Contraction Help

How exactly do you time contractions?

Ive been having contractions since last night. i Left my bfs house and had two really really painful contractions but they stopped. Today we went to target, which practically killed me, and i had a couple of contractions there. that was earlier today and they stopped. then i woke up from my nap and had 1 long painful contraction. i dont kno wheter its real or not. im 38 weeks. i heard your whole uterus balls up...and it has. before when i was dealin with bh contractions it felt like it was just really really down low. and this isnt. but when it balls up i try and relax it and cant.  are these fake or not.

[misslollipop]

i would say if your not sure to call L&D for advice cause my contractions were all in my back ,but to time them it's from when u feel the pain until the pain in gone good luck

[misslollipop]

i would say if your not sure to call L&D for advice cause my contractions were all in my back ,but to time them it's from when u feel the pain until the pain in gone good luck

[Cheyenne_08]

Keep us posted...I never had to count contractions so I have NO idea lol!

[Kim1989]

they stopped since i posted this. but im wondering if im going to get more. or if they really stopped.

[JoyRenee]

You're probably experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions. True labor contractions will not stop. This is how I counted contractions! Okay, you need a pad of paper, pen/cil and a watch with a second hand. When you first feel the twinges of a contraction, write down the time (with the second hand). You need to count how LONG the contraction lasts with the second hand.

What you are looking for is 5-7 minutes between contractions. The contractions should last about a minute or so. When that happens for an hour is when you go to the hospital. Try moving around and changing positions because false labor will go away when you get moving, but true labor will keep coming!

[K1990]

Sounds like your little man is going to be here soon!  YEY!

[Jay_Leron]

Sounds like you are getting real close Kim, but it doesnt sound like labour, at this stage ur braxton hicks contractions get even more intense. If you start to time your contractions using the instructions from JoyRenne and u notice a pattern, then i would say u should head to the hospital.

[Kim1989]

oo goodness. if these are just really really really strong bh contractions i cant imagin how strong labor contractions are. alright got it. thanks.

[Van73]

I have to agree with the above posters. I am sure they are/could be real contractions but you are not in active labor yet because real labor doesnt subside.  I've been to L&D twice and been told all this!!! lol Frustrating...argggg..  But they said that if it is true active labor, my contractions need to be 5 minutes apart..........Oh and here is a link to a really cute website: http://contractionmaster.com/

[Kim1989]

yeah i kno they have to be closer but i just dont know if at the very begining they are like far apart and then later, maybe in a day or two they get gradually get much closer together. thanks ill take a look at that site and check it out. so ill know everything when its time.