‘You’ll just know when you’re in labour’

I always hear this but starting to get concerned I really won’t! I’ve had a couple of contractions over the past few days (well I believe so). Nothing too painful or strong, enough to feel and backache and diarrhoea. The normal early labour/prodomal labour signs.

However, I have struggled with very bad period pains in the past. Time off work, prescribed painkillers, a laparoscopy that found I had scar tissue connecting my bowel and uterus. I used to describe my period pains as barbed wire being tightened around my insides.

I’d be happy to ignore all my sporadic symptoms and then if it becomes super obvious I’d go in, but because I have strep b, I need to know when I am in labour to be able to go in and get the antibiotics.

Is anyone in a similar situation with really feeling like they might not know until quite late?

I’m also headstrong in the sense that unless I’m feeling sure I wouldn’t want to bother the hospital or drag my partner out of work etc in case it’s nothing…

I’m 39 weeks exactly

5

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I am worrying about a similar thing - I’ve been told I’m in latent labour but that it could be ages before anything progresses and to just watch and wait My issue is, I have a history of left hip dysplasia, several surgeries on the hip and a current labral tear in the hip joint, and the pain this causes can radiate to my back and into the front of my pelvis area etc, so now any worsening pain I’m getting on my lower back, hips / pelvis and the front cramp-y pains I am so worried I will put down to my hip issues flaring up due to pregnancy, whereas it could be a sign of things progressing - and vice versa! I’ve been told to call triage if I’m worried at all (I need a c-section because of my hip issues) but I’m also aware of wasting time and as you’ve said, having my partner leaving work and heading to be seen etc if it’s nothing … !

I had this with my first and trust me your going to know when it’s happening. I got to 3cm and they was still sending me home, but always go get checked if your worried lovely xx

So with my first i didnt actually know i was in labour, i didnt have contractions, my water never broke or anything just small period like pains the day before then bad backpain at 3am that went away then next i knew it was 3pm and i had the urge to push, i called in they said that the need to push was labourbut i wouldnt be ready to come in yet, 10 minutes later i couldnt stand it i wanted to push so they said to come in but ill probably be sent home so didnt take hospital bags or anything arrived at 3:20, i was walking talking just stopped now and again when the need to push took over, anyway i was 10cm dilated and he was born 3:33pm 🫠

My 2nd i had my waters broken and i did contract with her i agree you will know when its a contraction providing you get them, everyone labours diffrently so its so hard to say what youll feel or not feel

I honestly feel the same. With my first I had to be induced due to her being late. So i feel like this time I will have no clue if I'm in labour or not. My midwife did try and reassure me I would know but I dunno. I'm just patiently waiting. Also 39 +2 weeks

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‘You’ll just know when you’re in labour’

I always hear this but starting to get concerned I really won’t! I’ve had a couple of contractions over the past few days (well I believe so). Nothing too painful or strong, enough to feel and backache and diarrhoea. The normal early labour/prodomal labour signs.

However, I have struggled with very bad period pains in the past. Time off work, prescribed painkillers, a laparoscopy that found I had scar tissue connecting my bowel and uterus. I used to describe my period pains as barbed wire being tightened around my insides.

I’d be happy to ignore all my sporadic symptoms and then if it becomes super obvious I’d go in, but because I have strep b, I need to know when I am in labour to be able to go in and get the antibiotics.

Is anyone in a similar situation with really feeling like they might not know until quite late?

I’m also headstrong in the sense that unless I’m feeling sure I wouldn’t want to bother the hospital or drag my partner out of work etc in case it’s nothing…

I’m 39 weeks exactly

5