Question for all you ladies that just gave birth - about contractions

[poupoune26]

I want to know how to tell the real contractions from the fake ones..how different do they feel?  Or, are they the same as braxton hicks?  Yesterday, my dh was running around the house putting all my things in my suitcase because he thought that was it!  I had contractions about 12 or so minutes apart..but I kept telling him that I didn't think it was time because they didn't hurt more than my ''fake contractions''.  But they were pretty strong..plus, everytime they came, I had these electrical buzzes in my vagina..they really hurt!!  Thanks for your help!

Melanie 38w 4d

[crabscanfly]

you will no, they told me ot go to the maternity ward if i was having contractions 6 in ten minutes, and it was very hard to tell because on the monitor it was not hiugh for contractions but i did not have alot in the front, i had them all in the back, back labor. you will no trust me :)

[lissamjr]

last night was a doozy for me! i started having some really sharp pains in my stomach (felt like somebody grabbing and twisting from the inside) and shooting down. this lasted for about an hour. dh was freaking, ready to head to the hospital. reading all the posts about b/h for the past months, i told him lets wait. i drank a lot of water (in case of dehydration), went and laid down on my left side and within 10 minutes it all stopped. i thank all of you for all the great info on all this, because i live almost an hour from the hospital and that would have been such a pain to drive all the way there and nothing happening. i only had back labor pains with ds, so this contraction thing is new to me, too. almost feels like i'm doing all this for the first time! good to know people are experiencing the same things! dh is clueless! ha-ha

[valleybabes]

Well its been a very long time since I have given birth ....Lets see if I remember here.... I started having contractions the very nite before my daughters due date and kept having them.  They become stronger and stronger and I only waited for like an hour with those  pains coming like every 15 minutes and I knew those were the real thing because as Tennessee says they will take your breath away!  I then had to pee so I went to the bath room and I lost my mucus plug .....had my daughter that next early morning at 4:20 am right on my due date as my doctor said.  Your pretty close to your time hun and I think I would go with your own judgement on how your feeling and how close your contractions come .....that is what I did and I never had false labor with my daughter or son....it just happend.   Hope that baby arrives soon for you I know the last part of it is like forever!!!!

Hugs, Delma 27w4d

[Tennesseegirl]

I have found a real one will take your breath away... and when its all done.. you will take a deep breath of relief.

for the past three nights.. I have set there logging mine.. all five min or less.. for one/ two hours.. and would get tired and go to bed! the one thing I have noticed.. last night they were still five min apart... just milder.. smile had a better nights sleep... now check this out...everything I have read.. you wont be able to sleep!! so lol after the second night.. I just said screw it.. just too tired.. and layed down and woke up a few times with them.. but nothing hapened..

My ob told me to come in at five min apart for two hours..

woke up this morning... dark blood.. I figured the mucus plug.. but then when I checked again.. bright red blood.. and them more bright red.. girl... I dont have a single contraction!!! been up for two hours now.. at first it felt like period crapms coming.. but now nothing!!! Im not going to stress.. I have an appt to see him at 11.30.. thank god! and still if nothing? induce at 5.30am Saturday.. so ready or not for me!!! yay..
I just hope they dont have to induce... will be doing alot of walking .... today if able..

this is NOTHING like my first... so.. geez.. we just have to go by how and what we think!!
mine so far has been soooo tect book.. just very slow moving.. ugh but the blood this morning? gives me some relief... not bleeding now.. took a shower and girl... I feel wonderful!!!!

good luck.. hope it helps someone.. Its been a tough three days for me, atleast in the wee hours of the night.

[tahariel]

Unless you are one of those rare women who don't experience pain with the real contractions . . . you'll know. Braxton Hicks can be strong and sometimes uncomfortable, however the real contractions are usually accompanied with a concentrated pain. When the time comes, you'll most likely know the difference. Plus, BH usually lessen or go away if you drink some water, empty your bladder and lay down on your left side. The real contractions usually do not go away once they've gotten into a regular pattern. Good luck!

[ChrisHealy]

I never knew about the 511.  Thanks for the tip!

[1nana]

Follow the 5-1-1 rule. If they are 5 minutes apart and lasting for one minute for one hour, then you can safely say you are in labor. Of course, that's for the average person. There are always exceptions to the rule. They feel nothing like Braxton Hicks. You'll find that you won't be able to talk through one. Good luck!