can you still be in labor?

Question

My friend keeps having baxton hicks in one week she went from 0 to almost 4 cm. I keep telling her she should call the doctor because baxton hicks or not you could still dilate and at five you have to go to the hospital and she doesn't believe. I had my son with baxton hicks, I went five days with them went to the hospital and ended up being in labor I would have off the track contractions and they would stop for and hour or two then start up. They finially induced me after a day, but they were considered baxton hicks right because they won't consistence. But her mom is telling her baxton hicks can't bring on labor and you can't dilate from them and she doesn't go to the doc again for another week, plus she is techanically 3 weeks early this another reason she doesn't believe me. Please let me know so I can show her the answers

Answer 1

I went from 0 to 10 in under 12 hours with both of my pregnancies. My contractions were irregular or non-existent, my daughter was 3 weeks early and the nurses thought I was not in labour and tried to send me home. My lovely princess was born about 3 hours later, after 20 minutes of regular contraction. If I had waited for my contractions to be regular, she would have been born on the side of the road, or travelling down the highway in an ambulance!

Answer 2

Whether the contractions are real or not, the fact is that the body seems to be preparing for labor. The cervix is dilating, and will continue to do so faster and faster unless by some fluke it will stop..... She must rest and make sure that her feet are higher than her body, drink alot (at least 6 pints of water and juice a day) and avoid stressful situations. If she dialtes any more, take her to the hospital - brackston hicks can tunr quite suddently into real contractions, and she is already at an advanced stage... And, yes, she can have the baby even if she is 3 weeks early - I was 11 weeks early..

Answer 3

I was having braxton hicks contractions as they call them, but I too was dilated. Do the contractions hurt. My dr told me that even if they are not consistant, if they are painful and you are dilated, then you are in labor. I went in on Wednesday night at 11:30 PM was dilated to 1 with contractions that were 1.5-2 minutes apart. I went like that until 2:00 AM Thursday morning. I asked for an epidural and by 6:00 AM, my contractions were completely gone. But I was dilated to 3. I stayed at 3 all day and about 1:00 PM Thursday, they start pitosin on me to induce labor since I wasn't having the contractions to make me dilate anymore. At 6:00 PM my dr. came in and broke my water. Finally I started dilating more and at midnight I was at a 5. By 3:00 AM Friday morning I was at 7. At 3:30 I felt the need to push so I called the nurse in and I was at a 9. 3:45 I was at a 10 and the dr did not get there until about 3:55. My son was born at 4:02 AM on the 2nd of June, 2006. I pushed twice and that was all. I, too, was 22 days early when I went into the hospital but had him 20 days early after 33 hours of labor. My son was perfectly healthy. If the contractins are strong and they last for about 45 seconds to a minute, even if they are not regular, then get her to the hospital.
It is also good to walk. That will make the contractions more regular. The day I went in, I went to the mall at about 6:00 and walked a mile. By 8:00, I was having pretty good contractions. I couldn't even tell you that they were painfu, but I could feel them, like I could feel my stomach getting tight. Take her in, the worse that could happen is they send her home.
Tell her I said good luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

well braxton hicks contractions are not real contractions, as you can have them throughout pregnancy, however they can show signs of the onset of labor. it would definitely be possible for her to go into labor early, but i wouldnt say they she is in labor perhaps. her body is just getting ready to be in labor. you can be dilated and not be in labor, i was 3 for a whole month before i was induced to have my daughter, and ive heard of relatives that have been at 5 for a couple months, it all depends on your body and what number pregnancy it is. if i were her i would at least call the doctor and ask if they would like to have her come in. and how does she know shes at 4, did her doctor measure? if they did and sent her back home, then they must not be worried. but if she tried to measure herself or something i would not rely on that. before i had my son and my daughter i had these same pains for quite a few days, and i thought, man if it continues this is it, and then i would go to bed, nothing would happen. and i had gone to the doc and was dilated to 3 and they still didnt do anything, if her body isnt ready ready yet to go into full labor, dont rush it, you dont really want to be induced, 80% of inductions end up in c-sections cause the babys not ready, maybe with your situation you were actually in the beginning stage of labor and were ready thats why they induced. i would say call the doc see what he says and just take it easy.

Answer 5

Well she should absolutely talk to her doctor, and know exactly when the doctor feels it's time to go to the hospital. My midwife says, "Some women take hours to dilate, and others take days or weeks. As long as the mother and baby are doing well, and the doctor or midwife feels things are going well, then it's usually a sign that labor is going to be faster and easier."

But she needs to talk with her doctor and be sure this is the case. The doctor is getting paid to be the expert advisor here, whether she calls or not, so she might as well call.

Answer 6

If they are braxton hicks contractions t hen they should stop if she does something different then whatever she is doing when she is having them. When did they tell her she is almost 4cm? In most states you can go to the hospital to labor and delivery and get checked out and they will not charge you if they do not keep you. It won't hurt to get checked out.

Answer 7

Braxton Hicks contractions don't actually dilate the cervix...they're not strong enough to.

Answer 8

She should at least check with her doctor, definitely. You can dilate and efface long before you go into labor, which doesn't neccesarily mean anything, but she should be seeing her doctor every week anyway if she's that close to delivery.

Answer 9

It sounds like you know about this. If she doesn't believe you you could tell her that not going to the hospital could put her child in danger.

Being three weeks early is not that early. SHe should go!

Answer 10

Has her water broke? if not than she needs to stick to her weekly doctor appointments. Besides she will now when she ios ready.. I knew when i was my water broke and i didnt have any contractions. so really no need to woprry about ti unless her water breaks.