Preterm labor at 31 weeks...

So yesterday morning I went into preterm labor. I started having contractions and they got to be one minute apart. Nothing crazy painful. I didn't even feel all of them. What I did feel, only felt like bad period cramps with back pain and eventually, a little pressure. ...More annoying than anything. In fact, when I went in, I was sure they'd tell me that it was nothing but first time mom jitters. ....WRONG. I had to go to the hospital and sit in labor and delivery for hours. They monitored me and gave me a shot to stop the contractions (if anyone has to have this shot, be warned- it burns like a bitch on fire). Thankfully it worked and roughly 8 hours later I was able to go home. Unfortunately, in the middle of the night I had two more contractions that I could feel (the shot wears off, so technically labor can start again). I have another doctor apt today, so we shall see what happens. But the moral of the story is for first time moms to listen to their bodies. The start of labor wasn't like the movies where water breaks followed by panic and unbelievable pain. This felt almost like it was nothing- except I knew it was different. Listening to your body is so very important. Had I not called the doc right away, the situation might have escalated to something that would have ended with a premie in the NICU for 7-9 weeks.  So please listen to your bodies, even if you think it's probably nothing and the doc is just going to tell you you're just a worried first time mom. Because one of those times, it might really be something. Good luck ladies!