Contractions?!

So...on and off since Thursday night, I've been having this excruciating pain in my lower abdomen/pelvic area and lower back. It feels like a really, really horrible cramp with a lot of pressure and then I feel the baby pushing down on my cervix. Sometimes, I also feel it on the inside of my upper thighs. It last anywhere from a few seconds to about a minute, and then goes away, but the pressure in my back doesn't stop. I've been timing it, but once they get almost close enough together that I'm about to call my Doctor's office and see if I need to go in, it stops completely. It seemed to be more intense today than it was yesterday. It's seriously the most painful thing I've ever felt in my life, to the point that it makes me cry. I believe I also noticed the start of my bloody show earlier. I went to the bathroom, and noticed a tiny bit of clear mucous streaked with little streaks of dark brown when I wiped.
Sound like contractions? I just don't know, because I thought I was supposed to be able to feel my uterus tighten, and it doesn't feel like that.

Sounds like Braxton hicks. just put your feet up and relax.

how far along are you?

Quoting P E N I S ™:" Sounds like Braxton hicks. just put your feet up and relax."

This, and don't forget to drink lots of water. Dehydration causes your uterus to contract.

Quoting Darbie Lynn:" how far along are you?"

38 weeks.

I'm almost 36 wks, having the same problems. Your bloody show should be bright red or pink, not brown. The cervix is very sensitive at this point, so the brown could be from an exam or sex. This is just what I've read and been told from my doc. Thursday I got examined and was 2 cm. I had bright red in my mucous but was told to expect brown. Mucous then turned brown but then went to a kind of pink earlier. Yes it's frustrating having irregular contractions, I know! Are you dilated at all yet? The pain your having, if you're like me, could be prelabor, getting you dilated those first 3 cms.

Quoting Trisa Daniel:" I'm almost 36 wks, having the same problems. Your bloody show should be bright red or pink, not brown. ... [snip!] ... Are you dilated at all yet? The pain your having, if you're like me, could be prelabor, getting you dilated those first 3 cms."

Haven't had an exam or sex in a while lol. They haven't checked my cervix at all yet, which is kinda frustrating. I thought they would've by this point. My doctor told me that if I see any bright red blood, that I need to go to the hospital right away because it could indicate a problem.
But, yeah, I guess it could just be pressure from the baby moving down and dilating my cervix.

Drink water...take a warm bath... rest... if it doesn't. Go away you should get an exam... if it stops then it is just your body getting ready for labor. Just make sure that you don't stay home too long and are able to get an epidural if you want one.

I am about to have my third baby so trust me when I say you know when you are in Labor! I am 37 weeks and having Braxton Hicks and they are painful but they do feel differnt from actual contractions! I was wondering if you have a bladder infection because if you do have one then there can be blood when you go to the toilet and you can get intense back pain! other option is where the baby is sitting it may be hitting a large nerve and that could send shooting pains to your back and also down your legs! If you are concerned I would ring your doctor,they are there for you and your baby and its better to be safe than sorry

I had an appointment Thursday, so if I had an infection, it should've shown up in my urine. I know the blood wasn't in my urine. It was like discharge. I'm guessing the pain is mostly just my baby moving down and getting ready for labor. It doesn't feel like he's got any room left in there lol. I was just worried, because the pain has been getting so intense, I can't stand it. I agree with you, though. I feel like I would know if I was truly going into labor. It's just hard to imagine a pain greater than what I was feeling. I'm not sure how I'll be able to get through it.

<blockquote><b>Quoting AngelaLeigh28:</b>" Haven't had an exam or sex in a while lol. They haven't checked my cervix at all yet, which is kinda ... [snip!] ... it could indicate a problem. But, yeah, I guess it could just be pressure from the baby moving down and dilating my cervix."</blockquote>




Exams aren't fun and my doctor did them upon request. But she didn't do them on her own too often. cuz it's not necessary. It doesn't tell you when your baby is coming.