Is this real labor? How do I help it along? (Possible TMI)

[truly scrumptious]

Background: With DS, my water broke at 36 weeks and I had to be induced, so I have very little experience with regular labor contractions.

I am 38 weeks with DC#2. I've been having Braxton-Hicks for the past week or so, but they've never lasted more than an hour at a time.

I started having regular contractions yesterday evening. They were evenly spaced, but would speed up to about 5 minutes apart when I stood up and walked around, and slowed down to 15 minutes apart when I sat and put my feet up. This happened several times during the evening, and they continued most of the night (they would be evenly spaced as long as I was in one position, but changing positions in bed made them speed up or slow down.) They weren't particularly painful, except for a couple that woke me up overnight.

Since this morning, they have been pretty consistently 15-20 minutes apart, but not increasing in intensity. My OB's office said to wait until they were intense enough to need to breathe through them, and about 10 minutes apart.

Other signs - a slight mucousy discharge, and loose stool yesterday.

Is this real labor, or some elaborate version of Braxton Hicks? If it is real labor, is there anything I can do to encourage the contractions? (walking around, etc.)

Any pointers would be appreciated! TIA!

[Indianamom2]

Background: With DS, my water broke at 36 weeks and I had to be induced, so I have very little experience with regular labor contractions.

I am 38 weeks with DC#2. I've been having Braxton-Hicks for the past week or so, but they've never lasted more than an hour at a time.

I started having regular contractions yesterday evening. They were evenly spaced, but would speed up to about 5 minutes apart when I stood up and walked around, and slowed down to 15 minutes apart when I sat and put my feet up. This happened several times during the evening, and they continued most of the night (they would be evenly spaced as long as I was in one position, but changing positions in bed made them speed up or slow down.) They weren't particularly painful, except for a couple that woke me up overnight.

Since this morning, they have been pretty consistently 15-20 minutes apart, but not increasing in intensity. My OB's office said to wait until they were intense enough to need to breathe through them, and about 10 minutes apart.

Other signs - a slight mucousy discharge, and loose stool yesterday.

Is this real labor, or some elaborate version of Braxton Hicks? If it is real labor, is there anything I can do to encourage the contractions? (walking around, etc.)

Any pointers would be appreciated! TIA!

This sounds like how my first labor started. My contractions stayed about 15-20 minutes apart for a LONG time. They never got super regular either. I think even when I was 7 cm or so, they weren't any closer than about 5 minutes apart. (I'm weird, apparently!)

My best advice, stay active as much as possible during this phase. I stayed home walking around, doing stuff around the house (I vividly recall cleaning out the fridge around 11 am, and had DD at almost 5 pm). I really never had to work all that hard to get through the contractions, so if I had waited, I think I would have had DD at home. As it was, the doctor wanted me to come in, since she had been out of town all week, and when I did, I was already 7 cm...so straight to the hospital.

Hopefully this is it and you'll be holding your beautiful new baby soon!

[Drag0nflygirl]

Sounds real to me - but I'm concerned about the non-progression. I think you should get checked out.

[Katigre]

I would not go into be checked at this point - i would try to get things moving at home.

The labor pattern you describe could inbdicate poor positioning of the baby - if his head is even a little tilted 'off' in your pelvis that can make for a longer labor with sloooooow progression (btdt).

Go here: www.spinningbabies.com and look at their labor techniques (this one is what saved my labor with DD - i did it against a wall with DH helping me).

[AnnieW625]

I asked the same questions here a few days before I had DD2. So I went to the dr. a few days later and I wasn't even dialated. My water ended up breaking 8 hours later. I had DD2 at 38 w 6 d.

[truly scrumptious]

Thanks all. Forgot to mention that I was 2 cm dilated at my 38 week appt yesterday (before the contractions started.)

Katigre, thanks for the links - they are really helpful. I do think that the baby isn't engaged in my pelvis yet - she has been moving around a lot. I'm looking at the specific exercise you linked to and will be trying it - I just need to be sure to time it well in case it speeds things up quickly!

If nothing progresses, I'll be touching base with my OB's office again in the morning to see if they want to check my dilation.

Thanks again!

[wendibird22]

Walk a lot and drink lots of water. I would get frequent BHs if I was dehydrated. My ob would say that a dehydrated uterus is an unhappy uterus.

[bostonsmama]

Wondering how you're doing today.

I had a similar experience w/ DD who was posterior. I had ctx on and off all day, but I could talk through them (I thought I couldn't, but when the "real" ones came there was a HUGE difference). It's true that baby may not be in the right position, which could slow down labor in a big way. I would rest up, actually, not walk. I got on all 4s, did pelvic rocking, laid on my side when I needed to rest, and sat, leaning forward on my ball, when I needed to eat. Once DD finally turned, the ctx were lightning quick and I had DD in less than 4 hrs w/ 35min of pushing (in squatting position).

[truly scrumptious]

Wondering how you're doing today.

I had a similar experience w/ DD who was posterior. I had ctx on and off all day, but I could talk through them (I thought I couldn't, but when the "real" ones came there was a HUGE difference). It's true that baby may not be in the right position, which could slow down labor in a big way. I would rest up, actually, not walk. I got on all 4s, did pelvic rocking, laid on my side when I needed to rest, and sat, leaning forward on my ball, when I needed to eat. Once DD finally turned, the ctx were lightning quick and I had DD in less than 4 hrs w/ 35min of pushing (in squatting position).

I'm still here. My contractions suddenly stopped overnight and then restarted this morning. I tried the exercise Katigre linked to (abdominal lift) to help get the baby positioned better. She seems to have moved lower, but the contractions are still erratic. Walking around definitely speeds them up, but intensity is still fairly low, and I tire quickly from walking about. When I rest the contractions slow down again. It is probably still a positioning issue.

I'm going try the pelvic rocking, and to sit on a ball as much as possible, and I will probably give the abdominal lift another try too, to help her get engaged properly in my pelvis.

Baby seems to be moving so I am assuming she's okay. Is there anything else I should keep an eye out for?

Thanks for checking on me