Am I in labour?

[NatiBarden97]

Hi All,

Just looking for some advice. I'm 41+2 at the moment.

I was fitted with the balloon catheter on Friday at around 5pm and had a sweep beforehand. Within about half an hour I started with strong period pains which come around every 5 minutes lasting a minute. I called the hospital and they said it was likely due to the balloon and to call if it gets much worse or my waters break.

Fast forward to 12 o'clock on Saturday and the balloon fell out. Went to hospital to be checked, wasn't told if I was anymore dilated but sent home as there were no beds on the labour ward and to wait for a phone call to go back in and have my waters broken.

This morning my contractions/tightenings seem to have gotten more painful but no more regular. I don't think waters have broken but have been having a lot more discharge. Going to call the hospital this afternoon if I still haven't heard but is this classed as labour? The midwife suggested yesterday that it wasn't but I'm starting to struggle with the pains now and paracetamol isn't touching it.

Thanks guys 🙂

It sounds like the start, but in my experience unless the waters go in a big way or contractions are less than 5mins apart, no, it doesn’t count.

Try to sleep, if you can! Rest at least. I experienced what you are describing about 30hrs before actually giving birth but was so convinced it was imminent, I was on high alert. Sleep would have been much more useful.

Have a bath if you can bear it, will help with the pain

Good luck

Oooh, yes, if you can't sleep have a bath and watch/ listen to something that will make you laugh.

Thanks ladies.

I called the hospital a couple of hours ago because it's getting more painful and basically because I'm part of the amethyst team and there's no one on shift from that team, I have to wait for the night team before I can go back for my waters breaking so looking at about 9 o'clock tonight 😭 this is going to be a long day

I'm sorry. Try to distract yourself as much as you possibly can. Try to relax as much as you can. Sending virtual support!

@NatiBarden97 How are things?

I went into hospital at about half 8 last night and had waters broken.

Still here. Managed to get to 7cm without assistance but now I'm on the drip to try and speed things up. Hopefully it won't be too much longer now 😔 Had the epidural at around 4am so pain management is fine at the minute apart from my hip as I haven't moved off the bed since around half 9 last night so I've ceased up and unable to walk around 😫