightened harder. My back is what ached when it tightened. I was in the L&D the night before and that is how we got the timing. They were 8-12 minutes apart in l&d. They released me and said they weren't regular, come back when or if they reach 4-5 min apart. So all day yesterday I did various "tricks" to try to stop them on their own. They stayed 8-12 min. in the morning. But in the afternoon, they were 3-6 min apart for 2-3 hours. The thing is, they still weren't hurting at all. Just a fist tightening. The tightening just got harder as the day wore on. Which is how the BH's are described in the books. They finally stopped after I took a hot bath and I didn't feel them the rest of the evening and only 1 when I got up to pee. And miracles of miracles, I only got up once to pee the whole night instead of 6-9 times!!! So I got some good sleep! I haven't felt any this morning either and I've been up for about a half hour now.
Now I've had diarrhea for almost 2 weeks now. Yesterday I felt like I had a to do a good poop but nothing came (which scared me thinking maybe baby was there...lol) I can't see myself dehydrated because I keep my big cup full of ice which I eat once it melts some and something to drink ALL day! I did lose my appetite yesterday. I had to tell myself to eat something. Baby is already low. All her movement is below belly button, so I don't really think I would be able to tell if she "dropped". Now the other thing that is weird is that when I feel my belly after my bath last night and now, it's hard. Harder than it was. What is that? So am I going into preterm labor? Am I dealing with prodromal labor? Is it false labor? Can someone help me out here??
I've never done this before, so I'm no help... just wanted to send good wishes in your direction, that either these contractions stop already, or otherwise turn into real labor. I'm sure it has to be really frustrating to have it all be unknown!
I will be 37w tomorrow and have been dealing with that since 35w but a lot of my contractions ARE painful. I have also had blood show and diarrhea, I guess I don't really have any advice for you... How many weeks are you? I figure all of this must have something to do with being on baby #4 because by all accounts I would qualify for being in early labor for like the last 2 weeks.
If you are pre-term I would just keep an eye on it and try to get lots of rest, fluids ect.. If they get stronger AND closer together for a hour or more I would go back in.
Well, according to wikipedia... prodromal labor and false labor are the same thing. Preterm labor refers to either premature birth or prodromal labor. So.. it seems like they are all the same thing. I have had none of the above so can't really help you in that regard. Good luck though, it sounds like you are on the right track!
I'm 33 weeks now. I had my second baby at 35+5. Which is why I am so worried. This is really early and baby if born now, would spend time in NICU. I am keeping an eye on them. I can't really be completely bed ridden to the couch yet, but I am spending most of the time on the couch.
Originally Posted by southernmommie
I'm 33 weeks now. I had my second baby at 35+5. Which is why I am so worried. This is really early and baby if born now, would spend time in NICU. I am keeping an eye on them. I can't really be completely bed ridden to the couch yet, but I am spending most of the time on the couch.
Yes that would make me nervous.. After dealing with it for 2weeks now I am dilated close to a 4 and I would guess at LEAST 50% effaced if not more. So while technically it is "false Labor" it is getting things done.
Well, I don't know, but I had something similar during my last pregnancy. Lots of contractions that weren't regular (but hurt!), even one night my contractions were regular and got down to 3-4 minutes apart. They were not painful (but they weren't very with my first when I actually was in labor), and then they just stopped. I had diarrhea for days, though I must be getting close, but nothing. It was another week or two before I went into labor, and I wasn't even dilated after all that!
I remember reading somewhere, I think it was a Dr. Sears book? He said that a lot of women like to take one last pregnancy picture before going to the hospital and he tells his patients, if you're smiling in the picture, it's too early to go to the hospital.
But of course, it looks like you still have a little while to go, so it probably wouldn't be good to wait so long if you did have to go to the hospital! I still think the pain thing applies though. It's probably best to just keep an eye on things, and take it easy (if you can!), then go in if the contractions start to get painful and more regular. I would guess it's just your body warming up a bit and getting ready though.
Sounds like prodromal labor to me. While you may still not go into labor for awhile, your body is still "getting you ready" and may have a faster labor when you DO go into labor. Perhaps you'll go in a few weeks, instead of getting to 40 weeks. That's my best guess.
With my last two babies, I started the exact kind of prodromal labor about two weeks before they were both born. Of course, I was already full term (both born at 39 weeks exactly) so I was walking and trying to get things to progress too. If I were you, I would probably try to do as much bed rest to slow things down as possible and let baby grow a little more.
Originally Posted by MandyB
If I were you, I would probably try to do as much bed rest to slow things down as possible and let baby grow a little more.
This was my take on it. With husband gone and no family able to come and help, I can't really go on complete bed rest, but I do as much bedrest as possible and get my 7 year old son to do as much as he can to help me out.
They have started back up today. I haven't written down times yet. But now I am getting more of the feeling that I had when in early labor with my last one. Not quite painful, but there still. I am going to wait until they get to the point of some kind of pain AND around 4 min frequency. Otherwise I will just take it easy on the couch for a few weeks until I hit my 36 week mark and then I'll get back to walking my son to and from school again. I can handle if its prodromal labor and I won't go into labor, but the thing is I'm not so sure.
Can you get your hands on some Natural Calm magnesium? Also drink a quart of water as quickly as possible and then lay down with a second quart of water. It is too early IMO for this to be occurring. The mag and all the water should relax you uterus but if you have 5 contractions and hour for 2 hours after trying that then I think you should go back in.
I hope you're doing well and sleeping peacefully right now! Here's my advice, based mostly on what my midwife has told me for my similar worries:
You need to address the diarrhea b/c it may be CAUSING your uterus to contract by irritating it rather than being a sign of preterm labor. My midwife pulled me off my cal/mag supplement, told me to avoid cow dairy, and eat easily digestible foods. Your digestive system is getting squished so it has little tolerance for hard to digest foods.
Second, if there's any chance you're dehydrating from the diarrhea, you should be drinking something like Recharge with electrolytes. Dehydration can cause contractions. If you can't get recharge, mix up water with lemons, salt, & baking soda. I can look up the proportions if you want.
Third, like you said, rest as much as possible!
The herbal tincture that I take every night now is called Skullcap. It helps you sleep safely AND has the added benefit of calming down contractions.
Hope some or all of that helps you!! Sorry if my language has too many "shoulds," just trying to get the info. to ya.
Thank you for all that info. Yesterday, they seemed to calm down on their own. I was tired most of the day so I napped a lot. The kids occupied themselves and played with each other most of the day which was helpful for me too. I still had a few major contractions but they weren't as close together as they were the day before. So I agree with most of you that say that it's prodromal labor. I can see how it can tire you out fast though. They hurt just enough to take your mind off of what you are doing and make you take notice, but not enough to put you into real labor.
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