does your doctor hook you up to a monitor?

i havent been hooked up to a monitor, last week when i went i was dialted to 5, explained i cant tell difference of what contraction is and isn't..i was induced last time, my contractions feel like period pains in groin, i get tight back aches, and i get really tight in stomach, but not all at same time, sometimes at same time.....

obviously I'm contracting because im dialating a lot! does your doctor hook you up automatically at the end to monitor? or do you have to have a reason to be hooked up?

You don't necessarily haev to have regular contractions to dilate. I didn't have contractions after my water broke but one here or there and went from a 1 to a 4 in dilation.

you can dilate without having contractions and being in acive labor.
I only got hooked up if I was having a NST or once I went into L&D, never at the office.

i know im having contractions, just dont know what ones are real and not

My sister in law is currently dilated to 3 without having had any really serious contractions, and none regularly. Your dilation isn't really an indicator of your contraction activity.
My doctor never hooked me up to be monitored until I was in active labor. And even then it was only for 5-10 minutes at a time because I wanted to be able to walk around and get in and out of the tub/shower.

Quoting Veruca Couture:" i know im having contractions, just dont know what ones are real and not"

It's highly unlikely for you to go into active labor and not know.

im afraid since im already 5 cm, that im gonna miss my chance for an epidural :0(

You don't have to have contractions to dilate. I was dilated to a 4 at the last appointment before my son arrived & never had a single contraction until I was in active labor. Also, I didn't get my epidural until 7 cm. You have time & trust me, you will know when the contractions are real.