Contractions starting how far apart?

[Laurenmomma]

Just popping in from 3rd tri as I was induced with dd n it happened so fat I can't remember!!!

Just wondering when your contractions started (before waters went) how far apart were they and how long did they last and were they painful straight away??

Hope u ladies can prepare me!

 

[babylove719]

Mine started at about 12-14 minutes apart. Don't remember how long they lasted maybe 30 seconds or so....
I don't think they hurt IMO, more just uncomfortable, just enough that I couldn't quite sleep through them!
Good luck!!

 

[Laurenmomma]

Aww thanks for answering! Ur dd has a fab birthday haha x

 

[moomin_troll]

With my first I was induced n they were 5 mins apart. My second started natural and again5 mins apart n lasted about a minute. He was ready to come n wasn't waiting around lol they were pretty intense from the start

 

[austinsmom]

My started 8-7 minutes apart... but were erratic (8, 6, 7, 6, 8, 9, etc.). By the time 4 hours had passed, they were every 2-4 mins. They would last about 15-20 seconds. It was uncomfortable, but not 'painful'. Got to the hospital, and I was already 7 cm.

 

[RebeccaG]

Had some twinges then waters broke and when contraction properly kicked in (during coronation street) they were about 10 minutes apart but bloody painful! Wasn't until the morning that things really picked up enough. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy! x

 

[little_lady]

My started 8-7 minutes apart... but were erratic (8, 6, 7, 6, 8, 9, etc.). By the time 4 hours had passed, they were every 2-4 mins. They would last about 15-20 seconds. It was uncomfortable, but not 'painful'. Got to the hospital, and I was already 7 cm.

You're so lucky, I had a back to back labour - ouchy! It took me 6 hours to dilate from 4 to 6 cm.

As for the start, well I never got the period pain bit. It was like an iron band squeezing round my middle so I couldnt breathe. And thy were regular to start with, about 30 seconds long and five minutes apart.

 

[lindseymw]

I noticed mine when they were 3-4mins apart lasting 60-90seconds. They weren't painful, just uncomfortable. Mine never really got painful, annoying after having them for 12 hours.

 

[3011busyyear]

Every 5-6 mins from the start, not too painful but had to stand up with each one so no sleep for me. Started a 9pm, went to hosp at 9am next morning and was 3cm, 12 hours later induced, pethadine, epidural, still 3cm according to doctor, although midwife said 5-6cm. By 11 decision was made for csection, LO born at 11.45pm 15mins before due date!
Good luck to OP, keep your chin up whatever happens for you, I'd do it all again in a flash!

 

[Shortcake01]

My started 8-7 minutes apart... but were erratic (8, 6, 7, 6, 8, 9, etc.). By the time 4 hours had passed, they were every 2-4 mins. They would last about 15-20 seconds. It was uncomfortable, but not 'painful'. Got to the hospital, and I was already 7 cm.

You're so lucky, I had a back to back labour - ouchy! It took me 6 hours to dilate from 4 to 6 cm.

As for the start, well I never got the period pain bit. It was like an iron band squeezing round my middle so I couldnt breathe. And thy were regular to start with, about 30 seconds long and five minutes apart.

At last, someone else that felt like I felt! The iron band is so true! Mine was back to back labour but my waters broke first then 3 hours later contractions started, At first they were 15 mins apart and got down to about 5 mins apart but ended up with EMCS so guess thats not particularly normal. xxx

 

[XJessicaX]

Just in case anyone else is in the same situation and is googling for an answer (like I did!)-
From 20 weeks I had 5-10 minutely braxton hicks. I had to have a fetal fibronectin test done (pre-term labour test) at 34 weeks because my colleagues (all nurses/doctors) couldn't believe the amount of braxton hicks I was getting and literally ordered me off our ward to get seen too lol! I was all wired up and my tightenings were monitored for an hour and then they took a sample off me. I wasn't in pre-term labour but I was told that it was likely I had an irritable uterus as I was experiencing an abnormal amount of braxton hicks.

So I did wonder how my contractions would start as we are all told we would have them once every 40 minutes or so and then they gradually become closer together and this process would help us efface and dilate until we are then in 'active labour'....MY ARSE DID THEY!

Sigh...mine started at 5 minutely intervals. Just normal braxton hicks but with a sharp edge which gradually became more and more painful. Then they went to 3 minutely intervals an hour later. 4 hours after that I rang the labour ward who said to come in immediately as my contractions were so close together but then sent home again and told to wait as I wasnt dilated enough to stay in and that my LO was back to back.

I would say I knew I was in labour at 2200 Friday, and by midnight I was in pain. By 7am Saturday I thought I was dying, by 1400 I was slightly delirious from exhaustion and at 2140 Saturday night I had my baby.

 

[fidget]

Jessica - I had an irritable uterus from 20 weeks too, drove me mad!

My waters broke Tuesday morning, I woke up at 3.30 on Wednesday after a fitful sleep with a bad backache, didn't think anything of it as I was being induced in 6 hours lol, within a few minutes of being awake, my contractions were every five minutes. They were bearable but I had to stop what I was doing. Within half hour my mum arrived as they were tree minutes apart and labour ward said to get in nOw!! I was feeling the urge to push in the car, getting one contraption on top of another. Got to the ward, was examined and 10cm! Had about 1hr 45mins of contractions, and 1hr of pushing. Lucas arrived at 5.59am, three hours before I was due to be induced lol

 

[xxEMZxx]

With my daughter I was getting light contractions for a while every 5 mins and then they dissapeared. Then at 12am the next day they started again every 5 minutes and only started to get stronger and closer together at about half 1. By 3am I was in agony, got to the hospital and was 7cm at 3.10am and gave birth at 3.39am.

With my first though my waters went first and I started getting a few contractions every 10 mins apart about an hour later then they also went straight to every 5 mins. xx

 

[XJessicaX]

wow Fidget!!! Envious of such a short labour! Congratulations on your pregnancy btw!! You should camp out at the hospital for the last few weeks as your next labour will speed by!!!

 

[SillyMoo1983]

My contractions were weird ! I was wandering around Tesco thinking I just needed a poo! I didn't know they were contractions until later on after my OH had gone to bed (about 10pm) and I actually sat, looking at the clock and realised the pains were regular. They were 8 mins apart, then 7 mins apart, then 6 mins apart............they seemed to progress really quickly and after about 3 hrs (and a bath and a show) they were 3 mins apart and we popped off to the hospital. My waters broke in the car. Contractions were coming every minute or 2 at the hospital and they were all in my bum. They examined me (after what seemed forever!) to see how dilated I was and they felt a little baby bottom instead of a head so I was whisked off for an emergency c-section! She was born at 5.24am (with her feet by her ears!) after what I think was a 12 hour labour.

 

[mumandco]

Mine started off at 2-3 mins apart, I was able to shower dry and straighten my hair through them! When my waters broke the lasten longer and were more intense,it was only then we headed to the hospital! Got to the hospital and was found to 8cm. Went from 8cm to ready to start pushing in 5 mins. 35mins after arriving at hospital our baby Zack was born

 

[cat lover]

I was at home until fullly dilated but they weren't horrendous until about 11am, she was born at 4.30

 

[feedindy]

My water broke and my contractions were 5-7 minutes apart and 45 seconds long from the start. Not painful at all. I finally arrived at the hospital 8 hours later, with the same contractions. I got in bed and about an hour later I felt some more big gushes of my water and then contractions felt like I was being murdered every minute lasting 45 seconds. I was only 1 cm dilated and it was back to back labor.

 

[tu123]

Hey hunny

My waters broke at 6.30am. Contractions didnt start until 4pm. By 6pm i was 6cms.

There was no gap between mine. None of this "call the hospital when they are ten mins or less apart!"

They came on so fast and heavy i passed out from pain.

BUT, rather it was quicker than slower for me!

 

[Sarah lo]

Mine were 20 mins apart and lasted about 10 seconds at first I think. They started at 11pm and by the morning they were 10 mins apart lasting about 30 seconds.....then they stayed like that for 2 more days! On the third day I finally went into active labour.

I was fully dilated by the time I got to the hospital, thanks to the stupid midwife who thought i was still in early labour when I was actually nearly ready to push!

My waters didn't break till 25 mins before LO was born