I’m currently 39+4 with my first baby, I think I’m in early labour. Woke up last night at about 2:30am thinking I just had bad wind pains, every time I got back from the toilet I’d be able to sleep for another half hour or so before being woken up by more cramps. Thinking about it this was always the same when I was on my period, with feeling like wind pain/needing a number 2.
Anyway, the pains have been ongoing for the most part of the day, less a couple of hours in the middle of the day when it seemed everything had stopped, but they are still only every 25/30 mins apart lasting 40 seconds or so, but really struggling with the pain already. I’ve also had some brown spotting, no mucous, just brown when I wipe and a little on my pad. I rang the midwife who didn’t seem concerned and said just see what happens. Is this normal?
I usually have quite a high pain threshold but just feel like a wimp already as know its going to get so much worse. The pain is mainly in my lower back rather than my stomach. I’m just really worried now how I’m going to cope when things get worse, another sleepless night, part of me even wondering if this is actually the start of labour and not just baby lying funny.
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Childbirth
Early labour pain
AnxiousFTM · 24/08/2019 22:49
Thank you. The contractions have only increased to every 15-20 minutes but they are so painful, I’m scared I shouldn’t be feeling them this badly at this stage. I have spoken to triage who said all they can suggest is codeine or to go in for a pethidine shot, will see how I get on as the hospital is an hrs drive away, but the thought of another sleepless night makes me cry. 
It’s ok! Don’t panic, that is the worst thing for contraction pain.
Can you have a bath with low lighting and some gentle music playing? Sounds woo but it really helped me in early labour. My contractions were hideous from the outset and I was contracting for 36 hours (thanks dd!)
When I literally couldn’t do anything apart from scream I went to hospital, found out I was 4cm 
and asked for an epidural. Got one and slept until I was 10cm. Was a godsend!
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