To go to hospital (maternity) 24 weeks

[DueinOct21]

I'm exactly 24 weeks today and have had a straight forward pregnancy thus far.

For the past 2 days I've been totally drained to the extent I just can't do much, not that alarming in itself but i had an unavoidable walk to the shops today as needed shopping and really struggled. Not like me.

On the way there I started getting stomach pain, all over my bump but predominantly across my bikini line (like strong period cramps)

Trudged home and the pain is still there albeit a bit worse and occasionally spreading to my back. Slightly loose bowels. The pain is a mixture of period-like cramps and a burning sensation.

Plenty of movement from baby.

Will they think I'm wasting their time If I go in? Pre term labour doesn't seem likely but something is obviously up isn't it.

Has anybody else had similar and it been just part and parcel of pregnancy?

Thank you for the kind comments

I've been put in a room and examined by a midwife, she took my temperature and blood pressure then listened to babies heart. All of the above were perfect.

She said "I don't think it's anything serious but you'll have to wait for a doctor to say you can go home" although I'll have another long wait as there's quite a few others waiting for him first.

I'm a bit antsy because the two rooms either side of me are in covid isolation and I haven't been vaccinated, I also have a couple of risk factors.

Would you self discharge and follow up with your own midwife tomorrow?

Not now you are there. Stay and see the doctor.

No stay where you are. All my children were premmies including around the 25 week mark. I had to be ambulanced to another hospital as there wasn't room the first time round. I also basically felt like I had period pains then had given birth 12 hours later... don't mean to scare you, it probably isn't anything but it might be something and you are in the best place

Are you still having pains? Have they hooked you up to the monitor for a good chunk of time? Have they checked your cervix?

I’d stay put x

Stay put. They sometimes do a test to see if preterm labour's likely

I still have the cramping feeling but it's a little better than it was.

They haven't hooked me up to a monitor no, just listened to babies heart with a doppler.

No indication that they want to do an internal examination either.

You are there. Stay and double check.

X

Yeah ask about a Feotal Fibronectin test (that might be spelt totally wrong ) but its a predictor of premature labour, it isn't hugely invasive just a swab.

Definitely ask for a fetal fibronectin test. If they have one and it’s negative it should put your mind at rest for the next two weeks or so. I don’t know if every maternity unit has them though.

I’d definitely also ask to be hooked up to the monitors for a bit too - then they’ll be able to see whether you are having regular contractions etc.

Glad you went in . I had what my dr thought was a stomach bug and pain was very on and off. I did actually go into early Labour at 28 weeks . So always check .

I had my daughter at 27 weeks so I am very much of the opinion that it is never wrong to get checked out. My symptoms were not the same as yours but they weren't obvious symptoms so I could easily have not gone to get checked and then my daughter probably wouldn't be alive.

The fetal fibronectin test is often called by the brand name of "Parto-sure", and it is a good indicator of if a woman is likely to go into labour imminently.
There is also the "Amni-sure", which looks to see if your waters have already gone (can detect even the tiniest leaks).
I had very similar at 26w, ignored it, and then had a huge bleed at home/had to be blue lighted to hospital. DS was very lucky, in that we held off labour for 8 weeks.

Hope it is all good for you/baby, but do try to get them to take a CTG trace and examine you, if possible.

You're all right of course. I'll stay.

I just asked at the midwifes station and I'm next to be seen by the doctor who'll be through shortly.

Please don't be alarmed if they don't put you on the monitor. At 24 weeks you are too early for an accurate CTG trace so a listen in with the handheld device is more than sufficient, also, the fact you've had lots of lovely movements is reassuring. You could ask for the fetal fibrinectin test. Its done via a speculum and gives a result within 30 mins. It's often a good indicator of whether there is a risk of imminent pre term labour.

I've just seen the doctor, she's satisfied that there's nothing alarming going on either and her conclusion is that it's a mixture of SPD, ligaments stretching and the fact I haven't been going to the toilet regularly for months

They are doing me a prescription for laxatives and I can go home.

Good news! If you feel you need to be seen again don't hesitate, they'll want to see you even if it's just to reassure you.

Glad everything is okay. As PP said don't ever feel like you're wasting their time. They'd rather see you every time then miss something x

I would waste their time in a heartbeat if I thought there was an issue with my baby. DD3 tried to sneak out at 32 weeks. You definitely did the right thing.