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Pre Labor or Just Bad BH?


mommycat2244 wrote: Ok, so for 2 weeks everytime I go to the Dr, he checks to see if I am dialated, and for 2 weeks it's been nothing. I have another Dr's appt Thursday and I don't know if I should wait until then or if I should just call tomorrow morning.
Here's the deal:
For the past 2 days and now nights, I am having horrible cramps (menstraul like) as well as this horrible pain (and I hope that I don't get too graphic here) that feels like I need to go take a BM that runs through my entire back. I don't know if I am constipated or what, but I know that I can't go cause I've tried repeatedly. I've tried taking tylenol, 2 warm baths, walking, and nothing is making it any better. I'm not spotting or bleeding, just the normal discharge stuff.(Again, not trying to be too graphic!!)
I know that everyone here that has already gone through labor prob has had diff experiences (Diff body, diff experiences), but what in the world is going on here? I've had and can recognize BH because I've had that now for a while off and on, but it's never been like this. BH usually subsides or goes away, but this has been constant. I want to get up and do something simple like wash the dishes, but the pain just makes me want to stay in bed. (Yeah, when I tried walking, it was NOT fun at all!!! I think the dog took me for a walk instead of the other way around!!! tongue.gif )
So what in the world could be going on here??? Does anyone know?? Is this just a first time mother freaking out about nothing? Or should I go ahead and call the Dr right away??? I hope someone out there can help...thanks...

PrairieMom replied: i'm sorry, i don't know what to say. my perlabor was just BH that never went away. waht you are decsribing sounds to me like it could be a little perlabor kickin in. dunno.gif
I would call the dr in the morning just to have things checked out. you'll feel much better if you have some answers. hug.gif

luvmykids replied: If it were me personally I would call. Thats why they have doctors on call and I don't think it sounds like a stupid question when you're this late in the game.

For me, the difference btwn BH and true labor was this: BH felt more like tension in my tummy and like my tummy was trying to expand, more of a tightness, KWIM? Labor type contractions were definitely more like cramps with the backache and all.

Keep us posted!!!!!!!!! Do you have a name picked out?

Praying for you!

mommycat2244 replied: Okay, here's the update:
I went to the doctor after I called and he checked me out and said that I still wasn't dialated. He said that the baby hasn't dropped yet, but that he's about to (Hence all the pain and constipated feelings that I've been having-the baby is apparently pushing down) and that he suspects that I will be giving birth soon!!! soon.gif The Dr said that they can never really predict when it's going to happen, but if he had to, he would think sometime next week. I have another appointment set up for Monday so I guess I'm stuck at the house taking my tylenol and my warm baths until something further happens....
I can't begin to tell you all how nervous I am now. I've been on the verge of tears all night long because of the nervous feelings about not only giving birth, but also how good of a mommy I'm going to be when this part is all said and done.
Thanks to everyone who has sent me words of encouragement and their thoughts ans prayers.... hug.gif
And I will keep everyone posted if something else happens!!!

luvmykids replied: Oh Catherine,
I'm so sorry you're going through this, but we've all been there. You're going to be a great mom and its normal to worry that you aren't! What are your biggest fears/concerns? Maybe we can help you through them before the baby comes. We're all here for you, ask anything you want. Do you have any family close by?

Keep us posted and pack your hospital bag!

hug.gif hug.gif hug.gif
Monica

CAMSMOM1 replied: Hey girl, you had me fooled for awhile by your 1st post, I thought you were going to have a baby today!

Labor, it's a tricky thing! wink.gif I had some hard BH contractions that sent me to L&D. I found out that yes, I was having contractions, but it was because I was dehydrated and it wasn't actual labor. So after a few hours o monitoring me, they sent me home. I was so bummed! There I was 40 weeks pg, and I was leaving the hospital still pregnant! dry.gif I was at 2 cm dialated, but my contractions weren't consistant and after I drank a lot of water, like they told me to, I felt better.

One week later, I was being induced. I wont go into my labor story. But I definelty understood the BIG difference from my so-called painful BH and the real thing.

Here's a couple of tips, to help you understand if you are truely in labor:

1. Time your contractions. Make sure they are consistant and hard for over an hour. Make sure they don't go away or feel better when you are lying down, in the bath or drinking water. If after 2 hours of tough and consitant contractions, 3-7 min. apart, call L & D.

2. If you have back labor, like I did, your back will feel like it is breaking on your lower back. You can't sit down, you can't lay down or get comfortable. It feels like someone is squeezing your back with constant pressure and no matter how you squirm, it won't go away. Bending over kind of pain.

3. And of course, you water may break. I always wondered how would I know that it was my water breaking, and not discharge or urine? Bascially an easy way to describe it is: someone broke a dam of water and it is gushing down your leg. Yes, some women have a amniotic leak, but that is a constant leaking that doesn't stop like urine does. And after your water breaks, there is no longer any cushion for the baby, and you feel tons of pressure on your pelvic bone. To me, that was the most painful.

4. And passing your mucus plug. But many women DON'T pass their plug, or even realize when they do it. It's not a painful thing, or very obvious. So it isn't the best sign to look for.

5. And my OB doctor said that if you are able to talk easily through your contractions, then it's not a real contraction.

Hope this helps. Probably stuff you've heard or read about already. But it's a good reminder what to look out for. Labor contractions are hard to put into words, but when it does happen, you'll know it!

Sending ELV your way! Keep us posted!

Ann

luvmykids replied:
Kind of a funny story .... when I was pg with the twins, it was about 11pm and I went to the bathroom. I finished and got back in bed and realized my pj's were a little wet. So I woke up DH and told him I thought my water broke and he said "No, you probably peed your pants." It was so funny that he said that, because thats what I was thinking! We called the dr and he said to go ahead and go and by the time we got there my pants were completely soaked.

mommycat2244 replied:

Well, think that it really just hit me when all of this started (esspecially when I was sitting in th Dr's office) that I am about to be a mommy. And I'm usually the person who's scared of holding other people's babies because I'm scared that I'll break them in half. And now I have to hold something of my own that I help to create. I took all of my prenatal classes, and I prepared in everyother way I can think of, so why is this hitting me like this now???


My stepmother called me last night and asked how could I be in pain. That when all of her kids put pressure on her before they dropped, that it was uncomfortable, but not painful. All I could say was, I don't know. dunno.gif Then I called my mom crying and asking her why no one believed that I was in pain. My mom was soo sweet (even though now looking back at the conversation, she was also prob wondering why I was soo upset) but she told me that not to worry what anyone says because every woman is diff. She calmed me down and I started to feel like I was loosing my mind. That I just need to relax. Then the thought of if the Dr. really not being able to predict how long this is going to last crossed my mind. Then I thought how long is it going to be before I can go to the bathroom before they just induce me?(I don't think that I can go on feeling constipated for the next 2 weeks!!!) I asked my mom this, and she again told me that I was worried about nothing and that the Dr. would take care of me if something doesn't happen by next week. But I really don't think I can go on feeling like this. I feel like if it continues to get worse then I will just go to the hospital and explode all over everyone there so that maybe they'll just take the baby out of me and I can go to the bathroom and relieve all of this pressure. And yes it sounds SO gross, but I really don't know any other way to put it.

I know that I sound crazy, but it's like there are thousands of thoughts running through my mind, and there's not enough time to process everything. Thanks again to everyone on here that's been so nice to me in all of my craziness. hug.gif
I promise that I will try and get my old self back as soon as the baby's here!!!

huggybugboy replied: Ok, you sound exactly like me about 10 months ago... Really, its hilarious.

I was taking a poll with every one I knew who had babies, asking them if they went to the bathroom on the delivery table tongue.gif I know I know, really gross, but I was freaked out about it. And then of course, when I had Miles, I did and I knew it.

But giving birth is the most amazing thing you will ever go through. I ended up having a csection and it was pretty ugly, but still, I cant even explain it. When your little guy is born, and you hear him for the first time, WOW. I'm crying just remembering. I was totally out of it but I remember hearing him and having a hard time taking a breath. It is just miraculous. Thats the only word for it. And you will never even imagine what it feels like until he's here. I had a really hard time coming to terms with "Im going to be a mommy" and it just didnt feel real. i was like you, I was scared to death of babies, and even when I was nine months pregnant and held my friends newborn, I just didnt feel anything. I was scared that I wasnt going to have a connection with my new son because it didnt seem real.

But really, when you see and hear your son for the first time. All the icky painful stuff of labor just feels like nothing. Nothing else matters. Just that you are a mommy and this little guy is going to fall quickly in love with you.

hug.gif feel free to pm me if you want.
Katie

luvmykids replied: My biggest fear was going potty on the delivery table too! rolling_smile.gif I guess you want to hang on to some shred of dignity!

No one pretends it's all fairy tales and la la land, but the most important stuff WILL just come to you. Loving him and wanting to take care of him will overwhelm you. The rest you figure out as you go. I totally understand how you feel, because most of us, even if we're shouting from rooftops with excitement, have those fears somewhere inside.

And the nurses at the hospital were really great too, they helped me a lot and when it was time to go home I was totally ready. I know you're not counting on the dad for much, but is there anyone else nearby that can help you for your first few days at home? Just to run errands, fold laundry, let you get a nap?

And remember too, babies cry! Don't let that freak you out. That sounds silly but the first time one of them cried, I mean really cried, I thought I was going to lose it!

And don't forget we're here for ya!

mommycat2244 replied:

It's funny you should mention that!!! I asked my mom about what in the world am I going to do if the baby's crying and I've already done everything that I can think of to get him to stop? She told me that you get to learn diff types of "crys"??? And that you can start to tell the diff between each one of them??? Then she said that also they cry when they need something, other times they cry just to be held, and at other times they cry just so that they can get some attention (I guess for when he gets older???). I just couldn't imagine a newborn crying to manipulate some attention out of me instead of out of sheer necessity. blink.gif

I love all of this advice though...I read the another post on how to change a little boy and HAD to ask my mom about that one. Being that I am her only child, I didn't know whether she had heard of the cold making him pee everywhere when you change him. She told me that she had changed all of her little brothers when they were kids and usually had to put a warm rag over "it" so that that doesn't happen. She reminded me that she had bought me a wipe warmer (for my shower) and that's why she did...so that there would be less chance of a "shower" on the changing table! Part of me thinks this is too funny...then the other part of me is thinking,"Yeah, you think it's funny now, until it happens to you for the first time!"
laugh.gif

I can't say thank you enough to everyone that's giving me all of these words of encouragement. You're all wonderful women and I hope that I can pass this stuff along to someone else someday!!! Thank you!!!

moped replied: WE love to give advice!!!!!! We are all parenting experts - LOL....kidding!

Something jsut clicks and your maternal instincts kick in and you are a MOM!!!! You will know what to do and what is right for your baby.

I forget, do you have a name picked?

luvmykids replied:
I think this was the single best piece of advice I ever got!

mommycat2244 replied:

Yes, his name is going to be Corvin Michael

mommycat2244 replied: Ok, since my first post and going to the Dr.,(I have my next appointment tommorow) I have spotted twice now. Nothing big, just some light pink spotting. My friend Katie told me that after she started loosing her plug, that it took 4 days for her to go into labor. And since every woman's diff, I know that I can't go on one woman's experience alone. My mom told me that she doesn't think it's going to be much longer because everything that I am describing it what she went through in the last couple of weeks right before she had me.
The first spotting I had was once in a whole day of using the bathroom so I thought that it was nothing. Then it happened two days later after I got out of the shower so that's when I called my friend Katie. She seems to think (Along with my mother) that it's going to be soon. How soon is anyone's guess at this point.
But I have my follow-up tommorow at 1:30. I'm still having all of the cramping and stuff so there's nothing new to report with that...just the 2 spotting incedents. Now I'm wondering what happens after this.? After I start having contractions will they be strong enough to even notice? Then I was wondering if I had even dialated just a little bit??? Man...this is the craziest thing, I swear!!! tongue.gif It's nothing like they describe in any of my pregnancy books (At least nothing that I thought it would be like after reading everything that I've read!!!) and certainly nothing that I thought it was going to be like!!! I even called my mom and apologized for any pain that I might have put her through when she was preggo...(She of course said was all worth it and she would go through it again just to have me here!!! tongue.gif Then-since she's on a diet-said she's still working on getting rid of the baby weight 25 years later!!! ) But this is really nothing like I even imagined it to be...and now I'm left wondering what's next???

luvmykids replied: Sounds like it could be any time to me too! I remember feeling exactly how you do, that none of it was what I imagined. But once I started labor I was thinking "Oh, thats what they meant!" I was terrified I'd be in labor and not know it and wait too long to go to the hosp. but in hindsight, no way could I have not known! Especially since you said you'd been sleeping a lot. The last two weeks of both pgs I slept ALL THE TIME. We're still thinking of you and praying for you! And I'm so excited for you! hug.gif

CantWait replied: Definetly sounds like it's anytime now. Hang in there. All the feelings you're having are completely natural. The fact that you care so much only tells me you're going to make a great mommy. hug.gif

mommycat2244 replied: Hey everybody!!! Ok, so here's the latest:
I'm almost completely thinned out and the Dr. said that after that's complete then I should start to dialate. He wants everything to go on as naturally as possible, but if I don't have the baby by the end of this week or the beginning of next week, then they'll take a look at everything next Mon. morning (which is my next appointment), and prob go ahead and induce me!!! I'm sooo nervous now...I'm going to be a full fledged mommy next week!!! biggrin.gif I think I'm still in shock from what he told me today. It's like I've been waiting so long and now it's almost here!!! I cried the whole way home just thinking about everything and how long this nine months has seemed to me. Then I started to think about the rest of the baby's life after birth...I just don't think I can really believe it!!!! biggrin.gif


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