Seeking Advice 38 Weeks Pregnant and No Contractions

I didn't have any contractions till the day my son was born. He was born exactly on his due date, nothing wrong, handsome little fella at 8 lbs 2 oz.

Hi B.!

Congrats on your pregnancy! I am currently pregnant and just off bed rest. I know exactly how you feel. With my first son I had pre term labor at 32 weeks and was on meds and bed rest until 35 weeks. I thought that right after I got off bed rest I would have him, he thought otherwise though. I didn't have a single contraction with him after bed rest until the morning I woke up in labor. I never dialated with him until that morning or anything. With this one I am having contractions like crazy and dialated to 2cm but nothing steady. Braxton Hicks..they are so not fun right now. Be patient it will come. Enjoy being able to rest and not have any worries for now. Your baby will come! Good luck! I hope you have a speedy delivery!

Mel

Hi B.,
When I was pregnant last year I think I had about 6 contractions total in the last week or so before I had my baby and that's it. I never had too many Braxton Hicks ones either. So I think that's completely normal. Also, my water broke and I NEVER had any contractions at all until I got to the hospital and they tested me to make sure it was amniotic fluid - then I had about 3 or 4 before I had my C-Section. Good luck!!!

I agree with Kimberly, I ended up delivering at 38 weeks and I never really had contractions either. So don't worry, like she says you WILL have plenty!

Best of luck and congratulations!

I just had my first baby in July. I had fully dropped and began dialatting at 37 weeks with no contractions. I never experienced any braxton hicks or false labor. I was going crazy anticipating a late delivery. I had my OB perform a procedure called "stripping the membranes" 3 days before my due date. I began having contractions late evening the next day. I went into labor and had a very successful delivery the day before my due date! I was told to be thankful that I didn't have to endure the pain of contractions for weeks like some women do. As long as your doc says everything is ok, I'd be thankful and try to be patient (as hard as it is). Good luck!

Hi there -

First of all my professional experiences as a Doula attending the births of over 50 babies: Normal pregnancy is 37-42 weeks. You do not have a due date, you have a due "month". You do not NEED any contractions until you are actually in labor!! You do not need to dialate AT ALL until you are in labor. The fact that your baby has dropped, or engaged in the pelvis is a very good sign. You are getting closer. How close, we have no way of knowing.

Now my personal experience: With my first child I had ZERO contractions - zero dilation. I went to my OB on Monday, 4 days before my due date. Not change at all - he said come back on Thursday, the day after my due date. He was certain he'd see me! I went into labor on my due date. Had an 8 lb. baby girl, unmedicated no less! Skip to baby #3 12 years later, I had braxton Hicks contractions from the moment I found out I was pregnant, but my crevix NEVER changed. When I went into labor I was ZERO dialated.

You will not be pregnant forever! If you want more info on starting labor, or getting your body ready for labor let me know. Good Luck, J.

I was induced at 38 1/2 weeks, and did have some Braxton-Hicks contractions before that even though my son hadn't dropped at all. (Fortunately, my induction "took" ;-)

However, one of the women from my birthing class went for her regular weekly checkup and found that she was 5 centimeters dilated. Of course, she was immediately sent to the hospital. But she had no noticeable contractions at all, and wouldn't have known that she was even in labor if she hadn't gone to the doctor. She had a relatively fast, easy labor and a perfectly healthy baby.

So, there is no "normal." If the baby is moving like usual, all of the other signs look good, and your doctor isn't concerned, don't let this get to you.

As a recent first-time mom, I know that it's hard at the end not to fret over every little thing -- we spend nine months protecting them and then all of a sudden it feels like their well-being is out of our control.... But it will all work out just fine.

B. Dont worry!!! I didn't have any kind of contractions with my first little one until about 2 hours after my water broke (I was 41 weeks). It is perfectly normal! I know at this point the anxiety gets high cause your excited and nervous and all the other emotions in between but just take a deep breath. I wish you the best in the next couple of weeks and please let us the baby is here!
Hope this helps J.

I never felt contractions either until deep into labor so don't worry about that. Everyone is different. Also, don't get over excited expecting the baby to come at any moment. I did that because my doctor said that my son had dropped and I was starting to dialate at 38 weeks. In the end, my son was one week late (41 weeks total!) so being over anxious made those last three or four weeks seem like an eternity!! The best thing to do (I know this is much easier to say than do:) is to relax and let your baby and your body do what it needs to do. The baby will come when he/she is ready and your doctor will keep track of any concerns. Take some time for yourself and relax! Try to get your mind off it by reading, shopping, scrapbooking, or whatever interests you. Good luck! M.

If this is your first- it is totally normal-- the truth is that baby will get here when he or she is ready- i walked a lot at the end of my pregnancy- not sure if it helped labor come on faster- but it helped me keep my mind off of it!

my first in 1978 ( before sonos, inductions etc) was 2 weeks over. i never really had contractions. when i had him i felt like i was constipated and kept going to the bathroom trying to get something out. thankfully me dad noticed it and took me in despite my protests. i just fell some really bad pressure when his head came out but that was it. he was 1lbs 8 oz by the way. i had my next son 13 yrs later and it was totally different. i started labor about 7 am and had him at 11. that was the most painful thing i have ever experienced. so you can see that all woemn are different as all babies are different. unless the baby is in any kind of distress, just let nature take its course. there is no way you can pinpoint the exact day the baby is going to be born unless you know the exact time a date that he was conceived and even then they may come early or come late. my second baby was born at 31 weeks.

I had back pain and mild cramping which the Dr. said was contractions. I say be greatful and it will come when the baby is ready. Those last few weeks are always stressful, wondering when the baby's coming. Relax and enjoy the ride. Good Luck.

B.,
Don't worry and be patient! (Easier said than done, huh?) I remember how LOOOOONG those last two weeks can be. I know it's probably not what you want to hear, but I carried my first baby without any signs of contractions until I was 40 and a half weeks! My son was also completely dropped by week 38. It was the longest month of my life. But, in the scheme of things, those extra two weeks were nothing. During my second pregnancy, looking back and remembering how fast it really went, i was able to enjoy the pregnancy to the very end. Baby is going to be here before you know it! Congratulations and good luck to you!!!

Relax. Seriously. I have 2 beautiful babies and both were over due. My first was 2 weeks late and I was induced. The 2nd time I was induced 10 days past my due date. With my 1st I had dialated to 3 cm and stuck, no effacing. They did an ultra sound to measure the amount of amniotic fluid and monitored the baby with the non-stress test. I'd had no contractions at all. The night I checked into the hosp. for induction they hooked up the monitor and the nurse informed me that I was having contractions about 10 min apart. I did not feel a thing. I'm sure you've had tons of unsolicited advice on the matter, but I recommend the epidural, esp. if you are induced. Has your dr. discussed the possibility of induction w/ you yet?

Don't worry, I didn't have any contractions until I was actually in labor. You've got 2 weeks to go before the dr starts talking to you about inductions and c-sections, so I'd just relax and wait it out. Everything will happen how it is meant to. Congrats!

You are doing fine. Those last couple weeks of waiting are brutal. Your baby is probably just waiting for it's due date. I am pregnant with my second daughter. When I was pregnant with my first baby I was 2 centimeter dialated and 25" efaced at 36 weeks and my friend, a nurse, convinced me that I was going to have the baby over the weekend. NOT. The next week I was 3 centimeters dialated but she still didn't come till her due date. Just kick back and relax, it will the last time you do. Good luck

B.,

Babies come when they are ready and contractions happen when they are ready. I don't think it is unusual at all to not feel contractions. You may be having them without realizing them. I was in the opposite situation. I had preterm labor from about 20 weeks on with both of my kids. MOST of the contraction I had I couldn't feel. I only knew I was having them because I was paying attention and I had to count them. But seriously, most of them, if you weren't looking for them, you'd never know they were going on. At 38 weeks, you could deliver any time in the next month so just relax and try to enjoy the remainder of your pregnancy. At your next appointment, ask your doctor about your lack of contractions and I'm sure he or she will be able to reassure you. Oh, and it is completely normal to be going crazy with anxiety at this stage. That is what being hugely pregnant is for!!!

T.

Hi B.,
I just wanted to let you know I went 39 weeks without any contractions, braxton hicks, nothing! I think every womans body is different, so I would just keeping checking in with your doctor. I ended up getting a c-section and never had any labor, so it was nice I never was in any pain. But best of luck to you, I'm sure your fine.

I didn't have any contractions that I could feel until my labor was induced. When I went into the doctor at 39-40 weeks they hooked me up to the machine to see if I was having contractions and I was having very mild ones but it just felt like the baby moving. Sometimes the first contractions are so mild you cannot tell you are having them until you have had several of them.

B.,

I just had my first 3 1/2 months ago and I did not have contractions until I was actually in labor. (and then I didn't realize I was having them :) ) I think it depends on your body. My daughter was born a week before her due date so that is why I didn't think they were anything to worry about.

I think that is perfectly normal, especially it seemed for me with my first baby. I was induced 10 days early and hadn't had any contractions until my induction, then I even had such mild contractions I could hardly feel them until my water broke. Each pregnancy is so different, if your doctor isn't worried, I wouldn't worry. As a matter of fact, be grateful and enjoy your time with no contractions, because you will eventually have them during delivery;) Good luck!

I never had any contractions until I was in labor with all 3 of my pregnancies. In fact I was induced with my first two but managed to go into labor naturally with my third (I credit drinking lots of raspberry leaf tea for that). Don't worry about it. It sounds like your body's still making progress even though you're not feeling any contractions.

I never had any contractions with either of my boys until after my doctor stripped my membranes at about 39 weeks. Even then, the contractions started 2-3 days later!!

Ah.....I remember those days well. I know it's frustrating to be waiting and I'm sure you've reached the point where you are ready to just be done being pregnant! I really had no idea what to expect when my first daughter was on her way. She came a week before her due date. If I would have had a clue she was coming then, I would not have stayed up until 1:00 in the morning playing Monopoly! Mysecond daughter's due date came and went, but I finally started having contractions which got closer and closer together and we went to the hospital when they were 5 minutes apart for an hour. My problem that time was that I had contractions every 5 minuts for 12 hours without dialating. I was given morphine to allow me to sleep and test for false labor and my OB finally induced and an hour or so later, my second daughter was born. When the time comes, you'll know! Your doctor will help when the time is right. Until then, I'm afraid it is just a waiting game. Enjoy the sleep while you can get it!!

Hang in there! I have 2 kids, and had NO contractions up until my due date, when I was finally induced. I don't think it's too significant--you will eventually go into labor! I just chose to induce because I was so impatient!

Good luck--no contractions means better sleep, so get it while you can!

I agree with the other mom's when they say don't worry. Just relax and your body will know when it's time to start having contractions. I remember having one small contraction a week before I had my son. I didn't have full on contractions till my water broke and I was already at the hospital. So just relax and take this time to see if you have everything ready for the baby Congratulations on your new bundle of joy.
= )

Everyone is different but as long as her heart is still being heard and shes moving & healthy, and the doctor has no concerns then yes, it's absolutely normal for you. And fustrating I bet, but hang in there, when she's ready, you'll feel more than enough contractions. :D

Don't worry B.. Every pregnacy is different. Some women have contractions all throughout, and others do not. I personally don't have ANY contractions until I the day I actually go into labor. I am now pregnant with my third, but with 1 & 2 that was the case. So relax. It is perfectly normal not to have had any contractions. Heres to hoping your beautiful baby comes sooner rather than later!

Hi B.,
I, like many of the women who have responded never had one contraction. My water broke on my due date, and even then, I didn't have contractions until they started to finally induce me. I wouldn't worry. Every woman and baby is different. Baby might just be very happy in your womb and in no hurry to come out.
I don't think what you are going through is all that uncommon. Hang tight, before you know it you will be meeting your beautiful baby!

I wouldn't worry. When I was pregnant with my sin, who is now 3, I had no contractions, no dilation until I went into labor on my due date. I never even had braxton hicks contractions. If your doctor is not concerned, then don't worry. It will all work out when he/she is ready to enter this world.

I am 34 weeks with my second and have had TONS of Braxton Hicks contractions. However, with my first I never, ever had a single one and thought that I was abnormal!!! My doctor said that you usually don't get any contractions before your first baby,(other than when you are in labor) that is a symptom of additional pregnancies. Don't worry, your day will be here before you know it. Good luck with your delivery!

Let nature take it's course and just enjoy these last couple weeks before the baby comes (easier said than done, I know b/c I am 35 1/2 weeks along!). Anyway, studies have shown that the average pregnancy is 41 1/2 weeks so just take it easy and try not to stress. Waiting to go into labor on your own is the BEST thing you can do for you and your baby, and that's a promise! I'll be praying for you.

I think your pretty normal. At 38 1/2 weeks with twins (I thought they were never coming) they decided to induce me because I had be come pre-eclamptic. I had NO contractions before and had NONE after they induced me. I was in the hospital from Wed morning at 10am to Thursday at 2:30 when they decided it wasnt working and did a c-section. I am sure your baby will come when he/she is ready! Good luck!