[*krista*]

I've been having either braxton hicks or contractions about every ten minutes for the past two or three hours. They aren't painful, just a bit uncomfortable. Each one lasts about 40 to 50 seconds. Should I take them seriously? I know they say when they are real contractions you will know it, but I wonder because my mom didn't know she was in labor until the doctor told her at her regular appointment and she was several centimeters dialated... what if I'm the same way? Can you get BHs regularly like this? If it isn't the real deal, is it a good sign or just another one of those things that doesn't really mean anything?

[szczepanski]

I had a lot of false labor before I went into labor...and then I was in early/annoying labor for like 36 hours. You definitely know when things pick up!!! It could be just preparing your body and getting things ready. They don't start off really regular either, it's more sporadic and get more regular as you progress in labor.

[♥Ashley♥]

I hope this is it! Obviously I have no advice!

[midnight_starr]

I have no advice, but KUP!!!!

[~*sierra*~]

sounds like a good sign either way! i once read or heard somewhere that all these 'gearing up' contrax help a lot with active labour

[ShannonMVT]

I dunno b/c I never got BH contrax. I would think you'll know when they start picking up and getting stronger though.

[*krista*]

I'm still having them. Isn't laying down supposed to slow them down if it is false labor? We laid down and watched some tv for an hour and a half. I haven't been timing them, maybe I should! Is there any other "test" I can do that is supposed to stop it if it is false?

Also, this has been going on since about 3:00 or 4:00 in the afternoon. Is that normal for false labor? They seem to be getting a little more uncomfortable, but still not painful.

[Resi]

You can take a bath or shower, eat or drink something to see if it goes away. I never had BH contractions so I'm no help. Maybe it's something!

[greeneyes]

Yes, BH can definitely be regular and uncomfortable, even for hours at a time. Or, they could be very early contractions that will start and stop - that's called prodromal labor. I experienced this for the last three weeks of my pregnancy with Violet and it was pretty annoying. The good news is that I was 4 cm dilated before my water broke and I ever had any "real" contractions so maybe these are progressing your cervix, too!

Laying on your left side or getting in a warm bath will slow them down or may even make them disappear.

[*krista*]

We just timed them for a little while and they were 4 to 6 minutes apart. Still not painful. I'm so confused! I haven't even lost my mucus plug, don't I have to lose that first? I took a hot shower, laid down, ate, nothing changed them. I'm going to try laying on my left side, see if that makes them go away. I don't know what to think.

[Frozendesire]

Hm. Either way I think you're fine with stay at home until things really start up. You don't need to lose a plug or anything like that. I never noticed it even with Curtis. My water broke and I gave birth and never saw my plug lol. It came out at some point I guess lol.

I would just take it easy. I had what Kate was talking about. I had constant contractions with Curtis for a while (I wont say how long) and then nothing for a bit and then all of a sudden my water broke.

I hate being cliche but you'll know when it becomes real, go to the hospital baby is coming, contractions

[~* Helen *~]

Hmmm that to me sounds like the start of something .. I've never know BH to be regular ... I've always been told if you have more than 4 BH in a hour to go in .. but obviously you are like 37 weeks pregnant so it could be the start of something ... if they don't go away after lying on your left side I Imagine i ts the start of labour ... have they got any worse or fizzled out ???

[LisanAndy]

That happened to me OVER and OVER again with Rylie. I started bleeding, it was going on for 24 hours, I lost my plug, went in and got checked and was still the same 2 centimeters and it was false labor. They never got progressively painful but I was freakin a little bit. I've never gone into labor on my own (scares me that I won't know this time ) but I've always been told that when they're painful, I mean PAINFUL, and 3-5 mins apart to call the midwife or doctor. How you doing? Maybe it was the start of something? Either way, hopefully it's effacing you more

[*krista*]

I laid on my left side and fell asleep! I woke up at 1:00 am and they were coming every 4 to 6 minutes and I had back pain with them, an ache much like I get before AF, so I was really beginning to let myself believe it could be it! Timed them until 3:00 and they were staying constant, managed to go back to sleep, and woke up this morning with nothing. What the heck??! My body totally faked me out.

I've got a doctor's appointment this afternoon, so we will see if all of that actually did anything.

[**Jenn**]

Yup, classic false labor. So frustrating, isn't it? I ALWAYS get BH for at least half my pregnancy and they can be regular and they can be uncomfortable--enough to stop you in your tracks and have to breathe through them. I had false labor with Lochy 6 days before I had him. My contractions were a few minutes apart from 4-5pm til around 3am when they just fizzled out. They didn't change my cervix at all either, I was still 3cm. I hope they've done something for you!!!

[alicenwonderland]

oh well. But at least we know your body is getting ready!! Should be soon!

[.Brandi.]

I agree it's false labor! I had BH contractions with Edward for a good month! It was hell! I didn't have any with Preston....all the contractions I had with Preston were actual labor!

[Oriyan]

I was in false labor for 10 days. It really sucked. Between 10pm-8am, I'd have contractions every 10 minutes. They never got any closer though and I was not progressing.