Pre-term labour? Signs/stories

[Becciilouisex3]

Hi MN,

Have posted this both here and on childbirth as I wasn't sure where it best belonged!

I'm currently 30+1 with my first and very likely am overthinking but I've had some symptoms that I thought could possibly be pre-term labour signs however, they could very well be completely normal as it's my first I have no idea what is normal really!

I've had a relatively breezy pregnancy, bar the bad sickness that ended at 13 weeks- no major aches or pains just minor cramps and backaches but nothing that makes me hugely take notice, the usual stuff!

Since yesterday I have felt random shooting pains in my cervix and a sudden pressure in my pelvis/bottom. I've been peeing very frequently but have been for a good 3 weeks. Today I have had menstrual type cramps in my abdomen and back, radiating down my legs at times. Not agonising by any means but enough for me to take notice of and have to sort of breath through at points. It seems to last 20-30 minutes at a time with hours breaks in between though so not regular or in any sort of pattern as contractions are.

I just wondered, is this normal for my point in pregnancy and if anyone could shed any light on the symptoms of their pre-term labour and what symptoms I should call the midwife about as I don't want to cause a load of fuss about a false alarm so I'm just waiting to see what happens over the course of the next few days. Has anyone else gone into pre-term labour and how was it?

[Blossominspring1]

Hi Becci, it's a good idea to pop along to maternity triage at your hospital as soon as you can just so they can check you out. They'll probably monitor you for contractions and check your cervix, maybe take a quick swab called an FFN test which will help them to know if you need to be more closely monitored. Hopefully all is fine but it's good to have peace of mind and know everything is safe. I had the signs of a prem-labour at 25 weeks in my first pregnancy and the hospital were brilliant and really took things seriously. I had to rest up after that but all was well and my DS arrived at 37 weeks. Take care.

[Becciilouisex3]

Thank you Blossom! It's been a couple of hours since I had the pains now, just feeling the pressure and baby's moving regularly. Maybe kicking slightly higher as I'm feeling it more in my ribs but that's about all!

I think I'm going to see how the night and tomorrow morning goes and call the midwife if any of the symptoms seem to get worse or the pains come back :)

[percypeppa]

My first child was premature. No symptoms or issues in the pregnancy before I went into labour. I had some of the symptoms you listed when I went into labour, without trying to worry you I would suggest you call the midwife. In the unlikely event you are going into labour the earlier they will give you steroids which can make a huge difference to babies lungs. No maternity unit will mind you coming in to get checked, and the peace of mind for you will be worth it.

[Annabrooke90]

Many signs turn out not end up in preterm birth, but some obviously do.

All my signs began at 24 weeks with my recent pregnancy, the main pain was constant period pains in my back accompanied with rather regular tightenings, I got checked out everything was fine, then I started with diarrhea and then by 28 weeks I'd started to lose bits of bloody show...this is when I gathered that I'd most likely be early (but my previous baby was born 6 weeks early so I had an idea anyway) my actual contractions started at 30+4 i went into hospital where they examined me and decided changes had started to occur to my cervix so they put me on an atosiban drip to stop the contractions (which where every 3mins) and gave me my first dose of steriods, I was left on the drip 18 hours and given the second dose of steriods the next morning. I then spent 3 nights in hospital being monitored, I was losing huge clumps of plug throughout all of this. By the Monday night I went home as they had stopped, all remained fine. And then I got up Tuesday to intense cramps and the contractions started back up..I just expected them to go away like they had done the previous days...they carried on all day and I had a dragging feeling in my lady area. I went and got in bed at 9pm and this point they ramped up more so i went to the toilet and noticed blood. So I went back in to triage I was now 31+1. On examination at 10pm I was 5cm and sent to labour ward. My little girl was born at 23.52 although by an emergency csection when I'd got to 8cm. This was 4 weeks ago.

I hope you got checked because premature labour can go on for a while and then stop making it look like a false alarm; but its always best to be checked so then the steriods can be administered to give baby's lungs a boost. Actum partis tests and the FFN tests can be a good indicator too.

[Becciilouisex3]

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences as it really has helped! I didn't actually realise pre term labour could go away and come off

[Becciilouisex3]

I'll pop to the unit after work this afternoon and get checked as I've got the pains again and still pressure, my stools seem loose as well (TMI!) and more frequent and from what you have all said it's much better to be safe than sorry!

[Blossominspring1]

Good luck and hope all is well, Becci. Let us know how you get on.

[Baz13]

I literally was just coming on mumsnet to see if anyone had posted about pre-term labour.
Firstly I hope everything is all well and good with you Becci.

I am pregnant with my third child (28+4) and have been experiencing braxton hicks and pressure in my pelvis and have lower back ache- I also have been having very loose stools for the last couple of days (which is unusual for me as I am normally constipated sorry TMI).
Also I have noticed a change in discharge- is this normal? But no blood or show.

I am consultant led and looking through my notes baby is in ceph position and it says she is 5/5 engaged- Isn't that a bit early? Then again babies pop in and out of the pelvic area all the time :)

It's quite interesting to hear other ladies stories- I am most likely not in early labour- think I am just panicking massively. My youngest is nearly 8 and I have miscarried twice before this pregnancy so prob just being a worry wart! Both my other children were late, so there is no reason to suggest I would be early this time around.

[Becciilouisex3]

Hi all!

Just to keep you all informed, I went into triage this evening as I wiped some bloody discharge when going to the toilet as well as all the other stuff going on!

After some exams and a lot of waiting I'm still closed, not sure what the pains were I think they're putting it down to a really good practice run! Apparently I did experience a little bloody show but this can happen when your uterus stretches as well as before labour.

Told to keep an eye on it and if the pains get regular or blood becomes regular or heavy to go back in. Thank you for all of your help and let's hope LO can wait until he's due (or 7 more weeks at least!!)

[Blossominspring1]

Glad you got to triage, Becci, and that they're keeping an eye on you. Take care and put your feet up this weekend. Wishing you well.