The waiting game is so frustrating. This week I started contracting. Was in the hospital and was given 2 shots to stop contractions. Cervix fully closed. I still contract, sometimes a lot sometimes on and off. I am 32 weeks and hope to go another 4 weeks at least. I just wanted to know if you had a feeling you were going into labor or something that tipped you off besides the obvious water breaking. Thank you for your responses in advance.

Hi hun. This is a tough question. True labour tends to start off fairly mild (almost barely there) and builds in intensity over a few days, sometimes sooner. It is less common, but not unheard of, for it to ebb and flow for weeks on end.

Your body is clearly doing something, but not enough to have an effect on your cervix, which is what counts. I had 24hrs of mild but regular cramps with my first, then all of a sudden from nowhere I was stopped in my tracks as the contractions stepped up a gear. That was literally only for a few hours and by the time I got to hospital I was already 3cms dilated. The point being they built suddenly in intensity and had a very definite effect. I 'knew' this was it because there was no mistaking proper labour when it happened.

The bh-like contractions I had constantly with the twins were very different. They could be pretty regular and intense, but nothing like proper labour. I know however that they would have registered on a monitor.

It must be frustrating and worrying watching and waiting like this. Pregnancy and labour is so unpredictable that you could genuinely stagger on like this for weeks yet. I would take heart in the fact that your cervix is still closed hun, that is genuinely a good sign and means that these contractions are more likely to be as a result of a tired, irritable uterus than labour. There are no guarantees that that won't change, but atleast for now there is no immediate 'threat'. Hope that helps. It's late, I'm tired and prone to waffle lol

Thanks for answering. Does having a tired uterus cause harm to the babies??

I went into labour at 30 weeks, no signs except loosing bits of my mucous plug. I went to get checked and was 1cm dilated and contracting, but no pain. Was given steroids and drugs to stop labour, which worked but two days later I was 2cm dilated with my cervix completely thinned. I managed to keep them in for another three weeks, when there was no mistaking labour. X

WOW that is awesome you were able to keep them in for 3 more weeks!!!