32 weeks and contractions 3-4 min apart

[StephtheHiker]

So last night I was having painful menstral cramp contractions that were coming every 2.5 min to 4 min apart, lasting a few hours. Since it was just me and DD, a teething toddler, there was no way I could call and go in. I tried lying down and drinking tons of water but it didn't seem to slow them down for another couple of hours. I went to bed early but they were still waking me up until around 4 am. (Started around 4pm)

Anyway our hospital here isn't one to do unnecessary procedures. One ultrasound per pregnancy etc etc and I'm not a worrier. When I called this morning they just told me to drink more water. I know it wasn't labor but really? I'm worried that it caused softening/dilation since I'm only 32 weeks but they seem unwilling to check. Maybe I shouldn't be concerned then? Anyone else have an issue like this?

 

[Qmama79]

I wld go in anyway. The least they can do is a quick check up. Just think about yourself & baby here, not hospital policies or nurses with attitude.

 

[pinkpassion]

Our hospital really doesn't like to do checks because it can irritate the cervix. When I was there last Sunday I was having contractions every 3-10 minutes, sometimes closer sometimes further apart (not why I was there but coincidental finding ) the nurse said especially with 2nd + pregnancies they really look for worsening pain with consistent contractions and many women will experience frequent unprogressive contractions throughout their pregnancy or especially in the last trimester. Maybe that's why they didn't seem too concerned?

 

[Marumi]

I have been having this for a while every two nights. Contractions can even be 30 seconds apart and I had around 30+ recently.
I usually just wait it out. Our ER's are useless places. When I recently had back ache, nausea and worse pain with these contractions I went. The treatment was enough to not want to go again. I was basically told not to be whimp when the exam hurt and to pull myself together when I said I can't sit upright during an NST because my kidneys hurt (I have a chronic kidney infection thanks to careless doctors in pregnancy)....to top it off I was sat in the hallways for over an hour to wait for an US when I said I can't sit for that king I am on bedrest ...

I won't go anywhere unless I actually have ny waters break, lose my plug, bleed or become unconscious...
My cervix and all is totally fine btw. with these frequent contractions (4cm +), I am not dilated, plug intact...Not even my OB had any advice other than "magnesium" which I am already taking.
Nothing seems to provoke them for me either.

 

[StephtheHiker]

Ok good to hear that it seems pretty common! I had this around 25 weeks but I was carrying around 2 toddlers too often and it never kept me up at night. I'll just wait and see if it happens again. Thanks for your reassurance. I feel like I'm getting used to a whole new uterus ugh

 

[DaisyDreamer]

I got that occasionally early on and even now and then hey just fizzle out. Same as you, I could lie down, change positions, drink water and nada.

The only thing that worked like a charm each time was taking a nice warm bath and drinking fluids. If they are not getting more intense and longer and more frequent, there isn't much to worry about.

They make these standards for what is and what isn't "normal" but in reality each body varies innumerably. For some, having 6 BH in an hr is a regular thing like me. If I went in every time I had that the hospital staff would know me by name at this point. Just try to feel out what is normal for your body

But always remember when it comes to baby, better safe than sorry

 

[DaisyDreamer]

Double post

 

[StephtheHiker]

That's the thing, lying down and drinking water didn't help and they kept me from sleeping, or would wake me up. Though I do think the fact is that after 2 hours, they stopped getting more frequent and more painful so maybe that's the big difference between contractions that system soften/start to dilate and just for the lolz contractions...
The other part that made me worry is that for the week before my dd was born, I had very similar symptoms but never called the midwife because I figured it was false labor and I was 38/39 weeks so I didn't worry about it. Just figured I'd know when it was real. When I went into my routine checkup the day before my waters broke, I told the midwife what had been going on and she said they had helped dilate me slightly and efface. Great news at 39 weeks but not what I want at 32! I guess it only progresses things when you're ready?

 

[DaisyDreamer]

Well your BH could very well be stimulating the cervix, just slightly, not enough to dilate cervix fully or drop baby. Lots of women can hang out at 2-3 cm for weeks in third tri and even go overdue! Not saying you will, just pointing out it's nothing to worry about if they feel like they could be dilating/effacing your cervix. If they consistently fizzle out you will be ok.

It's especially true for second+ time moms to experience symptoms sooner as they are more sensitive to their bodily sensations the second+ time around

 

[ruby83]

Geez my OB would have me in there in a second! I would go in for sure! 32 weeks is very early and if you are at risk of premature labour they can give you something to slow it down and steroid shots. Go in for sure and demand to be throughly checked!

 

[xdxxtx]

I have been in Prodromal labor (pre-term) since 33 weeks along. I'm still up all night contracting every 5 minutes or less. It's my due date today. I got checked on Thursday and was 1 cm dilated and not very effaced. Apparently, these contractions did not cause any problems for me. I did freak out before, though. I just focused on getting to 35 weeks without delivering my baby. Now, I realize I didn't have anything to worry about, but some folks aren't as lucky!

 

[StephtheHiker]

That's extremely tiring!!! My goodness I'm so sorry. I haven't had any more problems since I posted a couple days ago so I guess it was my uterus just trying to spice things up a bit.

I give your baby permission to decide to exit the premises now!