3Rd Pregnancy - Having Contractions Every 4 Min

You sound just like me with my third baby!! When she was ready and the time came, I knew it and had to convince the dr/nurse to check me - I was dialated to an 8! Enjoy this long labor, it makes the more painful part shorter and easier to endure. With my third baby, I was able to go all natural because I had to pitocin and no epidural...it was by far my easiest labor (better than the ones even with the epidural, believe it or not!) and by far my easiest recovery. I was amazed at how great I felt after she was born. I had so much energy!

Anyway, follow your instincts. When you feel it's time to go, don't let the dr/nurse tell you otherwise. The worst thing they can do is check you and send you home. That is why they are there. I will also say that I labored with baby number 2, 3 and 4 for almost a month each...be patient, your body is just a little more practiced and is doing more of the work ahead of time now. Good luck!!

With my first, I went from 1st real contraction to delivery (including back labor, she was born face up) in less than 4 hours. With my 2nd, I was 5 minutes apart for over two weeks, while I was in the process of moving. I had to do some serious yard work just to kick it up to 2 min. But with my OB out of town, I had to hold it at 1 minute from 2am to 9am til he arrived (my first was born before Dr arrived and my second swore he would be there, so I held him to it :}) I had both babies completely drug free with no comps. (its amazing what kind of drugs your own body can produce). Good luck and happy babying!!!

Yay for early contractions to help you get ready for baby!! :) Doesn't seem easy but better to get as much done at home before you have to go to the hospital! Enjoy your other babies and spend this time getting things done as you can before you are in the sleepless night phase again!! HUGS to you...

I think you should try going to get acupunture. I don't know where you are located, but I went to TCM in Norman when I was due with my 2nd baby. I was in a similar state to you and that really quickened the pace, and the labor was only an hour (an hour of hell, granted). It went really fast and we barely got to the hospital. The thing about the contractions is if you can't walk or talk when they are going on, they are the real thing. And believe me you cannot walk or talk. To find an acupunturist near you who has experience with acupunture to encourage labor you might call a hypnobirthing practitioner http://www.hypnobirthing.com/findapract.htm . It sounds to me like you are on a short time frame anyway, but you could also call yoga studios for recommendations of good acupunturists and then call them and discuss their experience with acupunture for labor. Good luck!

A. Moore

I had almost the same thing happen to me with my 3rd. I had contractions for two months. When it finally came time to go to the hospital the real labor came on very suddenly. The hospital was only about 5 min away from me and when I got there I was already at 7cm. Labor was quick. I was a week late to. I am now pregnant with my 4th child and am due July 11th. I was hoping the same thing would happen so my labor would be quick again...but I am only having the painless pre contractions. I should know next week If I have dialated at all. I sure hope I have :-)

Hey D'Anne
I just had my first child 3 wks ago and had contractions 4 min apart and even 2 min apart but I was not dilating. Finally a week after my due date they induced me and I labored still for 17 hrs including back labor she was face up and once I had the epidural it was only 3 hrs and then I started pushing. I had contractions for 4 wks and they were close together and some were very painful. I say labor will come when it is time just be patient and if there are any noticeable changes such as water breaking or really painful contractions then go to the hospital. Until then I would stay home where you are most comfortable.

You do not want to have this baby now.You are only 35 weeks, and this baby needs to cook a little longer. I had my 2nd child @ 36 weeks and she had respiratory problems. You need to be on bed rest as much as you can on you're left side. PLEASE have friends and family help as much as they can to let this little one stay inside of you for a little longer

I had a similar problems however most of my contractions were Braxton Hicks Contractions. I used to hate it when people told me this but it's true. You will know FOR CERTAIN when you are having contractions that lead to labor. It hurts. I'm a whimp too I think but, it's a hurt like no other.

Hi D'Anne,

My sons are older now, but I remember those pregnancy days all too well. For my third, I had pains in my legs as well from the pressure on my nerves. I also had lots of contractions towards the end. But it wasn't until I lost my mucus plug that it was time...then the contractions really escalated. You can tell the difference in the contractions. Also, I see your husband works three jobs so you can stay home. Bless his heart. Have you ever thought about working from home to supplement his income. I'm partnered with a wellness company and help moms turn an already necessary expense each month into residual income. I'm a teacher and work from home part time. Let me know if you'd like to hear what I do. Congratulations and wishing you the best with your delivery.

K. C.

I had tons of contractions with my third child. Sometimes they were 2 minutes apart and lasted for a long time. The contractions started in mid to late October and I didn't have her until December 1 (38.5 weeks). If you can take Tylenol, drink lots of fluid and put your feet up and they slow down or go away, it is not real labor. My first "real" contraction came in the middle of the night and I KNEW that was real labor with the first contraction. Even on the third child, I was worried that I might not know real labor, but I definitely did. Good luck!

Hello D'Anne,
I didn't have this happen to me, but it did happen to my sister. She lived 30 mins away from the hospital and was having contractions as well...My younger sister and I tried to tell her to go to the Hospital, but she told us that she knew it wasn't time...she stayed home and she worked while having contractions...you could hear her breathing over the phone working through the contractions, but wouldn't go to the Hospital. This was just her 2nd child...but she told us that she would know when it was time.
She had the baby at the Hospital with no problems. She was also right that she would know, and she did Know.

As for me...I had twins at 36 weeks, I had back labor as well. But b/c I was having twins the Dr put me in the Hospital on bed rest for a week after stopping my contractions. This was my 2nd time around and I bothered the nurses alot while I was there. When I had my twins...my youngest of the two had trouble holding oxygen...they had to give me a shot to help the twins before birth...to have stronger lungs after birth...and still my youngest (Kerrie)had trouble breathing...once strong enough to breath on her own the hospital sent her home... a week or so later she turned blue on me and I quickly blew my breath in her face...she got her breath and I took her to the Hospital and the Dr put her on a monator that would let me know if she quit again. It scared me so much....Please listen to the others that have responed to your request...believe it...you will know when it's time...you don't want to have the baby early. Not to early anyway.
Kerrie is 10yrs old now and has no problems at all with anything....you couldn't even tell that she had problems at birth...But I want you to know she was also born feet first...she wouldn't turn in the womb...and was a bigger baby than her twin sister (Jessica) who was born with no problems at all....Jessica was also born head first...I didn't say all this to scare you, but you need to know what the baby will face if born to early.

Hope this helps..