Becoming convinced I'll give birth early

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

Hi all
This is going to sound ridiculous but here we go:
This is my 3rd pregnancy - have 2 dc under 3.5. First dc came at 42 weeks second at 39. I'm currently 33 weeks and over the last week have this feeling I'm going to have the baby really really soon. Is this just third pregnancy madness?! I've had no signs of anything happening thankfully. I'm really backachy and baby very low with lots of cramping but I think that's just because it's my 3rd, right? Maybe that's feeding my imagination? I just can't shake this feeling and wondering if I should mention it to the midwife. Who can then decide I'm nuts?!

[mummyneedinganswers]

I'm 33 weeks with first baby and exact same really sore pressure in back and my baby is engaged and extremely low. The midwife said my cramping was baby moving down and my cervix shortening so could be same for you. Although due to complications NY baby is being deliver in 3/4 weeks as too danger for her to go past 37 weeks x

[Thundercrackers]

I had this last year at 35 weeks with my third and was convinced I was going to to into labour any minute. To the extent my maternity cover was on call to start early! In the end I managed another 4 weeks so all was fine. In hindsight I think I dreaded an early birth so much (in terms of money worries, work situation and child care) that I psychologically convinced myself the worst case scenario was going to happen! Hope all is well but hopefully the midwives will be super supportive since you are now a childbirth veteran and know how your body does these things! X

[FattyNinjaOwl]

I was convinced I was going to give birth early...I was sooo big I thought I couldn't possibly go to term. I went 10 days over.

[Whatevva]

I had DS at 39 weeks and DTDs at 35+4. With both of them I had a feeling that I had reached the end. It is hard to explain exactly, but at my 34 weeks check when the midwife said she would go over the birth with me at my 36 week check despite my asking every time, I just knew I was not going to make it.

With the twins, I only had childcare for DS sorted from 37 weeks So I would go with being prepared but not to bust a gut over it.

[spacefrog35]

I would mention it, as sometimes instinct is scary accurate.

It could also just be paranoia (without wishing to seem rude) so as whatevva says, I wouldn't run yourself into the ground over it.

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

I think it probably is just paranoia but normally I'd get over that. So then I wonder if it's weird intuition. And then I doubt that. Who knows! I'm still pregnant at least :)

[Dixiechick17]

I was adament I was going to pop at 35 weeks, plus I was under the consultant due to being high risk for a premature labour, baby was 3\5 engaged from 32 weeks. I went five days overdue...

[LetTheRiverAnswer]

I'm going to buck the trend and say it could be weird intuition. I "knew" ds1 would be premature, to the extent I kept saying to people how it was good the local hospital had a Neonatal care unit. Everybody looked at me like this because there was no reason to think he'd be early. My waters broke at 32 weeks and there he was 2 hours later :) I had had back pain for a few days before, that I had ignored (premature labour often starts with back ache), but my sense he would be early started way before that.

[Jeezimacasalinga]

I felt very ready to go with third DC from about 34 weeks - baby very, very low, lots of cramping etc. She came at 38 weeks, just like first two. A few midwives told me that third and subsequent pregnancies, everything down there is well rehearsed and ready to go, so you can feel 'ready' even when you've got a while to wait. Pack that bag just in case though!

[twolittleboysonetiredmum]

I did wonder if my body might just be gearing up earlier as it knows what's going to happen. No doubt I'll go 2 weeks over like the first time :) still backache and stomach cramps but I think that's maybe just the new norm than an issue. Pregnancy is just lovely

[simplydivine05]

I knew from quite early on ds would be early and he was. 37 weeks exactly. I think intuition can come in to play more than we realise.