Early Stages of Labor

Being that you lost you mucus plug it can take up to 2 weeks for you to go into actual labor but it does not ness have to be that long, it can happen at anytime. Ilost mine and my baby came a weeklater. Haave they checked to see how much you have dialated or if you are even dialated yet. I was 4 cen dialated and they still would not induce me so everytime I left L&d I had a nasty attitude(lol) cause I was ready to get that big baby out. I am qite sure you are going to the doctor every week now since you are so close, but just be careful about everything you do cause stress can cause you to go into labor as well.I think thats how mine started. Iwas working until the day I had my baby and I missed a mandatory meeting because of car trouble and I was so bothered by it that when I got home my water broke(Thank God0 But everything went ok in my labor.

Hi J.,

Hugs to you! As an ALACE birth assistant, I can tell you that you are experiencing Prodromal Labor. This is where your body is doing everything it needs to do to prepare for the real labor. As bothersome as it may be, try to stay relaxed, rest and drink plenty of fluids.

A chiropractic adjustment can help with your indigestion as well as helping the baby to get into optimal position for labor. Also, papaya is great at helping to relieve the indigestion and it tastes so much better than the antiacids.

Talk to your baby and let him/her know you're ready when he/she is. Remember, keep living your life until contractions are stronger, harder and closer together. You'll know when it's time and to answer your question...."How Long Can I Go On Like This?" Until your baby arrives....you are a strong woman and you're body is doing the work....let the birth energy flow and stay calm. Sending you peaceful birthing vibes! Hang in there, it won't be long until you're holding and loving on your little one. Keep us posted!

Peace & Love,
J.

Hi J.,
I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow with my fourth as well. I have also been having the same symptoms as you, oddly. With the exception of the indigestion. My midwife had suggested Zantac 150 morning and evening and that works like a charm. It was unbearable before. I have never started labor on my own either but this pregnancy is much different than the others. I've had hard contractions 3-5 min. apart putting me in the hospital Saturday-a week ago, lost plug last Wed., all of which has never happened to me before. Lately, along with the occasional hard contraction, I have felt menstrual-like cramps. I was induced with my first and the last two started with a dose of castor oil on or around their due dates. I am three centimeters dilated already so I won't be taking it this time. I fear with it being number 4, it will cause a quick at-home birth. No thanks....LOL. I'm hoping all of this trouble will help our labor be easier and quicker. It won't be long for either one of us!! Good luck!

unfournately there is no way to tell how long this can go on my sister in law was in labor for like a week and a half with my neice and it was her fourth too. you just have to be patient and let things go the way they are suppose to and ifyou are worried tell your doctor look this is what i want! i had never been in natural labor before my third child and i tell you its much easier than being induced yet will bring more suprises.

i had a good friend who was in this same early labor for nearly three weeks. she was miserable. her doctor also did not beleive in induction. by the time she was in real labor, she was so tired she was unable to labor with out very strong drugs and an epidural. most doctors wont induce until 39 weeks any way, so you are really too early to induce. just hang in there and try to get some sleep. see if you can get someone to come in and wash some laundry and dishes for you. you will need your strength.

I have only had one child, but my pre-labor did a lot of what you are describing. On and off hard contractions, waking up in the middle of the night with strong contractions for like 30 mins to 1 hour, then quit. At the end, my braxton hicks got very strong and semi-regular like you are describing. Sometimes, my contractions would get gradually stronger for 3 to 4 hours, I would get ready to start thinking about going to the hopsital, then they would just completely stop. I did this for like 2 weeks. Through all of this, I lost my mucous plug in sections.

At my last doctors appointment, the doctor checked me to see how far I was along (and I believe she stripped my membranes as well). When I stood up to get dressed, my water started leaking. Maybe you can ask your doctor to strip your membranes if they will and see if it helps.

I had another friend who had labor like this. She didn't actually go into real labor until she was 6cm. After she got to the hospital, it only took like 3 hours to deliver the baby. Sometimes its good to let your body do its work very slowly and to prepare for the baby like your is doing, when real labor finally comes on, it should go quite quickly.

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I had back pain and indigestion throughout all 4 of my pregnancies! That was fun. If you already lost your mucus plug, I would say you're going to be at the hospital any day now. I'm not sure you're feeling real contractions though, if they vary like that. Real contractions should not go away or decrease in strength. Mine were OBVIOUSLY different than the tightening I felt for the last month of each pregnancy. You should be able to tell when it changes. Good luck!