Non-painful tightenings every 15mins...

[Lorelai]

... But only when I am moving around.

Have been having tightenings (uncomfortable but not painful) every 15 mins for the last couple of hours, while I have been busy, but as soon as I sat down to have a little break they stopped. Braxton Hicks or early labour? Bear in mind I am 38+3, 2nd baby and lost plug 2 wks ago plus a bit more mucus this morning.

If I were you'd I'd contact your midwife.

I started getting tightenings when moving and had lost my plug and didn't realise I was in labour - I thought it was just Braxton Hicks becuase I was expecting them to be more painful. I phoned my midwife, she asked me a load of questions and she told me to keep an eye on it because she was sure I was in labour because I'd had the tightenings for a few hours.

On the other hand, lol, some of us have these tightenings for a goood week leading to established labour...

I get that but when I sit down with my back straight, or stand up for a long time. Stops when i flake out in bed or on sofa.

I'm 2 days over. I'm ignoring it until it hurts.

Kind of what I was thinking nagoo. Am just getting really impatient. Still, regular as clockwork for 4 hrs now, and starting to get slight ones when sitting down as well.

Sounds like early labour to me!

I had these tightenings from around lunch time every half an hour or so, and ignored them completely as I was convinced they'd go away. By supper time they were a bit stronger, but nothing serious. Went to bed, woke two huors later to put tens on, two more hours sleep got up for a wee and all hell let loose!! Waters went and dd2 was born within 70 mins!! Nightmare journey to hospital and was only there for 11 mins before she popped out

However, it was great compared to the 3 day marathon that was dd1!

Good luck!

Ooh that sounds good!

I just wish someone could invent a test to say definitively when you are going to go into labour!

ooh yes - it's the not knowing. Am 40 + 5 and resigned it may be a week yet - but I keep getting my hopes up just about every time she wriggles.

I had this the day before I went in to labour. I first noticed them in the afternoon. When I woke the next morning I felt as if things were 'interesting' - ie noticing them slightly more. Then they just got more interesting and my waters went and I phoned the MW who asked how far apart and if painful and I said still every 15 mins but just slightly more 'something' than usual braxton hicks but no pain whatsoever. She said to phone if they got to 5 minutes (I was having a homebirth). So I did and she asked if they were painful so i said no. The MWs came anyway and DS arrived 2 hours later at 2pm.

Now my back is hurting - constant pain in my lower back - might just be from over-doing it today but am really hoping that all these things together might mean things will get moving soon! (even though that does mean I will have to cancel my trip to see Harry Potter on Sat :()

Why would you - today is only tuesday .

How are you feeling now??

I was having this too all the way through yesterday afternoon and evening, although they stopped when I went to bed and now I just can't sleep. I've decided to get up and bounce on my ball for a bit only to have them restart again! Argh!

Similar scenario - they don't hurt and are definitely 'different' from how I expected them to be (i.e. much higher up than I expected and nothing like period pains). I'm just noticing how regular they are...

Well everything stopped completely overnight :(

Have 2 antenatal appointments today (oh the joy ) so hopefully they will be able to give me an idea of whether things are starting to get moving or if I am being paranoid!

Snap! Except I don't have any appointments so you'll have to pass your wisdom on to me :)

Any News Lorelai?

Not really. Had a few tightnenings but not as regular as yesterday. Just seen consultant who told me not to bother seeing mw but think I will as will probably get more info from her.

Update - midwife didn't think my 'symptoms' were anything to get excited about :( so could be ages yet

I felt a right idiot yesterday. Rang hospital but I think was talking myself into labour. BH continuous for 2 hours from half 5. Sharp pain in cervix but then nothing. Best night's sleep in weeks last night. I'm going to wacky warehouse to squeeze myself between the rollers and get this baby out .

Lorelai Yours still in?

Yup :(

I am wondering though, can raspberry leaf tea make BH stronger? I never felt any until I started drinking it.

Yes apparently it makes contractions more effective but won't start anything off sadly!

No, I know :( but maybe it will make my BH 'do' something - they do have a purpose, right????

I'm having non-painful tightenings every half hour or so too, and feeling really dreamy and odd. Wouldn't mind having the weekend just to relax, even though I'm dying to meet this baby it would be good to laze around for a bit longer! Sod's law I'll have it tonight.

Early labour of course, but HOW early? Could be days!

I don't think it is as concrete as we like to believe. Labour is a process and there are many aspects to it. Just because it doesn't hurt yet doesn't mean it hasn't been triggered.

Rest rest rest and relax. Getting excited produces all the wrong hormones to get the baby out!

Yeah, I'm hoping mine will wait until after the weekend too (or after Sat at least) - can come as soon as it likes after that though

Funnily enough, weeks and weeks ago I had an instinct that the baby would come either on the 21st/22nd Nov or 5th Dec - I don't know why, but I will be really freaked out if one of those turns out to be correct!