Signs of labour

[HNS2020]

Hello everyone,

I am 36 weeks pregnant with my first baby and for the past 2 days I have been experiencing constant period pain/back ache with an extremely sore pelvis but no tightenings so I called DAU and they advised for me to go up there just to see what's going on. Was monitored and baby was happy and fine, no tightenings, no infections, BP fine but had to see the doctor who said these are Braxton hicks.... the midwife looked very funny and said there are no tightenings so could not possibly be Braxton hicks but I was sent home and told to monitor. The pain has not got any worse nor has it got better but I am struggling to walk due to pelvis pain ..... is this the start of labour or just everything softening to prepare for labour? Baby is 2/5 engaged so not fully down there yet although I know baby doesn't have to be.
Any advise would be great thank you!

It’s just one of those things where nobody knows! Could be, might not be... I do think some women (me included) are just a lot more sensitive to what’s going on down there than others. With both of mine (born at 38+2 and 40+1) I experienced what you describe, for a couple of weeks before my babies came. Mine were actually back to back and so I think if I had spent more time on my hands and knees they might have turned and it might have been easier, but I don’t know! The important thing is to keep making sure that you don’t have a temperature, that you feel generally well (no headache), baby is still moving normally. Any doubt just keep going back in!

Both of my actual deliveries were heralded by a spontaneous membrane rupture (waters breaking) but before that I had lots of pain/sensation in my general pelvic region. Have a read about prodromal labour