How long will it take to move from "period pains" to full contractions?

[purpleluce]

OK can anyone advise me please. 40 + 3 had sweep yesterday and have been having cramps ever since and now for last 4 hours or so have been having regular contraction like pains but only in lower part of abdomen. this is my second pg and my last one started at the top so am unsure how significant the pains are. (Have had lots of bhicks too)

Nothing I can't breathe through but am intrigued as to my chances of making it through the night based on experiences of others

Mine was all below...was first pregnancy though and lasted for about 8 hours before real pain started.

Good Luck and I hope things go smoothly for you!

Hi there - thanks for quick response, So you had labour without pains in your upper bump so to speak then?

Mine lasted quite a while too (lower bump only) but I had long labours.

How long was your first labour?

Tricky this as I had exactly the same feeling you described with both my kids, sweeps both times, but with different outcomes. For 24 hours after the first sweep i had period like cramps in my lower abdomen that started almost immediately after the sweep, and was convinced I was going into labour. But they just stopped, and I ended up being induced a week later. With DD2, I was swept Weds am, had the same feeling you are describing, but somehow knew these were different, they felt stronger than with DD1, resulted in a show and made me feel a bit sick. This carried on until 1am Friday morning, when my waters broke and we were off.

This doesn't help you much because my experience shows its pretty impossible to tell! Really good luck.

Mine were pretty much all below too. I guess the time you take is anyone's guess and, in a way, I always prefer to try to think about something else and get other stuff done - iognoring the onset of labour - until it demands my full attention.

I remember walking up the hill in my last labour to the shop and having a particularly big copntratction at the cheese counter. I just stood there readinf the the cheese packet and enjoying the fact no-one knew I was in labour. Then I got home as quickly as possible so I could make any noises I wanted to.

It sounds like things are happening for you purple so all the best. Have a good one. I look forward to reading your birth announcement. xx

it is an unanswerable question ..each mum & each labour is different..what might be more indicative is the state of the cervix...if it is dilating.effacing and short....and if the head is weel down......have you had a show>?

hi, with my 2nd it went from MILD period pains at 6pm to dd born at 9.15pm!!!
I was 40 + 10, I had plumbers in fitting my ensuite so I'd turned down a sweep in the hope that the baby would wait till the job was complete. I wasn't even really aware of the period pains and if my sister hadn't phoned to ask how I was I wouldn't have given them a second thought. She insisted that I should phone the midwife. The midwife said it could be very early labour so take a bath and relax. I told the plumbers ... I've never seen them packup so quickly, they left and I was home alone in the bath and it suddenly all started and by 6.30 I had the towels out, the phone by the bath and I was really convinced that I would have the baby in the bath. Thankfully DH returned and drove me the 30minutes to the hospital and DD was born.

Good luck with your birth!! Look forward to hearing your news!!!

Thanks ladies for your comments, hard to tell isn't it. My first labour was very quick (according to the notes ie less than 2 hours) BUT I had about 2-3 days of latent labour leading up to it and it felt really different.

First time round I don't remember period pains or braxton hicks which is what this seems to be all about!

The hopeful thing is that things are probably starting, (well they have to happen in the next week!) but I have to say I don't think they are building particularly.

In answer to previous questions, no show (at all) but cervix was soft and prepped and according to my mat notes 2cm dilated although mw didn't comment on that at time. I asked whether I should see a show and she said not necessarily......

Oh well, time will tell - have had a bath and will have an early night - be good move anyway!

Thanks for all comments - be interested to hear any others

Yes get some sleep in if you can. Build up your strength for the coming physical activity.

purpleluce, with DS2 I was having period-type pains at around 6 p.m.

He was born at 8.17 p.m.

best of luck! get some rest...sounds like you are good to go....happy birthing...!

Update........Still here, it all stopped at midnight, had a reasonable nights sleep and all quiet again this morning. Ho hum.....

purpleluce, good luck and surely not long to go now.

hi purpleluce & co.. glad you asked this question - my first baby is due tomorrow and i was having period like pains a lot of last night but then fell asleep and they have gone now! Its a bit unnerving isn't it? Will be checking on this thread to see if anyone else has words of wisdom..thanks!

there are a couple of things you can do to help , naturally , encourage labour to start...

nipple stimulation

sex !

sitting ona gym ball, to get the baby moving down into the pelvis..

visualisation - of the cervix softening & opening

i had a sweep at 39 weeks, and didn't have the baby until her due date!!!! had a week of on & off pains, a show that lasted the week & was utterly p*ssed off!!!

babies to tend to come when they are ready! which can be frustrating, to say the least....

thanks Lulumama - and can i just say that i notice you on lots of threads giving lovely and reassuring wisdom to novices like me - you are much appreciated! hope you look at this thread again to see this post!

Anything happening now Purpleluce? I had lower pains which I called pre labour for 2 days before the real thing started. It would sometimes stop at night too.

chertion thank you....