I am the father and my wife is not sure about the signs of labor?

Question

She is 38 weeks...We have been to the hospital 3 times already in the past two months. But here recentely she has been having contractions that are so painful that she caint talk during them or if I talk she yells at me and she has also been having sharp pains in her legs. every time we go to the ob/gyn no signs of dialation but my mom told me she never did with my and that makes me wonder if she could be in the early stages of labor but do the same as my mom, u know? i dont know im only 21 and this is my first time of being a dad and i really dont know whats what!!

She also has been having discharge but more than normal and she says that there as been just a little trickle going on for a day now not a lot but when she is standing or sitting there is a trickle, but its not like she as to go to the bathroom because it happens even after she goes! there is usually some strong contractions in or around this time as well

Answer 1

It is very possible she is. When she can't talk during a contraction that is a good sign they are real. Not sure about the sharp pain in the legs. That sounds like a nerve is being pinched by the contractions of the baby is on one. The signs of true blue labor are pretty simple. They get stronger with time. They will get regular. They will last about 45-40 secs. Braxtons last much longer - even up to 2 mins. Start timming them. When they start and when they stop, and ask her if they are weak at first and then the muscles tighten more and more and then ease up in the same fashion. Have her try to take a nap. If they are real they will not go away as false ones do. Have her walk around...do they get stronger while walking?
Has she lost her mucous plug? When she goes to the ladies room is there any blood when she wipes? Is she feeling any fliud leaking? Even small amounts while she is standing. If this is happening it is possible her water has ruptured and the babys head is blocking the fluid, so it will only trickle while she is standing. Another good way to tell is to put some latex gloves on ( you can buy them at wal mart or the dollar store ) Insert your pointer and middle finger into her vagina gently. Is there any blood on your fingers after doing this? Is there an opening that one or both finger tips can feel? BE very careful doing this. If there is blood that is a sign she is dialating, the blood will be from small capilarries breaking in her cervix ( normal ). If there is blood get her to the hossy. And don't tell them you did it, they'll yell at you lol. They think they are the only ones qualified to stick fingers up there! I had hubby do it with my second though.
If this is her 1st she most likely has plenty of time. When they get to be about 5 mins apart consistenly for about an hr. Call the hospital. If she is 38 wks this could be it. I had mine at 37 wks and and 38 wks.
There is a very real chance she is in labor. But unless the contracts are regular they will prob send you home. So start timing and ask her if they are getting stronger. If she is getting chills and getting very cold, that's another good sign she is in labor. When they get to be about 5 mins apart for an hr. Call the hospital and have her checked.
Congrats on the lil one!

Answer 2

Well, if she is having a trickle that means her amniotic fluid is leaking and usually when this happens they need to monitor the pregnant person. Once the sac starts leaking or the water breaks that means bacteria can get in and affect the baby. I know when I was in labor the nurses insisted I wasn't going to have my baby anytime soon, but even though it was my first pregnancy, I felt that I was going to have her, and even though I wasn't dilated very much, that changed pretty quickly. You need to tell the Dr. or the nurse that she is leaking fluid, they might take you more seriously then. After all they can't let the fluid run out, the baby still needs it to survive. Call her OB/GYN or the maternity ward. Good Luck Daddy.
P.S.- Don't insert fingers or anything else into her to see if she is dilated, like one of the answers suggests, since the amniotic sac seems to be open, it's important that everything be sterile, you don't want to introduce any kind of bacteria. I'm serious on this, the people at the hospital have sterile gloves, the ones you can buy at the store are NOT sterile. Plus you won't really know what you are feeling for anyway.

Answer 3

Have you timed the contractions? How far apart are they?
Has her water broke yet? Has she lost her mucus plug? Does she have any blood when she wipes?
When was her last doctor's appointment and was she dialated then and to what point?

Call the doctor and give him all the information that I just asked you. S/he will tell you to either go to the hospital, or wait until contractions are xxx minutes apart.

Good luck and congratulations!

Answer 4

Don't be embarassed about false alarms, and yes, she is 38 weeks, and those contractions sound pretty strong to me. even if her water hasn't broken etc. make your way to the hospital. Better to be sure than sorry, and she could be quite advanced unless the contactions are longer than 10 mins apart.
Good luck and God Bless!