BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

I guess what Im trying to ask is how were your contractions? How did you know labor was starting?

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

I was having contractions every 3-5 min lasting about 45-90 secs. Went to L&D...I was 1cm. They sent me home. I was home about three hours and then my water broke.

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

with #1 my I was having contractions on and off for a while (same with this one too)
I was concerned that I wouldn't know when it was really time so my old doctor told me...You will know...the contractions should stop you in your tracks! If you can still have a conversation during one its too soon
OMG he was right...although with this pregnancy I had a few that were like that but never consistant

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

Sorry - I'm no help. With my 1st my water broke way before my contractions became strong/regular/consistent. There was no mistaking it though!

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

I actually posted on Facebook asking if people felt contractions really low, in the vag. area...turns out mine were starting, and I always thought I'd feel it around the belly, but mine were lower. First I wondered if they were contractions, but then they came on strong and HARD--stop you in your tracks doubled over hard. I got to the hospital when they were 3 mins apart, and I was 5 cm dilated. My water never broke, and they didn't have to break it (thought I might have had a leak or something).

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

My contractions started out as dull pains in the middle of the night. It woke me up several times but there was no timeable pattern so I would go back to sleep. I woke up at 5am and had my 'bloody show'. Almost immediately after my contractions became more intense and were 8-9 minutes apart. The pain was unlike anything I've felt before. I always thought it was supposed to feel like menstrual cramps but for me it didn't feel like that at all.

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

My doctor told me when you are unable to walk, talk, read a newspaper thats when you know it's a real contraction.

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

For me it felt like a period cramp - starting at 6am. It would come in intermittent waves. At first I wasn't sure at all, but as they progressed, I got really sure. They were uniform, unconfortable period like cramps for me.

But I went on like that for 9 hours. My Dr's kept telling me to stay home - around 10:30 pm they "let" me come to the hospital and were surprised to see that I was several cm's dialated. I was admitted right away.

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

My water broke. Never had contractions that I could feel until after I got to the hospital

Re: BTDT- how did you know you were in labor?

With my DD I was having very painful menstrual type cramps all day, some would stop me in my tracks but they weren't what I thought contractions would feel like, so I kept thinking they were just cramps and the contractions would start soon. Later that evening, contractions started which I timed, eventually my water broke so I went in. When they hooked me to the monitors I thought my contractions were 5 min apart, they told me they were 2-3 min apart! All of the "cramping" in between the big contractions that I was discounting all day turned out to also be contractions. They couldn't believe I stayed home as long as I did!

This time, it's going a little differently. I was having timeable, painful contractions on Sunday night that were 10-15 min apart all night, but then yesterday they lessened. Last night they started again ranging from 6 - 10 min apart. Today I'm fine. It's frustrating!