Could this be the start of labour?

For the past few days I’ve been waking up with period type cramps and yesterday I thought I was going into labour I had on and off tightenings that were radiating into my back was well as my tummy. I got in a bath to relax and it calmed the pain in my back after a while, but my belly stayed pretty solid for the rest of the evening. This also happened to me about a week or so ago and I had nothing after. However, this morning I’ve woken up with mild period cramps again…

Should I be concerned or is this just my body prepping itself for labour? I haven’t lost my mucus plug and my waters haven’t broken. I’m 36 weeks.

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I’m 35 weeks and I’ve been having this for about a week now, my midwife said it’s normal and it’s just the body getting ready for Labour

If you are unsure I would contact maternity triage line. They may offer to check your cervix / monitor you for contractions 👍

Exactly the same! 36 weeks and have been getting it for a week or so, my midwife said the same thing. So weird how solid the stomach goes 😂 x

Sounds like braxton hicks but always good to keep and eye and measure how often they are. Some people don’t lose the mucus plug or waters until just before the pushing so wouldn’t rely on that as a sign.

Thanks for the reassurance ladies! 🥰 I’ll see how I go today and call triage if it doesn’t let up to see if they can check me 😊xx

I’ve had them on and off since I wrote this post so I called triage last night as they kept waking me up. She said if there is no defined pattern (which there isn’t at the moment) I need to just sit tight.

She also said labour doesn’t stop so I would know soon enough if I’m having the baby and I wouldn’t mistake the pain 🤣 although she was blunt, I got a weird reassurance from her as in it’ll either be happening or it won’t.

To be honest I think it’s just Braxton hicks kicking in strong as my baby dropped yesterday (these two photos were taken less than 24 hours apart) xx

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Oh my God, oh my God I hope this is not true!!!! I’m kind of scared

I’ve been throwing up and taking a shit all night!!! I just hope that it’s not what I think it is

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They said everything was fine whilst we were in the scan and then I got a phone call the next day saying that it’s on the small side and we’re being referred to a paediatric specialist at St George’s. Has anyone else had this and how did things go??

Would you bring 9 week old to a family party of 35+ people?

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Induction experience

I just wanted to share my experience with being induced as I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought it may help others.

I opted for the foley balloon which was inserted at 8am Saturday morning, I had to stay in hospital due to hypertension and protein urine however usually you can just go home once this has been done. The insertion of the balloon was not painful, was slightly uncomfortable as there was slight pressure. I actually found having the cervix checked prior to be worse (again not painful at this point just uncomfortable) The balloon had little effect and after having it removed I was still only 1cm. Removal also was pain free and hardly even noticeable.

I then had my first dose of the gel and definitely noticed a difference, I started experiencing period like cramps almost immediately however they were light and manageable. After 6 hours I had another cervix check and although my cervix was soft it was still only 1cm and was only open at the front. I had another dose of the gel and felt an increase in pressure and more intense cramping where I now required pain relief (codeine). After another 6 hours I had another cervix check and I had now dilated to 2-3cm however was still quite difficult to get all the way through so a third gel was recommended which I agreed to.

Almost immediately I noticed the difference and was in considerable pain, I had paracetamol and codeine however the contractions had now become intense and a lot closer together (around 3 minutes apart). After a couple of hours I had my last cervix check and was 4cm and taken down to the Labour ward to have my waters broken and an epidural.

I had been in my room for approx 20minutes when my waters broke by themselves and I was now 10cm and actively pushing…. There was no time for the epidural and my beautiful girl arrived into the world within 2 minutes of pushing.

All in all I would say the cramps/contractions were manageable up until the third gel where it became pretty unbearable however it was for a very short time a gas and air helped take the edge off. The worst part about any of it was actually the later cervix checks where after stimulating the cervix my contractions were at their most painful.

If I had to be induced again I would skip the balloon and opt for the gels immediately as thy had a quicker effect and I would have been out a lot sooner if I had done this to begin with.

One more thing, I’ve never believed when people say “you forget the pain once they’re here” but I can honestly say this is true. It’s been 4 days and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

Anyone else experiencing this?

Gave birth (vagina) 5 days ago and yesterday morning and this morning getting lot of pain in my right bottom side and lower back