Am I in labour?!

[Contract]

I'm 36+2. Last pregnancy I was induced early for health reasons so I don't know what natural labour feels like. I never had Braxton Hicks in my last pregnancy and haven't had any that I know of this pregnancy. Yesterday, I felt a couple of twinges. My bump has dropped but not as far as I'd anticipated, no bloody show, no waters broken. My last midwife appointment was pushed back because she was ill so I haven't seen my midwife in a few weeks now and she's never felt to see how dilated I am or anything.

This morning, at 10.26, I had a definite contraction. Same thing at 12.27, 2.23, 4.19, 5.49ish, 6.33, 7.15, a much smaller one at 7.44, then I stopped recording them properly, then at 21.35 - but now I feel like they're much more frequent. Maybe every ten minutes-ish.

But, I'm so unsure if this is labour.
Firstly, the pain is much, much, much stronger on the left side of my bump - is that a thing?
Secondly, it doesn't really hurt - it's just tensing. The contractions last time were really bloody painful.
Thirdly, when I was induced last time, every contraction had this insane pressure in my vagina and a crazy urge to push. I'm not getting any pressure in my vagina or any urge to push at all - it's much higher up in my bump.
Fourthly, no bloody show and no waters...

Does this sound like labour or Braxton Hicks or something else entirely? I know if I phone the advice line then they'll tell me to come in and it's really just super inconvenient (childcare, work tomorrow etc) if this isn't labour 😂

You'restill quite early. I'd seek medical advice, see what the me says.

Gah: you're still
Mw

Just tensing sounds more like braxton hicks. They can be (in my experience) sort of sickening and quite intense but not painful. If you think it could be labour as you are still early I would probably ring triage.

Don’t they say that Braxton hicks usually stop if you get in the bath, but ‘real’ contractions get stronger? So I would run a bath but definitely contact midwife.

Get yourself to maternity unit for you and the baby to be checked

good luck hope all is well

As you’re only 36 weeks I’d phone your midwife

With braxton hicks, your bump goes rock solid for a bit. Is that happening? I don’t think it did when I was in labour.

You’re not 37 weeks so you must go and be assessed now.

I had a contraction every hour or so in the 3/4 days up to giving birth! And at 36 weeks! Sounds likely they are on their way (maybe quite slowly though) try and get seen tomorrow, yes inconvenient but best to try and find put what's happening if you can.

I would go and get checked. With my first DC natural labour earlier than term this is how it started wasn't anywhere close to painful as I was expecting just uncomfortable and when I went to the hospital they weren't convinced I was in labour and before they examined me I had delivered (less than an hour after arrival)
Induced labour was much more noticeable contractions!

Thanks. DH has just tried to feel my cervix and, after a lot of hunting, thinks he's found it and it's still firmly shut. ...not entirely sure how much I should trust this verdict from him though...

If your baby is born now with out steroid injections it’s long term health maybe affected - its quite any risk to take for the sake of a quick hospital visit. Just go and get checked out.

I don't think I'd use this as any kind of reassurance or guidance as to what's happening... I'd go and get checked out by a MW!

If it's not painful, I'd be erring on the side of braxton hicks but you still 100% need to be checked out to make sure.

Um, please go and get properly assessed. Number 1, you're only just 36 weeks, and 2, unless you were strongly contracting we wouldn't advocate a 'digital' examination with fingers, a medical professional can do a speculum to visualise the cervix to see if its dilating. This will prevent 'stirring things up' and lessen the chance of infection.

@Contract how are things?