Am I in Labour?

[IceCube]

First pregnancy so no idea what early labour feels like but I am 38 weeks so could this be "it".Basically my bump keeps tightening up around the top.

Started noticing it last night at about 8pm, but had a bath and got to sleep as per usual at about 10pm. From waking up as normal this morning I have been feeling the tightenings every 20 mins and although they are not painful at all I have had the odd cramp.

I'm trying to decide whether tonight should be spent in the pub meeting up with some friends as was the plan or filling the birth pool etc ready for my planned home birth!

It sounds like braxton hicks to me. However if they keep on being regular and painful it may be time to fill that pool!

it may be BH practice contractions if they don't hurt and the bath slowed them.
it could be a slow build up to the real thing, you will have to wait a while and see what happens.

Well it could be. But it could also be Braxton Hicks! If it is labour, then it's likely to be very early on and as this stage can go on for a while the best thing to do is try and carry on as normal. You will know if the contactions start to get stronger and more intense that it's time to think about the birth pool, but for now I'd plan to meet your friends.

Sounds like you're definitely warming up for labour, but you may have a good while to go yet. Painless tightenings 20 mins apart aren't labour - yet - but you are right to think that labour 'proper' could start from any time now.

Try not to focus on those tightenings until they make it impossible not to, iyswim? Eat, drink, rest, just carry on as normal. Go to the pub if you want to - and I wouldn't bother filling the pool for a good while yet!

Early labour like this can go on for several days. Regular (a few minutes apart), painful contractions that you can't ignore mean you need to call the mw (or waters breaking, bleeding etc)

Good luck - have a lovely watebirth and a good night out tonight

My BH were very painful and I couldn't breathe with them, and they started at about 38 weeks. but it sounds to me like you are in pre labour, esp if they're coming and going. Pre labour can last weeks as your cervix ripens and effaces, so take it easy. Snaf's advice is great.

Best of luck with it all

Weeks

Thanks for all the lovely comments, will assume I am off out tonight and see how things go when it comes to trying to get to sleep tonight.

Next decision will be whether DH goes to London this week, he is supposed to be leading part of a training seminar on Tues so would really be letting them down if he can't make it. Tough though I suppose if there's a good chance of him missing our first birth.

dp had to go to a seminar on the day before my due date, he went but he knew he could be back in 2 hours so i promised to phone him if anything serious started to happen.
london may be a bit different, depends where you live and how quick he could get back?