HELP ! Is this labor?!

Question

I have been cramping for almost two weeks now. Today i woke up and have been cramping even more than usual. The last 5ish hours i have had about 30-90 second long contractions every 10-15 minutes. They are uncomfortable and painful but nothing I can’t handle. Is this early labor? If it gets worse I will call my OB but I just wanted the thoughts of women who have experienced this before. Let me know what your guys think!

Answer

It is not until they are 5 minutes or less apart. You have braxton hicks currently.

Answer

That could be prodromal labor. Or, false labor. It is contractions, but it’s like little ‘test’ contractions. Teasing for the real deal, as my doctor put it. I’ve been in prodromal labor for 3+ weeks now and currently have had contractions (the period cramp feeling) all day at varying intensities, so I don’t know if this is early labor or if it’s just more false labor. IT SUCKS.

Answer

It sounds like you’re in early labor. The contractions should be increasing in intensity and frequency over the next few (or more) hours—and if it’s really labor, they will increase even if you get off your fleet for a bit (whereas BH contractions will usually ease up/go away when you’re resting). Usually they don’t want you to come into the hospital/birth center until your contractions are 5 minutes apart and last a minute each and have been that way for an hour, but if you have any questions or concerns, absolutely call your OB! We called our dr two or three times when I was laboring with my first before we ended up heading to the hospital.

HELP ! Is this labor?!

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