Is this early labour?

[Kyrptonite]

With DS I was induced after my waters broke and with DD my contractions came on strongly every 5 mins straight away so I am clueless about the early stages of labour!

I'm 37+3 and woke up at 12:30 with achey period pains in my back and stomach. I haven't been able to get back to sleep. It hurts quite a bit but not like proper labour IYSWIM. With DD however hy the time it started to properly hurt and we went to the hospital I was 9cm and she was born 40 mins later so I'm not sure if my pain threshold is quite high!

I can't make out a pattern with the pain but I've had some leaking that I don't know if its discharge/sweat/wee/waters!

Should I phone labour ward in the morning? Will I be wasting their time if I go and get checked out?

DP is at a friends sleeping off a football pub session so I'm sat up waiting to see if it gets stronger and I need to get him home or not!

Hi. Didn't want to read and run (or go back to sleep after bf'ing, IYSWIM).

Obvs I have no idea if its early labour or not, but does sound as though it could be and you won't be wasting anyone's time by calling.

Are you having a homebirth or hospital? Again, every birth is different, so what I'm about to say wont necessarily happen to you, but....with DS2 (6wks ago) he came in an hour and a half. Luckily he was a planned homebirth, so it was all fine. As you had a fairly quick birth with DC1 it may be worth giving your OH a call? Just to let him make his own decision about what he does now?

Good luck!! X

Definitely get checked out today, you wouldn't be wasting anyone's time at all! Good luck

Thanks. Sat up labour ward waiting to be assessed and find out if anything is happening! Hopefully it is as this is my best week for reliable childcare and DP isn't on a work course 60 miles away!

And babies are renowned for their timing...! Hope all goes well - good luck! X