Guys help me please, I'm so frustrated!!!??

Question

Okay I'm 38 weeks and a few days pregnant. I think that I have contractions but I don't know. Everybody describes them so different and this is my first child so I don't know what I'm feeling. I feel a tightening in my stomach sometimes but it doesn't hurt. All these women keep saying its the worst pain they ever felt and this isn't even pain. So are they contractions? I mean they aren't regular just one here and there every now and then. But if I don't know what a contraction feels like and I can't count these things I feel because they come and go so quick, and not everybodys water breaks to tell you that labor has begun, how will I know when I'm in labor? My friends keep saying "Make sure you count those feeling to see how far apart they are!" Well sometimes it feel like I have 2-3 in a matter of seconds then it feels like 1 maybe 2 times a day! I don't know if this is a contraction or just my baby stretching, so it makes my belly feel tight. What do you think?

Answer 1

it sounds like your having braxton hicks contractions... and that's a great sign that your body's getting ready to have that baby, but just not yet. True labor feels like your muscles are a great rubber band squeezing your belly, and as labor progresses the rubber band shrinks and squeezes tighter. Real contractions might be mistaken for braxton hicks at first, but that's the point that you don't need to worry anyway, usually.  When they start to become so noticeable that you can time them and/or you have other symptoms of labor (bleeding, your water breaks, you have really awful back cramps and spasms) that is when you need to start thinking about heading to the hospital.

Oh and as far as the mucous plug goes, i never noticed losing either of mine, so no i guess it doesn't really matter. My doctor told me you can lose it in itty bitty pieces so that you won't notice at all.

Hope this helps, relax and remember labor is very natural, and not nearly as bad as we women make it out to be.  That's mostly to make guys feel bad for us. lol. Congratulations and good luck.

Answer 2

that's so sweet. you get so focused on meeting you little one you even count the sec. I am on my 8th preg and I do lots of counting but I always have early labor. This morning i got up with back pain near my tailbone and having twinges but it was nothing it went away. if you feel dull ache in your back that comes in a timed pattern then this could be back labor. what it feels like at 1st is a slight tighten of your tummy and they come often in a pattern of time like 15 min apart.  you want them to be 5 min apart you don't always lose your plug, or that your water breaks, sometimes this is things that happens with the doctor to help with that.  oh by the way it doesn't always hurt so bad till the end. and another thing is that you will feel like you have to take a BM and can't. gl

Answer 3

You don't have to lose your plug to start labor some ppl don't lose them at all,, or ever notice that they have lost it.

As far as contractions,,, what you are feeling sounds like braxton hicks contractions. The real ones usually start to feel your period cramps. Early labor doesn't really hurt it's uncomfortable,, but I wouldn't really call it painful,, once you get into active full labor is when it starts to hurt, but you should at the hospital by then. =o) so don't worry they will have alot of help and support for you and pain releif options for you.

And the other thing about real vs. false contractions,, is once real ones start you will be able to count them and time them,, they will get stronger and longer,, you will be able to tell they are different than the ones you are feeling now.

Answer 4

No worries, this is just normal. Im going to be a gynaecologist, so I'm not a woman, but you shouldn't worry too much about that. If they're just every now and then, it's not dangerous, I'd say. Your baby is just moving and that might hurt a little, and it might feel like a contraction, but it's not. It's way too early for that. If you're not sure about this, go see a doctor. Good luck and congratulations =)

Answer 5

It sounds like braxton hicks contractions. they are like practice contractions. I wouldn't be too worried unless they start to hurt intensely and come every 5 minutes or so. And about the plug, no you don't have to lose it first. I was about 2 cm dialated when i lost mine, and right after that my water broke. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

It sounds like Braxton Hicks to me. They come and go and is no real pattern to them. Contractions from labor start that way and then gradually get worse and worse. When they start to come every so many minutes then you should call your doc. Congrats!

Answer 7

It sounds to me like you are having some braxton-hicks contractions.  Those are like you body jus tkinda getting ready for the event.  With my first son, my water broke and I was not having any discomfort or pain...until they sped things up with drugs.  My contractions before pitocin were so light i couldn't even feel them.  My next two births were also indiuced and born via c-section.  However my last one is the real onw I want to tell you about.  I was never sure I would know if I was in labor, almost to the point of being afraid.  With my last pregnancy, I began having stomach cramps, I seriously thought it was food poisoning or something (except after timing it they came regularly at 5 minutes apart).  They were painful, made me double over, but not so bad they weren't manageable.  Thank goodness they didn't last long...easier to breathe through them.  But it was still hard to talk to my husband when they wouuld hit.  My advice to you would be, to glance at a clock when ever you feel the tightening ( just to get in the habit)  To answer your questions...yes you are having contractions, but not THE contractions.  I know LOL, bu ttrust me you will know the difference.  You may or may not notce your mucous plug.  And sometimes people lose it a few days before birth some never do....every pregnancy is different.  

Answer 8

These are most likely Braxton Hicks contractions. They usually don't hurt if you are well hydrated and have eaten enough protein that day. You will know when you are in labor. You can lose your plug, all of it, part of it or none at all. Most healthy babies are ready to be born 10 days after the estimated due date. This means you would easily need four more weeks for your baby to be completely developed. You still have a way to go. Best wishes, G

Labor Signs:

http://web.mac.com/pregnancysecrets/Site...

Answer 9

It sounds like what your feeling is braxton hick which is your uterus getting ready for labor and very normal. There are some (very few) women who say there contractions don't hurt but more than likley you will know when your in labor. Its going to be what your feeling now only extremely painful.