Is this likely to be labour?

[MrsKnightley53]

This might be a stupid question, however I'm a first time mum, currently 40+3 and I keep being told that I'll 'just know' when I go into labour.
I appreciate that it will be beyond doubt when it hurts like your insides are getting ripped out as labour becomes established, but I'm finding it confusing to know whether period like pains and pains down thighs/legs are the very beginnings of it.

Apart from info on mucus plugs, amniotic fluid etc alongside the caveat that everyone is different it still all seems to be a bit of a mystery!

I started with what felt like period pains last night and then again this morning which then faded away. It started again earlier tonight and started radiating down tops of legs and now it feels like it's fading away again. Does this sound like the start of something?

This may be wishful thinking as I'm hoping to avoid sweep/induction 😂

I think you sound 40 weeks pregnant!

Sometimes this niggly bit goes on for a while, sometimes you progress quickly. Hard as it may be, sometimes seeing if you can ignore it is a good tactic. Just let it wash over you until you can't. Whatever happens, you've got days left at most.

(I of course did nothing of the fricking sort and analysed every twinge)

Difficult to tell. Could just be regular aches and pains from lugging a child around in your stomach 😂

@ShowOfHands you're right. I should just ignore it until I can't anymore. I find that the waiting and not knowing is driving me insane 😱

@Sexnotgender Indeed, it's bloody knackering. I feel like smoking her out, she's been in there long enough!

Fingers crossed she makes a move soon! I’m 30 weeks and bloody knackered. My last went to 42 weeks 😱

It may be a build-up to the actual labour.
Try to go for a walk and see if they will intensify(even better if you can make it a brisk one).
You can also try having warm,relaxing bath- if it's real thing,again it will intensify and become more regular.
And please don't worry about the sweep or induction,they are not as bad as you may think.The more relaxed you are about it,the bigger chance that you won't find it unpleasant.

Thanks all, wise advice.

Been cooking the dinner and staying on feet to try and keep things moving along if that's the case.

Pain now slightly eased. 😒

Any update OP? X

No nothing!!! 😖

Pains coming and going very erratically but mainly going. I'm going to be pregnant forever

Any update op? Hope you have some good news now

Nope, not a bloody thing. Still a few twinges here and there but she stubbornly seems to want to stay in there 😖

Hoping baby's here!

Any news OP?

Hey all, sadly it wasn't labour as needed to be induced which was a bit of a bugger. But she was born on the 15th, 15 days late and reluctant to the end to come out! 😂

Congratulations @MrsKnightley!!!