I had a wake up call last night, after nursing my 20 month old, I realized the contractions that came about after nursing were suddenly more regular than they’d ever been, even though very very mild, a mere tightening. I’d been having contractions for a few weeks now, nothing too intense, some were just awkward, or a nuisance, or at inconvenient times where I couldn’t get up if I was awkwardly sitting, forcing me to wait it out. But last night, she fell asleep and I kept my eyes on the clock above the TV, and every 5 minutes or so without fail a new, mild tightening would occur. After an hour of shifting my weight around I got up, used the restroom and sat at the computer, convinced the change of position would help. But it didn’t.
I began to become a bit nervous, being so late (10-ish) at night, my husband’s parents are 4-5 hours away, I didn’t want to have to call them to drive this late. I wanted to know whether I really truly was in labor. And waiting was a risk, you generally go much quicker with each subsequent child. I began to worry about what I should do, call or not call, when I suddenly felt tired and decided regardless that sleep was the answer, and that whatever was to happen would happen, and off I went, dozing happily.
The contractions stopped during the night. I was even able to successfully breastfed my 20 month old again in the night without the contractions starting again (at least like that). I’ve had some since waking and getting the kids to school, but nothing rhythmic like last night. So apparently, what I had was false labor. A first for me. And while false, nonetheless definitely a wake up call. Things need to be rea-dy, this baby will wait for no one, not even his/her overtired mother who might want more time to get things done. Nope, not even for her me.
