Contractions feeling like period cramps? Baby still moves, is it labor?

Question

Okay so I'm dilated at 3cm as of my Thursday doctor appointment, but I was 3 cm the Thursday before that also. I'm almost 39 weeks along...
last Thursday I felt like I had period cramps. When asked if I was having contractions, I told the doctor that. She told me if I ever felt them every 5 minutes, to call the Labor Line.... 
What she doesn't understand is: PERIOD CRAMPS ARE CONSTANT. I told her this last week, but I don't think she knew what I was saying.

When I say I feel like I'm having period cramps, I mean it.
Nine months ago if I felt this way, I would be
1) getting my *** down on a toilet
2) asking someone to bring me a change of underwear and a pad
3) taking naproxen sodium
4) not eating for the rest of the day

Why number 4? Because period cramps make me feel sick to my stomach, and if the medicine works and then I eat they'll just come back... or if the medicine doesn't work, then I'm just feeling sick and not wanting to eat anyway lol.

Anyway, this happened last week a little bit in the night, then during the day for my appointment and then later it ceased until it was gone.

But for right now, it just started up.. I could feel it coming on and then it got worse and my back also hurts like hell (of course, I was also bent over the sink rinsing my hair out, so that could be a factor but I believe part of it is the cramps)

So if my contractions feel like cramps and cramps are constant for me, how the HELL am I supposed to count if they're every 5 minutes or not?!
Also, I can feel the baby move every so often and it just seems logical to me that it wouldn't move during labor contractions.... but what do I know.

All throughout today I could always feel some part of her in my ribs, probably her butt or back since it was a wide area, but now she seems to be firm at the bottom.
The doctor told me she's already dropped so this makes sense... but is that firmness her or is it contractions? And if it's her, is it still laboring because she's low whereas earlier she was higher up?

It just hurts so much.... and I don't understand how I'm supposed to keep track if it's constant.
Anything helpful would be appreciated, thank you.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

They dont sound like labor contractions. However, how you can time labor contractions even if they feel constant. If they are labor contrations or even braxton hicks you put you hand on the top of your belly and feel it rise and or tighten, sometimes it can look like the baby sticking its but in the air. Contrations are a tightning of the uterus which is a muscle and you can feel that muscle 'flex' and release or even watch it. The pain your feeling is prolly the baby sitting in a certain spot and making it all heavy around those areas. All my children (6 of them) were active during labor and never sat still lol.

Deziree R · Answer

What she means by consitant is they start and stop consistently. And most women describe their contractions as a bad poop pain that last about 20 seconds or more and then goes away and then comes back with in 5 to 10 min. That would be described as labor. And you will feel the baby move during labor but if they move during a contraction you won't be noticing it because the contraction will keep your mind occupied. I felt my son all through labor up until I pushed him out. Another way to know your in labor is having your bloody show. I started bleeding after losing my mucus plug and I went to the hospital. Good luck!

pennypincher · Answer

I have had four kids and my contractions never felt anything at all like period cramps.  For me, period cramps are a sharp pain; contractions are a dull ache.  I don't know either how you could time it, if it is constant.

? · Answer

for me my water broke earlier than any truly contractions began but if they did it felt like while you get a sizzling flash and warmth radiates by way of ur frame besides it radiated with anguish for a brief period of time and the contracting practically feels the equal as whilst (to not be gross) however an orgasm that tightening and liberating ur muscle groups get simply with anguish

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Contractions feeling like period cramps? Baby still moves, is it labor?

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