Seeking Advice - Reno, NV

I had lots of "practice contractions" the month before my sons were born (one just after the 40 weeks and the other at barely 37). I was 3cm and 80% for weeks before each.

Stay off your feet; walking can bring labor. If you're breastfeeding, stop. (Mine were 18 months apart and I was still breastfeeding the first, but it was bringing on contractions too early.) And here's something I bet you haven't heard: hypnosis!

I used hypnosis rather than medication with each of my pregnancies and had wonderful, pain-free births. My hypnodoula is located in Mission Viejo, and she has CDs of the hypnosis that you can relax to, even if you don't want to try your delivery that way. One of them is called something like "Baby Stay" and has great hypnotic suggestion to delay labor; worked for me! http://www.hypnosis4birth.com is where you can contact her to get the CDs.

Just put on your headphones, sit with your feet up and relax for 30 minutes (which you should do anyway, even if it's with good music <grin>).

Good luck!

If you haven't already, I would seriously consider starting your maternity leave now, or at least cutting back your hours. Talk with your doctor. With two other little ones, you will be moving about as much as you can anyway, adding the physical and emotional strain of working may just be too much for you at this point. I have four and with the first three I worked right up to delivery (the next day for two of them, and what was supposed to be a week early for the third ended up being that night). But with my fourth, I was feeling so completely exhausted by 32 weeks I cut my hours to 30 and actually left for maternity leave at 36. Also with my fourth I had a couple false alarms and finally had a full day's worth of real labor but off and on. It was sooo confusing. I had never had that before, but by the time I got to the hospital, I delivered my daughter within 15 minutes! Definitely pay attention to what your body is telling you... if you need to cut back, cut back... if you need to take a trip to the doctor just to make sure everything is still ok, do it! It can be nerve-wracking. I very nearly had my baby in the car because I second guessed myself, so take care of yourself and your baby and get some rest!

T.;

With my last 2 children, I have 3, I would suddenly have very bad labor pains, back labor but would end in a couple of hours. I was never too concerned because I could breathe through them and my water never broke. But be forwarned my last child suddenly went into piggyback labor at the grocery store. The manager helped me get to the register and I called my sister to help me get to the hospital. Piggyback labor is when there are no breaks in the contractions. But by the time I was at the hospital I couldn't feel any contractions they put in a internal monitor and I was having them.

Good Luck!

S. Chase

with my second pregnancy i was 3cm for about three weeks and went up to 5cm for one week before i gave birth to my daughter four days before her due date.

but my third, i was 1cm at 40 weeks and had him at exactly 41 weeks, so its always different! just try to keep your mind relaxed (and your body too) and your baby will come soon enough. it cant stay in there forever! even though thats what it feel like sometimes!!

hi T.,
well,it sounds to me like you have whats called "prodromo labor" which is different than false labor and can last for several days to several weeks.i had this with my daughter,also when i was about 34 weeks...i went to 40 weeks and 3 days before labor started for real.but i had contractions every day for a month...just nothing different or significant enough to prgress true labor...you are not going crazy,but if this is what you are going through i can tell you right now it will start to feel that way.the most important thing is to remember that as uncomfortable as it may get,when the baby is ready they will trigger the release of the oxytocin which will kick off the real contractions.so be patient,hang in there,rest and good luck.and know that you are not going crazy:)

I has almost the same scenario at 34 weeks. It came back a few times but each time I took it as a sign to take it easy so I rested a lot and drank lots of water. I delivered one day before my due date but my labor was only about 1 1/2 hours long (my first was about 4 hours long). Both children were born face up (the wrong way) which supposedly prolonged my labor but caused lots of back labor. I'd say pay attention to what your body's saying and relax. It will work out just fine!

They sent my friend home at 6 cm because her labor stopped. They told her to be ready and when labor starts not to wait, since she is already a 6. She lasted another 3 weeks, and got to the hospital in plenty of time. But I wouldn't wait to long if you have fast deliveries.
Good Luck! J.

Totally normal.
A woman can be in labor with such measurements for weeks. Or go from 0-10cm within hours.
Try to keep that baby in the cooker through 37 weeks, then give him the green light.
Good luck

I would sugg you take it very easy and sit or stay off your feet as much as poss. My 2nd prego was so hard on me the entire time. Don't know if it was cuz I was 30 lol or if it's cuz she was a girl. Whatever the case it was hard on me from day one. I ended up having her emergency c-section (2nd) for me when I was 36 weeks. My doctor the week before told me u don't want one that early a lot can go wrong! Well it did. NICU for 12 long days. I think my doctor failed me and should have put me on bed rest weeks before. I think you need to ask your doctor to put you on bed rest. Your dialated, not due this soon and don't want her this soon believe me!! If you need to add to your symptoms then do it. Your getting dizzy a lot, losing balance cuz your so tired whatever do it. You get 1 month paid disability before you deliver so take it and relax. I was dialated like you and it only got worse please relax and take off work. Please!!! Good luck

Sometimes our bodies are at work and we don't know it. I was dialated and effaced and feeling no contractions at all with my 2nd son. The Dr. laughed that the baby was just going to fall out at my desk at work (yes I worked until the day he was born). So, it's possible, you're body is just working hard a little early. I also was having labor 6 weeks early and was sent home to rest because it was too early. I made several panicked trips to the hospital before they finally had to deliver 3 weeks early. And, all was fine. Just take it easy. Pay attention to your body. Go back to the dr or hospital EVERY time you think you need to, even if you feel silly. It's still a little early and if they have to give you meds to stop the labor, they will. Bless You!

Hi T.,

Yes, this happened to me. In 2006 I gave birth via c-section to a daughter. In 2007(july) I gave birth to a son.

My second child this exact thing happened. I went into labor and my husband took me to emergency- L/D. They said I was having contractions but since I was a scheduled C-section they wanted to "prolong" it. So they gave me a shot of something and sent me home on bed rest. For the next week I had REAL contractions and had a 13 month old running around.

My husband told his Boss.. and his Bosses wife said "i have never heard of anyone being in labor for a week" and dismissed this as "over reacting".

That was June 29th. On July 4th I went into full labor but refused to to the hospital as no fluid was coming out and the c-section was scheduled for July 6th. But the next morning I could barly move so I went to my Dr. He sent me to hospital as I was in "active" labor and dialating rapidly. They did and emergency c-section and had to use the vacuum as my son was logged so far up in my ribs. Both baby and I were fine and I was just relieved to have him:)

Advice - stay off your feet. You may not have any fluid or discharge as you did with others and if the contractions get worse ( my belly was changing shape drasically by the second) get to the hospital. Don't be afraid to call your DR and see him and make appointment for tomorrow.

Follow your gut and call in all family you can for help to stay off your feet.

Wishing you and baby good health,
H.

Yes, except I was 4 cm! My doc put me on bedrest and delivered 2 weeks later. Be prepared for the baby to come sooner then 6 weeks. My kids that were born at 36 weeks were all fine, but they are still considered premature until 37 weeks. Talk to your doctor about possibly taking you off work early. Its hard with young kids and being so far along. Especially with the heat!

The same thing happenned to me. With my second son my labor started at 34 weeks. By the time the hospital was able to stop the contractions, I was in the delivery room . Because I was 4 cm and had a history of really quick labors, they would not release me. I spent 10 days in the high risk area on bed rest. They finally had to induce me at 36 weeks because the sac was startibg to slip out. My son was totally healthy at 36 weeks and we went home together 2 days later.

L.

hi T.... i went into labor at 29 weeks. i was put on bedrest and also medication to keep the contractions at bay. i think it's kinda weird that your dr didn't do the same (but then again, i'm not a dr). anywayz, my son was born at 36 weeks (and not due to labor, but preeclampsia). he was absolutely perfect, 9 apgar at birth, and no issues for being 4 weeks early. i'd say keep off your feet as much as you can (i know HARD with two other little ones running around) and the rest in Someone else's hands. good luck!!!

Were you sent home on any TERBUTALINE tablets to take at home until you are 35 weeks, were you given any terbutaline injection at the hospital, have your contractions stopped? I ask this because you are only 34 weeks and already 3 cm. and on your 3rd pregnancy, therefore you have the possibility of continuing your labor and delivering soon. If you were on your first pregnancy then I would not be so concerned. At 34 weeks you do not want to deliver because this is still preterm and the baby may still go to the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) if the baby has difficulty breathing or is low in weight. I don't intend to scare you but I raise an eyebrow. I do not consider these contrations as Braxton Hicks since tecnically you are alredy 3 cm. You ARE starting labor. Of course one can never tell when you will deliver but seeing that this is your third pregnancy in 5 years you may have a quicker labor/delivery. Talk to your OB. I hope your contractions have stopped or slowed down.
FYI-I have been a labor and delivery RN for 10 years and and now a Women's health nurse practitioner.

Hi T.,
I'm sure you're already drinking tons of water and staying well-hydrated (mentioning it just in case).
Ok, this might seem a little wacky, but in your quiet moments, start talking to your baby and tell him/her that he/she needs to STAY IN! You two are a team and she needs to cook a little more.
On another note, it's possible that your guess date is off, so that if baby comes a tad early it might not be catastrophic. Of course the longer the baby stays in the better.
Rest alot (as much as possible with 2 little ones) and drink lots of water. Tell that baby to stay in!

Good luck,
E.

Hi Tamara,
I too was in early term labor (at 30 weeks), I was 90% effaced, contractions every 1-2 minutes, but not dialated- they put me in the hospital for a week, on IV steroids etc and then of course my son wouldn't come out and I had to be induced at 39 weeks! :) they said if I had been at least 34 weeks they would have let me go home and progress naturally, so it sounds like your doctors are on track, but I would think you need to try and take it as easy as possible (ha ha with 2 little girls :) until you are at least 36 weeks- at 36 weeks there are virually no complications to the baby, at 34 - he may have to spend a couple days in the NICU - but nothing major, so try to keep your feet up any time you are sitting down and lay down as much as possible, avoid heavy lifting, laundry, cooking, cleaning etc for another 2 weeks, and you should be great - have friends and neighbors bring some food over or just order out for a little while if hubby doesn't cook :) But even if the baby was born now, he would still be just fine too :) GOOD LUCK!!!

T.,

I had pretty severe preterm labor with both of my kids. This type of thing can go on for weeks. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and stay off your feet as much as possible. If you can hold on for 2 more weeks, your baby will be much healthier for it.

T.

I went into preterm labor at 28 weeks. My contractions were 10 minutes a part and I was 1 cm. By 34 weeks I was the same as you. I did not have my son until I was 38 weeks and even then he was induced. It sounds like everything will be fine for you. Good luck!

It's not uncommon for labor to start and stop as you get further along. However, I think it is odd that your Dr. would not suggest at least modified bed rest since you are at 34 weeks.

I too was 4 cm for more then a month with some really rough days, one day I was in tears because my back hurt so bad but it to went away after rest and tylenol. It all sounds pretty normal to me.
Good Luck