Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I will apologize in advance for this being long and consuming so much of your time. First, just to give a little history because I believe it is important in understanding: I have been having contractions since 32 weeks and a lot of pelvic pressure. I was given a cervical length test at that time that measured 2.7 (which was shorter than the previous test) and was put on bed rest. I have been in the hospital, since 36 weeks, 3 times thinking I was in labor because I was having consistent contractions that would get down to about 5 mintues apart only to be sent home.
Friday morning I was in the hospital having contractions lasting 2-3 minutes apart that began the previous day. I was checked by the nurse and told that I was 50% effaced, not dilated at all, at I believe -2 on the baby's head position. She also told me that the head felt rather large or that maybe she was posterior. I was checked out because my cervix hadn't changed after several hours of being there. Later that day, I had my Dr's appointment. I told him about my happening at the hospital and how I thought for sure I was in labor. I asked him "how will I know when to go back to the hospital, because they don't seem like they can get any closer than 2-3 minutes and I would be scared to wait any longer" His reply was "you'll know!" I commented how if I KNEW, I wouldn't have already been there several times. I feel like I'm going to end up having her at home because each time I go to the hospital I feel dumb being wrong and it makes me wait that much longer before I go the next time. I also told him that the nurse said the head felt large and how that worried me. Thinking maybe I would be offered a sonogram to see if the head can pass through. He said he didn't know how the nurse can determine that from and internal exam and that he didn't think this baby would be any larger than my last. I don't know why I didn't ask but wondered how "he" could predict that based on the quick, two-finger, check about my pubic line to check where the baby's head was. He never felt my stomach and I hadn't seen him in over a month. I always saw the other dr. He told me to not worry and that if my water breaks or I start to dilate, that's when labor is imminent. I asked "how will I know my cervix has started to dilate.. just keep going down to the hospital each time I think it's the real thing?" His reply was that I would be able to feel my cervix dilate. I asked "how's that feel, and how will I know that's what it's doing?" "I dont know how it feels, but you'll feel it, most say they do" I am very confused about that. I thought a contraction is what you feel to make your cervix dilate and I am still, even as I type this, feeling contractions every 3-4 minutes. I feel like I wasn't taken serious at all and left his office very upset. I wish I was given reassurance that the baby will fit through and is in proper position. I also asked if I could possibly be induced because I am drained of energy (havent been able to sleep) and feel anxiety getting the better of me because of all the contractions I have experienced for so long. His answer was not until 2 weeks past due. Every other time I was at the hospital and sent home within a few hours the contractions would subside or completely disappear. They would no longer be regular. This time they don't appear to be going away but are not getting any stronger either. Some are stronger than others and range from just feeling my stomach tighten to the tightening along with very strong menstrual cramps, sometimes penetrating through my back. I wonder, however, if I'm building a pain tolerance for the contractions from having them so long because the monitors at the hospital last time got into the 90's and even went to the maximum of a 100 a few times when the resting number only ranged from 0-5. I'm not sure if you know what I mean by these numbers... but the number that shows up when you are getting a contraction on the monitor. Even when they were that high they did not feel intense enough to be considered a strong contraction (at least not campared to my first baby)
Now, after you've read my book (I apologize again and thank you if you were patient enough to read it all) what I'd like to know is if you can give me any better advice than my dr did on when I should return to the hospital. How will I know? In your opinion, does it sound like there could be something wrong that is causing arrested labor? Because I worry that something is wrong or that it's going to cause too much stress on the baby for all this to be going on. Can cervical dilation be felt? Should I not worry unless I have SEVERE contraction pain? Because my mom only had a belly ache for me and have heard from others that they never even felt contractions "just didn't feel right" and had their baby within hours later. Would what I'm having be considered "early labor" or "false labor"? How long can I go if I'm 1/2 way effaced and shouldn't my cervix be dilating at the same time its thinning being this is my second child? Any answers or feedback you have would GREATLY be appreciated. I feel like I'm at the end of my rope and am emotionally and physically drained. I don't want anything sugar coated, but anything hopeful would be great to hear. Thank you so much again for your time!
Sabrina
Answer -
Laobr is defined as the progressive dilatation of the cervix. It is usually accompanied with painful contractions. You are now 39 weeks in your second pregnancy. You may go into real labor at any time now. When you start having contractions every 3 minutes (from the start of the contraction to the start of the next contraction) AT THE LEVEL OF YOUR BELLY BUTTON, and each contraction lasts (remains hard) for at least 45 seconds, and this continues for a full hour, then I would suggest that you go to the hospital and get checked. Once your cervix opens up to at least 3-4 cm, you will be admitted. There is no way to assess the size of the baby's head by a simple pelvic exam. If the cervix remains closed, you are not in labor (although you may have contractions). Certainly a sonogram can help in giving an estimated fetal weight, but it will not tell if the head is larger or smaller than your last one). As long as you feel fetal movement and are not having any bleeding, you need not worry. If you have any doubts, go back and get checked. If the pain is in your back or lower abdomen, it is not labor. The contractions should be at your belly button (fundus of the uterus). Good Luck.
-------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
THANK YOU for such a quick response. I feel much better that I got a second opinion confirming that the baby's head connot be determined by a pelvic exam. However, about the actual labor... the contractions (every time I went to the hospital) were consistently around 4 minutes apart and ARE in the middle of my stomach along my belly button. Every time I went to the hospital these contractions had lasted for WELL over an hour and were usually longer than a minute apiece...sometimes even over 2 minutes. Most are painful, but not to the extend I would assume. The contractions have died down to about 10 minutes apart now but are still coming consistently so assume now that it was again "false labor". Every time it happens (the contractions getting closer for a period of time -down to only a few minutes apart) should I go to the hospital to be checked? Or should I just wait for something "different" to happen like my water breaking, bleeding, or the contractions becoming unbearable? I read somewhere on the net about suspended or arrested labor being when you have labor symptoms that appear to be the real thing only for them to eventually subside hours later, repeatedly. I read that the cause for this is a large fetus size or improper position of the fetus. Perhaps I'm wrong, but this seems like what is happening with me. My body prepares for labor, only to be stopped for some reason. Thanks again for your reply.
AnswerIf your contractions have slowed to ten minutes apart, you are not in labor. When you start contractions that are every 5 minutes or less, from the beginning of the contraction to the beginning of the next contraction, and each last a full minute (hard for a full minute) and this continues for a full hour, go back to the hospital. If it persists at every 4-5 minutes for lest than an hour, it is not time to go back. Each contraction should remain hard for a full minute. A contraction cannot last for more than one minute (even on the fetal monitor). Drink plenty of fluids. That may help prevent "false labor". If you have any doubts, go back to the hospital. Don't worry.
