Braxton hicks or contractions?

[febbabies2023]

Wondering what everyone else thought

Last night and today I started getting cramps / uncomfortable feeling in my lower back

Today I've also had some white discharge (doesn't look like bloody show / mucus plug though?)

Also had one or two dizzy spells and some nausea.

I'm only 33+3 so too early to be having the baby but what do we think?

A hot water bottle doesn't seem to ease the uncomfortable feeling, nor does moving

I'll see what happens at my apt a week on Friday. Think I'll have a genuine breakdown at them though lol. AFAIK your bishops score tells you how favourable your cervix is for induction.

Eeee whens your next scan? can you time your contractions at all?

Mine have changed since yesterday (been contracting p. Much over 24 hours), I keep getting back pain with some but I think it also depends how I'm sitting and they're spreading out a bit which is nicer lol. Only 36+1 today but if she wants to come in exactly 6 days then that'd be great.

I know!!!! I couldn't do this ever ever again. Bless you. Thankfully we're in the home stretch now. :)

I genuinely don't think I'll miss being pregnant now, which is kinda sad. I wanted to savour it but I just can't now lol.

Im glad your partner is good. Makes such a difference ❤️

@GoT1904

It's definitely worth asking if you can be induced early if you feel you need it! Oh right, that makes sense, I haven't heard of a bishops score before...

I haven't got a scan booked yet, she said she'll measure me next week and see if I need one. She's been very good to be fair so I can't complain!

I hope she comes early for you, it's draining having to wait isn't it?!

I'm 37+1 now so full term! And guess what? No baby!
Just a load of pins and needles in my ribs and feeling exhausted and heavy 😂

How are you getting on??? Eeeeee how exciting that you're full term. We're so close now!

When's your midwife apt?

I've seen mine today and she said she doesn't think I'll make my induction on 17th and I hope she's right 😂😂 xxx

@GoT1904 I'm doing okay thank you! I had a sickness bug yesterday which I'm recovering from still a bit (thank you to my 2 year old for that 😂) but IM ON MATERNITY LEAVE

So I've sorted out the two year olds room, I've done 2 loads of washing and I'm going to have some lunch and a nap! I feel good overall today!

How are you doing? Oh gosh I'm so excited for you, I hope you don't make it to 17th either! How crazy that you could have a baby in less than 16 days?! I mean we all could! Eeeeek how exciting!xx

@GoT1904 how are you doing? Any signs of labour yet?!

Had my midwife app today - baby is now on 97th centile, a trace of blood in urine so that's being sent off as well as booked for a scan within the week. But good news is she's 4/5 engaged so she's getting ready to come hopefully! So much pressure today, and some back twinges as well so I'd love this to be the start but who knows. Also got a sweep booked for Thursday

Awwww hi. I lost this thread 😂

Eeee you're gonna have a big baby too then! Is your scan for babies weight? I'm expecting mine to be nearly 10lbs at my 38w scan Friday.

4/5 engaged is great!! I feel like I have signs of labour every day, its really emotionally tiring. Backache and period pain have been present the last 2 days. Irregular contractions still.

Are you still getting contractions/bh?

I'll be having a sweep Friday if favourable as it'll be a week before induction. Let me know how yours goes! Hopefully you've progressed some already xx

@GoT1904 it looks like it! My first was 7.10 so fairly average so not sure where this babies size has coke from?! 😂 yessss scan is for babies weight, so hopefully they'll tell me she's not as big as they're currently predicting - I'm terrified if she is!

I'm glad she's getting engaged now although I know second / third babies etc can pop in and out! Although there's much less pain in my ribs and so much more pressure in my pelvis!
Tonight I seem to have this constant back ache which is quite dull so I don't know if that's something or nothing (I'm 38+2 now)

Eeeek my sweep is booked Thursday! Looks like we're pretty much on track to have our babies at the same time at this rate!
How are you feeling about the sweep?

Really hoping we can get these babies out soon, for the sake of our bodies at this point 😂 x

Awwww! My biggest was 9lb and he slept like a dream, compared to my 7lber lol. So I'm holding onto that and hoping that this big baby of mine will be the same. Hopefully yours too lol.

Aw I hope it is something for you! My contractions have changed, they were quite sore on the school run earlier and I let myself get a little excited but they soon stopped.

Thursday isn't long at all 🥰🥰 I'm not expecting my sweep to set me off, but I'm hoping it turns out I'm a little dilated and these stupid contractions haven't been for nothing lol. How are you feeling about yours?? I can't wait to not be pregnant now lol. I keep getting stuck in the bath... Xx

My DP just tested positive for covid 😭 I'm doing a test now. We only had it 6 months ago!

I'm not bothered for getting poorly. I can deal. I feel really upset though that I've been counting down for weeks for this last scan and sweep and I'm likely going to have to cancel. Induction is 10 days away so hopefully we can clear it by then 😭😭 but if I labour in the meantime he can't come surely? And if he does I won't want him to hold her 😭 and if I get it idk what will happen. Maybe hormones as well but I'm genuinely really upset.

@GoT1904 oh no! Did he have symptoms or just tested to be sure?! I'll keep everything crossed that it's all cleared up by the time you go in for induction. Is there any way they'd change the date if he was still positive? Have you tested as well? Do you have a number for your midwife where you can ask what the process is for covid now? I think they're differing between trusts?

We had it in September too, it was awful and we were stuck in Florida at the time!

My back ache seems to have stopped now too which is annoying, I hate the waiting game!

Not sure how I feel about the sweep, I'm hoping it does something but not looking forward to actually having it! Part of me is desperate to get this baby out and the other part of me is sad because she's my last baby so I'll never have this feeling again! :(

Haha stuck in the bath, I know that feeling!

Hope you're feeling okay today?!xx

Yea his mum just tested + and he started feeling crappy so tested. I'm a lot more chill about it today.. I don't know if hormones got the best of me last night. 😂 My friend had a section at my hosp a few months ago and they were still testing for covid there and had certain measures in place so I'm not 100% what will happen.. But I've left a message with my midwife so hoping to hear back. As it's after midnight my induction is 8 days away! Sweep tomorrow. That means your sweep is today 😁😁

Aw I know what you mean about it being last pregnancy. Sadly this time I'm struggling to savour mine. Sweeps aren't fun to have are they. I'm more looking forwards to seeing if these contractions have done anything.

How are you doing?

@GoT1904 I'm glad you're feeling a little more chill about it today - must have been the hormones and the shock of it and less rational thinking haha! Hopefully the midwife gets back to you ASAP so you can at least try and plan ahead and know what you're looking at!

Yes sweep day today - it's at 11:30 this morning so not long to wait although I'm feeling nervous! I'm looking forward to it in a way though so see if there's any indication on when she could come 🥹

Oh bless you has it been tough? I mean it's tough anyway with 1 child, never mind when you have more to look after as well, plus all the aches and pains and shit that goes with it!

Found out I do have to have the diabetic test at some point and I have a scan tomorrow booked to check her growth so also feeling nervous about those things as well

How are you doing this morning?x

@GoT1904 sweep done and dusted! Was uncomfortable but not too bad and over really quick! MW said I'm about 1.5cm dilated already, really favourable cervix and she can feel babies head. Said she wouldn't be surprised if I had this baby in the next couple of days so that was nice to hear!

Definitely hoping you get the same outcome when you have yours too! 🤞🏼

Haha I think it was definitely hormones.. I was so sad 😂 midwife hasn't called back and I'm still neg today so going to go to my apt and leave DP in the car. They still wear masks etc at our hospital too.

You've got to have the diabetic test? I didn't think they would do it this late! You'll have to let me know how your scan and test go.

Im excited for my scan tomorrow but not for how big she will be lol.

I'm doing good today :))

Oh wow 1.5cm is great!! And that baby is so low down. Eeee let me know if anything happens. Xx

@GoT1904 glad you're still testing negative, I hope it stays that way and that your DP tests negative soon too!

They said they're going to do the scan today and then decide. Because my 1st was on the 44th centile and she's gone from 44th at 28 weeks, to 90th every other check and then 97th at my 38 week that they just want to rule it out. There's no apps for 2 weeks tho so they're going to scan me and see if we need the test

What time is your scan today?! Mines at 3. Let me know how yours goes as well :)

I've had an awful lot of backache over the last couple of days but nothing more progressing yet. Spending the day with DP whilst little ones at nursery so hopefully some oxytocin will get things going 😂 x

I'm positive for covid today damnit! Feel so poorly. My braxton hicks are more sore today too so I'm actually hoping not to go into labour for once 😂 going to ring the clinic soon.

Ahh I get you. My LO went from 50th to way over 99th so had to have extra diabetes tests but both were absolutely fine.

Awwww good luck for your scan. Let me know how you go. Have you had any symptoms since your sweep? Xx

@GoT1904 oh no, I'm so sorry you've got it! Hopefully you can get some rest and feel better soon! At least you've got it now, and now on the date of your induction etc. hopefully it'll all be cleared up and gone by then?

How are the Braxton hicks today?

Scan went okay - she said she's more on the 85th centile so currently about 8lb something - which still scares me a little if she's in there much longer!
Still got the backache and I've lost a small amount of the plug but that's it. I was woken last night by some quite bad back ache but nothing really since. I'm so desperate to get her out now 🙃

How are you feeling today?x

Awwww how far are you now? I know what you mean being scared of their size. Backache and losing plug are great!!

Well I've had a very dramatic evening... I got up to start tea around 430 and noticed my feet felt tight. They've randomly really swollen up! They're huge. I checked BP at home and it was high so I called maternity assessment and they brought me up. I've had some meds to bring BP down which seem to be working, but I had 'a lot' of protein in my wee, so I'm being induced! Completely unexpected.

Unfortunately my cervix is still long and closed so I'll have to have the 24hr pessary. I can't believe after all these false contractions that it hasn't dilated me at all.

I said how much I wanted induction but now I'm here I'm so nervous. I was completely unprepared xx

@GoT1904 oh my gosh you poor thing! How are you feeling? At least your baby will be here very soon! Is your partner allowed to be with you because of the covid?

I'm 39 weeks today - all symptoms have stopped though so I'm feeling deflated :( x

I don't feel too bad really. I've pre-eclampsia and poor kidney function apparently. Cos covid isn't enough haha 😂 had a pessary at 1.30am that's doing sweet FA but I know it can take a long time.

They're not sure if partner can come until I'm in labour. I hope he can though.

Oh no how frustrating :( will you get another sweep?? Xx

@GoT1904 did you manage to get some sleep? Hopefully all of that will disappear when baby is here, won't be long until you meet her now!

Yeah I will but not until 40+4 which feels like forever away. Just frustrating I guess x

@GoT1904 how you doing? Hoping things have progressed for you / you have your baby in your arms!x

Sorry for delayed reply. I'm a bit fed up. :(

21 hours into propess and cervix remains pretty closed but has thinned from 2cm to 1cm. Its just disheartening because I've been having pains and they've not done a whole lot. But I guess the effacement is good.

I will be getting examined again at 1.15am and then having a stronger 6 hour gel put in. So maybe that one will get me going a bit.

How are you? Xx

@GoT1904 oh bless you, seems like you're in it for the long haul at the moment doesnt it?! Have you now had some more progression?

I'm okay thank you, every bloody symptom of labour (back ache, clear out, slowly losing plug) but no actual contractions so it's driving me a little mad but there can't be much longer so I'll just keep doing what I'm doing and hoping for the best!

My best friend just had her little girl yesterday too so I'm even more desperate to go into labour so I can have that feeling 😂 x