I didn’t have all the drama that came along with the ride to the hospital when I had my daughter two years ago. She was six days late, I was induced, they broke my water, I pushed for awhile and then it ended it in a cesarean delivery.
With this pregnancy we’re not really sure how it’s going to go.
I have the option of both a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) or another c-section. It’s a tough decision to make, and still, I’m struggling as to which one will be best for me come January. Or shall I say, one month from now!
I felt great up until the last day of my pregnancy with my daughter. No false alarms, no Braxton Hicks, nothing.
However, yesterday, we had a scare that sent us to the doctor which resulted in me on the couch the entire rest of the day.
I work at 5 a.m., so when I got up at 4 a.m. I immediately noticed lower back pain. It stayed with me the whole time I got ready through the ride to work.
After I sat for awhile and kept doing my thing, the pain started to wrap around my middle and contract over the stomach.
Truth be told, I thought of every excuse in the book that this wasn’t early labor.
I thought it was because I ate a banana. (Seriously!)
I thought it was because my pants were too tight.
I thought it was because I’m doing too much.
Once it reached 8:30 and the pain was distracting me from working, I called my doctor to see if this was something worth going in for. After I described what I was feeling, the nurse said “can you be here in an hour?”
So, I left work, drove home, packed my bag and gathered my husband and daughter to come with me. My mom also ended up meeting us there, because in the event I was staying at the doctors and going to the hospital, my daughter needed to be cared for.
At the appointment, my doctor checked out everything….and even though I was having contractions ten minutes apart, they weren’t keeping me from talking through them. They were painful, painful enough where it took my breath away, but they weren’t excruciating like I had experienced with my daughter right before I delivered.
After all was said and done, my doctor gave me two choices:
Go to triage and be hooked up to an IV and hang there, or go home and lay on the couch and not move. I chose to go home. He said I wouldn’t need to come back unless the contractions are at least 4 times an hour and I couldn’t talk through them.
For the first time, in years….I did nothing at home. My husband took the day out of work, cared for my toddler, made us all dinner, gave her a bath and cleaned up a bit. It was so helpful because I felt like I couldn’t move and just stayed put with a heating pad on my back. The heating pad definitely helped relax the muscles!
The night progressed, I started to feel better and here I am the next morning feeling like a million bucks compared to yesterday.
My muscles are a bit sore, but at this point, I’ll take it. I’d like that baby to stay in there a few more weeks!
I guess contractions like this are called Braxton Hicks?
Did you have any false labor pains or early labor pains at the end of your pregnancy?
YIKES! I’m so glad everything is ok. I got BH with my 2nd all the time if I did any sort of physical labor… take it easy and keep that baby baking, mama! 🙂
I think taking it easy is definitely the key. I’ve been cleaning today and already I can feel the pressure and tightening. Eep!
Glad everything is ok! I had painful BH with my second son. Everyone says BH aren’t supposed to hurt–but these made me stop for a second…Guess it just goes to show every pregnancy is different… 😉
Thank you! And they definitely did hurt. lol
How scary, Courtney. I’m so glad you’re OK! If it makes you feel any better, I had false labor, full-on labor pains, off and on, three weeks before my son was due. The contractions were not progressing, so they had to send me home. One night, it took three nurses and my husband to convince me that I needed a shot of morphine. I went home in tears. My son was born 8 days later…after 31 HOURS of labor, two hours of pushing and an emergency surgery (I was near death) following a vaginal birth. Let’s just say his head was big and his mama’s body was not ready for it. In the end, I healed on my own and my son was healthy as can be!
Oh my Jackie! We should all publish a book with our stories, but they really are all different. Glad you survived it! 🙂
So many worries when your pregnant! Glad you felt better today!! Try to rest as much as you can!! My water broke with both pregnancies. I had contractions with my 1st (Ava) & pushed but ended up needing a csection. When it came time to make a decision about a vbac or csection for the 2nd (Sophie) I decided a repeat csection was best for me. Good luck with your decision…whatever you decide it will be right for you!!
So far I’m booked for a repeat c-section for January 14. But, my doctor said if he comes early they would def not do surgery and would continue with VBAC. This should be interesting! 🙂
With my first one I had Braxton Hicks all the time, other people could see my stomach contract. When I had pains in my back that wrapped around I knew it was the same thing that happened to some of my friends and that’s when they went into labor. Almost 24hrs after I had the back to stomach pain, I went into real labor. Having done both delivery methods, I would rather have a c-section. Good luck.
It’s weird because I have muscle soreness today but the contractions stopped, thankfully. I’m dying to see if I get more and when/if they turn into the real thing. I didn’t get to experience that with my first, so maybe this time will be different?
You’re a week ahead of me and reading this makes me nervous!! With my first pregnancy I didn’t even have one braxton hicks. This time, I am getting them pretty frequently. Some days or weeks more than others. My doctor said to make sure I am drinking enough water and i was told the same thing-more than 4 an hour and I need to go in. Eeeeks! I am getting nervous because my daughter had to be dragged out of me! Induced, they broke my water, and she had to be vacuumed out. I have NO clue what real labor is like!! I hope you continue to feel good! Getting close 🙂
Wow, we’re super close! I’m 36 weeks tomorrow, so I’m getting there slowly but surely. It’s amazing to hear everyone’s birth stories, and that for the most part we all need a little help. So glad to see I’m not alone. You’ll have to keep me posted Sarah!
When I had those with G I thought it was gas! But then my water broke after 3 days of that “gas”. Glad you are feeling better. Rest up Mama!
No way! 🙂 I thought it was gas too, that’s why I was like “well, I ate a banana, maybe that didn’t agree with me.” haha I’ll be sure to keep everyone posted if it all comes back. 🙂
Very scary! I’m glad to hear that you’re okay. My first was 6 days earlier…the other two stubborn boys made me go through contractions for a week before one decided to come out and the other got evicted a week and a half past his due date. Prayers to you for a wonderful and safe delivery.
So glad you are ok!!! I never had any early labor scares, I was lucky. Glad that it was false labor and that little baby is still cookin’! 😉
Thanks Melissa! 🙂
So glad you are ok! I had BH from 19 weeks until the end with my second – it was a long road but once I got used to them, and having had ‘real’ ones like you said during labor, I knew the difference. Good luck mama, hope that little one keeps cooking for a few more weeks!
That is a long time to have BH!!! Thanks so much for the support! 🙂
Oh my goodness!! So scary!!! That happened to me with my first too. Stay well!
Thanks Kristin!
I had Braxton Hicks from 18-20 weeks on for all three pregnancies, and some of them were quite strong. But I think b/c I had them so often, every day, all day, I got used to the feeling. However, there were a few in there that had me thinking early labor a couple of times! For my last pregnancy, I rushed to the doctor after a set of some b/c I thought for sure I was going into labor, but it was just still my BH. I did noticed that if I slowed down and sat, they would lessen in severity. Never a dull moment!!!
Oh my gosh! I hope they don’t come back. They definitely slow you down. But, resting definitely helped. Guess I’ll have to be doing more of that! 🙂
How scary! I am telling you being pregnant is a scary thing! I will be praying for a great and safe delivery!
It really is. Thanks so much Melissa!