I guess I'm in early labour?

[Dingo1985]

I've been awake since about 11.30pm last night because at that point every ten minutes I was getting what I guess is contraction pain. Really achey around lower back and lower abdomen - not pleasant but not horrific. I kept trying to sleep in the intervals but by 4am I gave up.

Since then the intervals have been a little shorter - sometimes only 3 mins and other times 5-7mins. Not regular yet though.

Called the labour ward and they said to call back when I'd had a couple of hours where my contractions were 3 mins apart. They also suggested I take a couple of paracetemol - done.

I'm on the tens machine but not sure it's making much of a difference...

I don't know why but this just doesn't feel real. But it's been going on for 8 hours now so it must be, right?

 

[Parkep]

It sounds promising! Try going for a nice slow long walk! Dont wear your self out tho Hun! If you have a birthing ball get on there as well

 

[Dingo1985]

Thanks - things just seem so irregular at the moment but the contractions are pretty uncomfortable/painful.

In the past hour most intervals have been 4 - 5 or so mins but I've had a couple of longer. Is there any chance this isn't the real thing??

I'm torn between being excited, nervous and also not wanting to believe it's real incase it all stops and I have to wait more days.....

 

[Moolia]

Can you walk through the contractions? How long does each one last? I've had two episodes of false labour now not nice! Kept thinking it might be the real thing but after hours and hours both times things settled down again! Apparently true labour contractions are felt more at the top of bump and then travel down to lower abdomen and back and they increase in intensity over time so they should be a lot more painful than they were 8 hours ago. Also, false labour contractions can let up to 3 minutes each time and generally will vary in length from one to the next.

Hope that helps and hope this is the real thing for you Hun!

 

[RoxyRoo]

I hope this it it for you

 

[Serendipity40]

thinking of u & hope they start regulatin soon...i cant offer advice on slow ones as i had a couple hours of minor contractions on DS then few days later woke at 6am with waters tricklin & was in full blown labour by 7.30...the pain was almost consistent so knew difference from false labour but have read many stories like yours...so go with it & stay as active as poss..are you far from hospital?? as long as you are close enough you will know when to go in....the pain will start to feel much more intense...good luck xx

 

[Gems89]

Good luck!!

 

[Dingo1985]

Can you walk through the contractions? How long does each one last? I've had two episodes of false labour now not nice! Kept thinking it might be the real thing but after hours and hours both times things settled down again! Apparently true labour contractions are felt more at the top of bump and then travel down to lower abdomen and back and they increase in intensity over time so they should be a lot more painful than they were 8 hours ago. Also, false labour contractions can let up to 3 minutes each time and generally will vary in length from one to the next.

Hope that helps and hope this is the real thing for you Hun!

It tends to stop me from walking - but will see if I can walk through the next one. Each one only lasts about 30 seconds. How long did your two episodes of false labour last? This has been going on for nearly 12 hours now.

I think they have increased in intensity but I am using the tens which I think is fairly effective.

 

[Dingo1985]

thinking of u & hope they start regulatin soon...i cant offer advice on slow ones as i had a couple hours of minor contractions on DS then few days later woke at 6am with waters tricklin & was in full blown labour by 7.30...the pain was almost consistent so knew difference from false labour but have read many stories like yours...so go with it & stay as active as poss..are you far from hospital?? as long as you are close enough you will know when to go in....the pain will start to feel much more intense...good luck xx

I hope this is the real thing - eek! Not far at all from hospital.

 

[Dingo1985]

I'm really worried now that this is just false labour and I'm going through all this pain/discomfort but I'm not actually going to meet my baby any time soon . Booooooooo. Going to turn TENS off for next 'contraction' and also time how long it lasts for comparison sake.

How rubbish if it is false labour .

 

[Dingo1985]

Balls - gap since last 'contraction' is over 12 mins. Before that I was having them every 3-4 mins. This sucks big time. Maybe it's all over for now???

 

[new_mum]

Have a soak in the bath for a while, it will help with the pain x

 

[Dingo1985]

I'm still at home but things seem to be more regular. For the past two hours the contractions have mostly been between 3-4 mins with a couple shorter and a couple longer. Think I'm going to call the Labour Ward again and see what they say.

Contractions are definitely longer and more painful now. Ow.

 

[Dingo1985]

16 hours so far...

 

[Zou]

Good luck!

 

[MummyCat]

Good luck! Hope things are progressing nicely for you!

 

[holl1109]

Good luck xx

 

[Dingo1985]

Thanks - they've asked me to hold out as long as possible but don't think I can take much more...

 

[holl1109]

I was terrible when in early labour on the 3rd trip to l&d they had to admit me. You've managed longer at home than I did. Xx

 

[Dingo1985]

I knew it was going to be painful but it's indescribable and doesn't compare to anything. I'm going in now - fingers crossed they don't send me home and all goes well.