Is something happening...?

[Char11]

Hi,
I'm 38+2 with my first pregnancy. Lost my plug yesterday and had lower back pains on and off. Woke up at 5 today and have had period pains and really crampy diarrhoea since. Back is still aching and everything just feels generally achy. Also, having LOADS of discharge.
The thing is, I can't really say I've noticed tightening other than the period cramp feeling, and nothing seems regular or frequent enough to time.
Could this be early stages of labour, or is it just things moving around and shifting?
Things feel very different today, but I also don't want to spend the day on tenterhooks analysing every twinge. As this is my first time, I would really appreciate thoughts from anyone with more experience
Thank you

Sounds like it could be early labour :o
When you say "loads of discharge" are you sure you're not leaking waters?

I started with cramps and also diarrhoea. Good luck if this is it!

I started with cramps and also diarrhoea. Good luck if this is it!

Labour feels like bad period pain. And my waters came like very heavy discharge.
Good luck! Let us know how you get on. x

Definetly sounds like you are in the early stages of labour, goodluck xx

Thanks!! stealth, I'm not really sure. I put some knickers on when I got out of bed and when I went to the loo about 3 minutes later they were already pretty wet - I then went again (more diarrhoea!) about 5 minutes later and could hear a fair amount of liquid going into the toilet but didn't really feel like I was actually weeing (and I'd only just been). So I wasn't sure if that was waters or just wee - does that make sense?

Sounds like your waters have gone!

Good luck

Ooooh, a bit scared now!! . I guess I should start trying to keep track of the time then - not much has happened since my first post though so....?!?
Thanks everyone x

Yes def, keep a record of pain coming and going. It sounds like your waters have broken. Call the midwife and explain it to her and see what she says. They're very good at diagnosing! Keep us informed!

Yes, will do. I'm struggling to keep track of times really, as it all feels a bit strange! Achy back and menstrual feelings are pretty constant, and then every now and then I get a sharper pain - sometimes in my lower back/bum area, sometimes down the front, as if baby is shifting head around. Each sharp pain is pretty brief (2 or 3 seconds) and feels like a cross between period pains and gastro/tummy bug feeling, but almost doesn't last long enough or feel strong enough to bother noting the time!
DH is up now and not sure whether to send him off to work or not. Haven't rung midwife yet, but will do. Can't quite believe this could be it and keep waiting for it to feel a bit more obvious...!

Start timing those little sharp pains, I'm certain you'll start to notice a pattern!

How easy is it for DH to get home from work? Because if he goes in, it sounds pretty certain that he won't be in all day!

He's only about 10 mins away so pretty easy for him to get home quickly. Have started writing down times! We're gonna have some breakfast and see how I'm feeling by the time he's ready to leave.

Good luck ...ooh how exciting.off to work will check in with you later

OK, now I'm grumpy... I started timing this morning and and pains were about 12/13 minutes apart. I then fell asleep! Woke up half an hour later and had a bath. And since then, apart from the continuous lower back ache and occasional twinges...nothing! So now I really don't know what's going on.
I have a GP appointment tomorrow morning anyway, so I guess I will see how the rest of today and tonight go and then see what Dr says.
Feeling a bit frustrated though. False alarm???

It could well be a false alarm, I had a few

Have you had any more fluid loss? If you have a pad on, I'd be tempted to pop to the hospital and ask them to test it. Its very quick, and they can tell you straight away if its amniotic fluid or just discharge

Good luck!!

Early labour can go on for a while for some people - does sound like labour though. Good luck!

Haven't had any more fluid loss, no. Haven't had a pad on, so will put one on now so I can do that if I get some more.
Just had a long walk with DH too, so just going to try and keep mobile and relax.
Thanks all

Well, the cramps are back again - not really regular yet but stronger than yesterday. Still really feels like bad diarrhoea cramps though - and I've been to the loo (loose stools) twice since 3.30. Does this sound normal??

Char I had this on and off stuff too and it is so frustrating while its happening but I founf once it got going it was fairly quick. Hope its the same for you

Thanks - I hope so too! They're coming pretty much every 5-6 mins now, so I'm hoping I'm on the way now. I rang the delivery suite and they said to go back to bed (!) and to wait until they've been 2-3 mins apart for a few hours, so we'll see. The midwife also said that if I was leaking fluid it would be constant - I had what definitely felt like a leak earlier (thin fluid, soaked into pad), which was lightly tinged pink but she said this was just discharge. Seemed a bit weird to me....

Hopefully it is the start if things now but I would follow your instincts when you really feel you need to be checked. My contraction never got regular at all and when I described them to delivery suite they insisted it was pre labour. When they got fed up and let me go in I was 9 and a half cms!

That said I found it easier at home so personally would stay at home as long as you dare. Hope it happens today for you.

Bump.for update

Have you gave birth yet? x

Thinks she may have ? Bless hope we hear soon x

Aah, thanks everyone... yes, lovely DS arrived on thursday at 4pm - so it was a real long slog from wednesday morning but we made it and are now home safe and sound.

Thank you all for your support on Tuesday and Wednesday - MN is a marvellous place x