33 weeks pregnant & bump has dropped

[Emma2202]

This is my second pregnancy, my 1st child is only a year old so i obviously fell pregnant straight away. I’ve heard that if you don’t wait 18 months after your first that you’re baby is more likely to be premature (on the nhs website). So recently I’ve had so much pelvic pain, I can hardly roll over in bed without being in pain, I can’t even walk 10 minutes without getting a stitch. I’ve said all this to the midwife who basically said I haven’t long so if I just storm through it. But my bump has completely dropped and now I’m thinking are these signs of baby coming early? I also keep getting twinges which I’ve never had either. With the first pregnancy I never had any pregnancy symptoms, i didn’t even feel pregnant now this pregnancy is completely different! Has anyone else fell pregnant straight after and had premature birth?

I've never been pregnant, but I do have a small amount of medical knowledge. It may be Braxton Hicks, and if the midwife won't listen, a private scan is only £80. HTH

I’ve got a private scan booked for the 16th of March, should I wait till then? Or book an earlier one?

Any responses you get here will be anecdotal so I'd probably be looking to talk to another midwife in your local area if possible.

If you're really worried then you could always go to your local ABC unit and get checked out. They'll be able to put you on the monitor to check if you're having any contractions and potentially might be willing to do an internal check of your cervix.

You could also potentially ask them all of these questions and see if it's something they see regularly (being ABC midwives they'll potentially be more used to seeing complications than community midwives).

Another option (if you're really worried) would be a private US scan of the length of your cervix.

The pain you're describing sounds like it could partly be SPD, have you looked into that?

@Emma2202 definitely get one ASAP.

At 33 weeks, even if your cervix has shortened the Drs wouldn’t do anything about that so I wouldn’t bother having a scan for that reason.

A normal abdominal scan is unlikely to show signs of likely premature delivery. An internal cervical length scan might. You could speak to your midwife about your concerns and they may do a swab which can indicate if premature delivery is likely.

If your cervix is opening already/the swab is positive they may give you steroids or recommend rest depending on your specific situation.

(This is based on my experience).

they may give you steroids

They might, but at 33 weeks if they expect a natural labour then they probably wouldn't. Still doesn't hurt to be seen and get their opinion.

A scan won't change anything and cannot predict preterm labour. Baby moving down does not necessarily mean birth is imminent, the twinges could be pressure from the baby in your pelvis. What you are describing doesn't sound concerning to me. Are you sure baby hasn't just shifted presentation? Eg from breech to cephalic? This can very much change the look and feel of your 'bump'. If you think your waters have gone or have regular painful/uncomfortable tightenings, definitely ring your maternity unit and insist on getting checked out. What you are describing at the minute does not indicate preterm labour at the minute and it would not be in your best interests to have an internal examination, which can in fact stimulate prostaglandin production and therefore cause preterm labour.

Preterm labour at 33 weeks is fairly uncommon, even when risk factors like yours are present. If your baby decides to stay in for another 2-3 weeks, it is highly likely they wouldn't even need any special care, hang in there and fingers crossed baby isn't getting impatient to meet you

ANY concerns with movements or anything else need checked out though. Don't be afraid of asking the hospital to see you if you are worried.

I dropped at 33 weeks with my first and he was 9 days late. I'm now 28 weeks pregnant (son is very recently 1). If you are worried contact the midwife unit but it isn't unusual to drop early. As long as you can still feel the normal movements etc. When I dropped I was getting constant back pain and stitch but it wasn't a sign he was coming, just that he was bloody low haha

Sorry just re-read your op, the pelvic pain is completely normal unfortunately and it is expected that each pregnancy will be different - you weren't looking after a baby during your last pregnancy either remember! Also, this baby may be a bit bigger than your last. It is actually more unusual to have exactly the same experience in each pregnancy than to have a different experience (same with labour!).

Did the midwife palpate your abdomen and comment on the presentation of baby and whether he or she is engaged?

The baby being engaged does not mean a thing in terms of when labour will happen and when it's not your first baby it is common for them to pop in and out of your pelvis.

Anecdotally, out of four DC carried to term three of them didn't engage at all pre-delivery and the one that was fully engaged by 33wks ended up being ten days overdue.

If you're concerned then you should contact your midwife. Personally I wouldn't pay for a private scam at this stage as if there were medical concerns then your MW will refer you anyway.

I dropped around this stage with all four of mine and they all were born at term, I don’t actually think it means anything...

I also had the first three within 2.5 years and didn’t have a premature baby.

I’d only really be concerned if you lose your plug and obviously if you lose your waters or start having contractions. What you have described sounds completely normal 🤷🏻‍♀️.