I wish I were more help! I don't know for sure, but it does sound like this could be it. Especially being dialated 2-3cm. I hope this is it. I'm ready to see pics already! Good luck. I hope you have a fast safe delivery!

~*~*~*Labor dust*~*~*~

This sounds very positive.

Walk. I know that sounds silly because you probably don't feel like walking. But even if you just walk about the house the gravity will help the baby engage into the birth canal. You can also stand in place - or lean against a wall - and sway your hips from side to side slowly. This is great for encouraging baby to come down.

GOOD LUCK!! Have a wonderful birth.

this sounds really good to me, just be patient and keep active

ok, well I think its a false alarm??

I spoke to the midwife about an hour ago. I was getting confused because contractions were getting stronger but irregular. One would come about 5mins apart then the next about 9mins etc. The midwife said it could just be from the sweep giving me a false alarm. They werent coming regular enough for them to be classed as the real thing. She took my details just in case I need to go in later and told me to keep timing them and hopefully they will sort themselves out!

Anyways I have been keeping active all day and now its 10pm, I am exhausted! I just layed out on the chair and they started getting even further apart about every 15mins. The thing is the longer I wait for a 'contraction' the more painful they are. I have got to the point where they are coming from anything like 5mins to 15mins but its agony!!! Seriously I cant walk or talk and they last for a min. I cant stand thinking I am going through all of this for no reason!! its this right do false labour really hurt this much??

You aren't going through this for nothing. This sounds like early labor.

Prodromal Labor

Often in the past prodromal labor has been given the misnomer "false labor", yet every woman experiencing it has said in frustration "There's nothing false about what I'm feeling!" The misunderstanding has arisen because prodromal labor can feel very much like active labor, yet is not consistently progressive; it does not lead without a break to the birth of the baby. It does, though, serve an important function in the birth process. Prodromal labor does the preliminary work of preparing the uterus, baby and cervix for birth. All of this work has to be done before the baby can be born. Some women's bodies do it all without her being aware of it. However, some women's bodies draw a great deal of attention to the work being done. Too much sometimes.

Length:

Prodromal labor contractions may begin hours or even days before active labor.
Contractions:

The contractions may feel like Braxton Hicks contractions or they may be quite a bit stronger.


They are irregular in length, frequency and intensity. The key word here is irregular. In general though, they are not longer than a minute and not more frequent than 7 to 10 minutes apart. They shouldn't be so intense that they take your breath away.


They may or may not be affected by your activity. The wisest course is to vary your activity level, alternating periods of mild activity with rest.

Physical Effects:

The cervix is moving from a posterior (back) position to an anterior (forward) position.


The cervix is softening.


The cervix is beginning its effacement or thinning. It may thin anywhere from 0% to 50% during this stage.


You may lose your mucous plug from the cervix.


Your cervix may begin to dilate, opening anywhere from 1 to 4 centimeters.
Emotional Effects:

You may be quite excited when you first feel these contractions, especially if they are stronger than any you've had until now.


As time goes on and the contractions continue without any apparent progress you may feel let down and eventually become quite tired and discouraged.