I'm so confused about all these symptoms? labor?

Question

i'm 39 weeks and have had contractions on and off for a week and a half, i'm 2cm dilated, cervix soft, losing mucous plug, and my doctor says I can go at anytime! she says to time any kind of contraction but i'm confused on what exactly my contractions are because I have so many different pains and all. My stomach pretty much stays hard but it does tighten more sometimes, sometimes i have what feels like menstrual cramps, then other times it feels like bad gas pain without the gas but i have them so random and so often i don't know whats what?! Has anyone felt this before? did your labor start like this? my doctor says these "pains" are contractions but they just don't seem right at all, i'm totally confused!? I think i'm just gonna wait till i know for sure that i'm contracting regular or in a pattern. But did any of you start labor like this? or know someone who has?

Answer 1

yes this is normal early labor. they are out of wack and different aches and pains. when they start coming regularly 3 to 5 minutes apart and are painful then you are ready to go into the hospital. you could go at anytime as of now or for the next week or so. walk this is suppose to help get them  harder and more accurate but is not garenteed. good luck and congrats

Answer 2

the pains that feel like menstural cramps are the ones to keep track of. they are probablly hard to track right now, but once you finally do go into labor, you'll know it! the cramps will start to hurt more, and you'll definatley be able to tell them apart from gas pains, LOL. once you start to time them, they'll come like clockwork too. you'll be able to time when the next contraction is about to come. when they get to the point where they are more painful, and you "know" you are having contractions, that's when you want to start timing them.

when you start to have contractions, get up and walk a little. real labor contractions will not subside after being active. false labor contratctions will subside after being active.

trust me, you'll know for sure when real labor hits, you won't have to get on the computer to find out!

Answer 3

I'm 39 weeks this Saturday and know exactly how you feel. Every word you wrote is like coming from me LOL. I'm also 2 cm dilated and 85% effaced and losing my plug. I'm having period cramps, gas cramps, my belly is hard most of the time but sometime it knots up more, just nothing makes sense! I'm hoping its the start of labor but it seems like every time I ask this, I get different answers, like some ppl say to go to the hospital asap and some say it could be weeks off yet.. Ugh whatever this is, I hope its over soon. I'm getting really impatient! Sorry I can't give you a for sure answer, but just know you aren't alone.