Early labour or upset stomach?

[MrsArchchancellorRidcully]

I am 37 weeks exactly today and have spent most of the night awake with what I can only describe as constant mild period pain.
It's my 2nd baby but I was induced on a drip with my first so went straight into full on contractions so have no idea what early labour can feel like.

I also feel queasy/sick and have been for a poo about 3am.
I ate a very fatty meal last night (regret), so I'm not sure if it's a combination of a bad tummy and the baby further engaging into my pelvis (I was 1/5 engaged last week) giving me ligament pain and braxton hicks, or the start of something.

No other signs at all and this morning the pain has gone. I didn't think BHs were painful - all the books say they are just uncomfortable/tight.
The period pain was constant and didn't come in waves.

Any thoughts?

How are you feeling now?

Had some breakfast and feeling better. Still no pain, so I think it's possibly baby engaging further into pelvis.

I think it threw me cos I expected either painless BHs or regular contractions, not just constant dull ache. I think my body is just getting geared up for the next few weeks (hopes so cos I don't finish work till next week!)

I had similar symptoms for about a week before DS2 arrived (now 11 days old). Every night my bump felt really low & I had loads of BH & period type pains. Then each morning it had all disappeared! Until I was 38+6 when I woke up & it hadn't gone and then my waters broke. DS2 born at 11pm that night.

Hopefully it means things are moving in the right direction at least. Hope you don't have to wait too long

Thanks for that run (and congrats btw!). It helps to know it sounds generally normal.
I'd quite like the baby to wait till after bonfire night cos DD is staying over at her nana's house, giving DP and I our 2nd child free night in 3 years and am looking forward to it!
But.. what will be will be.

oh you sound just like me a couple of weeks ago- I was 37+3 and had similar symptoms. I went over to see the midwife at the drop in centre who said 'you MIGHT be in early labour- go home and see what hapens'- helful- NOT!! I was meant to still be at work that week so took the day off sick just in case. 3 hours later my waters broke!!!! Like you say what will bw will be but your baby just MIGHT be coming soon! All the best.

Just so you know, it's not always regular contractions once you are in labour. I had my first baby in march, and spent 2 hours in constant sharp pain (convinced it was the worst upset stomach I'd ever had) until DH rang labour ward 'just in case' - turns out I was in labour and DS was born 3 hours later! Was hard because of having no gaps between contractions, just constant pain, but I'm convinced that's why my labour was so quick.

hey there MrsA, we're on the same November ante-natal thread so we're at a similar point in our pregnancy, (I'm 39+1) i've just posted over on that thread, but i just wanted to add that for the past 5 days or so I've had what i suppose one would call period pain - sorry ladies, i'm the lucky cow girl who's never experienced period pain, so am a bit baffled by all these descriptions of period-like pain, but if i could describe the pain, it's like a dull ache that's neither muscular or bone related in feeling, & although it wouldn't stop me going about my day, it's not fun to have & it's centred all around my pelvic area. this pain comes on at bedtime, say 11pm/midnight & stops me feeling comfortable in any position, makes me wonder if i need the loo & generally makes me feel less than 100% (& my boyfriend completely over-excited about labour starting!!) then, by early morning, say about 3am or whenever i wake for a pee it's gone & i feel much more comfortable.

my guess is it's the body gearing up for labour, but not the real thing yet. i get some contraction type feelings all the time, but as they are all over the bump, & not starting low down & in conjunction with lower back ache, etc, i think they're just BHs.

but sweetie, do go & get checked out if you're at all worried - you're full term now, so it really could be happening. good luck! x

I am 39 weeks and having the same, have had it all week.
I woke up this morning with loo trip, and contractions. Am now really irritated with dh, because he isn't home yet. (I always get irrationally angry when about to go into labour, poor dh, but he takes it with good humour) Have chopped up salad that came in my veg box, cleaned the bathroom, and the kitchen. I have spd so quite alot for me at the moment. Am now assessing the mountain of laundry. Period pains are coming in waves and I am tetchy and can't sit down.
Really want to re-pack my hospital bags, and need dh here to watch the kids while I do it........hope he isn't late today.
I might be here for the rest of the week, but I know this restless feeling...wishful thinking? Possibly

Well that continued until just starting to calm down now, so might just get a little sleep tonight.
Finished packing my bags now, so that is a good thing.
How are you MrsA......you seem very quiet

Seems like it was a one off. I had an indian head massage yesterday and slept well last night with no more pain so far. Hoping that it just means things are getting ready for the next few weeks!