Is it starting?

[WidowWadman]

Right, so I've got a week left until my ELCS, however I've been having twinges for a few days now, sometimes it feels a bit like period pain, but not painful painful, IYKWIM, just getting really tight, making breathing difficult.

Sometimes not sure whether it's my uterus tightening, or the baby stretching out that's causing it. Also have been feeling quite nauseous for a few days.

It's my second child, but I never went into normal labour with my first, yeah, I had some period pains for a couple of days before my waters broke, but nothing that concerned me, never made it into established labour, and even on the drip the contractions stayed haphazard.

I really really really don't want to end up with an accidental VBAC. I phoned triage yesterday for reassurance and what to do and had been told to stay at home as long as pain killers keep it bearable (as I said, pain is not really the issue for me), they'd do an EMCS only if I was in established labour.

So I'm sitting here, not quite sure, what 'established labour', or indeed labour in general feels like, and am a bit apprehensive about having a repeat of last time.

Not helped by helpful comments from relatives about how it went really fast with xyz's second baby, and she didn't even realise she was in labour by the time she was 8 cms....

I haven't had a show yet, just this feeling of heaviness, nausea, and the occasional breathlessness when it feels really tight.

So what's my odds of getting to my ELCS date vs ending up with an EMCS (or an unwanted VBAC) in the next few days or hours?

Well I've been through labour twice now and am 39w with DC3. I'm getting a lot of braxton hicks and some occasional period pain and backache. I also got this with DC1 but strangely not DC2. Both DC were born on their due date. IMO braxton hicks feel like tightenings whereas actual contractions sort of move up the bump from bottom to top and are a completely different kettle of fish. To me there is no mistaking the difference. But everyone is different!

So, I'd say if you were me there is no hard and fast evidence you'll go into labour before your ELCS date but I may well be wrong (don't want to get in trouble when you have your baby at 7pm tonight!). In my experience tightenings, pains etc do not necessarily mean a baby is on its way imminently.

Have just re-read what I've written and it's rather garbled nonsense but I hope you get my drift!

How are you feeling now WW?
Is it possibly Braxton-Hicks? (I didn't notice them at all with my 1st pg, but did with subsequent pg, though I had had an established labour...)

The breathlessness does sound like contractions- with 2nd birth I had those right up to having CS, never went into labour at all though (40+12)

Thanks for the replies - still feel the same, which means at least that the baby is still in there and I guess will stay there - it's just stupid that I can't even draw on experience despite already having done it once.

They should just invent some kind of simple home testing device - pee on a stick and it'll tell you you're in labour or not. I'd so buy it.

Meh.