Contractions

I've had two babies ten and eleven years ago and I'm still questioning whether they are Braxton hicks or actual labour. Today I feel it more than ever. But I just remember it being different. Like you probably won't be able to speak thru them (which I struggle now as they have gotten stronger with each pregnancy) but time them. And obviously you will know when they are close together and regular and don't stop. Then it's starting. Have you had a shower waters break or anything yet?

You should notice, when I had contractions with my first baby I couldn’t even walk, I could just stay in one position and they was regular coming from your back to your belly or opposite from your belly to back. But tbh I am scared that I will miss it now, I was in hospital when everything started I was induced so I wasn’t scared if missed it or didn’t know what was happening but this time I am scared even that I already had my first baby 😂

Yes it's my third and I'm scared too. That's normal. Just don't let fear take over. We will all be fine. Yes walking moving is hard to do during contractions too

For me it was completely obvious that they were different to any other pain I’d had and there was no mistaking them for Braxton Hicks, I did have to argue with triage though as they told me not to come in and that I had ages to go due to being a FTM but I just knew I didn’t have time to wait and when I did get to the hospital I was 9cm dilated and didn’t have time for any pain relief before he was born because it was too fast 😅

I'm hooked.up to a monitor and the midwife could see it happening but I wasn't feeling anything, after the next few it felt no different to baby moving . 6 hours later I can now feel them but not painful yet just feel like my tummy tightens and goes hard

I dunno if it's since reading and responding on here but my Braxton hicks are now about 10 mins apart and last a good minute of tightening and pushing down. Eek. Leys go ladies. We can do this

@Artemis this is what I’m anxious about, triage telling me that it’s not the real deal when it actually might just be? Like let’s be real here, us women know our own bodies more than anyone. If I’m calling you up and saying I think I’m having contractions and in pain, you better hear me 🤣 because once I get to that hospital you’ll have to certainly deal with me! 🫠 I’m so tired of seeing things about women being told it’s not this or that, healthcare professionals should do better when it comes to the whole pregnancy topic. Going into labour is scary, yet exciting moment for any woman and the last thing you’d wanna hear is little to no support about how you feel! 🙄🙄🙄

@Artemis omg same here with my first!

@Helena see I’m just a person that’s gonna do what I think I need to do anyway, they told me I didn’t need to come in and I told them I was coming in anyway, they had to check me and couldn’t turn me away so it didn’t matter to me that they told me I didn’t need to come in, I was going in whether they agreed or not It’s the same when you’re in labour, sure they can suggest things and make recommendations but ultimately it’s every woman’s individual choice what she does and does not consent to, it’s just a lot of the time we’re taught not to make a fuss and to listen to doctors because they know best and I’m not disagreeing that they have invaluable knowledge and they do know way more things than I do but I know my body and I knew what was right for me so I pushed for it and made sure I was listened to At the end of the day I’m not gonna see any of them again so idgaf how I come across because my priority is ensuring my child is safe which means advocating for my own care and theirs

So I kind of knew as I had lost my mucus plug, had my bloody show, was past my due date etc so assumed it was the real deal however they weren’t painful for me! I went in to Labour ward due to some blood loss and was told I wasn’t in labour and probably just having Braxton hicks (they didn’t actually check me - midwife was v moody). Left and within the hour they were super intense and babies head was coming 😅! They still didn’t believe me and were trying to deter me from coming in 😅 until they finally checked and I was 8.5cm! So I would say not necessarily! I think it can be confusing, until it’s not, by which point you might be very far along like I was! You will definitely realise at some point though but maybe not early enough to get any pain meds or the type of birth you want (I wanted a pool but was told I was too far) etc! X

I didn’t realise I was in labour, I just couldn’t stand straight all of a sudden! Feels like period pains x10. I’d never had braxton hicks and didn’t know what to expect a contraction to be like, until a midwife told me baby was on its way!

I didn’t realise my contractions were real because the past two weeks I’ve been cramping. And my contractions changed very quickly from 6-7 minutes apart to 4-6 ish minutes to then my waters broke and I end up giving birth at him with just my husband and me lol sooo, just been mindful they can change quickly

For me, the real ones were unmistakable, and unbearable ❤️ xoxo