40 Weeks Today - MW told me I was having contractions - HELP PLEASE!!

[AwwABaby]

Hi,

Ok I'm 40 weeks today 1st baby, went into hospital last night as was concerned about baby's movements. MW says (after being monitered) baby is fine and did you know that you are having 1 contraction every ten mins?? I was like no I get lots of new weird sensations and pains but I just ignore them figuring that when the time actually came I would know.

MW was very very busy all she said was it could be tonight (as in last night) tomorrow (today) or the next day (tomorrow). She said don't call us until the pain is unbearable and you are clinging onto the walls in pain (this scared the krap out of me) I explained that I'm under consultant care (I have chronic ITP) and need to come into hospital a bit earlier than most women for a full blood count etc and some tests (she ignored this and told me the above again) then sent me on my way home. After I got home I thought to myself she can't have possibly read my notes then even though on arrival at hospital she took them from me and said give me some time to read through your notes..... Aahhh scary....

Ok rant over....

So how do I get things going? Here's where I am (sorry if it's TMI). Had period pains and very severe back ache on and off all day yesterday plus diarrhoea and last night. Can't sleep due to this and also have very very painful aching hips - and I mean ouch!!

I'm thinking walk up my nearby hill when DH returns from work and order a spicy curry for tea but that's my knowledge of it all.... Oh and no please don't recommend sex that is a no no no..... Too much pain...

I keep getting random tightenings on and off there intense (not painful) and random no pattern.

Apologies for going on - Any advice or tips very welcome as I am utterly clueless. My MW works part time so can't contact her till Tuesday.

Thank you ladies x

Well period like pains and diarrhoea sound like things are starting. I know you said no sex but if you can bear it you can play with your nipples. It releases the same hormones.

I would make sure that when you go in you tell the mws yourself rather than assuming they have time to read your notes. They can get very busy so don't have time to do more than skim read I suppose.

Good luck. You'll be fine.

To be honest it sounds like you're getting there, I wouldn't do anything too strenuous, a gentle walk, you don't want to wear yourself out. If you've already got diarrhoea I would hold off on the curry too as the aim of that is to upset your stomach.
I think if you are already having mild contractions and not noticing them I'm also slightly dubious about holding off going to hospital until you are climbing the walls. I think you will know when the contractions settle down and it's time to go, when you can't talk through them is a better indicator. Best of luck to you!

Oh, and have a nice bath!

Mate, go to bed, and try to rest and sleep. You are in for what could be a long slog. Get your head down

If I were you and it is possible for you to rest, I would rest, have a bath, take two paracetamol, go to bed. You will probably wake up with regular closer contractions and then things might go quickly.

Definitely I would go to hospital when you need pain relief, might not necessarily be when you're climbing the walls though. You might want to go in when your contractions are obvious (to you!) and regular. If your waters break before this point, go in when your waters break.

When you go in you or your partner say I have ITP, this means I am at risk of bleeding, I need to have platelet count done. If you don't feel like they are taking you seriously ask to see doctor or senior midwife available.