These things only happen on Saturdays… Right now we are waiting for a call back from someone at the OB/GYN’s office, since my regular OB is on vacation. Of course. So I am posting on SDMB in the meantime to get a consensus from many brains, some of which have undoubtedly been through this before.
The question is whether or not I am in labor right now. You might think this would be obvious, but it isn’t. I have a condition called symphysis, which means my pelvis is effectively dislocated. So my lower back and lower abdomen always hurt, and sometimes cramp up. This makes sorting out contractions rather unclear.
This is likely to be TMI, you have been warned.
Here is what is going on though:
Doctor told me on Thursday the baby had engaged and I was 1/2 cm dilated
Last night and today it feels like something is in my vagina. A weird sort of pressure feeling.
I decided to feel my cervix myself. It feels “stumpy” or rather short, compared to normal. It is also soft. It has a hole in it. Enough for me to stick the tip of my finger in. It is so soft that it feels like I could make it open more without much effort. I don’t think that’s a very good idea though.
The baby’s head is very clearly right behind the cervix. It feels like the top third of an orange. Basically, you can feel it’s roundness.
My symphysis feels oddly better, but my lower back feels very pressured, like it is being pushed on.
A trickle of clear liquid started running down my thigh while I was in the bathroom trying to “drop some kids off at the pool,” if you get my drift. It was not pee.
So, what say you, real labor or another false alarm?
We are not looking forward to the hospital visit tonight. We always get stuck on monitors and then told “false alarm” and get sent home. :smack: Grrr…
Does the pain seem to come and go? Or just as likely seem to get stronger then fade a bit? If it gets stronger than what you usually experience as normal pain and seem to come and go then likely you are in labour. If you can only stick a finger in the hole in your cervix I’d say your only a centimeter or so dilated.
The leaking liquid is likely your amniotic fluid as when you are upright the baby’s head blocks the fluid from come out (just like a drain). You seem to have plenty of time, your doc might just say to wait a few hours before you head to the hospital. There isn’t much they can do until you’re further along, unless there is complications or other things happening of course.
Congrats, I bet soon you will be holding a new someone in your arms.
Ok, I’ve had false labor before. The contractions were like “normal normal normal OUCH normal normal normal”. Now the sensation I have is “normal (for a length of time) slow building tightening/pain sensation (maybe 10 sec) OUCH (4-5 sec) slow relax/less pain (5-10 sec).” Like a little hill.
I am also starting to get dizzy/giddy, though this may be because I am a neurotic freak.
That’s about how I felt when I went into labour. Before I really started going it was just a dull ache that was annoying, then it felt like a hill.
Dull ache, tightening sensation in the belly and the pain grew then faded again until I started to tighten up once more. When a contraction hit I just wanted to curl up into a ball until it went away. That was pretty steady throughout the whole experience, and once I had my epidural I could still feel my body tensing with the contractions.
Dizzy/Giddy I don’t know, probably just nerves. Have something as a snack, a mug of tea or something. Better yet, get the hubby to do it.
I wish. Despite having several hours of contractions the past two nights, I have yet to reach the magical “4 in an hour” that it takes to go to the hospital. This is exceptionally lame.
I’m still a few weeks early, so I guess having the baby stay where he is right now is a good thing. But still, this is very very lame.
I’ll post if anything exciting happens. But for now, I am continuing the false labor fun.
4 in an hour? I was told something like every 5 or so minutes you go in… or your water breaks.
The last little while is always nuts, you just want to get it all over with. I think it would be more nuts having false labour so I’ll cross my fingers that the false labour stops or the real labour starts, of course babies will come in their own time.
You need to call them and tell them there was unusual fluid.
Contractions or not you could be in labor.
Your fluid could be slowly leaking out and by the time they get around to seeing you the baby could be in trouble or you risk having a hard delivery from lack of fluid.
You could also get an infection in there from having a small tear or opening.
They can do a litmus test to let you know if it is fluid or not. And it will be another monitor night as well.
Drink lots of fluids and rest on your left side.
Call them back!
IANAD, but have had four live births and each one was a little different. I know we have others out there who have been through this once or more. I bet Roadwalker might have some advice from his wife, I remember they have a growing family as well.
Not saying one timers won’t have advice, but multiple children having people might have a few more jems of wisdom.
Good luck and take care of yourself! Please!
I’m always open for e-mail and IM’s if you need a person to talk to.
)