[*krista*]

Well, it is 2:26 a.m. here and I can't sleep! I think I might be in early labor. I'm having contractions that started at about 10:00 or 10:30. They are fairly painful, so that is what is making me think they might be the real thing. Last time during my false call I had very little pain.

Right now they are coming about 7 minutes apart. I feel them mainly in my back and my butt. Although my stomach gets rock hard, there is no pain on my front side. I always imagined it feeling like a regular muscle cramp, a sharp pain like one you could get in your calf, but worse... but it feels nothing like that! It is more the ache of what I get when AF is coming.

Oh, and I'm getting red blood on the tp every time I go to the rest room since it started. I have been getting a lot of that since my last appointment, but it has always been brown.

Anyway, I know most of you are asleep and I'm typing to myself! Except for maybe our UK/NZ/Germany ladies (I'm not forgetting a country on the other side of the pond, am I?). I'm trying not to wake DH right now, I want him to get his sleep. I know if I tell him I'm having any type of regular contractions he won't sleep. I hear him stirring around in there, he is awake in bed, and it is probably only a matter of time until he comes and checks on me. Gotta love the guy.

___________________________

Okay, now that I'm done typing this out I realized I don't think (there's DH, coming and checking on me... told ya ) I had a contraction while I was typing it out. So maybe it is a false call... again... ugh. I don't mind false calls, just not painful ones. That sucked. Oh well, maybe I can get some sleep.

Now I'm just confused, here goes a contraction. They aren't as painful now that I'm up out of bed. I might have had one while I was typing and just forgot. I tend to do that. I suck at this whole timing of the contractions thing.

I'll keep you ladies posted, sorry this ended up so long, but typing it out distracts me, which is a good thing! I'm going to go try to sleep...

[Trannyfromtheuk]

Right misses, Im not sure if your still gonnab e up or W/E.
I not sure if your gonna still be awake still or not.
Would it be worth ringing the hospital to tell them your spotting red blood when you wipe?
Im not sure if thats a 'normal' sign of labour as I never went into labour on my own with Mia.

And I am also sendin g you ELV's!

[*krista*]

I'm still here! Although I will probably go to bed because DH just wondered in here with the dog saying "we can't sleep either" because I'm up. Sleep would probably be a good thing right now for me too. I think if I lay down they will be more painful though, so it might be a wasted effort.

I'm going to wait as long as possible to notify my doctor/hospital if this is it. I don't want to put myself on the clock.

[Trannyfromtheuk]

I suppose you could always go sit and read a book in bed or something?
Also, rest is a good thing!

Ah ok, I ddnt realise calling them would put you on the clock though - I thought that only happens if your waters broke?

BTW - its 9.11am here

[**jessie**]

It sounds like it definitely could be early labor. Does it hurt more lying down or standing up? I knew it was the 'real thing' when the contractions hurt more lying down and prior to that ptl was the opposite. Try to go get some rest, so your DH and dog can too If it is early labor, it's likely to last the better part of 12 hrs so you have time. Keep us updated!!!

[*krista*]

They definitely hurt more lying down, which sucks because I would like to try to sleep! DH and I timed them for a little while (I wasn't going to tell him but he insisted on staying up with me). They are still 7 minutes apart, so they didn't slow down like I thought they did.

Emma - it wouldn't put me on the clock quite like my waters breaking would, but from what I understand they like to see so much progress in X amount of time, and like to start talking pitocin if that doesn't happen. I don't know if it is all hospitals or some, or only once you come in, but I just didn't want to risk it is all.

[**jessie**]

Then I bet you it's the real thing. I was seriously pissed because mine started at like 4 am and all I wanted to do was sleep and then nap throughout the day, but it hurt too bad to lie down. You will know when its time to go in, even without timing them... it's about right when you feel like you want to die! I think I went in at 10 pm that night, but the contractions were less when I was up so I got lots of housework done.

[*krista*]

I wanna sleep but all I can do is doze! Oh well... let the whining begin. I sure am thankful I have my overseas ladies to keep me company while I am up in the middle of the night!

Off I go to doze again...

[**jessie**]

It's nice having you up (even though I'm sorry you're in pain... but it's exciting pain, at least!). That's one of the worst bits about being over here, no one else is on here when I am. Enjoy your dozing!

Forgot to say, that I also did not have any bleeding until I was actually in labor

[alicenwonderland]

BAH! I was online all night at work, but on the WRONG board! I'm sorry I missed you! I hope you are getting some rest right now. I'm exciting about you possibly being in labor!!!

[~*Bethy*~]

How are you feeling this morning? Ill go update my other post as my early labor has seemed to vanish!! I hope this is it for one of is Candace, how ya feeling today

[~*sierra*~]

i'm wondering how u are doing krista????? update??

[*kyle*]

Oooohhh, I hope this is the start! Try to get a lot of rest and relaxation for now. Please update us on any progress!

[SandKmommy]

Wonder how its going, been a few hours since last update. I was up when you posted (It was just after midnight here since I'm in Pacific time) but wasn't looking at the board then

[*krista*]

Hey ladies! I'm still here. Got some dozing in in between contractions, but no real sleep. I still don't know what to think. I'm still having the bleeding and the painful contractions. I haven't been timing them well, but I think now that it is time to wake up they might be becoming a little more disorganized. Kept me up all night too! My last false labor episode lasted about 12 hours, and this one is hitting the 12 hour mark, so I guess only time will tell. I just wish it would either stop or kick into high gear, one or the other!

My doc said to call if I have any period like bleeding... anyone know where to draw that line? Is that like heaviest day period bleeding? Mine is mainly when I go to the bathroom, but light when not going to the bathroom if that makes sense.

[SandKmommy]

I personally would go in/call if I was having any bright red bleeding(more then just spotting)

[Trannyfromtheuk]

I hope things progress soon x

[Mod-LadyCoconut]

Looks like its been a couple hours since your last post! I hope things either stopped and you're sleeping or picked up and you're dilating!

[~*Bethy*~]

Hmmm...whos updating for her??......at least one of us is dilating LOL!! Hope she went in

[*krista*]

I've been timing them for the past couple of hours. On average they are about 6 - 8 minutes apart, about 50 seconds long. Every now and then I'll have a surprise one come 3 or 4 minutes early, or I'll either skip one or have a wimpy one that I don't really count, resulting in an occassional 12 minute gap. Does that sound like another episode of false labor or do you think it could be it?

All this guessing sucks. They are still painful, and I've gone from bright red light bleeding to brown spotting. What do you ladies think? Did anyone else have painful BH/false labor?