Im 38 weeks pregnant and have been having tightening of my stomach pretty often and when it does i get this pressure feeling but no pain. Is this contractions? This is my 2nd but with my daughter my mucus plug came out and i went to the hospital and they told me i was having contractions every 5 mins but i couldnt feel them. I havent lost my mucus plug yet and water hasnt broke. Im also 2cm dilated and 50% effaced. My doctor also said next week if i havent had the baby she can strip my membranes. Wondering if anybody had that done and went into labor and how soon? thanks
Thank you ladies. They did let up last night and havent had that many today. Maybe just braxton hicks. But i would love to do the sex thing since thats what sent me into labor last time with my daughter but my husband passed away in a car accident in June so i cant do that this time. Im just really ready to have this baby since im hurting so much and eager to find out what we are having since we decided not to find also. Thanks again ladies.
Yes. They are contractions. How exciting! Please keep us posted and best of luck you, fam and baby!
Sounds like braxton hicks to me. They're practice contractions, but could turn "real", so keep track of them. If they start to get closer together and lasting longer, then I'd get checked.
I had my membranes stripped about 4 times with my third baby with NO results - I still had to be induced at 42 weeks. But the woman who went before me during one apt had her stripped and was back 30 minutes later because her water broke at the mall!
Yes! However this happened for me for several weeks....with my third. Good luck!!!! Let us know okay :-)
it sounds like contractions to me im 30 weeks pregnant right now and i am starting to get them here and there do not let them strip your membranes they did that with my first pregnancy and it was awful and it didnt help so then they had to give me cervadil and pitocin which makes contractions 10 times worse then if it happens on its own they did this when I was just at 37 weeks I had a horrible birth experience this time around i took control over everytjing and got a new dr I told him i do not want to be induced unless its extreme emergency
I had this when I was 38.5 weeks as well. Every 4 minutes to be exact. Tightness but no pain. My doctor wanted me to go into the hospital to be checked (it was 4am) just to make sure, since they were so consistent. I was told I was MAYBE dilated to 1 and every 3 minutes; go home because it was just braxton hicks. Actually the nurse was very rude and yelled at me as though I was an uneducated child instead of the woman that I am. I went home and they eventually stopped (after I took a long nap). I was in the hospital the very next morning with the real deal going on and delivered later that day. Prior to this, I had only heard of braxton hicks being irregular contractions, but apparently they can be regular as well. Have you had bloody show yet? I had bloody show 2 days before my false contractions and 3 days before I gave birth.
Yep, they are definitely contractions!! Contractions will include a strong pressure & tightening. I only lost my mucous plug with 1 of my 3 kids. You should be fine for now, but if they get stronger & closer it'll be time to call your doctor!
I had my membranes stripped with my youngest. I was in labor, but wouldn't dilate from the contractions. I was in the hospital for this reason, thinking I was gonna have my baby! Since my contractions weren't productive, they decided to send me home, but first they stripped my membranes! This was on a Saturday night. Monday came, went to my OB, and still nothing. I ended up getting induced that Friday morning.
Hang in there...your time is right around the corner!
Good luck!!
yup sounds like it, not everyone looses their plug so dont be looking for just that. good luck!
I'd let the baby and your body work as it should and not consider any interventions (membrane stripping, etc) until AFTER the due date passes. I know the last 3 weeks are the hardest!!! But you don't want a baby to be forced to be born before it's ready.
could be braxton hicks contractions. every pregancy is different so you could be having contractions and not realizing it. you could always go in to get checked just to be sure. my OB always told me she would rather i come in 10 with nothing going on than to not go in once and that be the time I should have. good luck and Congrats on your new little one!
sounds like Braxton Hicks to me (esp since there's no pain) but given that you're dilating I would suspect contractions as well. I've had my membranes stripped - look it up before you make a decision. I wouldn't do it if I could do it over again. It did absolutely nothing for me, was painful, and has a high probability for risk of infection for the baby (and you). Throughout my many pregnancies I also tried walking, chopping down a tree and cording firewood, all the Bradley procedures and even pitocin. The ONLY thing that worked for me was acupuncture. Evening primrose oil helped mightily in effacement so you may want to try that as well. If I remember correctly specialists have about a 65% success rate with the acupuncture. (no, even pitocin didn't work for me.....seriously.....) If all else fails (and it's probably the LAST thing on your mind) you may want to try intercourse. I would try and make sure your DH hasn't ejaculated in a day or two (three is perfect) so the semen can be as potent as possible. That helps effacement as well. Do NOT take castor oil.
Good luck!! Sounds like baby is on his way soon!
Do not let them strip your membranes. Just wait it will happen.
Trust me: Do not strip the membrane. Wait until your due date to start medical intervention, if you feel you need to allow any at all. Stripping the membrane is not guaranteed to do anything but be very uncomfortable! My doctor did it without my permission and I was in pain and bleeding and it did not speed up anything!
