Can't tell if it's labour - help!

[goandshowdaddy]

Hi, 39+3 today.

I've been feeling really uncomfortable all day - very low baby, lots of pressure low down, low back pain. Have started to have an aching sort of pain low down in my bump - like period pain really I suppose - and as the day's gone on, I just can't get comfortable.

Just lying on the sofa now and timing the pains to see if they're regular and they seem to be coming every 2 - 2/12 mins but only lasting for less than a minute. Not sure if they're contractions or not - they don't feel like tightenings - more a pain like trapped wind but low down in my bump. Not agonising (yet!) just noticeable. Baby isn't moving much but I do feel the odd sharp dig in my bladder!

I'm slightly concerned as my DS was born relatively quickly (4 hours) and I don't want to get caught out this time!

What do you think, could this be labour or more likely trapped wind?! Thanks

not really got an answer but didnt want you to go unread. :)

i'm 37 weeks myself and feel exactly how you do, but the period/diarrhoea type pain that i get is about once an hour, and has been like it for weeks now. every time i get a twinge i think "oo, here we go" then nothing else happens!!

i'd give your midwife/hospital a call anyway, just to run it by them

good luck, fingers crossed it wont be long!!

Thanks nattiecake

You're right - I think I'm just paranoid about every twinge! Do have a very dodgy stomach tonight as well so maybe it's just that!

Think I'll just sit it out for a bit longer, see how things go.

My best mate was just like you, lying on the sofa, feeling vaguely uncomfortable, then she had a sudden urge to go to the loo and had the baby on the bathroom floor.

You've done it before, and it was quick, and labours do tend to get quicker each time, so I would be on red alert if I were you! Good luck, anyway.

Oh blimey, TheNextMrsDepp! That is a bit scary. OK, I'm ready - bags packed and in the car, in-laws on standby to look after DS! Oh I really hope this is it - can't wait!

I'm 38+2 and have been having similar feelings for 3 days now. Also having funny turns where I get hot, sweaty and faint. Feeling very emotional, constantly nauseous, lots of diarrhoea and now too scared to be on my own and don't want to drive. It had occurred to me it might be things starting to happen but it's not seeming to progress so I think that's just wishful thinking.
Bag's packed and ready to go anyway.

It all sounds promising, the niggles and the dodgy tummy.

Good luck

xx

Still getting pains and starting to get a bit more painful, but not agonising. I'm pretty sure this is it. Just had a shower and getting things sorted. Not sure whether to go to bed or not - too excited!!

Phoned hospital and told to wait until they're really painful or my waters break. Ho hum.

Saoirse86, I was in tears most of yesterday morning and had diarrhoea today too (sorry!) - sounds like you might be getting close too - good luck! xx

Hi, 39 +1 and feeling exactly the same here. Restless and uncomfy. Had show yesterday morning and still ongoing today. feel very odd mentally and physically, no real contractions, but definite pains. Feel as if baby about to fall out.

I have a section booked for wednesday. I rang yesterday and they seemed very relaxed, ie dont come in unless in labour for an earlier section. Just have a feeling its about to happen, so not sure whether to try to sleep or not!

Am suddenly feeling irrationally superstitious (emotional) too, and dont want bubs to come on the 13th!

Daft really

Oh, the machinist, I know how you feel! You describe it well when you say you feel as if the baby's about to fall out!

Good luck to you too, hope everything works out the way you want it to! x

Are any of you feeling that the baby isn't moving as much either? Mine's definitely had a reduction in movement over the last few days - not sure whether to worry about that. Having said that, it's just having a little wriggle now

Oh, this is it! Wow! Good luck.

How far are you from the hospital?

I can't help wondering if you're further along than you think. You don't have to follow the 'rules' the hospital has given you blindly, I'd strongly advise adding having a gut feeling that you should go in to to the list.

If you've had one fast birth then things could go really quite quickly, especially once your waters break.

Yes less movement last couple of days, and have had periods of acute paranoia about it. Then, she moves, and I am hugely relieved, but yes, yes, another worry...

Thanks FerminaUrbinoDaza!

I'm not far from hospital - only about 15 mins. Never been to this hospital though, which is slightly worrying. Had all my appointments at another hospital but told to go to this one to give birth - weird. Think it's cos the other is for more high risk pregnancies.

I'm wondering the same thing as you - it's getting more painful and contracting every 2 1/2 mins but only for around 40/50 secs. Still not agonising but I think this stage with my DS lasted about 3 hours and then I needed gas and air for the really painful contractions and started pushing. Hmm. Perhaps I ought to go and get checked out! Still go to get the in-laws round so maybe will give them a call and get them here so we don't have a mad panic in an hour or so.

What do you think?

Hi
Just been reading.
Yes, i think that would be a good idea. get the inlaws around and send them off to bed so you don't have to wait and worry and then could probably labour at home for a bit longer and see how things go.
Have you had a bath to see if that can help?
Good luck

You're baby has probably been here for hours by now, but I just wanted to say that my contractions stayed short all the way through my second labour. ProbABLY about 1 minute max, which was nice...

Oh how exciting! I'm sure you've had your baby already (hopefully you made it to hospital!) but my contractions were still 5 minutes apart and lasting less than a minute when I was fully dilated!

Its sound my early stages of labour.
If its your second and the first come quick bare in mind things can change very quickly so get your self ready to go at a drop of a hat.
Good Luck

I've been having all these same things for far too long now, except I've so far only had 2 real contractions. I've found that she's been extremely quiet for about 3 weeks, but especially the last 4 days. I feel like it's going to be forever. I'm only 38+3 so could have a while yet. I think it'd be less annoying if I couldn't feel all these signs of labour. It's really made me want to meet her now.
I hope all's going well for you now.

Just got home. Baby boy born at 3.15am yesterday! Got to the hospital at 11.45pm. So, yep, it was fairly quick! All went smoothly though.

Good luck to everyone else waiting, and thanks for the messages!

Oh wonderful! congratulations

Rest well and enjoy him. Does he have a name yet?

Lovely news.

Congratulations

xx

How exciting, congratulations! xx

Oh brilliant. Congrats to you! I am going for my section in the morning - still a lot of pains, so hope to hang on until then!

Wow, well done! That's the way to do it - feeling a bit "uncomfortable" at 10pm, baby at 3am - who needs a long labour, eh? Congratulations!!