I am 39+5 with DC3 and have been doing pretty well. Last 4 days I have had pretty bad period-style cramps, pressure on pelvic region/bum bones, several 4-6 hour runs of convincingly painful contractions varying 5-20 imns apart but never building to anything and lots of backache and loose stools - presumably all classic prelabour - but I have felt quite robust emotionally and physically and able to wait it out quite serenely and do a lot of nesting bit and stay active with the other DCs.
Today the physical symptoms have been if anything slightly less and I have suddenly totally disintegrated - very grumpy and irritable, taken to my bed for a 4 hour nap, abandoned other DCs to DH when I normally like to be as present at possible, feeling like a wet rag and very very tearful and desolate - not feeling excited about the baby - just feeling shattered as if I am about to get flu. Is this another one of those secret phases no one tells you about - or am I getting flu or something? DH has been ill the last few days.