Early Labor Or False Labor please everyone read and share your opinions and Expieriences Im soo Confused?

Question

please try to answer as much as you can i appreciate it so much

ok so first off im 39 weeks and 4 days pregnant im due this friday on the 30th but my doctor said possibly the 28th so he gave me two due dates last night i started having contractions in my back for about 4 hours then they stopped. this morning they started again but worst for about 1 hour or so then they stopped now so far nothing Last week at my appt i was 2 1/2 cm and 80% effaced but that was a week ago so i dont know if i've progressed any could this be the beginning of early labor or since its coming and going is it all false labor (the contractions do hurt their sometimes in my back or front and back) if it is early labor if i walk alot today will it progress things more?

and did anyone else go through anything similar?
how long were you going through this?

Answer 1

Some call the 'Braxton-Hicks' some call it 'practice labor' but basically your body is getting ready to do it's thing. It is nothing to worry about, really. I kept having them with my first and I would say, "Mom, I think I am in labor!" and she'd say, "No when you are in labor, you'll KNOW", and finally I said ,"Mom, I think I am REALLY in labor!" so she took me for a walk...walking can either bring it on if it is the real thing, or settle it down if it is practice.
So... next time it starts happening, take a walk...with a cell phone, because you are pretty close!
I didn't get far before we realized, it REALLY was labor!

Answer 2

In some situations women can experience prodromal labor- where it starts and stops and then starts and stops again.
This usually doesn't happen for more than a few days and then labor finally kicks in and you are in true labor.

This can be very frustrating and annoying at times, but it's nice to know that true labor is just around the corner.

My advice would be to rest and relax as much as possible. Take a nice leisurely walk through the park, read a book, watch a movie, or just take a nice long nap.
Labor is also easier to get through if you are not tired or exhausted from trying everything in the book to get labor going. It'll come when it's supposed to come.

Pretty soon that precious baby is going to be here and it'll be a while before you can do any of those things without interruptions.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

Most often this is your body getting ready to go into labor. I'm sure at your appointment this week you'll find that you've dilated more and are possibly more effaced. It's not until the contractions start coming on a regular basis that it is real true labor. With what you've been going through, I'd say if they start up rather severely and last for more than two hours, go to the hospital and see what they say.

Answer 4

It sounds like it could be either one, actual labor can start and stop especially if it is your first. Just keep monitoring any contractions you have, time them, see how long they last from the beginning and end of one that will give you an idea of how long each individual contraction is and then time it from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next one. Also make sure to monitor if you feel any fluid coming especially if it is gushing and clear this would most likely be your water breaking. The most important thing to do in any situation is remember to stay calm and have someone with you when you do go into labor. Good luck and CONGRATS!!!!!!!!;)

Answer 5

My first son was due Feb. 29, and I was scheduled to be induced March 1 if he wasn't born. The day before I was to go to the hospital for my induction, I was having contractions (in the front) like crazy. Not painful--just felt like Braxton Hicks contraction back to back, and they were relatively closely spaced. About the time I was ready to call my doctor to find out if I should go to the hospital, they'd stop! This happened off and on all day Sunday. Monday I went in to be induced and found that I was 2 cm dilated (at my appt. with my ob/gyn the week before, I was barely a finger tip dilated), so even though the contractions weren't painful, they were still doing what they were meant to do. :)

Answer 6

I went through irregular contractions with my first for two full days. They finally got regular at about 6 mins for more than an hour when I decided to go to the hospital. I had my daughter 9 hrs later. I'm now overdue with my second and while I was having regular contraction3-4mins apart, and was dilated to a 3, when I went to the hospital they monitored me for four hours and nothing more was happening so I was sent home. The clue they told me to watch for specifically was painful contractions that make it difficult to walk or talk through (regular or irregular) and don't change if you walk, sit, lay or change positions. They specified that whether they were 2 mins apart or 10 mins apart, if they were bad enough that I couldn't "function" then it was the real thing. Good luck to you and hope for a quick delivery.

Answer 7

Have you lost your mucos plug yet? If so then yes you are in the early stages of labor I had back labor for the first 10 hours then the contractions got really bad for the next 19 hours.

Answer 8

when your contractions are coming about 4 minutes apart you are probably in labor. Walking will help
My 2nd child I sat around for an hour timing contractions before I called the obgyn. You should call especially if you live far away from the hospital.

Answer 9

Your body is getting ready to deliver your baby! With every contraction you feel, your cervix is dialating a little more! Although it is considered false labor, it still serves a purpose. When "real" labor begins, it won't stop until you have your baby!! You will know the difference! Good luck!!!!