Expert: Catherine Beier MS CBE - 10/8/2009

Question
My wife is awakes, she was dilated cm for the past 3-4wks and told she was very,very soft but would not give a %.  This is our the pregnancy and COMPLETELY different than our last three.  Yesterday she went for her internal and was told she is now cm(yeah a whole cm in one month.)  Anyway, yesterday she had some bleeding, and she knew this can be caused by the exam.  but when it would not stop she called the MD and she told her your in labor.  Wife thinks she might have stripped her membranes.  She is due to be induced next wed.  Last night she was having some pretty intense contractions, lasting over an hour with the pattern of 15 min, 10 min, 7 min, 5 min 3-4 min, 7 min, 3-4 min ,7 min ect....  walking around, changing position and laying down did not stop them (dulled them a little.) whole time with those contractions had a really strong period like crampiness.  Finally so exhausted had to go to bed,  woke up little through the night with them but didn't keep track.  This morning says she feels really moist down there(goupie like)  After having 3 children already, would her tolerance for that kind of pain increase, so they would not be as strong to HER as they would if this was our 1st or 2nd?

Answer
Ryan,


It sounds quite possible that her membranes were stripped and that she is experiencing what's called prodromal labor, which is her body getting ready for true labor to begin.  You can read more about prodromal labor at http://www.givingbirthnaturally.com/prodromal-labor.html


Basically, it sounds as if she is in the early stages, where her contractions are not yet in an established pattern.  It sounds as if her body is working to change her cervix for the full labor to begin and the baby to be born.


In any case, it sounds like she's not far from true labor.  After having 3 children, she could be much more tolerant of labor as her body has been through this several times before.


Best,
Catherine