Labor?? - Kalamazoo,MI

I only had spotting/discharge with my first pregnancy. My second pregnancy sounds just like what you are going through, my contractions never really evened out until I was 8+ cm. I would just make a trip to the hospital.

Don't feel bad about making a false trip to the hospital.

No, not everyone has spotting or discharge. If you haven't lost your mucus plug and your water hasn't broken you won't have discharge or spotting. BUT YOU CAN STILL BE IN REA LABOR.

If you are in real labor and your contractions aren't regular, you haven't lost your mucus plug and your water hasn't broken they may need to help stimulate these things and it will be important to monitor your baby's heart rate.

Please call your OB/GYN right now and let her know what is going on. She needs to be informed and help you make a good medical decision that will keep you and the baby safe. That may mean you stay at home or it may mean she wants to see you.

My contractions were not regular for about 12 hours after they started, but I was in "real" labor. I started having contractions around 8pm. one, then 5 min, then 45 min, then 2 min, then an hour, then 15 min, then 12 min, then 45 min etc etc etc. I didn't lose my mucus plug until the next morning. My water never broke (and the Dr had to break it once I checked in).

Or - you may be having Braxton Hicks. But, here's the deal. Unless YOU are an ob/gyn you can't really make that decision - so it's better to be safe than sorry.

Good Luck!

If you have to ask if it's the real thing than its not. lol
I remember going to the hospital with my first son because I was sure i was in labor. It was painful and every 5-10 minutes. By the time I got there it had all slowed down and I went home. A week later I was at a party and dancing and I thought my insides were trying to come out. By the time my mom got to me I was on all 4's panting. THAT was labor for me! There was no turning back! Had my son the next morning.
If you are only getting contractions every hour, or a few every hour you are not there yet. Probably just getting your body ready for the big day!
Good luck.

L.

I agree: call your OB and let him/her know what's going on. But also keep in mind, labor pains will become more regular and closer together. You sound like you are definitely in pre-labor (sound just like my pre-labor experience). Some people don't even notice when their mucus plug goes, so don't worry about that. The only discharge you should pay attention to is excessive bleeding or broken water. Keep it up...I know this waiting, pre-labor part is the hardest. You're getting close, though, and that's great news!

You may not have any blood, mucous, or water but could be in labor. If it's real you should time them and they will hurt and not stop. I did have two labors though with little of anything but a 'feeling' something was 'happening' and I was dilating and had quick births with those two so you shouldn't feel bad about going to the hospital if you are concerned. Contractions will eventually get closer and more painful though so you could just time them or see if they increase at all.

My doctor told me when the contractions were 3 minutes apart for an hour to come to the hospital. BUT that was MY doctor who knew me and my pregnancy.

I am surprised you are this far along and your doctor hasn't told you when to call or at what point to go to the hospital.

Give the office a call...let them know what is going on and they can advise you.

I waited a bit long with my daughter they were about 2 minutes apart for over an hour and when first checked was a four and a half then hit transition and jumped to a 10 - ready to push in about 30 minutes. My husband almost didn't get to the hospital in time. But before that I had weeks of contractions that would get to about seven minutes apart for a couple of hours and then just stop.

mom:

Labor happens differently for all women. I don't know how far along you are - I'm assuming over 37 weeks....

Most women have contractions at regular intervals - USUALLY starting out at every 10 minutes and getting closer and closer together.

I would call my OB and tell her about your contractions....keep track of them. If they start radiating around your stomach/uterus and you feel "funky" - then just go. When delivering babies - it's better to be safe than sorry!!

I have 3 childred and didn't have spotting with any. I ignored things with my 2nd thinking "oh my water hasn't broke, she's just sitting on my bladder" WRONG and needed a piggy back of antibiotics. I say better safe than sorry and have your doctor take a look.

I second guessed whether I was in real labor with my 2nd. In fact, i would say they contractions were minimal compared to my regular menstrual cramps. I had my membranes stripped earlier and my OB said I could be crampy or it could turn into the real thing too. She gave me the usual 5 minute contractions or those that increase in intensity. Mine were neither regular (but neither was my first) and they didn't seem to get worse---they just seemed to be getting closer together.

My husband finally just said I'm taking you in to get checked out--1/2way there I told him we sure turn around--I don't think this is it, they're going to send me home--I don't want to be sent home. He was adamant I was going. Checked in and told the nurse please tell me your not sending me home.

After checking she said wanna guess what the results are---all bummed I said I'm going home,huh? She said nope your 7.5cm---Yikes to think I almost made my hubby turn around! All the nurses kept saying a 7 and still smiling?? so in a nut shell go get checked out--I didn't have any of the "normal" signs with either of mine... I was told there are more false alarms with subsequent pregnancies so no worries,,

GL and congrats

go to work....its no instant. unless you don't want to....because you have a great excuse! LOL

I never had any spotting at all...i come from a long line of women whose waters will not break on their own.

you want to go in when the contractions last over a minute and are about 4 minutes apart. it was funny...with my 2nd, i was at the dentist with my son...and I just couldn't get comfortable...then i noticed that i just couldn't get comfortable exactly every 6 minutes! oh....guess those are contractions! LOL its hard to tell sometimes

it sounds like your fall may have put you in labor. Labor is where you have painful cramping with maybe back discomfort and you do not spot when your in labor. Whoever told you that was an idiot you spot blood if your miscarring. Your contractions could take from a day to an hr to become normal. You can go into work but I would let them know you may not be there your whole shift. I would also continue to monitor them by pain and often. The more often they come and more painful they are. When they hit every 5 mins for hr go to the mergency room if your at work I would say if there comming every 15 mins in an hr i would leave work and go home to get rteady to go to the hospital. Also I would monitor if they stay same stregnth when sitting. Good Luck sounds like that baby may come before christmas what a nice Gift for christmas!!!