Early labour?

[MrsM18]

My first daughter was born via EMCS due to being breech & I started dilating but didn't realise.

This time baby is head down, I'm currently 38+5 - had regular tightenings due to irritable uterus since 33 weeks. Had a sweep Friday & Saturday - both times I was 1cm dilated (could stretch to 2) but cervix still around 1cm long but soft. Had several bloody shows & mucus plug loss since. It is now Sunday & I've been having tightenings between 6-10 minutes long for days, more painful than the irritable uterus tightenings but not getting closer or more painful at this stage.

I don't even know if I'm in labour at this stage! Feel totally clueless!

It’s not helpful when people tell you you’ll ‘just know’ but you will.

I would say you’re in early labour - not active and it could last ages yet. I had period pain tightening happening for over 24 hours with a bloody show happening for several hours. Then suddenly my waters went and I had an actual contraction (that I had to breathe through and didn’t realise was a contraction until I realised my eyes had been closed). Then they came thick and fast!

The good news was I was 4cm at this point so could get on with things.

Good luck!