am i in early labour?

Question

i am due in 5 days and midwife says it could be anyday now i have been having perios like pains all days about every 2 hours or so and they have been geting a little worse in the last few hours im also getting back ache please could you get back to me and let me know what you think. thank you

Answer 1

With my first child I had periods of pain all night every few hours. Called the doctor asking what to do. His answer was have the baby. I told him this did not feel like labor. It went on all day along with a back ache. After almost 18 hours the pain started to (for lack of a better word) centralized, and I could begin to feel the tightening of my uterus. Eventually had to call him back to say he was right. Had my daughter at 9pm that night.

So. Your 5 day away due date is only a guestimate, by what you told the doctor/midwife. It probably is labor, but don't do anything until you absolutely have to. If you are scheduled to have the baby in a hospital, you DO NOT want to hand around there for an extra 10 hours. Start timeing the legth of contraction and time in between. When they get to 10 minutes apart it is time to call the midwife.


Oh with my first child. I went to the hospital when the pains were 7 minutes apart. (4pm) My water had not broken . The doctor had to phyically break it at 8pm.

Happy baby day

Answer 2

Don't listen to David. He's never had a baby or felt that kind of pain before. When I went into labour with my first daughter, I was having the same pains that you are having. Felt like I had my period and my lower back ached. If the pains are about two hours apart you have some time. When the pains start getting closer together, about 10-15 minutes apart. Then you will know for sure. For help with the pain have a warm bath (not too hot but warm enough to help with the pain)and walk a lot. Thats what I did and it kept my mind off the pain. I hope this helps and congratulations. You will be just fine!

Answer 3

This sounds like early labor, or prodromal labor. Stay at home, relax, sip tea or light snacks, and enjoy the fact that your baby is probably coming.

If you get up and move around and they stop, they probably aren't real, as real contractions get stronger when you walk around.

Head to the hospital when they are five minutes apart regularly for two hours. If they are five minutes apart for an hour, then ten minutes apart for a half-hour, then five minutes apart again for the last half-hour, stay at home until they met the criteria. This is a guideline to keep you from going in too soon and being bored watching the monitor. Keep in mind that some women never have a regular pattern, so do go to the hospital when you can't talk or walk through the contractions, even if they are irregular. Go to the hospital if your water breaks. Pay attention to how much fluid there is (a gush or trickle), and what color it is (clear, greenish, etc.)

Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

you could be but if so it is early labor that can actually take weeks before active labor starts. I would just relax or go for a walk don't stress out about it . hospitals won't admit you until you are so far along most don't even want you to come until contractions are 5 mins apart or water breaks.
if it makes you ffel any better (well maybe worse i'm not sure how you want to look at it) i have been in early labor for a few weeks. I have been having contractions for weeks (everyday)now that come every 10-12 minutes lasting about 2-6 hours and as of monday dialated to 3-so you have no way of knowing how far you are from active labor until you get closer.
either way you don't have much longer. good luck

Answer 5

When you are in true labour chances are you will know.

I hope you are not alone?

If you are make sure your doctors number is handy.

IF it is possible have someone with you or on call during this stage on a regular basis.

Is the hospital close?

Labour can go on for days and sometimes hours for some women as their contractions stay widely spaced apart.

When you are in true labour they will come faster and harder.

You water(membranes) may or may not break so this is not always the best warning sign.

Do not stress yourself , take the time you need to relax and stay rested for the task that lies ahead.

Child "labour" takes work but worth all the effort. : )

I hope this helps and never be afraid to call your physician, no matter what your concern. Some women have been known to go to the hospital several times in a day.

Answer 6

Probably in preparation mode, bad news is that this can go on for days/ weeks. I've been having the same for two days now, but mine don't last beyond morning usually.
If your pains consistently get stronger, last longer each time then you will probably be best phoning the labour ward just to warn them. They'll probably ask you to stay at home until pains are closer together and consistently strong.
Good luck. I'm excited for you.

Answer 7

you could be, but it could be your body just warming up and gettin ready.
I was 5 days early with my second child, but i started with contractions and then they stopped for 2 days and started up with a vengance. You only really are classed as being in labour when you 4 centimeters dilated, and if your waters havent broken, if you did go to hospital, they'd send you straight back home again.
Try havin a bath, if its not labour and just braxton hicks, then that should help. If it doesnt go for long walk, or do what i did and just run up and down stairs to get everything started properly.
Also ( dont want to sound crude) but having sex brought it on alot faster also.

Good luck

Answer 8

If this is your first pregnancy and your not really sure.... the best bet is, try calling your local hospital's labor and delivery phone number. Most Dr.'s can tell if you are in labor just by listening to you talk over the phone. If you are feeling pain in your lower back and it wraps around to your lower abdomen... sort of like an electric shock... you just might be in labor. I would recommend 1. calling your labor and delivery and 2. taking a warm bath. A warm bath will usually ease your discomfort if it is indeed false labor.

Good luck to you! And congrats!

Answer 9

Yes you could be, quite likely as you are so close. Labour starts with period like pains and lower back ache, your waters may break too but not always. Call your delivery unit for advice straight away - my baby arrived in 25 minutes after arriving so good job I did!! They will be able to advise you and may well tell you to either visit or ring back at regular intervals.

Answer 10

It sounds like you are in the early stages of labor. I am not medically speaking though just a Mom who has been there twice.
I would call your doctor and let them know what your experiencing, see what they say. They could want you to go to the hospital for observation and be sure that you are in labor, plus if you are then they might just keep you so you can progress in comfort knowing you are there and everything is alright.