Labour signs with irritated uterus?

[Sewingbeatshousework]

38 weeks with dc3, was told I had IU at around 27 weeks (never had it before), it causes strong uncomfortable contractions with period type pain in belly and back, basically like early labour pains.

It's getting progressively worse as due date gets near, during the day I average a contraction every 20-30 minutes and in the evenings I usually get them every 2-5 minutes for 3-4 hours. Sometimes they are a mild annoyance, sometimes I shout (evening ones especially) and have to breathe through them.

Has anyone else had this and did you know when proper labour had started? DH works 2 hours away and i'll need to sort childcare so I'm worried that by the time
I realise it's the real deal I'll be in full blown labour and will be short of time.

Yes I had this with number two... it's bloody horrible. I was constantly taking myself to hospital thinking I was in labour to be told I wasn't. Which was a nightmare for our parents who kept turning up at all hours to take our older dc!!!

Basically as soon as the pain was sharp across the belly and not like period pain I knew it was for real...

I hope your not too miserable. X

Thank you, I've only been up to the hospital for contractions once at 27 weeks but I'm constantly timing them and on edge! Went up at 34 weeks as was spotting and the contractions were hitting the top bar on the monitor, but when they gave me an internal everything was still closed up....

Been getting very sharp pains last week or so but really low down so probably more my pelvis than uterus.

I'm getting a sweep next week so I'm looking forward to seeing if my cervix has actually changed at all with all these contractions! Did you go overdue? I did with last 2 but I've heard you're more likely to go earlier with UI - bloody hope so!

No I was late. And early with my first... and also baby number two was plus one engaged for 6 weeks so I was told I would be early and the labour would be quick as they could feel his head in exams but I was very late and it was a long labour... no one knows what's gonna happen really.

The real labour pains were different to the iu pains so I knew instantly it was real! Try and relax (easy to say fro here I know). It will just be a miserable memory soon and you'll have a lovely little baby... x

Nothing to add, except I'm the same. It's bloody awful. I spent all weekend in hospital. It seems to be worse if I've been busy. Just don't forget you're on the final stretch now!

Hopefully I'll know early on when the time comes then. That sucks watching, how long left do you have? Due to a few issues the consultant has agreed to induce me at 40 weeks (if I'm desperate) if I haven't gone before then, good to have an end in sight if needed! Struggling to walk tonight with swollen feet too 😫

I'm 35 weeks @Sewingbeatshousework but I know I'll be having a section at some point between 38 and 39 weeks. They did say at weekend that baby might make an early appearance of her own accord. My bump is huge and the last baby I had was 9lb15!
You'll be there soon Sewing.

Hi sewing i was in hospital yesterday with this! Im 28 weeks with 2nd and had aslight bleed period type pains and tightenings so they put me on monitor and picked up irritations. Did not know this was a thing!! Glad to have read your post! So this has just carried on through pregnancy then? Is there any reason for it have you been told? Oh god i hope you can work out the difference for real labour!

@watching eek thought mine were big at 9lb3 & 9lb4! Midwife has commented this ones a good size too but I'm measuring slightly smaller than the other pregnancies this time so we'll see!

@fairy45 sorry to hear you've got this too it can be horrendous 😕, with me it's continued and the tightenings have gotten stronger over time along with the cramp/back pain. With having 2 other dc I know the horrendous pain that is active labour so I'm not worried about knowing when that time comes, but with DH working away I could do with knowing sooner. They haven't given me a reason just said it's one of those things unfortunately!

Gosh @Fairy45 ! You're early for all this.
I seem to be worse if I've got anything resting on my bump. I've got a few pairs of maternity trousers that I can't wear without setting everything off. I'm living in maxi dresses at the mo. Maybe try that?
This baby is the most active one I've had so far. It's my third. I'm sure her constant kicking/size have something to do with it.

I can truly sympathise and empathise.
With both my last two children the hospital faffed about pontificating as to whether or not I suffer with an irritable uterus. I basically had five weeks before both babies were born of sporadic but agonising contractions, constant pain and all the symptoms of early labour. I was in and out of hospital and fobbed off so many times.
I a, 23 weeks with my third baby and already had discussions about preventing this again as I was a nervous exhausted wreck by the time my ironically induction dates arrived. This and my age, plus a big baby at 39 weeks last time means hopefully I will get induced at 38 preferably 37 weeks.

It is a notoriously misdiagnosed and mismanaged condition and my heart goes out to anyone who is suffering from this. It wrecks the last few weeks of pregnancy which is hard enough!

Have all your babies been big @Ginlinessisnexttogodliness ?

Oh, man, this thread brings back memories...

IU at 34 weeks, so, steroid injection and rest. Grumbled on for another 4 weeks, not bad but worse when I was busy (3rd baby, other kids were 4 and 2.5, so, life was busy). Manageable, though.

Then, it really ramped up - six times I thought I was in labour with proper contractions for up to 4 hours at a time. Each time, switched itself off as quickly as it started.

Eventually, went a week over and I refused to go home without a baby because I was so tired. They induced me and I had a very long, very slow, not a lot of fun, but, ultimately, fine labour.

It's a horrible thing to experience. And, it's horrible t have it minimised. Rest, sit on one of those ball things and ride it out.

Sorry just caught up, there really should be more info about it! Even the HCP here don't know much about it.

I'm due on Sunday and booked in for an induction on that day if I've not gone before, was getting much more intense contractions last night, 4 mins apart for 4 hours then they tailed off 😡, I'd had my 2nd sweep that morning though so could be because of that (the consultant did warn that sweeps could irritate uterus more).

Cant see me going before Sunday but dreading a long induction process 😢

Oh Sewing, you've got to try and relax. You're nearly there now.

I was at hospital yesterday to plan my section. We discussed my irritable uterus (and attached irritable person) and the young male doctor said, 'they're just Braxton Hicks'. My husband laughed in his face and told him he'd like to see him deal with it.

watching I'd have been tempted to punch him!!!!

Have you got a date for section? I was up until 3.30 this morning mopping floors etc thinking that would help, made me feel a bit better waking up to some clean & tidy areas but probably not my best idea. I've got lots of small furries to clean out too which is going to be fun!

So glad to be on the home stretch now, although was hoping baby would be here in time for a 30th party on Saturday, worried I'll be too grumpy to enjoy it while I'm like this, only pj's fit now too

Yep- section booked for 4th although they're still telling me they wouldn't be surprised if she makes an early appearance.

Im with you on the crazy cleaning. I've lost my fingerprints to cif cream cleaner.

We're supposed to be at a wedding on Saturday. I've got a feeling I'm going to be too irritable to make it.
But, maybe a party is what you need to take your mind off induction?

It'll be such a long day for you too 😣, looking forward to the party as I'll get to see family members that in haven't seen in months but given how sore I am I'm worried I end up looking miserable, it's at my parents house though so I guess if it gets too much I can go steal a bed for an hour or 2

@watchingitallagain sorry I didn't know you'd asked me a question 🙈
In answer, my son was just a good size. 8.5lbs at 41 weeks exactly.
My daughter was just under 10lbs at 39 weeks which is why they are keen to ensure there isn't a whopper growing third time.

I have little faith in growth scans as they told me my son would be a big baby. He was t especially, but more concerning a growth scan with a consultant two days before my daughter's birth I was told she would be 7lbs. So way off.

Thought I'd update! Ended up being induced on due date - looks like the irritable uterus helped things out really as from the minute the pessary was in I was contracting intensely every 3 minutes, they had to remove it after an hour and half as there was no break in between them. Ds2 was born 8 hours after pessary was first inserted, weighing an unexpected 10lb 9oz.

As soon as the first contraction hit after it was put it the first thingi said was that I couldn't believe I was worried I wouldn't know when it was real contractions, I'd forgotten just how delightful they were 😁

Congratulations @Sewingbeatshousework That's fantastic news. I hope you're being well looked after at home.
10lb9 is a bonny baby! I'm sure our irritability is something to do with whoppers.
I'm booked in for a section on Friday and will update next week.