How long did "false" / pre-labour last for you?

[Roeslein]

I do realise this is a case of "how long is a piece of string"... I'm 39 weeks today and for the past 10 days or so have been having menstrual-type cramps and contractions for a few hours pretty much every day. On a few instances they were timeable but not regular (something like 5 to 15 minutes apart). They tend to calm down when I take a bath. They're not too painful usually, but a few times have been bad enough to wake me up at night (DH thought I was I was going into labour for real...) It's getting a little frustrating as I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to go another three weeks like this and then get induced anyway! How long did these symptoms last for you?

I was seen at the hospital a week ago due to reduced movements and the midwife back then said I was 2cm dilated and 50% effaced, but of course I know that doesn't mean anything.

I'm now 35+3 and have been having instances of false labour (I've done it before, I KNOW these aren't just 'painless' Braxton Hicks contractions!) on and off for the last 2 months. Unfortunately there's nothing the midwives or AAU can or will do about it, as it's still not real labour.

As long as babies movements are fine no one will worry unless your waters break or you're bleeding, which I know really isn't very reassuring when you're in pain all the time :(

You can always ask your midwife to be seen before your next appointment, just for a quick check-up to see if you've dilated any more. And ANY instances of reduced movements go to the AAU. Visit 3 times and they'll do a sweep, did you know? Not that I'm encouraging you to go if you don't need to, but especially as you've already started dilating I'd recommend seeing someone once a week at this point, just to be safe and put your own mind at rest.

Have same so with watching with interest, I’m 39+2

Oops just seen this was a few days ago! How are things ?

Had the baby yesterday! So pre-labour lasted about two weeks. Active labour was really fast though - went from 4 cm to baby born in two hours as a FTM! Not sure if these are linked...

oh crikey, congratulations!

I won't get too excited then! Although Ive had three nights of it over the course of 2 weeks so far...

I personally think that the 'pre-labour' is just part of labour so is linked - as had this with my second then had a very bearable (i.e. not too painful) 6 hour active labour.
hope you are enjoying your newborn