For moms who have gone into labor--do you think it is easier to time contractions when you are sitting down resting and paying attention, or running around doing things? I've mostly just been trying to sleep since I woke up with contractions around 3:30 this morning and I honestly can't tell how regular they are, just that they are strong and really irritating me. My doctor's office wants me to time them and call them back by noon, but I'm wondering if walking around is adding "other" discomfort that might make it less clear when a contraction is ending. I have no clue. This is my third but my first two were pitocin-induced. And of course, we're getting a charming little snow storm out here right now, so I'm hoping to figure out if this is a false alarm or not as soon as possible. Arg.
Thanks so far. My induced labors lasted about 5 1/2 hour and 3 hours, respectively, so I hope I don't end up with a really fast natural labor. That would stink today. They also emphasized that since I need antibiotics for group b strep I need to come in whenever real labor starts to get two doses in. Wish I could really tell what was going on in there! :)
Thanks for the ideas--heading in to get checked since we're in the middle of a winter storm watch, they are about 7 minutes apart, and my in-laws will probably need at least 4 or 5 hours to get here instead of 2 1/2 if they end up needing to come for the boys.
Well, nothing really going on after all, but I guess it was better to check in the afternoon than at 2 in the morning. Time to dope up on Tylenol and see if I can get more than 2 hours of sleep.
Hoping for a delivery soon at any rate. I was remembering that the day before my water broke with my second child I was having mild but noticable contractions for most of a day, even though I was not actually in labor and still had to be induced. I'll just be trying to keep busy with cleaning today and wait and see. Probably won't be so lucky to go before my due date again, though. :)
Well, I'm one of those people who never really understood how to time it!! So I used www.contractionmaster.com. It did all of the work for me. My SIL said there is an app on the iphone that will do the timing too.
I Would go ahead and try to do the same things that you would do if this were a "normal day"...if they are "strong and irritating" then you are going to know when you have a contraction!! Carry a small note pad with you...write them down...the starting time of each contraction...if you want you can write down how long each contraction lasts. If being up and moving around makes them further apart...the doctor will want to know that.
Maybe you could spend some time sitting...then spend some time up and moving around and see if it makes a difference!!!
Good luck and congratulations!!!
My first was also pitocin induced and regular, natural contractions are different. Strong and irritating sound real to me - sit down for 30 minutes (maybe watch some trash TV or since you have kids, maybe a kids program) and a digital watch/clock. Write down the start time and end time for 3 contractions. Then you will have all of the info that your OB might need.
If you have trouble determining the start and end, then they may be false. My midwife told me that if you have a small glass of wine, then false contractions will stop. She was right - I did that twice before my "real" labor started. After 8 hours of "real" labor that wasn't very regular, I tried the wine and it didn't stop contractions.
Since it is Friday be very careful that you don't get sent in for another induction. Good luck and happy labor day! C.
Being up and walking around is best for labor, as long as you don't wear yourself out. Keep eating light meals and drinking water. Time a couple of the contractions (time between as well as how long they last), but don't get caught up on making sure they are 5 min or less apart. Pay attention to the pressure you feel in your bottom and whether you can still talk while having one. Have your bag packed and childcare arranged. I delivered my 2nd and 3rd children with contractions no closer than 6-8 minutes and in about 5 hours from the first strong contraction. I barely made it to the hospital for my second baby and wasn't there long before my third. I also endured an long (30 hours and soooo painful!) induced labor with my first child so didn't know what natural labor felt like. For my 2 natural labors laboring in the bathtub (and later at the hospital, the jacuzzi) really reduced my discomfort. Best wishes for a happy birth day! R., nurse midwife Mom of 3 wonderful blessings
Easier when sitting and paying attention. Time each contraction from start to finish for length. Time from the start of one to the start of the next.
Congrats!
Walking is good. If you think this is labor and its starting to snow. pack a bag and go someplace near the Hospital, like the mall. and walk!Walking helps things move along, your labor will go quicker and you'll be near the hospital. If your water breaks stop walking and put your feet up. Good luck!
Sit down for 15-20 minutes and use a watch and time them. Write down start and end times (for duration of contraction). When you have 3-4 of them recorded on paper, you can see how far apart they are (start of one to start of next one). It will be fine to get back up again and go about your business (assuming it isn't time to go in for the birth) after you have recorded your contractions. When you get a feel for how regular and strong they are or aren't, you'll notice (even moving around doing stuff) if/when it changes. So then sit back down and time a few more if you need to.
Mine started out very mild. I did have to sit and be still to accurately tell when they started and ended. But it wasn't long before that wasn't really necessary any more, lol. Your doc will probably want to talk to you on the telephone WHILE you are having a contraction. That is a pretty standard way to assess them by doctors, I think.... IF you can talk or not, or if/how much it takes your breath away during the contraction, lol. It was kind of odd for me, trying to think of "small talk" while waiting for the next contraction to start with the Dr. on the other end of the line, hahaha.
Blessings on the pending birth!!
I sat down, watched tv and timed mine out... I called in when they were 10 minutes apart, then again when they were 5 mins apart. I had a little chart where I wrote the start time, end time and then figured out the time inbetween contractions. Great way to keep yourself busy by doing some hand written math while watching tv :)
Real contractions will be felt if walking, sleeping, sitting, taking a bath... no way of missing them. At least for me but I could only time them out whilesitting. I tried to put them out of my mind by taking a bath, taking a walk, sleeping and so on, finally I just sat in front of the tv and timed them out for a few hours (started light here and there contractions at 10am, went about as normal as possible, called doc at 5pm just as a heads up, super strong contractions at 7pm, told hubby to get the bags in the car at 9:30pm, called doc at 10pm, at hospital at 10:30pm, had my daughter 4pm the next day).
I thought the timing of contractions was measured from the start of one until the start of the next one. I may be wrong, but that's what I timed. (Mine started out immediately at 4 minutes and never slowed down!)
I'm wondering if you are having true labor contractions. There is NO missing them. I'm 30 1/2 weeks along with my 4th baby. I've never been induced, my first two labors were natural, the third was a scheduled c-section as will this pregnancy. I KNEW without a doubt I was having a contraction and true labor contractions DO get stronger and closer together. I've been having braxton hicks contractions for some time now. They are very random, though some are stronger than others, there is no pattern. True labor contractions, at least from my experience do follow a pattern. You may contract every 20 minutes and then every 16 minutes and then every 10 minutes and this could very well go on for hours, where they progressively get closer together. IF you are in true labor, walking around will most certainly help your labor progress faster and you should be noticing them coming closer and stronger over time. IF you can't really tell when one is ending and when one is beginning, I'd say hold off on darting off to the hospital. Once you go to the hospital, you are on hospital time and if they see that you are not progressing according to their time table, you could end up with unnecessary interventions. My OB's rule of thumb was to not go to the hospital until contractions are are at least 5 minutes apart for 2 hours. For me personally, I waited much longer than his recommendation but every woman is different, as is her labor and delivery so you do what feels right for you. If you can carry on a conversation and continue doing tasks around the house and you can't tell if you are having contractions or not, I'd recommend sitting tight at home until you notice a distinguishable pattern. As for group B strep, once you go to the hospital, you will get your antibiotics and you will be fine during the time frame which you get the medication. I was group B strep positive with my first two and I had been in labor at home for some time before going to the hospital.
