Consistent contractions, not in labor?

Question

I am 37 1/2 weeks pregnant with my first child. Two weeks ago I began losing pieces of my mucous plug. My OBGYN said this is normal and could mean labor is still a little ways further.

I had my last cervical exam on Wednesday. To my surprise, I was 1 1/2 cm dilated! Since Wednesday, my contractions have been constant. They were too inconsistent to time the first day or so. I finally began timing them yesterday. Now, every 9 minutes, I get a contraction painful or not. This has lasted for almost 24 hours.

My mother said this is normal. She said they are "working" contractions which just means my body is close to the real deal. Honestly, it doesn't make any sense to me. How can I be having consistent, sometimes painful, contractions for days, while my cervix is dilated, and not be in labor???? HELP.

PS. Is it normal to be 1 1/2 cm dilated with your first pregnancy and not be in labor??

Answer 1

Your mom is exactly right. Your body is contracting for a couple of reasons--1, to thin the cervix, 2, to dilate the cervix, 3, to see if baby can withstand the contractions, and 4, to help prepare you when things really get going. You are in the very early stages of labor and it shouldn't be too much longer now. Yes, it's totally normal to be dilated a few centimeters and not be in heavy labor.

Answer 2

Yes this is normal. Some of us pass through pre labour painlessly and find ourselves 2-3 cms dilated before we begin labour. Others, like yourself have pre labour coming and going or even consistent for several days. In fact I have had one client who walked around at 4 cms for 3 weeks!
Our bodies contract throughout our pregnancy. We just don't feel it or we feel the occasional twinge or tightening.
On a very positive note, this is absolutely wonderful for you. Once you hit active labour you will have much less work to do. Every centimetre and every bit of thinning that your cervix does now means less work when the real deal hits.
People think that pre labour is "not doing anything." and they understandably become frustrated. Realizing that your body is doing all of the thinning, early dilation, releasing of essential hormones to your joints and ligaments is wonderful. You will be so well prepared when things start.
Now, my only concern is that you will get exhausted if these contractions are keeping you up all night. It is important that you have a nice warm bath, pillow behind your head and a rest.
Drink plenty of fluids, empty your bladder, and eat easy to digest foods. You are almost there!
You could always encourage things alittle. Roll your nipples between your fingers while in the bath, have intercourse etc to stimulate labour. If you are not ready it won't work or it will stop when you stop. But if you are ready you will slide into labour.
I know this is frustrating. Hang in there. You are doing great and the signs your body is exhibiting are fantastic.

Answer 3

To answer your 'PS', yes, I was dilated three cm at 28 weeks with my first one and I carried to term. Since I had started dilating so early, I was having lots of braxton- hicks in my second trimester of pregnancy. The way to tell a real contraction from a B-H contraction is that a real one moves from either top to bottom and vise- versa, or front to back and vise-versa. The fact that they are regular says a lot and you should consult your doctor, no offense, not your mother. Most doctors can tell you that medicine has changed quite a bit from when your mother was having kids and what she knew and was told back then is not necessarilly what and how they do things now. For instance, baby powder. Most grandmothers would flip out if you didn't put baby powder on that child's little bottom to help keep them dry. They have discovered that bay powder contains talkine powder and is very harmful to a child's lungs. Your grandmother wouldn't know that and would probably look at you like you were nuts if you tried to explain that to her. But I strongly suggest calling your doctor about the fact that the contractions are regular. He may want to see you just to time them himself and get you on a monitor. Good luck....

Answer 4

you are in early labor which can last for a couple of weeks. it is normal to be dialating and not be in active labor. i have been dialated to 2 for two weeks now and it is still gonna be a couple of days to a week before i give birth.

however, every 9 minutes is a pattern and anything over 6 contractions in an hour you should go to the hospital and get checked. if you do not go to the hospital at least call the maternity ward and talk to one of the nurses.

Answer 5

you are in labor just not active labor. There are 3 stages to labor. you will not need to be in the hospital until active labor begins. It is possible to dialate before active labor, I started dialating a month before I went into active labor. I was 5 1/2 cm before active labor began but....lol...it still took another 12 hours to dialate the rest. You will be fine your body is just preparing itself for the real deal. Congratulations!!!

Answer 6

each person is distinct. i harm a little bit at the contractions however now not like i used to be going to die. however given that i had them and sure they had been erratic,i calld the document simply incase. he stated are available i used to be precisely 4cent while i bought there and my water broke. in all honesty i did not relatively have soreness till the nurse made up our minds to suppose round in there. now that was once while the soreness kicked in.. that was once with my 2d child.

Answer 7

I stayed dilated for a week or more @ 1 cen. but if you are hurting it sounds like you are either in labor or seriously close!
So get ready!!!!!

Congradulations!!!