i have a labor question

When you went into labor (if your water didn't break) how long did it take you to realize it?

Were your contractions painful from the start or they got more intense as time went on?

By the time your contractions are 5 min apart - are they always painful?

Re: i have a labor question

It took me about 20 minutes to think I was in labor. When the "cramps" kept coming and going away. In the beginning they weren't that much worse than digestive cramps and got worse as time went on. In the hospital (before they were 5 minutes apart) I was walking around the halls in circles and I'd have to stop walking when the contraction came.

Re: i have a labor question

my labor started at about 11pm- I said to dh I think this is it but dont count on it becuase I have been feeling on and off cramps and contractions the whole week and they usually dissapeared after a while. At about 4 am I called my midwife and explained what was going on becuase I was starting to be in alot a of pain- she still wanted me to try to get some sleep becuase the contractions were about 10 min apart. then at about 6 am I coulnt take it and called her back- the contractions were about 7 min apart then. She still didnt want me to go to the hospital- she wanted me to try to get the contractions to come closer together-so I started walking outside like i never walked before- I did close to 30 laps around my complex for about 3 hours staight-- It totally worked the contractions started getting stronger and stronger and 3 min apart- i went to my docs office and they examined me I was already at 4 cm completely thinned out, so I went to the hospital- i had the baby at 6.00 that night.

Re: i have a labor question

My water never broke. But I started having contractions at 2:30am, it woke me up, but didn't realize that was what the pain I was having was. Didn't think too much of it. Watched TV for a little bit, the pain started in again but a little worse. Around 3:30am I woke my DH telling him I think I was in labor. Contractions were about 10 min. apart. We called the hospital. By 4:00am they were 5 min. apart, and by the time we left which was about 4:15am they were only 3 seconds apart. I also had a wonderful 30 minute ride to the hospital. Let's just say we did 90mph there through red lights. Good thing it was early in the morning. By the time I got to the hospital I was already 6cm dialated and full blown contractions. They said if I didn't need a c-section I would of had my son with barely any pushing or anything he was ready to come out! But I had to wait and was given Tributelin for the pain, but my son was born at 7:54am. So I would of had an excellent childbirth experience if I had been able to deliver vaginally. I was told that I progressed VERY quickly and it isn't the norm. Hopefully you'll be just as lucky!

Re: i have a labor question

My water broke and I didn't believe it. It was a littlle more than dribble a few times and then eventually more of a gush. I went online to see if I could figure out if it was true!!

I went straight to the hospital within an hour or so and on my way there contractions started maybe 5 mins apart but not painful - just uncomfortable or a tighening. As soon as I got to the hsopital pitocin was started since I was less than 1 cm and then the contractions got painful!

Re: i have a labor question

I started having regular contractions starting at 6am. I started timing them and they were about 7-8 min apart. I was still having them at 1pm, but there were periods of 45 min that they were 5-6 min apart. Dr said to go to the hospital when they were 5 min apart for 1 hr 30 min, but I felt like they were consistent for such a long time. So I called the Dr. and they told me to go to the hospital. When I got to the hospital at 2:30pm, I was already 4.5 cm dialated and 100% effaced.

At the time, I thought they were a little painful and bearable as long as I breathed through them. I don't think the real pain started until they broke my water and that was when I said I wanted an epidural.

Message edited 9/8/2005 12:02:39 PM.