help!! am I in labour ??

[poppy34]

know its a daft question but need some help ..

having contractions -they're not that bad at minute (more like worst kind of period pain) but seem to be coming fairly regularly (under a minute about 20 minutes apart).

Also not sure if waters broken.. basically it was a bit like I'd wet myself (sorry if tmi ) so some water on towel me/but not a great gush iyswim. Am I just incontinent or is this a sign?

I thought this was supposed to be more obvious....

Pop a sanitary towel in your knickers so you can monitor the fluid. If sweet smelling and straw coloured could be waters. Have you had a show?
Take a couple of paracetomol for the periody pains and perhaps call midwife to see what she says. You could be in early labour, wth a long time to go, so best to relax and try and think about other things. Easier said than done, but a good thing....

could be early labour, could be a practice run. In any case, if cx are 20 mins apart no need to do anything yet (unless your waters have properly broken - check and if so ring the mw/hospital for advice, they might want you to go in).

I've heard that waters can go in a trickle as well as a gush, so it could have been your waters going. Put on a maternity pad and monitor!

Hopefully someone will be along soon who's actually had a baby Good luck, poppy!

oh and I had them at about 15 mins apart (like yousaid, more like period pains than labour) for about a day before having DS. The actual labout was pretty quick, so here's hoping you have a similar experience!

thanks guys - guessed its very early (wasn't

pooka - have taken your advice re pads..thank god you said straw coloured as was worried [although goodness knows why as who knows what dd has been up to it so was always unlikely to be the clear they say in books !!)

When my waters went, it was kind of in small amounts at a time, esp if I sat on the loo. In the end I caught some in a pint glass and it was straw coloured with tiny white bits in it - I was trying to persuade myself that my waters hadn't gone as I was only 35 weeks.

Try and get some sleep for now !

thanks- now have stemmed flow ...am up on sofa (suitably padded!) and chiling out. perfect excuse for rest/daytime tv I think

If you sit on your birth ball, on top of a towel and wiggle your hips you'll help release more of the fluid (if you want).

This is also a good position for progressing things!

You most likely have a very long time to go, but double check your hospital bag and re-read the TENS instructions if you have one!

Oh, and eat and drink!

thanks chickenwoman- tens machine in front of me ready... am being obedient as I think its meant to be most effective if you put it on good and early

Yes you're supposed to put it on early. Do this and as many things you can think of to get your endorphines flowing (perhaps a massage or a comedy), and relax!

Excitement and aprehension are normal, but counter-productive iykwim, - so try to avoid them!

get some rest. I was in labour for 48 hours. contx 10 mins apart for 45 hours. Was all excited the first day, timing them seeing if i was progressing, back and forth to hospital to check if waters had broken. By the end I was absolutely knackered and couldn't push efficientlly so it took even longer. THEN, I had a bloody baby to look after ! 5 mths later and i still havent had more than 2 hours sleep in one go to catch up from that marathon labour.
Sorry for the long post - but when people say GET SOME REST. YOU MUST GET SOME.

To back up cosima, get as much rest as you can, would be ideal if you could get a little nap in or something. I know you'll be very excited but cosima is right, you'll have years of no sleep so get it done now. When I started contractions, I went into a panic that I wasn't ready (although 6 days over) so got the iron out, re-checked hospital bag, hoovered and wish now I'd just stayed in bed!

Yes - rest and relax and eat. When I was in the later stages of labour I was sooooo tired I remember wishing and wishing I had chilled out more and maybe snoozed in early labour. And eat plenty. Get a pizza delivered or something.

how are you now Poppy?

is your partner with you? if so, some smooching will help the endorphins flow nicely.

I'm sure Lulu wil be here shortly, i'll get the kettl;e on.

oh this is exciting! Take it very easy poppy! Get your dh/dp to come home early with some nice food and chocolate. Have a lovely bubble bath and make the most of your last child free hours

Good luck x

you could always try some nice clary sage in your bath, and a nice massage as suggested.

I agree get dp to come home and relax together. x

Well I guess her labour has gone faster than we all expected!?

Good for her!