Question 1

is painful contraction sign of early labor?

Accepted Answer

Labor: Contractions can mean you are going into labor. Someties women get what is called braxton hicks contractions, sometimes called 'practice contractions' that intensify more during the latter part of your pregnancy. Signs of labor are uterine contractions, pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, rupture of membrane, back pain etc.

Question 2

i'm 38 weeks and having signs of labor in my lower back but no noticable contractions is there anything i can do to help start contractions?

Accepted Answer

Walking may help: If you are not in active labor by 39 weeks and your cervix is starting to get ripe i would offer you induction of labor the ideal time to deliver is 39 -40 weeks that is the time when the baby has the least chance of complications according to a large study, you can go in the evening before for cervadil to help ripen the cervix and then the next am cervadil out start pitocin, (oxytocin) arom works every time.

Question 3

is having blurry vision, headaches  an contractions a sign of labor?

Accepted Answer

Go to ER: Any pregnant woman with blurry vision and headaches needs to go straight to the ER. This can be a sign of a serious condition called pre-eclampsia.

Question 4

how to tell if these are braxton hicks contractions, or could it be signs of pre-term labor?

Accepted Answer

Labor: Braxton Hicks are defined as painless tighening and usually are also shorter than labor contractions.  Preterm labor is typically painful and gets progressively worse.  
However, only way to know for sure if see your OB for an evaluation and possible uterine monitoring.  A fetal fibronectin test may also help

Question 5

i was fully dilated with no contractions felt. my only sign of labor was my water broke? do i have an incompetent cervix?

Accepted Answer

Depends: on time of pregnancy, dilated prior to 32 weeks or so, without contractions, can be incompetent cervix, if closer to your due date, can be normal, some rare women don't feel their contractions.

Question 6

40 weeks and 3 days, no sign of labor, no bh contractions, no regular contractions, no mucus plug, no water breakage. what is going on?! i'm depressed

Accepted Answer

Cheer up: this is normal.
you will almost surely go into labor within a week or so.

Question 7

is spotting at 36 weeks ,(specks of blood ) sign of labor? or placenta abruption?i have been getting contractions since last week but nothing consistent. specks of blood happened. when the dr palpitate for baby position it kinda of felt tender.normal?

Accepted Answer

: At 36 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus has descended much lower in the "birth canal" , which stretches the cervical canal with some small blood vessel breakage, causing the occasional bleeding.  Placental abruption would cause significant bleeding and is an obstetrical emergency. A tender cervix on exam, and some contractions, is normal for this stage in pregnancy.

Question 8

39wks. last wk appt no dilation but i'm effaced. contractions are inconsistent but very strong cramps/backache/tightening. am i in labor? other signs?

Accepted Answer

Labor: Look for bloody show, ruptured waters, pains that get longer and  stronger...

Question 9

36 weeks pregnant having strong back pain for the past 3 days  having sharp contractions  2 night unable to sleep.can this b sign of  early labor?

Accepted Answer

Unlikely: Labor does not stop once it begins--but this uterine irritability might be a sign that labor may occur soon.

Question 10

i dilated fully with no contractions at 37 weeks.the only sign of labor was my water broke. should i be concerned with my cervix with next pregnancy?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: If this were a 2nd event or more, then the cervix is certainly a concern. If not, there are other reasons such as your inability to perceive the labor contractions or an overlying undiagnosed concomitant medical condition that increases uterine irritability.

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Doctor answers about:

Signs of labor before contractions

A member asked:

Is painful contraction sign of early labor?

A member asked:

I'm 38 weeks and having signs of labor in my lower back but no noticable contractions is there anything i can do to help start contractions?

A member asked:

Is having blurry vision, headaches an contractions a sign of labor?

A member asked:

How to tell if these are braxton hicks contractions, or could it be signs of pre-term labor?

A member asked:

I was fully dilated with no contractions felt. my only sign of labor was my water broke? do i have an incompetent cervix?

A member asked:

40 weeks and 3 days, no sign of labor, no bh contractions, no regular contractions, no mucus plug, no water breakage. what is going on?! i'm depressed

A member asked:

Is spotting at 36 weeks ,(specks of blood ) sign of labor? or placenta abruption?i have been getting contractions since last week but nothing consistent. specks of blood happened. when the dr palpitate for baby position it kinda of felt tender.normal?

A member asked:

39wks. last wk appt no dilation but i'm effaced. contractions are inconsistent but very strong cramps/backache/tightening. am i in labor? other signs?

A member asked:

36 weeks pregnant having strong back pain for the past 3 days having sharp contractions 2 night unable to sleep.can this b sign of early labor?

A member asked:

I dilated fully with no contractions at 37 weeks.the only sign of labor was my water broke. should i be concerned with my cervix with next pregnancy?

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