She woke up at 1:00 AM with contractions, has had them for over 8 hours, and they are way stronger then they usually are. She is 35 weeks pregnant. We called the Dr. who told her to wait and see if we get to every 5 minutes for 1 minute long contractions. She is feeling them in her back, has been moving around, and took a bath, but they are still there. Is this real labor, and if not can Braxton Hicks last for 8 hours consistently?
2007-01-03 01:30:09 · 6 answers · asked by thedeiningers 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Pregnancy
This has come up a bit, so to let you know this is not our first, just our first that is early. Our son was born one hour after his due date.
2007-01-03 01:57:56 · update #1
It could be labor, but it could also just be braxton hicks. One way to tell is to time them. Remember the way to time is from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. Real labor contractions will remain at a steady pace, regardless of if she's lying down, in the bath, or walking around the house. Occasionally they will jump around for one or two contractions while you are switching activities, but then should settle back into a pattern. Braxton hicks has no pattern at all. The first two you time could be 5 minutes apart, the next, 8 minutes, the next, 6 minutes. That's not real labor.
If she could stay at home as long as possible, that's better for her. A trip to the hospital would mean lots of poking, monitoring, and uncomfortableness! It's also been shown that moms stay more relaxed in their own environment, rather than them getting nervous when they walk int the hospital. If she is in early labor, since we have a "fight or flight" instinct en-grained into us, she might stop labor altogether.
If you were seeing a midwife rather than a doctor, she would probably tell you to have a half of a glass of wine. This usually does the trick to calm an irritated uterus and won't harm the baby.
Encourage mom to eat light foods, drink lots of water (dehydration can also cause contractions that are annoying but aren't real labor), and rest since she was probably up all night and she might have a long day ahead of her.
Good luck, and if you have any doubts, call the doctor's office back or go to the hospital!
2007-01-03 02:03:45 · answer #1 · answered by mcdaid36 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Right I would keep checking the clock,first baby's take their own time ,if this is the first but keep timing and do what the doctor says ,as long as nothing else I would wait to see as the Dr. said ,5 minutes a part, I never had no braxton hicks ,the pain 7 to 8months were called the baby is settling in the birth canal
2007-01-03 09:41:22 · answer #2 · answered by elizabeth_davis28 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
is this you first child? Well,At the beginning of the first phase, she will feel soft contractions every 10 to 15 minutes. Each one will last about 20 seconds. At this moment, the opening of her cervix should be around 2 centimeters. Progressively, contractions are going to increase in frequency as well as duration. When she feels her contractions every 5 minutes and they last 30 to 40 seconds, your cervix will estimate 4 to 5 centimeters dilation.
As time goes on, contractions get stronger every 3 or 4 minutes and last close to 45 seconds each. At this moment your cervix is 6 centimeters dilated. When you feel your contractions every 2 or 3 minutes lasting approximately 50 seconds, your cervix should be 8 centimeters dilated.
Transition is the phase in which contractions occur every 1 to 2 minutes and last one minute; You are about to reach 10 centimeters of dilation. At this moment you will have a short time to recover between one contraction and the other. You will also feel swelling around your vagina and the urge to push. However, it is important not to respond to this urge until the doctor approves.
2007-01-03 09:53:31 · answer #3 · answered by nubian child 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would just take her to the hospital. If they aer getting stronger then I would say its real labor. Dont worry though. She and the baby will be fine at 35 weeks. I had my baby at 34 weeks and he was 5lb 2 oz and very healther. We both went home 2 days later. But yes that definitley sounds like labor to me.
2007-01-03 09:33:48 · answer #4 · answered by Blondi 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just take her to the Hospital. Don't wait to be every 5 min. If you get there do you think the doctor is going to tell you to leave.(of coourse not). She will probably feel much better there.
2007-01-03 09:42:49 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go to the hospital, they will hook her up to the monitor so you dont have to time them, better to be safe than sorry!
2007-01-03 09:39:12 · answer #6 · answered by kaelynnsmommy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋