Lets Talk Contractions.

Do they just feel like menstral like cramps in the beginning?

I know they say the difference between that and Braxton Hicks contractions is that real labor cramps come with a pattern.

So, I hope this isnt a stupid question, but can you just have 1 contraction and then like 3 hours later have another contraction? Or would that be a Braxton Hicks contraction?

Just wondering because since late yesterday afternoon, I've been having some cramping- but its been a little more than mild, but not really intense. One of them actually woke me up in the middle of the night.

Help!

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

Wish I could help you but I didn't get contractions until the pitocin & then they were pretty regular.

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

i think that the contractions you are describing fall into the "false" contraction (BH) category, but that doesn't mean that they won't become more organized and severe over time and lead to full-blown labor.

just from my personal experience, i have 2-3 different kinds of contractions. first there are the painless ones where my uterus just balls up really tight. then i have very painful ones that start in my lower back and move to the front and end with my uterus balling up really tightly/painfully. during those, i also feel like i have to poop. then there are menstrual cramp-like ones, that are milder and don't lead to the uterus balling up as much.

i asked my doc about the different types, and she said that the painful ones are more worrisome in terms of the potential for leading to labor, but that the painful ones are just as easily stopped as the non-painful ones.

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

For the past couple of weeks Ive had:

Cramping with and without lower back pain

A ton of braxton hicks..some have been rather painful..and rather regularish.

As of Friday I am a fingertip dialated and my cervix is very soft.

I want to be able to say that once you truly go into labor you will know. For most women true contractions do hurt. From what I remember its a pain that radiates from the back, peaks, and then subsides, with the tightening that you feel when you have BH. But everyone is different...

I have, in past pregnancies, been having contractions, strong enough to dialate, and not really felt them, although I did feel "not right"...

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

you should have at least 4/hr to be considered real labor contractions...that is what Dr H told me!!

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

Liz, here we go again with the same feelings. Last night I woke up with the worst pain I have ever felt. I thought it was it. Not so much. Keep monitoring!!!

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

I'm still having some crazy pain. How are you doing? I feel like I have to poo, but I have been going just fine.

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

I had lots of little contractions like you described.

When I went into full blown labor, they came on suddenly like a cramp ( not like the contractions I had been having AT ALL)..just severe cramps and they were consistent from the very start.
I had contractions that came and went for almost 3 weeks before labor came.

Re: Lets Talk Contractions.

Posted by waterspout4

I'm still having some crazy pain. How are you doing? I feel like I have to poo, but I have been going just fine.