confused....why have my contractions stopped?

[micky73]

Started having regular mild to increasingly uncomfortable contractions from about 4pm yesterday...every 7-8 minutes, throughout the night. Have seen evidence of the mucus show (a little blood too) and thought Yay!! He's going to come on the due date...how punctual of him (November 1)! However, woke up this morning and despite severe back pain and more mucus show, the contractions now are few and far between... and it almost feels as if the whole labour process has stopped....What's going on???

[Beccas]

a few friends have told me that this happened to them but things started up again within 24 hours so hopefully it will be the same for you!

[Carrie]

Micky, Most of my labour was in my back - severe back pain. If you want to try to speed things up I hear that walking is great - not strolling but a good walk.
Goodluck!!

[megs11]

Back pain sounds like labor!!!!

Is it constant? Radiating?

I had five to eight minute contractions for hours on end and then, they stopped suddenly and restarted several hours later, the excitement/fear/pain/nerves can all play a part in your labor, but it sounds to me like things are starting to happen!!!!!

You GO girl!!!!

Meagan

[RhiChiChi]

Completely normal! I was in pre-labour for 4 days, that's right 4 days. I was walking all the time, when really I should have rested b/c I was buggered in labour and afterwards. Shouldn't be long now though, how exciting!

[Tobily]

I think it sounds like prelabour hun and it could go on for while.

The best thing to do is ignore it. If it goes on for a while, you'll be mentally and physically exhausted by the time real labour kicks in because you'll have expended so much energy focussing on it, wondering about it, obsessing over when something else will happen. So try to relax, ignore it and get some rest (easier said than done I know!) so that when it's time you'll be ready to go (listen to Julia she's right - so many women go into "labour mode" at the first twinge and by the time the real action starts they're absolutely buggered!). Anything you can do at this point to distract yourself is a bonus. Hang in there and hopefully it won't be too much longer.

[krisp]

Try massaging with sweet almond oil with some clary sage oil mixed in - might do the trick!

[micky73]

Thanks everyone...it's so reassuring to hear that it's all normal...annoying but normal.

The back pain is not as bad now thank goodness and I have noticed that walking around does get things going so will take the dog for a little walk and see what happens...I definitely don't want to tire myself out too much though, as I know the main even will be exhausting!