Triage or overthinking ?

[BabyHowardx]

So basically I’m 35+4 weeks pregnant and my baby has definitely dropped today. I started to get period like pains at around 14:20 and then I began to get backache an hour after that. I’ve had persistent backache and period like pains for a couple hours and I’m unsure if it’s just because baby’s dropped or if it’s time to call triage to get things checked as I don’t think I’m having contractions as the potential tightening feels nothing like the braxton hicks I’ve been having.
Should I ring triage to be on the safe side or are these just normal baby dropping symptoms ?

I don’t remember any of my three babies dropping particularly, but I would absolutely have that checked. It might be nothing, but not worth the risk. Are you feeling the baby moving normally?

@EarlGreywithLemonI only noticed her drop because I suddenly started getting pains and pressures and when I went to check my bump in the mirror, you could absolutely tell my belly was lower and I can suddenly walk upstairs easier. Her movements seem absolutely fine still however they are more in my belly now rather than in my ribs like they were xx

Great that she’s moving normally.

Hopefully it’s nothing, but personally I’d want to be sure so I’d go down. I think better safe than sorry, especially in the third trimester.

@EarlGreywithLemon Yeah you’re absolutely right. I just didn’t want to be overthinking and it be completely normal but it’s been persistent for around 4 hours now so I feel it’s a good time to call triage xx

Very best of luck. Hope all’s well and that they can reassure you quickly. Xx

Definitely call triage! I went into labour at work at 34 weeks. I was in deep denial as the contractions didn't seem that painful. I didn't want to seem like I was making a fuss so want to call triage. Basically got frogmarched from work to triage (I work in the hospital) and I was contracting 6 in 10 and waters broke 15 minutes after arriving! Let us know how you get on x

It could be early stages of labour. My early contractions were just like period pain. Nothing like the Braxton Hicks tightening .
I would phone the number the midwife/hospital gave you and ask for advice

@Pinty@Tiredb - Thank you both! I have rung triage and was told to have paracetamol and a warm bath! If the pains still there after those things I need to call them back - it’s very difficult as a ftm to be able to tell if it’s labor or normal haha!
Tiredb - that’s so crazy that your waters broke just after arriving at the hospital! Nothing seems to be coming out or anything, just seems to be these pains which feel different to the pains I’ve had before
Pinty - My MIL said the same as you, that early contractions are very period pain like but I just can’t tell if I’m overthinking it or not 😅 We will soon find out I suppose! xx

It could also be due to a UTI x

@gigglygrace - Definitely no UTI, my pee was checked not too long ago and it doesn’t burn to wee or anything like that x

Also be aware, I did initially phone triage when I was in labour and was told I "probably just have a bug" when I called at 34 weeks. You should have seen the midwifes face when I turned up there and she put me on the monitor, saw my contractions, and then my waters broke!

If you feel something isn't right please phone again and ask to be checked

@Tiredb Honestly 🙄 I think they sometimes do like to ignore women when they’re trying to tell them something isn’t right. I’m going to give the paracetamol a bit of time to work just in case but the bath is doing absolutely nothing ! Bless you - did you have any other symptoms other than period like pains before your waters broke? xx

This is funny in a way because I’ve posted the exact same thing on the pregnancy board this evening. I’m also 35 weeks and for the past few evenings I’ve had mild but fairly constant period cramps for an hour or so, which have then gone away. This evening they’ve been coming and going for the past couple of hours. Not “tightening”, nothing I can count per se, but just very much feels like I’m about to get my period. I’m not sure whether to call them or not either!

@Attheyard What a coincidence! I would ring just to be on the safe side as I am now in triage about to be monitored to see if it is anything or nothing ! I’m definitely getting period like pains now which I was unsure of to begin with so they are getting worse - I would definitely call to see what they say and then see if they make you come down for a monitor xx

Thanks for the kick up the bum. I called them and I’ll head in to get checked. I think it’s very unlikely anything is wrong, suspect they probably will have stopped by the time I get there which will be highly embarrassing. Keep us posted on how you get on! Fingers crossed everything is ok with you and baba.

@Attheyard I also think it’s unlikely something will be wrong with my baby and I had the same thought as you - it be embarrassing if nothing was wrong but in a way that’s always better than something being wrong ! Keep me posted on you too lovely! xx