Real contractions but not labor??

[Lantiis]

I am almost 38 weeks now with my first child. As of last night, I now know the difference between a BH contraction and a real contraction.

For about a week, I have been having very soft and frequent BMs with intermittent cramping. The cramping was uncomfortable but not painful and would stop if I rested, drank water or went to the bathroom. I know these were BH now. On Tuesday, I did get checked. Not dilated but from Friday to Tuesday, my cervix went from firm to soft, and on Tuesday, twice when I peed, I had some bloody show (all urine tests came back clean - no infections or bacteria - water remains unbroken).

Last night, starting around 5pm, I started having BH again. No biggie. At about 8:30pm though, discomfort became pain and settled into my lower back, radiating through my lower abdomen and sometimes shooting upwards and making it feel like my chest was on fire for a moment. Nothing relieved this pain (I tried changing positions, warm bath, heating pad, hot/cold compresses, pelvic tilts, massage, drinking water, etc). This lasted until almost 2am before the pain and tightening of my uterus dissipated back into BH discomfort. I did call the emergency room and was told to go in if my contractions were 5 minutes apart. BUT, the pain NEVER EVER EVEN ONCE lessened from 8:30pm till 1am - at all. I seriously have no idea if it was one really long painful contraction or a whole bunch of back-to-back contractions! I had no way to know when one was starting and then ending...

So I talked to my doctor and he says that they are real contractions but not labor contractions?? Is this possible? (I guess I assume it is because my doctor said so, but it seems so unreal!) Has anyone else had this? If so, how long did you have to deal with these really painful contractions that last quite a long while but then disappear back into BH contractions? So far today, I have had BH off and on all morning with a couple bouts of the "real thing," but again, I can't pinpoint a start and stop to them (and I know a contraction isn't supposed to last 10 freaking minutes).

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated!!!

[rntmomma]

With my first i had irregular real contraction for over a week.once the got me dilated far enough my water started leaking then i got the labor contractions. With my second i didn't have hardly any till the day i went into labor :).  Best thing you can do is not stress it, relax in any way you can. :) Best of luck hun!

[CTMom37]

First of all, congratulations.  It sounds like you are getting very close.  I will suggest one thing...drink lots of water (may help).  If the contractions are not regular, but they are strong and hard to deal with, you can also try having a glass of wine or alcoholic beverage of choice.  I know alcohol used to be oe of those no-nos during pregnancy, but recent studies have proven otherwise and one or two drinks at the end will not have any negative effects on the baby.

Now BH vs. real contractions?  Guess what?  All contractions are "real contractions and as it gets closer to D-day, they have the power to alter the thickness and dilitation of your cervix.  The reason the doctor doesn't "count" them as "real" is because you are not in active labor.  But that doesn't make them any less real.  

God luck to you!!!  You're almost there!