Could this be the start?

[littleduck]

Hi everyone

I am 37+4 with my first baby. Was woken in the night on Tuesday night with very strong period type pains, stayed awake for an hour or so then got back to sleep. Was seeing GP on Wed morning anyway for a checkup (very random blood pressure readings!) and she found that the baby's head had dropped from 1/5 to 4/5 engaged so wondered if the period pains the night before had been the baby's head coming down.

Nothing much yesterday but had some more period type pains as going to sleep last night, OK in the night and then period pains more or less constantly for the last couple of hours. All very concentrated lower down, nothing further up the bump and I can't really tell if there's any tightening going on. No show, no sign of waters breaking, baby still quite active.

Could this be the start of it?

We are supposed to be driving down to the country to visit DP's dad tomorrow (2hr drive or so) and then to stay with my mum (1hr further) over Easter before heading back home on Mon which will probably be 2.5 - 3.5 hrs on a Bank Hol Mon.

I could kind of handle going into labour at my mum's but I am really uncomfortable with DP's dad and brother at the best of times and really don't want to risk things kicking off whilst I am there, apparently DP's dad is already fussing and worrying about the birth already and I just don't need to deal with all that on top of everything else. We do need to visit my mum though as she has a bunch of baby clothes for us and the moses basket etc which we need to collect for when baby arrives.

I don't know if I should stay here at home and just send DP to my mum's for all the stuff....... being a first timer I can't imagine much would happen in the 6 hrs it would take to do a round trip.... or if he could just make the trip as planned without me and I could call him if things look as if they are really getting going, there are people around who could get me to hosp if necessary in the meantime.

Sorry so long and sounding so neurotic, I just don't know what to do!

Any thoughts or advice really appreciated

Hi littleduck, i would say that is def you starting! oooh how exciting!

Is there any way your mum could make the trip to you, and stay with you while dp goes to visit his dad? that way you will have your mum with you when things start to quicken up?

I was in slow labour for 4 days with ds but i know alot of people who have had very quick labour even with their first. dp went to work the first day i had pains, and if he had to go anywhere then my mum came down to sit with me(and was there in delivery suite with me and dp) which i found very reassuring.

Hope this helps!!

Good luck with the birth!!

Tricky one, I'd probably advise to stay put, both my dcs arrived 2 weeks early. With my ds I had a midwife appointment when the twinges started and was told it was almost definitely just braxton hicks, 8 hours later I was sat holding my new little baby!

He was also VBAC, which is supposedly the same as a first vaginal delivery, I was only in the hospital 2 hours, delivery room half an hour before he shot out, so it won't necessarily take as long as you think.

Having said that I don't think I'm the norm, and so long as you're near to a hospital should things progress you'll probably be OK, although a long car journey won't be that comfortable for you anyway.

Good luck with all!

Littleduck You have time to make the decision about tomorrow. No need to make the decision yet (but do warn DP)

How do the period pains feel? If you weren't pregnant would they be something that would be bothering you?

Thanks for your replies

My mum can't manage the drive to come and see me here, her health isn't great and it would be too much for her - also there is too much stuff to fit in her little car!!

The period pains have eased off, I started packing bags for the hospital and have being doing a couple of bits round the house which may have either helped take my mind off it or stopped whatever was going on. I guess you would call them mild to middling strength pains, if not pregnant I might or might not have taken ibuprofen for them. Not severe that's for sure and not as bad as the ones that woke me the other night.

Have told DP who tried not to look slightly un-nerved!

There is a very nice midwife-led maternity hospital near my mum, with a big regional hospital also nearby which the mat hosp sends transfers to if things get complicated, so if I did end up giving birth whilst staying there it wouldn't be the end of the world.

Will keep you posted, any more thoughts most gratefully received

Littleduck That IS early labour, - but what you describe can annoyingly go on for a couple of weeks.

Anxiety hinders, and relaxed, happy hormones encourage.

Good luck.