Is it possible to swing in and out of labour?

Question

Is it possible if your waters havent broken yet but you just keep having contractions, not necessarily regular but very persistant? If so, how long have you been in that phase for? Many thanks for your answers x

Answer 1

No, it's not possible. Once real labor has begun, it'll stick. Although that doesn't mean contractions will be regular. It just means your cervix will continue to dilate and the baby will come soon. With my second labor, I had irregular contractions for about 4 days, and usually only in the evenings or night time. That was false labor. Then once the contractions started coming during the day, even though irregular, they were more persistent and more painful. But to be honest, I still wasn't convinced I was really in labor. I kept waiting for it to be like my first labor, which was very regular and very painful for about 2 days. But it never happened with my second. To be honest, my contractions got regular when I was about 6 cm dilated, and that was only 1 hour before I delivered. I never would have made it to the hospital if my water hadn't started leaking.

Some women never get regular contractions, so when the majority of them are regular and when they're pretty painful, I'd go to the hospital. The worst that can happen is they send you back home. But chances are pretty good that by then you'd be far enough along they'd keep you.

Answer 2

With my first child I had painful contractions that made me go into the hospital everyday for a week. Every time they had to send me home still contracting every minute to a minute and a half because I was not dilating at all. I was stuck at 2. Eventually I went in and they saw me crying and figured it was time to admit me, once they did I had my baby in less than five hours. Now I don't know if that was because I relaxed more knowing I would have a baby no matter what or if I just switched to active labour on my own, but contractions can be present for a long time without progress. Just keep in contact with your doctor and go in if you feel the need. They will not think any less of you for being cautious.

Answer 3

Hi there. I have been getting contractions for about 3 months now. They are braxton hicks contractions, but none the less, the closer I get to my due date, the stronger they are getting.
I am over 8 months pregnant now, and they are very persistant and becomming more regular. I feel the baby moving down farther, so much in fact that I woke up last night as the baby was pushing down so hard that i felt my hips expand. She's trying to drop.
Anyhow, always talk to your o.b. on your visits and let him know how frequent your contractions are even if they are braxton hicks contractions. Because soon enough they could be turning into real ones and you could be dialating and not knowing it. Or you could be slowly going into a pre-term situation. Your water doesn't have to break in order to have contractions or dialate. Just keep an eye on them, if you get concerned, just make note of their frequency so you can discuss it with the doctor.. Good luck to you.

Answer 4

Usually, those are practice contractions. You will know real labor when you can't talk or walk through a contraction, and they are normally about 10 mins apart. They may not be regularly that, so don't go by that time for a set time. Just start timing them. When they get to between 60-90 seconds and are so strong that you can't do anything through them, you are in labor. Also, if you get up and walk around or take a warm bath and they go away, you aren't in real labor. It's false or pre-labor. I had this for 2 weeks before second baby was born, and they had to induce me. But if you feel like you are leaking fluid, or you feel like your water has broken, call your doctor or go to the hospital. If you think you really are in labor, go to the hospital. Trust me, if you are in labor they will keep you, or make you walk until your pattern gets more consistant. If you aren't in labor, the worst they will do is send you home. I know so many women who think they are in labor, go to the hospital and are sent home. Don't feel bad if this happens to you. It happens all the time. Good luck!!!

Answer 5

Just had to respond with a different view...I walked up until delivery, I found it to be much more comfortable standing and bouncing a little during labour. One of my hospital births actually happened in the hallway, as no-one believed I was really having contractions a minute apart...Every birth is different, even with the same Mom..with my last baby I had contractions on and off for 2 days, just remember every one you have is helping get your baby out!

Answer 6

Hmm with my last baby I had contractions like that for 2 weeks... very strong and hard but just not "active labor" they were like the test run.

You know it is labor when you can't walk or talk through your contractions anymore. Each pregnancy and labor are different. My daughter took me 23 & 1/2 hours from start to finish. My second took 8 hours total, my third took 12 hours from start to finish. And out off all my babies my water only broke naturally with my third child.

You will just know when your in real labor. For now hang tight and go with it. Good luck.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

braxto hicks contractions can go on for a while - jsut the muscles of the womb getting ready for the real thing - I think you will find you can tell the difference when labour starts properly - regularity and getting more painful and faster should give you the clue..!
Good luck and hope your labour goes well

Answer 9

I know my wife was having some contractions, not consistant with some being small and others a little worse, for a couple of days before her water broke....so I guess its possible....

Answer 10

well you can dilate 1 or 2 cm and it's no big deal, but if you're getting contractions within 5 mins of each other, better rush to the doctor