Someone PLEASE tell us third trimester gals when.....

Okay from a few of the latest posts......sounds like a lot of us third trimester mamma's are having a lot of bh contractions and making trips to labor and delivery.

I have had two rounds of ptl where I went to labor and delivery on two separate occasions and got a few shots of terbutaline. My bh contractions are stronger now and either hurt or are mighty uncomfortable. AND I have them at night usually for a few hours where I will have up to 8 an hour.

I too have been instructed by my ob's that if they "change"....well what the heck does a REAL contraction feel like?

If one more person says "You will KNOW".....just looking to hear from some seasoned twin moms who have given birth already to their twins and what was their experience like!

I had two prior scheduled c-sections, so I dont know what REAL contractions are as I have never dilated or had real contractions ever.

I hope this post helps us all! I am 34 weeks and feel something new every week with my babies....today, low pinchy pains from my baby Will being head down and putting a lot of pressure low.

Share your experiences please!!! xojillian

 

Labor feels like gas, menstrual cramps, or like you have to go #2 at first, then begins to get progressively more painful. Nearly all women get to the hospital in time because after a certain point you realize it's labor. So keep an eye on how often you have to go potty and nothing happens or you just feel yucky and crampy then better, then crampy again.

Braxton Hicks contractions and labor feel nothing alike IMO.

There are some women who go through the early parts of labor with no pain, and there are even a few women who feel no pain at all.

 

THANK YOU Jenny!

Is that painful feeling constant or comes with the contraction?

My contractions have increased with intensity in the last couple days, but I am tired of huffing it over to the hospital. My ob is so great, he tells me to call anytime and not to have a complex about it.

Your reply is exactly what I have been looking to hear....detailed info on your experience

thank you! xojilliian

 

It's not constant pain until the end. At first the pain only comes with the contraction.

It starts off like crampy - better - crampy - better then works it's way to crampy - gas pain - crampy - gas pain then crampy - can't talk - crampy - can't talk then gas pain - can't talk - gas pain -can't talk then usually the baby starts coming out by that point and it's however you handle pain from there. First labors generally take about 12 hours from start to finish, but the more kids you have the shorter labor becomes.

I'm a concentrator. I just focus on getting the labor over with so I can see my baby(ies) and not hurt anymore. Some people are screamers, and some people are cussers.

I forgot to mention that BH's don't do much as far as labor is concerned. They are a toally different kind of thing than labor contractions. (Which is not to say they don't also hurt, I had some rockin' BHs!)

 

Wow...thanks for asking that question! I, too, have had two previous C/S and have no idea what a real contraction feels like! Lately, I have been having atleast 2-3 an hour, maybe more...sometimes w/ cramping, sometimes just the usual tightening. I haven't been checked internally for about two weeks now and go for the Group B on Monday..so I'm thinking they'll do an internal exam just to make sure I have had no cervical changes as of yet. My C/S is scheduled for 12-27 so I've been counting down the days!!!!!!!! I guess it's possible to have some Christmas babies too

 

this is a good post with some great answers.

I have had 2 prev vag del, both induced, coming on hard and fast and babies out in like 2 hours(ouch), so i don't know what a gradual progression of contractions feels like either, just the csn'y talk gas pain can't talk part.

I too am a concentrater, no point wasting valuable energy!

I thought something was going on with me yesterday afternoon, lots of bh, especially some long gripping ones, and just feeling crampy on and off, but i also felt like this 2 weeks ago, and it subsided, also. I agrees with jillians twins, there's a new feeling every week...i remember one post not too long ago about a poster saying it felt like her twins were prying her cervix open with there fingers, i laughed at the time, but now i think i know what she's talkuing about!!!!!

Thankyou for the great information.

 

Okay...I was in the same boat 2 months ago...I didn't know what a contraction felt like either. NOW I DO!!

For me real labor felt like a HORRIBLE case of diarrhea....VERY crampy. The pains were not in my belly at all....only in my "insides" and my legs...when a contraction came on full force that is. Pre labor lasted about a week...then the last day was excruciating! I labored through the night at home before I went to the hospital in the morning. All night long I would lay on my bed for a few minutes - then a contraction would come and I would be on all fours in bed squirming in pain - then I would run to the bathroom and poo a little bit. (I know probably too much info). BH contractions DO NOT do that to you. I guess that is why people say " You will know" b/c they are totally different.

BH contractions feel like they are on the outside layer of your belly and real labor feel like it comes from your insides. So just think BH - outsides and Labor - insides. At least that's what it was like for me...and I think most women who have labored will agree.

I hope this helps.



I forgot to say with true labor...there is so much pressure down low it is unimaginable!

 

thanks Manda! Not tmi at all, I wanted to know! And I am sure many other third trimester gals feel the same way I do. I have b/h contractions at night and upwards of 8 an hour.....and I am tired of calling my ob and schlepping all the way to the hospital and not knowing what is real and what is not.

So thank you ladies for your honest posts and sharing your experiences! xojillian

 

For me my BH have always felt like a tightening to the uterus...the babies just ball up in front. They often take my breath away but don't really 'hurt'. With real contractions usually they start out crampy in the front down low then a tightening will form from your back to your front squeezing the uterus. You will feel a LOT of pressure down low like they are really trying to push that baby out. They will come and go while getting closer together. The squeezing may release but the crampiness will most likely stay in between. Eventually you won't be able to talk through them but this is a good sign! Your babies are well on their way! When you feel like you just can't go on anymore...that's about the time you are ready to push those babies out. Birth is not easy but it is amazing!!!

The braxtons usually are caused from sitting too long, having a full bladder, going from a sitting to standing position, even the babies movements can cause them. When you start to feel a tightening try to move a bit and sometimes they will release. Walk around a little if you've been sitting for a while or switch sides if you've been laying down. Make sure you are hydrated. That can't be stressed enough. Your urine color should be a very light yellow if not totally clear looking. If it's dark in color you know your not drinking enough!

Get to know your body and you will know when the real things are happening. I hope you have a wonderful birth experience Jillian!!

 

I agree with pp's-it feels like diarrhea cramps...and they get worse and worse-at least this is what it felt like to me when I went in to labor with my singleton. I didnt know that was what it felt like and actually thought that I had an upset stomach with constipation, what clued me in was that it would go away for a little bit and then happen again and it got closer together and stronger...by the time I figured that out and went to the l&d I was already at a 10!
I hope this helps...I know I hated it when people would say you will know-Obviously I didnt know!
I can say it doesnt feel like BH...I thought it would, but it doesnt.