Am I in early labour??

[Dontbsicily]

Hello,

39+6 today with my first and I’ve thus far, had no braxton hicks or any signs of labour. Have had quite a comfortable pregnancy up to about a week ago when I started to feel a lot more pressure, my last midwife appointment was last week and the midwife told me baby’s head it 2/5 engaged and won’t be going any further without contractions now.

All day today I have been experiencing tightenings pretty regularly. I’m not sure exactly how often as I have been busy cleaning and doing various other jobs and they were completely painless. Since sitting down for some food about an hour ago I’ve noticed the tightenings are quite regular. I would say about 10 mins apart. Still painless and I have not yet lost my plug or waters.

Are these just braxton hicks or could I be in early labour?

Sorry for being a bit slow here, no idea what anything should feel like and don’t want to bother the midwife if I am simply experiencing BH.

Thanks :)

It could be either. If it's early labour (which can last some time, even days) the tightenings will become more regular, last longer and feel stronger. Once you get to the stage that they are lasting at least 45 seconds, coming every 4 minutes and you can't hold a conversation and are having to focus on breathing through them, that's the time to call. Keep an eye on movements and any worries, call your triage. Good luck!

Thank you @slingthegin! It’s awful at this stage not knowing when it’s going to happen! Every little twinge I’m convinced is a baby!

You don't need to call the midwife until things are much more definitely further along. Just try to relax (!) and see what happens. Either this is early labour and things will ramp up in the next couple of hours/overnight or you will feel like this over the next couple of evenings. Either way, it does sound like things are getting moving.

Thanks UnderHisEyeBall! I’m torn between finishing cleaning the bathrooms or having a bath. Is it better to keep moving or relax??

Do both! Keep moving and if it gets sore have a bath for relief! I went for brunch and a long walk at that stage to make sure it kept moving along! Good luck

My NCT course leader advised a warm bath and a glass of wine in the early stages of labour! Sadly I had to be induced so didn't get to do that. Relaxing might be an idea if you've been busy all day - if it's really labour then it will keep ramping up but if it's Braxton hicks they usually subside when you change activity level.

Thank you @KatnissK and @kmammamalto,

Bath is running and I’m just finishing mopping the floors. Not sure how regular they are now but pretty consistent the whole time I’ve been hoovering and mopping. Fingers crossed little one is ready to come out soon!!

Fingers crossed for you!

How is it going @dontbsicily? Do we think we are going to have a baby on its due date??

@UnderHisEyeBall, not sure! Not too hopeful to be honest! Still having regular tightenings but, still no pain or any other signs. Going to bed now so, we will see if there’s any change overnight. I will keep you updated :)

@KatnissK
Our NCT leader said the same thing. I wish I hadn't listened to her....vomiting up a glass of wine when you're in labour really isn't fun!

@Pinkflipflop85, I’ve not touched a drop since finding out so, I think I’ll just stick to the bath part of that tip!

Update: Woke up a few times through the night with tightenings and agin this morning but, no other signs of baby today. I guess he/she doesn’t want to be a Mean Girls Day baby!!

There's still time OP, there's still time

Update: I’ve been having painless contractions every 10 minutes, like clockwork, for 4 days now. Rang triage yesterday, just to be on the safe side and they said just to wait until it gets painful! Cmon baby!! 🤞🏻

Sounds so much like my situation! Has baby arrived yet OP? Third baby, due tomorrow but had strong BH for well over a week, lots of tightening and then nothing! Previous two were totally different!

Hi @071019DD, no baby yet! Now 5 days overdue.

Had a midwife appt this morning and she tried to do s&s but, couldn’t reach my cervix. Was really disappointed as, I’ve been having painless contractions for 6 days now and I thought this was going to be what I needed to get labour going but, nope!

Needless to say I am very fed up now!

Have had bags of energy recently, was out all day shopping with DM yesterday and been baking and doing housey jobs today and about an hour ago completely crashed. Feel like I have taken a sleeping pill as I can’t stay awake!

Have you had you LO yet?

Good luck!! :)

@Dontbsicily no, no baby here either!! Although it's my DDs birthday on thursday so now we're so close to that I'm hoping bubba stays put a wee while longer (this is our unplanned DC3)! Still getting strong BH though... sweep booked for next tues.

Hope it all kick starts for you soon, I was induced with DC1 41+6 and DC2 came herself 41+1 so totally know how you feel with being fed up! Hopefully your BH will mean when it does start it'll fly . Keep me posted and good luck!

@071019DD aw congrats! Hopefully LO behaves until the party is over then!

Going for a s&s tomorrow and I’m also booked in for an induction on Tuesday! Really hope he/she shows up before then though.

Fingers crossed! X

Any update OP?
I am in same position sort of as you were, had contractions every ten mins all night last night then went in for a sweep today and baby has bobbed right back up and she couldn't reach a thing. So gutted.

@kmammamalto, afraid not! I am booked in for an induction tomorrow so hopefully i get to meet LO by this time tomorrow but, I am not very hopeful after how the end of my pregnancy has turned out!

I hope you get to meet your LO soon! X

It does sound like early labour to me

The fact you are cleaning is a big give away. It's the 'nesting' right before birth.

Ahh how frustrating OP. Hopefully it won't be much longer. x

Should have read full comments sorry

Good luck with everything OP! Not long to go now before you are cuddling your little one