Contractions

I thought I'd know how to time contractions....

I'm a first time mom, so how I thought I'd know I don't know..

At my last appointment with my ob, he told me to start timing my contractions, I said "sure! No problem"

A day later when I found my tummy getting hard, I grabbed my watch & starting timing. My DH then asked do we time the contractions or the period in between?? I stared at him with a blank expression :huh:
Then started laughing as I really didnt know!?!

Lately my tummy has been getting hard every now & again, by no means regular. So how on earth would I know which contraction to start timing?? I admit I feel silly asking this question being so far along, but I need to know..

Please HELP!

 

That is halarious because this is whats happening to me these days. My husband asked the same question and I had no clue because either I wasn't paying attention because I was busy with my other two kids or I just couldn't really tell becuz my belly is hardening so often, without pain/pressure. So I'm clueless as well! Glad I helped! lol

Netty

 

Yeah, clueless is the right word

Does one time the contraction when your tummy gets hard? Or when you have one of those painful contractions, which I have not had?

But it's kind of vague for my ob to say time your contractions. I should of asked him to explain, but never thought of it then...

Oh well... B)

 

At this point, if they're very irregular (which I hope they are!) -- just keep track of how many you have in an hour, or a day, etc.

If they start coming more often, then time the period from the start of one contraction to the start of the next, and also how long each one lasts. (When you go into real labor, they will become more regular, for example every five mintues, lasting for a minute each, etc.)

Hope this helps!

 

i always do both, time how long it lasts and take note of the time it ends, then record the time the next one begins....so far i've had no more than 4 in an hour and at no regular intervals, so we're doing ok....

sandra

 

I timed the contractions from when they began to when the next one began.

 

If you are timing how far apart they are, wouldn't you go from the end of one, to the beginning of the next?

(I've never been in actual labor, so I am clueless as well, LOL) I had a c-section before I went into labor.

 

QUOTE(twoin2005 @ May 14 2007, 04:42 PM) [snapback]254928[/snapback]
I timed the contractions from when they began to when the next one began.


This is the correct way of doing it!

 

Seeing that I don't have these contractions regularly, would it make sense to even time them?

I mean, if one starts I could be timing it for hours or even days before the next one starts..lol!!

I suppose when the real contractions start I'll know ALL about it ....

Thanks for the advice though...

 

I think that is why they tell you to count how many in an hour to start. If you experience a few in an hour that resting and water doesn't stop then it would be time to call the doc (usually anywhere between 4-6 in an hour is the criteria).

I also think it is beginning to beginning when you start to time them regularly, kind of like feedings (3 hours between feedings means 3 hours from start to start time).