If you went into labour early, what was it like?

[soundsystem]

Would anyone who has gone into labour before 37 weeks share how they knew/how it started?

I'm currently 31+5 and have really bad period -type pain in my lower back, along with tightening across my bump. It doesn't really feel like Braxton Hicks as it really hurts!

This is my 3rd baby and both other labours started this way, but they were both at term (39+4 and 40+5).

(I am going to seek medical advice, posting here while on my way)

Hope you’re ok! I think when you’ve laboured before you definitely recognise that pain so I’m glad you’re getting medical advice. Always best to get checked.

My son arrived at 34 weeks. It was pressure on my tailbone (turns out he was back to back) and period like pains that started....good that your getting checked out, hope all goes well for you x

My son arrived Saturday just gone after a 6 full days of labour, when my waters broke Monday the 15th at 3am (34 weeks gestation). It was a constsnt trickle of fluid through the morning, followed by small tightenings, and many trips to the toilet back and forth until the pain became too intense and too rhythmic to be a coincidence.

I was admitted to UHW assessment unit and my waters had certainly gone and I was 1cm dialaited. The contractions lasted the entire week, however very erratic. I had days where I was all day contracting up to every 10 minutes, however due to him being premature they didn't want to encourage a full labour yet.

By Wednesday it slowed down and even talk about going home to come back to induce at 36 weeks, however I knew in myself something was definitely happening and it was too painful. The contractions ramped up then to Friday night and when I was examined Saturday morning I was fully dialaited and his head was already trying to escape!!

I won't go into detail about the pain itself or about the pain experienced being dialaited and nobody realising, it's still being suppressed i think!

If you're experiencing a lot of pressure maybe on your vagina or bottom call in soon.

All the best and all you can do is call a midwife and they'll assess you fully.

*my paragraphs have disappeared

DS4 and DS5 both started at 35 weeks. My waters went with a massive gush, then nothing happened for days.