cramps or contractions

[CGall]

ok i rarely post and usually rely on previous posts to get info. but 40 weeks tomoro.
had few braxton hicks last night which then just turned into cramps all day today. had heavy bloody show today but tonight im getting short sharp cramp very low down every 10 -15 minutes. is this just cramps? they don't have the build up i expect from contractions and only last a short time, but r really quite sore.

im meant to see consultant in morn but wondering if things will progress before then.will cramps change intensity to all over bump and become contractions?

thanks to anyone awake and reading!

They are still very far apart but this could be the start. If they are regular and start coming closer together then I don't think you will need that appointment! Try to rest, if you can, tommorrow may be a long day

thank you skip, just wondering if i should expect these to change to a different type of pain, but maybe these are the way my contractions will feel and they just need to get closer.

finding it hard to sleep but know i need to!

thanks again

Sounds like you're on your way! Good luck! Got your bag packed?

Try to rest, but realistically you'll be browing mumsnet...But don't!

I remember just taking in all the peace and quiet I could when mine started, so glad I did!

Contractions IME tend to start like bad period pains and increse with intensity, get closer together and longer as things get going. I started my 1st labour with braxton hicks the previous day and the next the main dfference was that they never went away, got closer together and more painful. If you can't sleep because of it try to relax at least..is this your first? If so it may take some time so you need to reat while you can.

Doh rest..it's late

thanks everyone, i didn't rest last night or much today either so know i need to try to relax.

cramps seem to b alot shorter and sharper than they were earlier today but it means they pass quicker so hopefully i can rest in between. i just keep waiting for the 'proper contractions' to start.but at least something has started!

rest time!!!

thank u!

so cramps were about 7 mins apart for this past few hrs, but they have been the same intensity all along. bloody painful!!!this doesn't really mean anything tho if im not having contractions, does it?

im still going to have to go through another day of actually having contractions arent i?

All sounding positive. Have you taken some paracetamol? I would totally echo what the others have said and rest/ sleep. Just because it is now daytime does not mean you need to get up and get on with things.

I had exactly what you are describing with my first dc. I stayed up all the Wednesday night as I was excited and timing cramps/pains. Then the Thursday's spent hours walking around but pains had disappeared. They came back early afternoon, went to hospital Thursday night and had ds Friday afternoon. I was exhausted and really regretted not making more of an effort to try and sleep.

Remember once labour is over you actually have a newborn to look after too! Good luck!

thanks moojie, its just hard to sleep between them plus the usual bed time discomfort.

im just worried about how painful these already are how im going to cope with contractions and was hoping these were in some way going to mean less time spent with contractions.

will try to rest. wondering how il get through sitting in antenatal clinic waiting to see consultant, while going through this!

Try a bath and take regular paracetamol. I honestly rememeber thinking the same and my DH actually told me afterwards that he was worried how I would cope when I was literally losing the plot but only at 4 cm dilated. Then I calmed myself down, did this weird breathing thing that just came naturally and got to 9cm with no pain relief. I ended up have an epidural due to huge baby (10lbs!) and him being back to back.

I'm now 39 weeks so about to do it all again so it can't have been that bad! Strangely I'm excited this time as I know what to expect and I'm confident that I can do it...plus this baby is measuring smaller which is always comforting to know!

You will do great just stock up on energy foods and rest as much as you can. Sounds like you have an exciting day ahead!

thank u for the positive story that i might actually get through this! am continuing to take paracetamol and might try bath in an hour or so before going to consultant.

will get off mumsnet and try more rest!

Thanks again

well cramps turned out to b contractions, supposedly I've a v high pain threshold. went to consultant this morn and was 9 cm dilated! baby girl born at 6pm!!!! last cm harder than rest!

Congratulations!

I'd been following your posts and meant to post and say that I had cramps for 3 days on DD2, went in for a routine check-up where they were talking about induction ... only to discover I was already 6cm.

Seems I don't 'feel' my contractions properly until after my waters have broken

But 9cm... That's good going!

Hope you are getting plenty of lovely newborn cuddles...

I CGall, I didn't want to scare you the other night but I suspected you were like me! Actually having contractions without realising.

Congratulations!