Could this be early labour?

[mancbird]

Sorry if I sound a bit clueless but is my first baby...

I'm 40+1 today and am feeling a bit odd. For the last four or five days I have been having back ache and period type pains which have been getting slightly worse. Today I've felt strange all day and quite teary and I've been getting some pains in my bump and (tmi) have had a bit of a "clear out" iykwim? When I get the pains in my bump my bump goes quite hard but the pains are not agony, which I thought they would be if they were contractions? I don't think there is any pattern to the pains but I haven't timed them.

My back ache has been getting worse over the last couple of hours so I think I'm going to take some paracetamol.

I'm home alone and my husband is at work about an hour and a half away and I've rung him to tell him how I'm feeling but don't know if I should ask him to come home if this is just a false alarm. We live in a very rural area and the hospital is about 45 minutes away so it will be about 2 hours and a quarter from when I ring him to when we would get to the hospital.

Do you think I'm just getting myself a bit worked up as I'm home alone? :( will have some paracetamol and bounce on my ball and see if anything else happens.

[m1nn1em0u5e]

I had this with ds2, I cried about 5 times on the Sunday over silly things!..Had inconsistent pains & generally felt strange....ds2 was born on the Monday morning!

Think I would wait until the pains have a pattern to them, but it cant hurt to phone the labour ward for some advice :) Goo Luck

[Fresh01]

Sounds like your body might well be getting ready for labour. I woke up at 5.30am with mild period type cramps with my first at 40wks +1. They were regularly 20mins or so apart by 9.30am. I called the hospital at around 1pm and they said it was start of labour but not to come in till contractions were 5 mins apart unless I wasn't coping with the pain in which case call back. DH had popped home for lunch at this time but went back to work. He called just after 3pm and took one listen to my voice and said he was coming home. Went into hospital at 4.30pm and DD was born at 10.30pm that night.

Maybe start timing and writing down the contractions and see if there is a pattern forming. A bath or warm shower might help.

I would let your husband know you are likely to call him in next couple of hours and call him as soon as you feel the contractions are regular. If you are getting more anxious with him not being there call him home sooner, no point worrying on your own.

Good luck.

[harassedandherbug]

Sounds like early labour to me! How exciting.......

As Fresh says, try timing the contractions to see if there's a pattern. Also try a warm bath. It'll help with pain but also is my test (preg with dc4) to see if it's "proper" labour. If it is then the contractions won't stop.

Good luck!

[morethemerrier]

Hi mancbird, first of all try to relax and it may be the start given what you have described, try to focus on what your plan was for B day!

Even if it is a false alarm,it is still natures way of preparing you for what is not too long away anyway given you are 40 + 1.

If the pain is enough for paracetomol and you have had a clear out, I would suggest bringing your DH home even if nothing happens you have him there for reassurance and if things do start even better.

Its an exciting time for you both so share it together,no one will mind if it is a false alarm, even experienced mums have false alarms!

In the meantime as m1 suggested call the labour ward for advice,that will give you the start of your plan and DH will feel better knowing you have had some reassurance of them given he is some distance away.

So get bouncing on that ball and relax into what may be the start,or just a little practice run, and dont forget there is a whole community on here ready to listen or chat anytime!

Good luck

ps my last two labours started pretty much the same x

[mancbird]

Thanks everyone :)

Have had my paracetamol and bounced on my ball whilst watching the telly but nothing has really changed :( the pains aren't regular yet although the pain in my back has got worse.

I rang my husband and he is on his way home now :) he's meant to be working 2 till 10 tomorrow but his boss has said to see how we get on tonight :)

I will keep you all updated of anything happens :)

[BeeMyBaby]

any news??