Help! I'm 32 weeks and having bump tightenings and period type pains...

[fourlittlefeet]

Should I be worried? I've had two days of what I thought were Braxton hicks and now am finding it hard to sleep as keep being woken by what feels like period pains. They wouldn't be enough to make me take painkillers but they are quite uncomfortable! Baby is also kicking loads. Any advice very welcome as am a bit scared!

[chocolateteapot]

I don't want to leave you unanswered but it a been a few years since I had my last baby so I am a bit hazy on the whole thing. I think usually the baby goes quiet when you are going into labour so the fact that it is moving a lot is good. And you can get some fairly regular BH which are quite uncomfortable, which annoyingly can go on for a good few weeks. But to put your mind at rest I would just give the hospital a quick ring and have a talk to one of the MW's.

[RoseOfTheOrient]

I was 32 weeks, and DS was breech and kicking like mad - he obviously was trying to kick his way out, because it brought on contractions, and I was dilating...I was on a drip with medication to stop labour for 3 weeks. DS was eventually born at term (actually a couple days late, the little blighter!)
GO and see your MW - it might be fine, but surely its better to be safe that sorry.

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Deffo go and see MW, but try not to worry too much, it is quite common to carry on like this for weeks.

This pregnancy lark isn't much fun is it?

[fourlittlefeet]

Should I phone the labour ward or go and see the midwife? Still feeling quite uncomfortable and not sure what to do as DD needs looking after and don't know whether to stop DP from going to work! None of us got any sleep as DD had a high temp to boot. grr. babies eh?

[fourlittlefeet]

labour ward have just asked me to go in. eek.

[chocolateteapot]

Oh dear, I am sorry, it sounds like a horrible night. I have my fingers crossed all is calmer for you by tonight.

[fourlittlefeet]

thanks choc. back now after monitoring. Fortunately the 'contractions' weren't regular and didn't follow a pattern so it was just a scare for me.. of course they've seen it all before . Told me to come back when I was in labour!

[chocolateteapot]

Oh good, glad everything is OK. Hope you feel more comfortable soon

[fourlittlefeet]

off to bed now..thanks for your support

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Glad you were reassured FLF, have had my fair share of scares over the last couple of weeks, so know the relief you're feeling! Have a good sleep

[fourlittlefeet]

Thanks NJ. Still don't like all of this as it is still hurting... if its not contractions are they just niggles that I'll have to bear for the next 9 weeks?? And.. what on earth will the contractions be like !

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

It's difficult to tell on the t'internet. Did they mention anything about an Irritable Uterus? Were the contractions showing on the monitor?

If you do have an IU, join the club, it's not much fun, and to really piss you off, it doesn't get any better, but the good thing it does do is get's your uterus really toned and ready for labour, just like if you were weight lifting, it tones your arms etc. the contractions tone your uterus.

I have had it with DS2 and this one, I have been told to watch out for them getting regular, and go to delivery if they do, but TBH, you will find after a week or so of being on the edge of your seat wondering 'is this it?' for the 1000th time that day, you get to the point where you just think sod it, and you just get on with it, there's not much else to do.

[fourlittlefeet]

Thanks Nat, I think you are right to learn to think sod it quickly! Didn't mention an IU but am thinking that since there is NO confusing contractions with this sort of stuff, all should be ok until I feel them. Doesn't help you sleep though, does it!!

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Nope, sleep is the worst. I find between making sure you are getting plenty of fluids, but making sure you try to sleep on an empty bladder can help. Also some people say sitting up a bit helps, I don't TBH but it might be worth a go for you - lot's of pillows/cushions/bed space needed!

Also, that thing you did to get pregnant in the first place, don't do that again! Sorry FLF's DH!

[fourlittlefeet]

oh deary me. don't tell me I have to do THAT. dear god. He wouldn't mind though we thought this one was immaculate conception! Will try more pillows. The more I try and cut down drinks before sleep the more parched I become. Any idea if coffee/rasperry leaf tea make it worse? I did have a big pot of RLT on both monday and tues and am now wondering whether that was the cause of all my woes. Have put it away again for a fortnight as a result.

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

No, no no, don't do that6 thing^ again, it will only cause more contractions!

And yes deffo give the RLT a wide berth for a little while yet.

Don't cut down the drinks, the more dehydrated you get, the worse the contractions get, but at the same time, a full bladder irritates me more, lots of drinking, lots of weeing, other than that there really isn't much to be done. If they get very painful, you can get pain killers (codiene based) but if you are anything like me, the contractions are less annoying than all the side effects of codiene!

I hope you find that all of this is for nothing and you've just had some niggles, if not, give it another couple of weeks and we'll be keeping each other company in the early hours! I couldn't have stayed sane last time with out MN, am hoping that when they reach the point of very little sleep MN will come to rescue again!

[fourlittlefeet]

ah, sorry I misread . Now I understand why you felt sorry for him, thought it was making him have pregger sex!!

I've got a great big pack of co-codamol from the c-section last time round, but wasn't planning to use it until afterwards, so sounds like thats right. I'm on the 16th; when are you due? I LOVE mning in the middle of the night and reading all the crazy threads as well as getting really good advice, it makes for the perfect pregnant insomniac balance. Will definitely be on here with you! Really hope not for this though, was sooo scared last night as pre-labour wards are generally vile in London and the thought of 3 weeks of that....

[NatalieJaneIsPregnantAgain]

Are you having another cs? I am due on the 3rd Jan, but have had a slow leak for the last couple of weeks (along with a load of other things going on) so not entirely sure we'll make it that far. I am 34 weeks today, so am passed the 'danger' point in terms of if he came now, but the longer he is in there the better I have another scan on Thursday that for once I am looking forward to, just hope the waters are still OK.

FWIW, throughout both pregnancies I have never been to the labour ward for the IU, it is like I said, after the first week thinking 'is this it?' every 5 mins, you realise you can't spend the next x number of weeks like that, and it just becomes part of everyday life, a bloody big part of it, especially towards the end when they get very painful, but the threat of labour ward isn't hanging over your head so much.

I remember last time we would be putting off doing dinner 'just incase', not going to Tesco even when we really needed to 'just incase' not going to see family 'just incase' and you can't live like that. Especially when you have children already.

It's not much fun, but you get through it, just as you would if it was constipation, or piles or something else just as lovely!

[fourlittlefeet]

No cs if I can help it! Am hoping for a hospital water birth but am telling them I want a home birth so they'll agree to my requests for everything else provided I come into hospital. Is this your 3rd?

I think to be honest I overdid the raspberry leaf tea on Monday and Tuesday (forgot you start with a cup at the beginning and drank a pot of it on both days .

Good luck with the scan, come back on and let us know how you get on; haven't seen you much on the Jan thread! I think you are right about not putting stuff off, especially as we have pretty much no control over when they arrive. I've ordered mine between the 15th and 26th so we shall see .