When did you start to feel any type of contractions?

[roke]

I am 36w3d today and am just wondering when you started to feel contractions.  Since this is my first baby, I am not totally sure on all the aches and pains....  The odd time I feel a real stretch and pain in my stomach, but don't know if it is just the baby pushing or contractions....

Any experiences on when you first started to feel contractions and where you felt them would be fantastic.

Thanks!

[Mumita]

I've thought about he raspberry leaf tea too but I don't know where to get it.
Well you will get checked next week, I bet you'll be dilated a little.
Anyway I haven't had any acidburn or anything until now!  Its soooooo annoying.  I haven't had any discomforts except for the pelvic pain at all during the pregnancy and Friday I turned 36 weeks and suddently I start having acidburn.  Oh well...we're almost at the end.

[roke]

No, I don't think he starts to check until you are 37 weeks (which I will be on thursday).  I've been having weekly appointments for the past 2 weeks and then today.

I haven't gotten any type of acid burn or anything - never have throughout this pregnancy.  

I'm not a big coffee/caffeine drinker - never have been, so when I do drink it, I am just flying high...  It's probably better for me if I just stay away from it now.  I like green tea though... however it is supposed to be off limits throughout pregnancy.  I might start on some of that raspberry tea in the next week or so...  see if i can't jump start my labour a little bit....

[Mumita]

Awww, he didn't want to check? When is your next appointment?  Do you have weekly appointments yet?
I know the zombie mode, every morning I come to work feeling like a zombie all drained.  The thing is, even if you sleep 8 hours, you will still feel like a zombie, I think it comes with this stage unfortunately.  I drink like 1/4 cup of coffee in the morning just to wake me up a little. But by the time I get home I'm dragging. tea helps too.

Have you gotten the worst acid burn lately?  I'm starting to get awful acidburn in the afternoons, it just started this weekend, I can't stand it!

[roke]

Well the doctor didn't check me, but I had the Strep B swab done....  I've also lost about a 1/2 pound.  I had a really tough night last night - very little sleep... I am sort of in zombie mode today.

[Mumita]

Yours shouldn't be zero.  I'm sure something is happening down there.  Some women just efface and dilate on one day so don't worry too much.

[roke]

well at least your numbers are not zero!  I will definitely let you know what the doctor has to say tomorrow... and keep me posted on yours!

[Mumita]

last week I was 40% effaced and 0 dilated. But my cervix is "very soft" acording to my MW.  I'm affraid to check myself out of curiosity...I don't want to get my hopes up by checking and not being what I think it is.
I'm getting another check up next week I'll let you know then.

[roke]

I will do!  I can only hope that something has changed from the zeros.... even though I technically have 3 weeks left....

[Mumita]

Roke- please update on your appointment :)

[JoyRenee]

I couldn't feel contractions with my first unless my hand was resting there and I felt my entire stomach turn into a hard rock. With my second they were more noticeable and I knew what to expect.

So I didn't feel TRUE contractions until after my water was broken in the hospital and I gave birth 3 hours later.

[roke]

Thanks for all the different stories!  Everybody has a different story and it is great to hear.

Mumita:  I agree with you... I am emotionally ready to be done.  The pelvic pain is still there, but I think I've gotten used to it.  I still can't roll over or get up suddenly without pain.  The doctor hasn't checked me yet!  I have to get my strep B test done tomorrow (oohhh... so much fun)... so hopefully he will tell me something.  I have a feeling that I am going to go early (but with my luck this kid will come 10 days late).

[lmc2132]

At around 24 weeks i started to feel what you are feeling, the baby "stretching out," but I believe those are indeed BH contractions.  If they happen frequently (more than a few times an hour) or come in a pattern, that's something to ask your doc about.

[Mumita]

Tell me about it!  I'm starting to get soooooo tired and cranky, I really just want to get it over with and give birth.  Its such a huge anticipation and I'm tired of waiting...too much build up and preparation, I just want to get it over with and have my baby and start taking care of him, I'm soooo excited!  I just want to start that new chapter in my life and I am sick of waiting.
its not just physical its mainly emotional I guess. I'm getting impatient.

How do you feel otherwise?  How's the pelvic pain?  Has your Dr. told you if you are starting to dilate or are effaced at all?

[TKM22]

I HAD BRAXTON HICKS CONTRACTION FROM LIKE THE 20TH WK OF MY PREGNANCY, BUT THE REAL  LABOUR/CONTRACTIONS FOR ME  FELT LIKE I WAS  DUE TO COME ON MY MNTHLY CYCLYE. LIKE THE NITE BFORE MY WATER BROKE  I HAD REALLY BAD BK ACHE AND I FLT LIKE I WAS ABOUT TO HAVE  A REALLY HEAVY PERIOD. I GOT UP IN THE MORNING TO GO FOR A WEE AND BEFOR I GOT TO THE LOO I TRICKED N THAT WAS MY WATERS BREAKIN. FROM THAT MOMENT I HAD  SLIGH CONTRACTONS THAT FELT LIKE PERIOD PAIN FOR ME AND THAT OBVIOUSLY WEN I WENT TO HOSPITAL. THAT WAS  MY 1ST PREGANCY EXPERINCE.IM NOW 28 WKS PREGGY WITH OUR 2ND CHILD. HOPE THIS HELPS.

[roke]

thanks ladies!

I notice that there are times that I am out of breath and have to lie down, but am unsure if it is the baby pushing on me inside or not..

AAHHH  Mumita.... time is slowly ticking away!

[Mumita]

My contractions started sporadically at around 20 weeks, just a tightening of your uterus and I get short of breath.  Now they are becoming more painful like bad menstrual cramps but still sporadic and I still get out of breath.
Hopefully they'll start becoming more like labor contractions soon!

[chantal21]

With my son, I started getting some BH at 21 weeks. They were so sporatic and I could never tell when I was getting one unless I really concentrated on it. I thought I wasn't going to know when I was in labor...wrong! lol. They are completely different if it's labor. While mine weren't too painful, I noticed everytime I got one, it would be a tightening of my stomach, then menstrual like cramps, and I always felt like I had to go #2 when I had one. The pressure on my butt was so intense. That's how I knew the difference. I had those pains for 2 days before my contractions were consistent. You will just know!
With this pregnancy I have been feeling them a lot and they take my breath away. So far this pregnancy has been a little different concerning contractions.

[Kimberlee_20]

I didn't know what contractions were either, this is also my first pregnancy, my nurse actually had to tell me when I was having contractions. Mine SOMETIMES feel like a tightening in my upper stomach (the very TOP of my stomach, like right under my boobs), and other times they feel like menstrual cramping in my lower stomach, and it causes a very dull lower back ache that comes and goes. You'll know when you're having them if it's real labor though! Good luck on your delivery!! :]