labour question, from women who have kids please answer asap.?

Question

hi, i know to contact the doctor, but before i do i want to see if this sounds like labour or just braxton hicks. (i am only 3 mins from the hospital). I am in my 38th week. This morning i went to the mall and walked around and got a huge pain in the lower part of my tummy, and when i came home my underwear were wet, which has happened periodically thorough this whole pregnancy. I felt like i had to go to the bathroom really badly, and I did. I came home did laundry and house cleaning, but now my lower back is there, dull to sharp., non stop pain. i am having contractions periodically, nothing major, but the top part of the stomach contracts sometimes, but the lower part underneath my belly button gets sharp pains, and again i feel like i have to use the bathroom. I can also notice the baby has started to move more within the last hour or so, but i just ate some soup and s/he usually does move more after i eat. Does this sound like braxton hicks or the "real" thing.

Answer 1

Doesn't sound like the real thing to me. Particularly with the hospital right there I would wait until my contractions were 5 minutes or less apart before going over. Also babies tend to move less during labour.

Try drinking a large glass of water and laying down for a bit. That should slow things down.

If you are really uncomfortable consider drinking a half a glass of wine. I know you are thinking that you should never drink when pregnant BUT that is what my midwife said to do when I was in pre-labour for 3 days. Mind you it didn't work. However alcohol is a drug and can cause labour to stop, it is much safer than most other drugs used for that purpose and it is by far safer for you and the baby than induction or c-section which is what may happen if you are in labour too long.

Answer 2

Braxton Hicks go away when you stop moving. You said after shopping (moving) you came home and did housework (more moving). Lie down and relax and see if they go away or stay steady. Because you have back pain too, I'd say it's early labor. It can go on for a very long time, so don't get too excited! Time them and wait to go to the hospital when they are 5-3 minutes apart consistently over a period of time.

When I was in early labor, I didn't know it. They felt like sharp pains down in my abdomen occasionally, just like what you are describing. I thought they were braxton hicks coupled with gas. I never timed them even though they continued all that evening and through the night. I was scheduled for an induction the next morning and they informed me I was in labor, my contractions were 10 minutes apart. 8 hours later I became a mom:).

Answer 3

since the baby is moving alot s/he probably isn't settleing down in the birth canal yet, my best guess would be that you are having braxton hicks but if they don't slow down and stop call your doc anyway. your at the stage were your baby could come at anytime, so be carefull. The more you walk around the more likely you'll go into labor. I understand you wanting to make sure this is the real thing,(I went to the hospital 3 times before i had the real thing with my last baby), but trust your instincts it is better to go to the ER with false labor pains than it is to wait till the last minuet. If nothing else at least call your doc. Good luck with your real labor.

Answer 4

You are so close to your due date that it could be. I can not be sure that your water broke or not but if it did you will still be leaking a little (possibly with a little blood ). You usually will have to go to the bathroom more just before labor starts, almost diarrhea. It does sound like you will be going into labor soon, but it may still be up to 4 weeks away. Call the dr and do exactly as told. Try to relax and forget about things for a few hours. If you are in labor, you will know then.

Answer 5

for me, braxton hicks contractions don't hurt. they just squeeze and feel uncomfortable. labor is contractions and pain. if you have some pain that feels like cramping on the lower part of your abdomen, chances are you may be starting the process. If your back hasn't hurt until now, then it may also be part of it. If you have gushing of fluid, bleeding, or your contractions are regular (5 minutes apart) then I would go to the ER. Everyone is diff, so talk to your doctor. Be forewarned: I went to the hospital last wed in REAL labor, and it stopped... so you can have these irregular contractions for 1 to 2 weeks until your baby is born! Sounds like you and I are in the same boat..baby due soon too!

Answer 6

38th week - could be Braxton Hicks.

When I had my second child, the nurse midwife gave me a good gauge as to judging contractions.

1. If it is harder than pressing your finger on your lips
2. If it is harder than pressing your finger to your nose
3. If it is harder than pressing your finger to your chin
4. If it is harder than pressing your finger to your forehead

If your tummy during a contraction gets as hard as 3 and 4 - most likely you are in labor. I also heard, if you doubt the labor - it isn't the real thing. You will KNOW.

Have you dropped or lost your mucus plug? Usually birth with happen within 24 hours of either one.

Good luck!

Answer 7

I would just go to the dr or hospital anyways, just to get looked at. It wont hurt anything. Does it feel like cramps? Because everytime I have gone into labor I just start to get cramps onthe lower part of my stomach and it gradually gets worse and worse. Start to time them for a little while then call the dr so you can tell him how often you get these pains.

Answer 8

I guess everyones experience is different but for me I had regular...every 5 minutes or so contractions for 36 hours before my first birth & about 24 hours before my second...just tightening not tremendously painful til the end. With my first the waters broke on their own & it was pretty obvious. I didnt for a minute confuse it with urination.

Answer 9

Non rythmic pains sound like BH, but contracting in the fondus sounds like labour. Best bet to head to that maternity ward. Good luck! It wont be long yet.

Answer 10

evidentally you already have a pair of balls so telling you to grow some won't help. however, you obviously haven't found that balls have more uses than for just storing sperm. wow - sex and within 5 days she's confirmed pregnant? what a joke. what a dumb@ss you are for believing it. go meet her - in a public place. tell her you want a dna test. then tell her either she tells her husband the results of the test herself, or you will. either way your brother has a right to know his wife is a slut, and what a little @sshole he has for a brother. then go find yourself some more sheep in aussieland and hibernate there permanently.