Labor?

If it's not labor, remember that braxton hicks are good. They tone the uterus and get it ready for labor. 37 weeks is considered full term by my midwife. You may be close! Rest, rest, rest.

This sounds like labor to me (My youngest is 2 months, so it's still pretty fresh in my mind) See if the contractions get closer together or if they go away. If you want as intervention-free a labor and birth as you can get, labor at home as long as you can.

Hi E.-
You could be in labor. It's about that time if you are 36 weeks. My sister gave birth between 34 & 36 weeks (I can't quite remember) and her babies are just fine. Call your doc and see if they want you to come in now. My sister, however, took most of the day to labor before spending 6 hours in severely hard labor at the hospital. Listen to your body. Time your contractions. If they are about 10 minutes apart, you have a litte way to go. If they continue and get closer and closer together, say 3-6 minutes apart, then I would say it's time to pack your bags and check in to the hospital. Having your baby at this stage is perfectly fine. They are pretty close to being fully developed (each baby is different) and with the technology today, you have nothing to worry about.
I hope this encourages you and that your bouncing bundle of joy is in your arms soon enough!
-E. M.

It is normal. I felt them on and off for a couple of weeks before I had my daughter. I thought that I was really getting somewhere and when they checked me I had not thinned and was only at a 1! Hang in there :o)

Sounds like Braxton-Hicks contractions to me.

If the contractions haven't gotten closer together, at 36 weeks you might consider this pre-labor and try to calm it down to give your baby a chance to be full-term. I had contractions at 36 weeks and my midwife advised me to rest a lot--I was still working but started to take at least one nap a day--and stayed off my feet as much as possible. If I felt a contraction I sat down and put up my feet and tried to calm down. I was able to stall for 2 more weeks; even so my not-quite-term newborn had jaundice, which apparently is common for these babies. Not awful, but not great. Good luck!

If you have more than 4 in an hour you should go in, even if they aren't painful. I went into labor at 33 weeks with my daughter, and it started with what felt like Braxton Hicks. I had about 5 in less than an hour when I called the doctor...They of course had me come in, and I was actually in labor and had started dialating.

With my daughter (3rd child) I had pretty hard contractions off and on beginning about 3 1/2 weeks before I actualy delivered her. I had a backup plan for my son's November 15th sleepover birthday party because I thought maybe I was in labor...both my boys were about 2 weeks early although I didn't have early contractions with them only Braxton-Hicks. All of our family members came to our house for Thanksgiving and my parents stayed on a few days that year hoping I would deliver since I was having such strong contractions with her. I didn't end up delivering her until December 6th, one day before her due date, but she came in a BIG hurry...I almost had her in the hospital parking lot and was only inside the hospital 3 minutes before delivering her. So this may mean a quick delivery when the time comes.

I went into labor naturally with 1st baby, but the contractions weren't very strong and my labor quit progressing...I ended up having pitocin, oxygen and suction device with 4 hours of pushing to get him out. Second baby came naturally with no induction and he was born about 1 1/2 hours after water broke and serious labor began. They are all different, so you may deliver early or this may mean a hard and fast delivery. Try not to worry and feel free to vent. Enjoy the time left with your family before your new little bundle arrives. Congrats!

Contractions in the third trimester are totally normal and even more common in subsequent pregnancies than with the first. No worries - it's likely just warm-ups...good luck!

I started contractions at 36 weeks and it took 10 days of contractions on and off (like4-5 hours of contractions at 5-20 mins apart then 4-5 hours off etc) until I got something consistent and it was 2 hours from when I said - this is the real thing to when she was out. I was fully dialated and she was on the way out when I got to hospital. It was so easy - don't stress, just go withthe flow.

K.

It can be labor or it can be braxton hicks. the thing you need to watch is the timing of the contractions... do they get closer together? Yes? Call the hospital... you could be in labor. Do they fade when you change positions? No... you could be in labor... call the hospital.

Hello E.,
I agree with the gal that said call your doc just to be sure but only after you time them. I had the same thing happen around the same time and called my doc, went in and it was a false alarm. It's better to be safe than having your little one in the car!! Good luck.
M.