labor coming soon?

Question

i am almost 38 weeks and last night i was having what felt like braxton hicks contractions but more frequent and with pain not bad pain but i could def feel it, this morning i woke up with it again but not as bad as last night and i keep gettin sharp pains up and down my back also, i have had an increase in discharge (( could that mean anything)) please give advice this is my first pregnancy and im a nervous reck

Answer 1

Okay, first, take a deep breath.

Here's how you know if you're in real labor. If you're laying down/sleeping and you get a bunch of contractions, get up and walk around. If they stop, you're not going into labor, probably not today, anyway. If they keep going, though, you've entered the first phase for sure. Likewise, if you're moving around and start getting contractions, go sit with your feet up and drink a glass of cool water, maybe have a light snack. If the contractions stop, it's not real labor.

You'll know your contractions have progressed enough to go to the hospital when you have them and you can't talk while they are going on, nor do you want anybody to talk to you until it's over.

I know you are nervous, but there isn't any way to predict when you will ACTUALLY go into labor. Not only is every woman different, every pregnancy is different. Very, very few women have an established pattern they can trust even for themselves. I had 3 babies and all three were different when it came to labor. You just can't predict it.

Answer 2

Hey, I'm in my 38th week, and I've been contracting for about a week now - which means it probably started around the same time as you:)

It's my first pregnancy also, and yeah, it's hard to tell exactly what's going on, or when this baby will really come. I even had a false alarm when the contractions were 3-5 minutes apart for a while.

I'll just give you the words of comfort my doc gave me yesterday: it's better to be in the hospital with a hundred false alarms and have the baby there, than to be too nervous it's not "the real thing" and end up delivering at home.

It's our first time doing this - our first time seeing how our individual bodies take this; we need to give ourselves permission to be a little clueless.

good luck :)

Answer 3

I am 38 weeks, and dilated to 3 cm as of yesterday. I feel your pain! :) I think you should go to the doctor. Especially if your pains are felt in your back. Your body's doing something, and you'll feel better (emotionally, anyway) if you know what!
Good luck to you!

Answer 4

I was constantly going just for a curtsy check to see if the activity was causing me to dilate or not. You may want to get check.

I wish you the fastest and easiest labor ever!!

Answer 5

sounds like labor will be starting any time now. call ur DR and see what he or she says