Am I in early labor?

[sunshine240778474]

I am 39 +1 pregnant. I have been having period-like cramps on and off for the past week. Now they have been consistent for the last 14 hours.
I have discomfort in my lower back and pain in my leg every so often. I also feel sick with the cramps at times. I have been moving my bowels very regularly. I don't think I am having contractions. My stomach tightens every so often, but it's not painful just uncomfortable.

Also, my mucus plug started to come away a few days ago.

Could this be early labour?
This is my first pregnancy and don't know what to expect.

Thank you

Yes 🙂

Definitely! Stay upright and put something light hearted on to keep the oxytocin flowing

Thank you.

You are definitely in the early stages of labour. good luck.

Sounds like it yes

Sounds like it to me 😊
Good luck!

Thank you. It just seems to start and stop. I guess it's just a waiting game. In your experience how long after you had those symptoms did you have baby?

Get bouncing on your ball

Yey how exciting!

It might be a good time to get a contraction tracking app (loads of free ones) so you can see how the pains are ramping up.

Thank you 😊

Yes !!! All the best OP.

I'm 40+4, and I've had no symptoms. No period pains, no contractions, nothing. Huge surprise I was 2cm at my stretch and sweep on Thurs! Lost my mucus plug yesterday but still no pains or other signs anything is progressing. Just had a 3 hour walk to try get him moving 😅.

Hope things get going and he arrives before his eviction date next week! Hope your little one is also on the way :)

You asked about timings.
With my first I woke in the early hours with what I thought was stomach ache ( I was already a week past due date but a bit in denial)
GP sent me to hospital that morning and baby born at 6 45pm.

It’s not early….!
I went into labour at 39+1 and DD was fully cooked!

good luck

I think op means the early stages, not premature labour?

Definitely get a contraction timer app. if it's you're first it might take a while. My first took 24 hours and my second 8 ish

Yay! Pop on some tunes, and make sure there’s a clear kitchen side to hold a bit later 👏 Good luckkkkkk x

How are you doing @sunshine240778474

Thank you everyone. The cramps settles this morning, but came back again in the evening and seem to be worse now. I don't think they are contractions yet. It's my first pregnancy so I'm not sure what to expect or what is happening. Thank you everyone for your advice

At what stage should I call the midwife? I live 1 hour from the hospital?

Are you timing them? Once you are having 3 contractions in 10 minutes they advise you to call.

I was told to call when I get contractions every 5 minutes, lasting one minute, for an hour. But I have some extra factors such as GBS to contend with!

I was told every 5 mn.

How are things @sunshine240778474?

I woke up at 6am with awful diarrhoea, midwife came for home visit at 11.30 said probably early labour but could take a couple of days - he was born at 16.40 that day. Went from 0-100 in about 2 hours. Good luck, hope it’s the start for you.