False alarm?

[Ellarose85]

I'm 35+6 with DC2.

I've had lower back pain (like period type pains) for the last couple of weeks, then yesterday I started having mild contractions at 11am with became more regular and more intense.

I rang labour ward at midnight as the contractions were 3-5 mins apart and very painful. They popped me on the monitor and confirmed they were contractions and that baby is in position but when the dr examined me, I wasn't dilated and the neck of my womb was closed.

They gave me some painkillers and sent me home.

Has anyone else had similar happen to them? If so when did you actually go into labour?

I'm now scared of going into labour at home while I'm on my own with my 1 year old DS (I know this could've happened anymore but for some reason I'm panicking!)

[MyBreadIsEggy]

Exactly the same thing happened to me when I was pg with Dd. Once at about 32 weeks, and again at 36 weeks.
Painful, regular contractions but no dilation either time! They kept me in overnight just to make sure, and did the swab test thing that can give an indication as to whether real labour is imminent and both times the swab test didn't show cause for concern.
In the end my waters broke at 38 weeks and Dd was born after a very fast induction!

[McBaby]

I had an irritable uterus in both pregnancies starting at 26 weeks do had to go in a number of times for them to confirm it wasn't labour.