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280369 tn?1316702041

Do contractions take your breath away??

For the last almost 2 hours I have had contractions or BH every 10-15 min. Not really that painful though, but they seem to really take my breath away...is that pretty normal? I have no clue what it should be like.
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280369 tn?1316702041
Thanks! yea I am just trying to stay in tune with my body here. Anytime I feel a contraction, I make sure to time them and see if they get worse. So far they don't get worse...but one of these times they will! That's really cool that you were able to deliver vaginally after your c-section!
LOL...hopefully you will make it to the hospital with this one!! =)
Helpful - 0
202436 tn?1326474333
Congrats btw.  I just hate for women to constantly hear "you'll know when it's time" when many women DON'T know until it's too late.  This is going to be my 5th delivery...1 c-section and this will be VBAC #4.  All of my labors have gotten increasingly quicker and they didn't start out very long... this time i'm going to HAVE to be very in tune to things or i just may end up with an unexpected home birth...or in the yard, car, side of the road, hospital parking lot...etc LOL
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280369 tn?1316702041
Thanks girl!! A friend of mine was just telling me when she went into labor with her first, she wasn't in much pain at all! She told me the same thing you just told me! =) She said it kinda felt like period cramping, but not bad at all. It wasn't until she started pushing that she felt more pain and then it was over! I know everyone is different, I feel as though I am getting closer. I feel like the baby has dropped more today. I can breathe like I did before I was pregnant! LOL. It's amazing. Still having discharge and whatnot, hasn't been tinged with pink or brown in several days now. Thankfully my midwife lives about 12 minutes from my house and the birthing center is only 10 min from my house. So if things seemed to be going fast, I'm sure she can make it here on time!! =) I just can't believe I am almost 38 weeks! WOW! Anytime now! =)
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202436 tn?1326474333
Just an FYI for you, Chantal, not EVERY woman is in PAIN when labor begins.  The vast majority ARE but there ARE women who go into active labor without hardly a sign.  Just stay in tune to your body and when something doesn't seem right or different, get checked.  My mom got to the hospital less than 2 hours before i was born and less than 1/2 hour before my bro was...with my last i wasn't there 3 hours before my son was born.  

I was watching Deliver Me one day and this women, with her first child, went into for a check up and had NO Idea, but she was already 6 cm dialated and contracting.  

Not trying to scare you, just want to warn you...everyone above said you'll know when you're in labor...but for a handful of women that isn't necessarily true.  Watch for other less obvious signs.  

More pressure on your cervix
increased back ache
increased mucus...especially red or pink tinged
feeling of having to have a bowel movement with or without having one
general discomfort
feeling that the baby is lower than normal
the obvious water breaking
or the less obvious water leaking...even small amts...can be mistaken for urine leakage

it sounds like your body is really getting ready so it could be any time now :)
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280369 tn?1316702041
Awesome!! Then that's what I will buy! =) yay for bouncing! haha.
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Avatar universal
That's what I used!!! They're the same thing they have at L&D, too.
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373683 tn?1218997212
Yes, you can use those.. They work great...
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280369 tn?1316702041
We always have fun! LOL. =)   I think I am going to get one of those balls. Can it just be one of those exercise balls? I saw one at Wal*mart today and I almost bought it too! Man I should have! I think I will get one on monday.
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Avatar universal
Well bouncing on the ball will not only help with getting labor going, it will help your sciatic nerve! Kill 2 birds with one stone and bounce away!!! Sounds... really weird to say that, but it will help! LOL!

It's the sperm during sex that helps soften the cervix. Have fun!!!
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373683 tn?1218997212
Chantal21,

Tell him to meet you in the bedroom !!!! LOL..... And go at it girly!!!! Lot's of walking too..... Keep it up...
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280369 tn?1316702041
I went fishing with hubby today and we had to walk quite a distance to get to the spot. So I am going to continue to walk and definitely have lots of sex! LOL. Bouncing huh?? Didn't know that one! =) I hope it happens soon....my sciatic nerve has been soooo bad lately I can barely walk anymore. I just about scream with each step! My hubby is getting impatient now...he just wants to meet his little baby! =)
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373683 tn?1218997212
Chantal21,
Hey girl... LOTS OF SEX!!!!!!! LOL.... Walking, and try bouncing......... sometimes bouncing like on a ball or the end of your bed, will cause the baby to bump your cervix and cause you to start dilating.
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280369 tn?1316702041
I guess it was a false alarm ladies!! I did have a VERY hard time falling asleep last night because of the pain, but now I haven't gotten ANY today! lol. BUMMER! Must be soon though!! =)
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300987 tn?1219983665
When my contractions started, they felt like menstrual cramps and then got progressively worse. They say they are real contractions if you can't walk or talk through them but I really think that depends on the level of pain tolerance. You will know if they are real contractions and not just BH.
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Avatar universal
Yup, she's totally right... real labor is something barely tolerable. Get a good night of rest!!! You will wake up if you need to go to the hospital, so don't worry about that. Yay!!! Another new baby soon!
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373683 tn?1218997212
If they get closer together, and you can't breathe, walk, talk through them.. Than that is true labor..
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280369 tn?1316702041
Thanks!! I'll see what happens through the night.
I am going to go get some rest for now. I have just been so anxious about this, I have a feeling nothing is going to happen! lol. We'll see though! =)  
Helpful - 0
373683 tn?1218997212
Yea hon.. Sounds like you might possibly be going into labor.. YOur having back labor.... You will truly know when your contracting because you won't be able to walk.... You'll be doubled over in pain, and you won't be able to talk through them... That's when you need to go to L&D
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280369 tn?1316702041
I forgot to mention I am having a dull ache in the lower left side of my belly as well. Not sure if it's just sore from walking, or the baby, or from the contractions......
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280369 tn?1316702041
It's more of a tightening and then releasing right now. They aren't as consistent anymore, but are still happening. I did start to get a little crampy and felt like I had to "go". But I don't have to. Not having any back pain though. I wonder if things are just getting ready? I don't know how it's exactly suppose to be. I have heard so many different stories....so I figure when I am in soo much pain that I can't take it anymore, I must be getting there! lol. But the contractions are just in the front, nothing is wrapping around yet. My whole belly just gets really tight and I have a hard time breathing. In the last hour I have only had about 4. At 5:30pm is when it all started about every 10-15 min. Then at 10pm they kinda slowed down.....I wonder if it's just false labor.....I think it may be. OR maybe I will wake up in the middle of the night and have the real thing!! who knows? I'll keep you all posted. Thanks!!!
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193988 tn?1215023883
With my first pregnancy my contractions didnt hurt at all really felt like small amount back pain/cramps that would come and go every ten minutes.
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202436 tn?1326474333
If they are't going away with your drinking water or changing positions then are you feeling them in your back?  Does it feel like a wave that kind of starts towards the back and wraps around the front as your uterus tightens?  OR does it just feel like your uterus is getting tighter and then releasing....

If it feels like a wave wrapping around most likely it sounds like they are REAL contractions...how far along are you?  If they get to be about 8-10 minutes apart call the doc....if they get to be 5-7 minutes apart go to labor and delivery.  Oh wait I see the last you updated your page you were 37 weeks so if you DO go into full blown labor now the baby should be just fine :)  Keep an eye out for other signs....if you start feeling crampy like diarhea crampy or actually HAVING diarhea or loose stools that can be a sign.  Watch for any red tinged mucus when you go to the bathroom...If at anytime something doesn't "feel" right either physically or your just get a feeling....dont' hesitate to go get checked!!!
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280369 tn?1316702041
I have been drinking tons of water, and they have been pretty consistent so far. But not too painful. My heart kinda races and my whole belly gets really tight and I have to take deeper breaths. They seem to build a little bit in intensity, and then goes away. I haven't had them like this before. I have changed positions, but I still have them. I wonder if these are real contractions or not? The other night I had BH for about an hour or so but not like this. I guess I should just wait and see if anything changes? or if they get closer together?
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187316 tn?1386356682
Yeah that is pretty normal for contractions and BH contractions. You say that you are having them every 10-15 minutes for the last 2 hours. Do they lighten up or go away if you change positions? Is it kinda like a wave that builds in intensity and then goes away?
Helpful - 0
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