To think this could be the start of labour

[blackfriars]

38 weeks yesterday. I started feeling weird in the evening, just sort of a bit panicky and breathless, and got a sort of low level period type back pain. Managed to go to sleep about 10 but was woken up about 1am with on-off period type lower tummy pains. I was just starting to think about waking DH and calling a friend re childcare (midwife has said to come in at first ‘tightenings’ as my DS was born pretty fast - probably 6 hours from first twinge to birth) when I must have gone to to sleep. This morning it’s more like a constant dull ache?

I am praying praying praying it’s Braxton Hicks as I only finished work on Friday and I’d love just a couple of days with my toddler and to sort the house out before it kicks off.

What’s confusing me is I was induced last time (just pessary no drip) so I don’t know what natural onset of labour feels like? I do remember having a couple of days of period like pains in the weeks leading up to being induced, thinking ‘this is it’ and then it wasn’t…

Has anyone had this sort of constant low level period pain as the start of everything?

Yes, both times..but could be a false alarm. Good luck !

I had lower back ache all day before the night my second labour started

Yes for me but it was in the run up rather than the actual event.

Could be a false alarm and could be Labour. Because of the advice you were given I'd go in to get checked.

Period type pains and lower back pains definitely warning of labour for me. Best wishes!

Thanks for the replies! Everyone is up now at least which makes things a lot less scary - got very anxious last night but today feeling a bit more ‘right let’s do this’! Going to get up and showered and see how I feel.

Have a bath, if the pain continues while I'm the water, it's the real deal. Good luck.

All quiet today…feeling more hopeful now that I might have another week. And even if I don’t had a lovely morning with DS this morning and sorted the house a bit so even if she does come now I’m in better shape than I was yesterday. Fingers crossed for a better nights sleep tonight!

Hope you slept well last night, how's things today?
It'd be lovely to have some time with DS before baby arrives, crossing fingers you get a few days at least.

Slept much better thank you! Buuuuut came for my 38 week appt and apparently baby is transverse so they’ve sent me for an emergency scan and apparently may want to admit me?! The idea of potentially weeks in hospital without DS is just awful so really hoping that doesn’t happen!

Crossing fingers for your scan and sending all the good vibes your way!

@blackfriars

Slept much better thank you! Buuuuut came for my 38 week appt and apparently baby is transverse so they’ve sent me for an emergency scan and apparently may want to admit me?! The idea of potentially weeks in hospital without DS is just awful so really hoping that doesn’t happen!

I'm sure you won't be in hospital for weeks. If they admit you, they will probably want you to deliver, possibly a section.

Good luck.

6 hours from start to finish isn't that quick unless you live quite a distance from hospital? Have you had any more signs since?

Lots of helpful advice and techniques here for getting a transverse baby to turn
www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/baby-position/sideways-transverse/

Good luck!

Thanks for the kind replies. It was a false alarm! After three hours in labour triage they scanned me and baby is head down - phew. They’ve booked me in for another scan in the next few days as I’m measuring small but I’m fairly relaxed it’s just a precaution as she was measuring ok at 36 week scan. I think she is just low down in my pelvis, so maybe she’ll make an appearance soon.

Going back to triage on my own brought back some horrid memories (I had DS during covid times so went in to be induced without DH and they didn’t realise how quickly I was progressing so he was only allowed to join me for the last 20 mins) and seeing lots of women in labour was pretty full on, but seeing five women wheeled to post natal with their new tiny little babies in their silly hats made me really excited to meet DD soon!

It can indicate the start of labour… I had my first at 37 weeks and the night before I went into labour I felt oddly panicky, aching and not myself at all.

Good luck!

And if you do need a c-section you’ll likely be in and out in 24 hours not weeks.

Still no baby! 39 + 1 today and feel like I’m ready now - pregnancy insomnia has me up at 4 every few days (today being one of those days) which is driving me a bit mad.

Just lying here listening to DS chatting and gearing up to go start the day!

Getting very occasional mild period type pains still so fingers crossed that might mean I’m dilating and getting a bit of a head start! Definitely feeling the labour anxiety in the evenings. Second time will be easier, right?!