Labor false alarms - how common?

[Anonymous]

I'm almost 39 weeks pregnant, and for the past week I've been having lots of false labor. The emotional roller coaster is really getting to me. Here's what happens: I start having strong BH-like contractions that are regular and last a long time. It started with BH every 7-10 min for 30 hours. They eventually subsided. For a few days after that I would have them on and off lasting for several hours. Last night I had them every 3-4 minutes for 2 hours, and they felt pretty strong. I took a bath and laid down and went to sleep -- they must have gone away because I only woke up a few times during the night when they got really painful.

I keep thinking THIS IS IT but it's not. It's so disheartening. Is this common? I thought most women just went into labor instead of having this stuttering-stalling course. It's driving me nuts. Could I really still have 2-3 more weeks before I actually deliver? BTW I am about 3.5 cm dilated and 80% effaced.

[Anonymous]

I had this, but not as prolonged as you. It really got intense at 38.5 weeks and I thought THIS WAS IT and told some friends and called my mom to watch DC1 and went to the birth center and everything. Got more and more intense, and then I laid down and suddenly the contractions just stopped. I couldn't believe it. I was crushed. And pretty much just in denial. Like, that couldn't have happened? Did that happen?

Then I had episodes of contractions on and off until I finally had the baby at 41 weeks, though nothing I would call real false labor again.

I really sympathize -- it's SO frustrating when you think it's time! and then it's not. Or is it? No it isn't. But wait! No... And it's not comfortable either.

Try to get lots of sleep and take warm showers and baths and try to distract yourself (I watched a lot of crap TV and movies). No matter what, the baby will be here soon.

[Anonymous]

is there anything keeping you from relaxing?
maybe that's what's holding your labor.. RELAX!!!

[Anonymous]

Ohhhh... false labor. It is SOOOO common. And SOOOO frustrating when all you can think of is "get the heck out already!"

My best advice to you, manage your expectations. Realize that you will probably have several more false alarms before the real time comes... so approach each one with a dose of skepticism.

Good luck and hang in there. I hope the baby comes soon.

[Anonymous]

I went into false labor two days before I started real labor. Called into work and everything because i was having contractions about 6 minutes apart for quite awhile, then they eventually subsided. The only way I knew for sure that I was in real labor the second time was that my water broke before I woke up, and then my contractions were 5 minutes apart so I figured "this is it." This time I waited to call into work till after I got to the hospital, though. (they teased me a little the day after my false labor when I went into work.)

I had a LOT of Braxton Hicks in my last trimester. I tracked them on my cell phone and some days I had about 30 of them.