I'm a second time Mum, it's my fourth pregnancy sadly lost 2 pregnancies last year but this is the second one to make it this far. 37 weeks plus 4 days today. Have a 7 year old at home.
It's become clear to me and my maternity team that I suffer with an irritable uterus. I have had to go into hospital numerous times over the last few weeks for false starts/painful braxton hicks. I would try having a drink and lying down all the usual advice but they wouldn't budge and would get stronger. Before I was full term I was more worried because of the risk of preterm labour. The last one was about 34 weeks I think? Then I had a few uneventful weeks and felt half normal! I had similar with my daughter- lots of false alarms but I was in a bad relationship at the time which I think probably didn't help me to labour properly.
Wednesday evening I noticed I had started to loose my plug.Thursday evening after a day with my daughter pottering about town and doing general half term stuff, I started having the pains and tightenings again. This was at 37 plus 1. I was having pressure in my bum too which I hadn't experienced before- which made me think stuff was happening rather than pointless pains. The midwife that assessed me had seen me a few times prior and was absolutely wonderful and she said I had started to dilate to a good cm. Sounded like almost 2 and my cervix had started to shorten too and things looked like they were moving in the right direction. She gave me a sweep too. They said to get childcare for my daughter over the next few days because it very well might be soon. I was not expecting this because my daughter was 10 days overdue! But I know second time and subsequent babies can be much quicker. So we got a friend to stay with us for a few days just incase.
I went for a big walk on Friday with my other half, our friend and my 7 year old. Including up parts of a massive hill to encourage things to move forward. Lost small bits of plug that day. Came home had irregular twinges and niggles nothing too significant. Then I woke up in the night and had more again but nothing too noticeable.
Friend and partner took 7 year old out to swimming on Sat morning, I decided to try the ball- and listening to music mucking around. I was trying to cheer myself up a bit they started again, but this time they got stronger to a point where I was breathing fairly heavy. In total almost 3 hours before I rung the ward- again. Got assessed she said not much changes to my cervix but she could feel my bag of waters and baby's head.
She gave me another sweep. Strong contractions tailed off.
That evening I lost a big bit of mucus plug with brown bits lucky I was wearing a maternity pad. Some contractions/pains/tightenings but nothing significant in night again. Managed a bit of sleep.
Woke up properly at half 9 this morning to mild twinges, then slowly over the course of the day they got worse and worse and weren't stopping. 2PM I called the hospital thinking this must be it! They were regular too lasting well over a minute every 2 mins on my app when I was timing them.
Came home again from hospital a few hours ago and was told to take paracetamol no changes to my cervix. Was told however that our baby is back to back- and have read that this can stall things progressing. I know I'm only 37 odd weeks so induction is not an option atm. But I really can't go on keep having all these pains and tightenings. At least want them at a level that I can function half normally so when the big day comes I'm not absolutely exhausted. I'm more than happy to go to.my due date pregnant- but getting emotionally and physically exhausted because of the pains and tightenings and lack of progression.
When I had my eldest daughter I genuinely didn't know I was in labour because the pain I had been experiencing weeks prior was identical. Now I know I have an irritable uterus. So I'm really struggling to recognise when I need to go- feel a nuisance and not trying to be, again waited 6 hours today before contacting team and going in.
Am I in latent labour? Or irritable uterus playing up? In my notes it says babies head is 4/5 palpable? So can they feel 4/5s of her head?I am having enormous pressure in my pelvis.
I'm drinking loads, eating plenty when I'm.not in too much pain. I'm doing all the things I'm being told to do. I'm waiting for them to get stronger and regular I'm pretty convinced they are and then nothing.
On the bright side I've seen a few times that if latent labour goes on a while etc she does come it will be quick- so hoping that's my silver lining. Hospital is only round the corner so can get there quite fast.
Anyone here suffer from an irritable uterus too, I've tried everything. Feel like I should stay at home until I'm pushing! I've done hypnobirthing which is helping loads when they are stronger pains.