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saintanneshs
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 10:12am | IP Logged
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I'm not really looking for a "remedy" here, just wondering if this is "normal"... 
I've been contracting for days (since last Thursday night) but without any kind of a pattern. My due date is 7 days away and the contractions are the real deal. They're waking me up throughout the night. There's so much pressure down there right now that it's uncomfortable to stand. I haven't called the OB 'cause the contractions are sometimes closer together (3-6 minutes) and sometimes farther apart (20 min). I'm also afraid he'll want me to come on in and push things along with pitocin, which is just what I'm trying to avoid this time (I was induced with ALL of my other babies). I tried walking on an incline on my treadmill for an hour last Saturday morning to see if it would make a difference, but all I got for it was a lot of sweat.  You'd think by now I'd know, but I have no idea if this is normal or not, especially since this is baby #5. How long does this go on?
Any words of advice?
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Kristine
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teachingmyown
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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Oh Kristine, I feel for you! I would say it is normal. I do it for weeks before my babies are born. On the bright side, your body is probably doing some good work getting ready, so when "real" labor starts, you will alreadt be well on your way.
Good luck!
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hylabrook1
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 11:46am | IP Logged
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Kristine -
With some of my children (#4, #5 most notably) I did this. Even though the contractions didn't get regular, they were effective. At least it made the active labor shorter (not that I ever had long labors, but these were more efficient). It wouldn't hurt to get checked by the OB, because you may be dilated to the point where you will move very quickly when things get regular and wind up not getting where you need to be on time. I hope that, if you are moving along, your OB will be open to letting you avoid the pit. I would act cautiously and not assume that just because the contractions haven't settled into a pattern they aren't dilating your cervix.
Peace,
Nancy
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Dawnie
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 1:28pm | IP Logged
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Kristine,
This happened to me, too. I had contractions every night after the kids went to bed for weeks before Clara was born. They would fizzle out when I lay down, though. I also felt LOTS of pressure.
Don't worry about it. Baby will come when he (or she!) is ready!
Dawn
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CathinCoffeland
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 2:50pm | IP Logged
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Kristine- im right there with you!
I contract for weeks before things get serious.
It did mean shorter laboring in the hospital though.
It doesnt hurt to get checked- just be firm about them not intervening if thats what you want it helps for me to have dh do the talking.
With last ds i never had a "regualar" labor pattern.
i thought i was at every 15 minutes or so but in actuality i was having a BIG contraction followed by a little one every 7 or so. When I went in for my weekly OB I was over 6 dialated and entering transition
Good luck with your labor and God Bless!
Hopefully I catch up with you in a week or so - I hate this stop and start stuff!
Maggie
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ALmom
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 5:08pm | IP Logged
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Are you having regular contractions that go away for a while or regular contractions that swing from 3 min. to 14 min .... Just assume they are doing work, either way. With regular contractions coming and going - you are just getting nice breathers and being ready - sometimes it is putting baby in good position for birth as opposed to dilating.
I will say that I never had regular timed contractions and if I waited until they were regularly 3 min apart, we would never ever have called the midwife. It is more helpful to look at your own signposts - if you are laughing - wait. If you are very serious, thinking you aren't going to make it, about ready to cry and beg for drugs then you're probably in transition or close to it. If you are having contractions that go from 3 min to 12 min to 7 min. and definitely grab your attention and make you stop and pay attention ... and find yourself saying/thinking you aren't in real labor yet, then you might want to consider checking it out.
Now one thing you may want to be prepared for so it doesn't scare you and make the docs do flip flops is that when I had serious contractions that went on and off for days and days, I then had very quick labor and transition - and then contractions stopped after I was fully dilated. My baby and I were fine (as listening to the steth so informed us) and my midwife wisely informed me that my body was simply giving me a much needer breather -suggested that I relax for a while and see what happened. I tried to sleep, my dh and I talked, even started wondering what the baby was and rehashing names - it was so funny and surreal and I'm glad I didn't have anyone panicing me. Then at some point I remember thinking that there were some light contractions and couldn't decide whether or not to try pushing - and midwife suggested I try and whoolah - baby came in no time. It was my easiest and shortest labor, if you count it from the official start when we finally decided to call the midwife. It was many days long if you counted it from the first, serious contractions that would come and go.
But even in my other pregnancies, my contractions while continual, never became regular. In my first pregnancy, I had so many hard contractions and no dilation. I remember being so absolutely discouraged and thought I'd never make it - but then I went from 1 - 10 and delivered baby and the placenta in 3 hours. The one thing I've learned in all this is that the only thing consistent about my labor patterns is that they never follow or even come close to the textbook descriptions. But I've always had healthy babies with no interventions.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you can always be checked with the idea - not sure this is labor and if not, I just plan to go home (You may know it is real labor but if they aren't certain, then your lack of alarm is less likely to bring on the big guns. Also, they cannot give pitocin without your permission, so if you don't want it, then ask why they want to give it and if it is just to speed things along, you can choose not to unless the baby shows any signs of needing speeding up. If baby is not showing signs of stress and you are not - then whats the rush.
Just my opinion from my own experience - no medical knowledge here - and encouragement that all kinds of patterns can be normal - even when the textbooks say they are not. It is one thing if mom is exhausted, blood pressure going nutty or something else indicating stress in mom or something showing stress in baby - otherwise isn't it normal, albeit taking some funny twists and turns. It helps to think that way and not panic.
Janet
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saintanneshs
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| Posted: Jan 15 2007 at 7:26pm | IP Logged
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Thank you, everyone, for all of your encouraging words. I called the OB and spoke with the nurse who wants me to come in and get checked, so I'll keep everything you have told me in mind when I go. Now that I know what to watch out for and have your experiences to consider (having none of my own with "natural" labor) I feel a little bit more prepared to call the shots. Thank you so much for sharing with me!!
I'll keep you posted!
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saintanneshs
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 7:28am | IP Logged
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I just wanted to thank you all again for sharing your experiences with me and to let you know that you were right...it did happen fast!!
For the first time ever, I got to experience labor without an induction and it was wonderful! After days of contractions, they finally settled into a pattern very early on Tuesday morning and within 4 hours (start to finish) our new little one was here. I'm heading back to the couch to snuggle baby Caleb right now. 
Thanks again!
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marihalojen
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| Posted: Jan 18 2007 at 7:49am | IP Logged
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Congratulations, Kristine!
Welcome, Caleb!
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JennGM
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Oh, how wonderful!!!! I'm so happy for you! Welcome to the world, Caleb. Snuggle and nurse well for Mommy, and Kristine, enjoy your babymoon! Rest!
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Elizabeth
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Congratulations Kristine!
Molly has started an official congratulations thread!. Please visit to welcome Caleb!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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4Real Forums : Our Lady of Good Remedy and Care
Topic: Contractions for Days...UPDATE
