I feel kind of silly asking this question, since this is my 4th child... but every pregnancy is definitely not the same!! I am just shy of 37 weeks pregnant and i would say for the last month to month and a 1/2 i have been having the braxton hicks contractions, nothing regular, or even significantly painful, just annoying...
at my last OB appointment, i was 1 1/2 cm dilated and 60% effaced and i was just shy of 36 weeks then, my baby had dropped at 33 weeks and i definitely knew when he did, i actually felt it! my doctor confirmed this (and i had lost my plug too) so at least i knew i wasn't crazy! (my other 3 kiddos didn't really drop like how i would notice, until the very, very end) anyway... on to my question, the last 2 days, i have been having painful contractions, last night they were every 15 minutes apart for about 4 hours. i know that isn't soon enough to go to the hospital, but w/my history of fast deliveries, i really don't want to wait until they are 5 minutes apart, i am 30 minutes from the hospital :-) anyway, my back has been killing me lately, like really hurting all the time, and it is uncomfortable to stand and/or sit. i just want to lay down! and yes, i have menstrual like cramps ALOT! i am constantly feeling nauseous and don't have much of an appetite. this morning i actually had the overwhealming urge to throw up! i was in the bathroom dry heaving like i was in my 1st trimester!
i just need someone to reassure me! i don't know if this is pre-labor, etc... my doctor is currently in europe and won't be back into town until my 38th week. i have to meet w/another OB that his practice is in with, just in case i go into labor b/4 he gets back. he had made the comment that he would not have the other OB check me, unless i thought it was necessary... should i asked to be checked? i feellike this is my 1st pregnancy! i feel like i am always complaining, and i hate that. i just don't really know what i should do. any advice would be great. thanks!
well, i will be 37 weeks tomorrow, and have had a couple of days of contractions... sorry posted that above, well last night, i had unbelievable pelvic pressure and tons of cramping in stomach, back and butt area... i couldn't walk or sit even. i almost went into the hospital, but decided to go to bed instead, to see if that would help!! ( i had an OB appointment this morning anyway) I went to my appointment and I did go ahead and have the other OB check me, and I was and am dilated to a 3 and 60% effaced now, so there has definitely been progress made. This OB told me that i would most likely go into labor on my own in the next 4-5 days at the most! He made plans and told me that if i were to go into labor anytime b/4 sunday, that he is not on call, and that he would gladly deliver my baby. So as of right now, it is just a waiting game.
I would give the doc a call. I was always told contractions start at the top and squeeze all the way down but they didn't feel like that to me. It felt like I was gonna have diarrhea. You know the cold sweat, goose bump pain? Both times that how it felt to me and intense back pain. I was electively induced so I don't know about water breaking and all that but I wouldn't chance it! Good luck and congrats mama!
I am having a similar issue with my pregnancy. I think I'm 37 weeks along but my Midwife is using another EDD and states I'm only 35 weeks along.
Good luck!
Everything is so different with everyone and ever pregnancy I can just give you a quick funny story... My friend labored with her second child contractions were 11-15 min apart but she was in excrusiating pain. Kept calling to see if she should come in and they kept saying wait until the contractions are five minutes or closer together. Well about 3 hours later and contraction still around 15 min apart she told her hubby that she has got to go into the hospital...Well she made it to the front door of the ER and had her sweet little baby in the car!!" So she never had those spedifics they wanted her to have to come in. So if you are in enough pain just go in...worst case scenerio is they send you home. They are use to this! Don't worry what they will think!
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when in doubt go to the hospital and get checked!!!!! my OB when i was prego with my twins would always tell me that she would rather me go to the hospital 100 times with nothing wrong/going on then not go in 1 time and have an issue!!
This is not Braxton Hicks.
I believe, you should get all packed and ready for the hospital.
Does your Husband know this?
You need to either go to the Hospital with your symptoms, or go tomorrow to see that other OB/GYN in your Doctor's office.
All I know is, when I lost my mucus plug, I went into labor that SAME day. My daughter was born, 1-week early.
Your hospital is 30 minutes away.
I was confused: Which Doctor told you "I will not have the other OB check you, unless I thought it was necessary"? The Doctor on vacation or the other OB?
Regardless, you need to see a Doctor or the Hospital.
I do think generally when it's time to go to the hospital you "just know". But why not go get checked? I vaguely remember going every week for a check in after 36 weeks. Especially since you're not lockd up with no dilation, it was already starting and you lost your plug! It reminds me a little of my second birth, I went to the DR and saw whoever was available, and he discovered i was almost 7 cm and sent me to the hospital.
Go get checked out, your maybe may have every intention of 'being born on the 4th of July' (kidding) Seriously though, when we took our hospital tour we were told that it's standard procedure to put you the the baby monitor for at least 30 minutes before you are release go back home. Hope you have the best deliver ever :) and Happy 4th of July
Yup. Go get checked. That sudden urge to 'void' (vomit, diarrhea, pee) is often the first sign that your body is kicking things into high gear and wants digestion shut OFF in prep to send all the energy digestion uses to labor. For some strange reason, it's not often told to pregnant women (???, like we aren't used to the idea that being pregnant is sucky, and labor even worse).
If I were going to start a betting pool... I'd say 5 hours after vomitting, you'll be in productive labor.
Drink some juice or gatorade to feed your brain/ get your electrolytes back normal... and drive on in. If you don't want to pack a bag yet, fine, just make sure whomever will be joining you knows what to grab.
Each of my labors were different but with my second I had sign similar to you. I had the urge to go to the bathroom and felt constipated and and nauseated but nothing much other than that. I put off calling the doctor and washed my hair, changed beds, etc. Then slight pains started but like menstrual type and so I finally called and went in and he was born one hour later. That sort of labor is very confusing and can be quick so keep a close eye on things or go in for a check. I guess it's better to go in and be sent home than deliver yourself at home. :-)
I feel the timing of your pains is the best way. If you don't want to wait until the last minute and the hospital is 30 min away, I would go ahead and let the other OB check you....your having pain and you have the right to good care. About feeling like your always complaining? SO WHAT, if your husband or anyone else was carrying the extra load that you are carrying right now, they would be sort of moody too. I had many false alarms, but so what...better safe....RIGHT?
Blessings....
I would really urge you to get checked- especially since your hospital is so far away and you have a history of fast delivery. You don't want to be delivering in the car ;)
*btw- my 4th was born @37 weeks too
Congratulations!
It sounds like prodromal labor to me. Call your OB/oncall OB before going anywhere to let him know the speed of each new progression of signs, but since you haven't broken your water yet you're likely not in active labor.
Not to mention, since you were able to type without being in agonizing pain that's saying something. You know that if you can't talk or breathe or move through contractions, something is going on. You also know that changing positions when you have contractions can help ease the pain, but if that doesn't happen then there's something going on. You should keep your fluids up right until they tell you "get ready to start pushing." You don't want to get dehydrated this late in the game.
It sounds like your baby might be sunny side up and you could be starting back labor. I delivered all three of my babies that way. :-) Fun fun fun.
Your baby prob. is sunny side up which is causing the back pain. Google this and try the postures to try and turn baby. I am not familiar with the nausea as I did not have it with any of mine (I have 3).
I was dilated to 4 for a month with my 3rd, so I don't think that matters. I would start to think about the hospital when your contractions are fairly consistent and you are having trouble talking during them.
i would go get checked to be on the safe side and just go to your labor and delivery floor at the hospital, with your history of fast deliverys and him being ready to come out i would just go and get checked to just reassure your self if your in labor or if your in the beginning stages
My third baby who is now 37 didn't know what he wanted. My labor was never text book. We went to the hospital six times! On the sixth it stopped again but I was dialeted to 6 so they wouldn't let me leave. My pains were not regular. Well, they were regularly unregular. I had 7 minutes, five minutes, 7 minutes 5 minutes and then as I was putting diapers into the washer I nearly fell to the ground. The pain was that hard. When we got the hospital (time #6) my labor stopped again. It started again with the enema and then they were regular at 5 minutes apart. I was told by the DR to wait until my pains were 3 minutes apart. They never were. I had five minutes a part and then all the time and born. I am telling you this because you need to be careful. If I had waited like the DR said he would have been born at home. By the way five minutes a part is wonderful because you can sleep in between if your husband will allow you to. DH kept waking me up and telling me not go to sleep because I was in labor. I finally had the nurse throw him out.
With this baby Iwent 6 weeks after the mucus plug unplugged.
