think I'm in labour, baby's movements have slowed down

[stokeymonkey]

Hi, today I'm 41+3, and due to be induced on Weds next week.
Think I might be having contractions - suddenly feeling a huge pressure right down low and it feels like an iron band tightening across lower bump, makes me gasp, lasts half a minute or so then fades for a few minutes.
I've had no show though, and waters still intact.

What is slightly odd is that baby doesn't seem to be moving around that much today. I've felt the odd flutter and scrabble, but nothing like the usual kung-fu hustle.
Is it normal for babies to slow down a bit when they're about to be born, or should I be worried and rushing to the hospital?
Scared myself to death searching online - the only thing I could find was an article about stillbirth!!!

Any insight much appreciated!

I think it is normal for them to slow down when labour approaches, please don't search on the onternet anymore, you don't need scaring. It does sound like the beginnings of labour to me

good luck and keep us posted

Whilst I agree its probably normal and baby is having a rest and a bit constricyted now, if you are concerned call your MW- you really should as you are overdue, and it only takes a minute for the MW unit to check (and its almost guaranteed the monute they plug you in baby wills tart the olympics.... ime anyway!)

Seriously, whats worse- callingMW and gettinga check, or ...

Hope all is OK and we see happy newsw soon! Good luck- lucky you

stokey... sometimes the waters don't go until the moment of birth. It is also not necessary to have a show first.

Now... how is baby feeling just now? Are your contractions building? It does seem as though you are moving into labour. It doesn't need to be hugely painful either. I don't think that you need to worry or to rush into hospital, but call the labour ward and have them allay your fears.

If you do go in to be monitored, ask for a handheld monitor with intermittent monitoring. That way you'll be able to get into the positions that you want to as labour progresses.

Keep us posted. We (well okay...ME) love a good labour/birth thread.

thanks all, for sage advice!

have eaten a fat sandwich and given bump a poke, and it seems to have woken up and is moving about a bit now, so I think it's ok! Will call the hospital if it stops moving for any significant length of time though.

contractions are not going away, but not getting stronger either (although this only started at about midday!). Think I may have a way to go yet!

Will keep you posted...

Excellent! Well no need to time until the contractions are lasting 45-60 secs at a time.

Rest as much as you can. Eat and drink and relax... yeah I know.. lol

Am off to church shortly but will pop back and see how you're doing. By which time lulumama will have found you and be keeping you company.

So have some (virtual) lemon drizzle cake and be sure to save her a slice lol!

a labour thread - how lovely!!!!

agree vvv good luck with it all stokeymonkey.

Looks like you are getting going!

well it's 10pm and I'm still having contractions, but they still don't really hurt, even though they seem to be getting stronger and longer.
I think this might take a very long time!

might just go to bed and try & sleep. Hope I'll be able to, I'm feeling a bit hyper and overexcited!

what mars said !

especially about loving a good birth thread !

if you can sleep...sleep! and if you can;t then have a rest and visualise a lovely ,postive , happy birth !

Don't wait for them to hurt. I've had a couple of clients that hardly had any pain until it was time to push.

I hope you are resting where you can, but if the contractions build to lasting a minute or more and the space between the contractions are short.... call the hospital (unless you are having a homebirth... then call the midwife). Pain is no indication for some people. You are probably managing your pain much better than you realise.

Looking forward to the birth announcment.

announcement!

Hope you are either well and truely in labour or managing to get some sleep Stokey!

Think the risk of being the only December one lft has got things moving my end so hopefully I'll be joining you before too long

See you on the other side!