Think I’m in labour HELP!!

[CourtneyLeigh1998]

Hiya I’m 37 + 2, first time Mum. Been having aches and cramps majority of the day but they seemed to come and go until about 9:15pm where they would get more intense and painful even now at 12:55am they’re still coming consistently and getting very painful, I haven’t lost my plug yet which is making me question is it labour? Baby’s movements have been a bit more quiet today and he was 4/5 engaged when I went to triage at 35 weeks, my bump has also dropped a lot! Please help!!

[ImaLumberJack]

Sounds like you're in labour

[DaisyDreaming]

I don’t have anything useful to say but sending lots of love!

[incogneto]

Have you rang maternity unit?

[Kpo58]

This is probably a good time to pack your hospital bag if you haven't done so already. Good luck!

[CourtneyLeigh1998]

Haven’t rung maternity unit as I wasn’t sure but it’s like I’ve got this huge pressure on my pelvis as well, I suffer from pelvic girdle pain and was putting it down to that

[Marmighty]

How far apart are they? Ring maternity. Some people don't notice their plug and waters often don't break until the baby's almost out. Good luck!!

[CourtneyLeigh1998]

Around 9:15 they were around an hour or so apart but now it’s like every 15-20 minutes sounds bad but I haven’t been timing them 😳

[MiniMum97]

"Coming consistently"?? Yes how far apart are they. You are making it sound like they are very close together? Def ring maternity ASAP.

And good luck! 🤗

[CourtneyLeigh1998]

They seem to be every 15-20minutes but I haven’t been timing them, baby is usually very active at night time and tonight he’s quiet which makes me think is it labour

[WhenZogateSuperworm]

If you have noticed a reduction in babies movements then ring the hospital straight away. They will want you in for monitoring even if you are not in labour.

I never lost a mucus plug with either of my DC.

[incogneto]

@CourtneyLeigh1998 you need to go to maternity if baby has reduced movement. This can be a sign of distress so you need to get checked out

[CourtneyLeigh1998]

He’s still moving about it’s just less rough, jerky and not as often as he usually kicks and fidgets

[FrankiesKnuckle]

Ring the delivery suite.

Yes, Mumsnet is full of mums, but most of us are not midwives.

Ring the delivery suite.

[OnceUponAFairyTime]

Any change is worth checking, I’d ring the maternity ward and ask for advice, they’d always much rather you rang.

[Hidingtonothing]

Any change in movement needs checking OP, ring in now and tell them you have reduced movements first, before you mention the rest so there's no chance it will be missed.

[SleepWarrior]

That's quite spaced out still but sounds like its all moving in the right direction.

However, your baby's movements should continue, so I'd say ring the maternity unit and ask about it. They will probably want you to come in to see how baby is doing etc.

Good luck!

[BuntyCollocks]

Student midwife here (an old one 😂) - Ring your hospital. A change in movements needs to be investigated. The waves may be labour, may no. Still very spaced out - but they’ll want to know about the movement issue.

[CourtneyLeigh1998]

So this afternoon baby's movements have gone back to normal but the period like pain is still here and the pressure on my pelvis, the cramps come every 15-30 minutes now even though last night/this morning they were 15-20 minutes. Advice please 😭

[Mumof1andacat]

Ring your midwife or the labour ward/line at the hospital

[BiscuitDrama]

If you’re worried about movements, phone the hospital.
Otherwise this page says go in to hospital when the contractions are five minutes apart and last a minute.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/hospital-birth-centre-labour/

[AudTheDeepMinded]

Are you after different advice OP? most people have told you to ring you midwife/maternity unit. Is there a reason you don't want to do this? Most of us aren't qualified and can do bugger all on the other side of a keyboard anyway!

[Tumblefluff]

Phone the hospital for reduced movements or any concerns.

Otherwise it does sound like early labour but it could be days yet.

If you ring the hospital otherwise they will likely tell you to call back when you go into labour. It doesn't mean you're not in labour but that it's not established enough for you to take up a space.

Advice? Very gentle, shallow squats and go for a nice walk. Put some music on and dance about. Keep moving, but relax, be happy, think about the baby, iron the baby clothes, smell the baby shampoo, have a shower, put the bags and the car seat in the car, drink lots of fluids.

And practice your breathing, in through the nose, out through the mouth, for counts of 5 or 6.

[UncomfortableSilence]

Everyone has given you the only advice we can...ring the ward you may need to go in and get seen at the very least call your midwife and see what she advises.

[CuppaTandCake]

NQM here. Reduced fetal movements need exploring, could be nothing but warrants a ctg and rv. What you describe regarding discomfort/pain sounds like latent labour and as others have said this can last for days.
Bottom line, call triage/delivery suite and they will invite you in. Hope that helps and good luck.