Does baby still move/kick when labour starts?

[beanstalk]

I am 40 weeks today so this may all be in my head (wishful thinking!) but I have had quite strong period pain-type cramps for an hour or two. It is starting to take my breath away, and I have been having strong Braxton Hicks for several weeks so am used to twinges! I am of course hoping it might lead to the start of labour but the baby is kicking quite a lot still - I can't remember clearly from last time but I thought the baby tended to be more still when labour was beginning?

Yes, the baby still moves around, that is one of the things the MW might ask you when you phone the delivery unit. Sometimes it can be hard to tell with the contractions but I remember DD moving around a bit. Good luck!

yes, definately moves around

Hi - I almost posted this same thread a couple of weeks ago! Baby was kicking loads but was 4 days late. I did not remember any kicking with DS. I sort of assumed babies would go a bit quiet in prep for birth but DD arrived the next morning. I arrived at hospital a bit too early and decided to go home and the MW told me to come straight back in if the movement stopped.
Fingers crossed for you

Well annoyingly the cramps have lessened, so probably nothing happening. I am so desperate to have this baby soon it's making me really grumpy!! Thanks for the replies, here's hoping things get going over the next few days!

DD2 practically kicked her way out!! So that's a yes from me...

Hope things start up again soon, I was stop-start stop-start with both of mine, with DD1 I was on and off for nearly 3 days (most of it in the hospital, so excited was I to be in labour!!) and with DD2 I had contractions every evening for 4 or 5 days before it actually kicked off for real, but I was at home so I was much more relaxed and allowed to go at my own pace.

Have you had a show/mucus plug yet? Why not have a quick sh*g and see if you can get things going a bit....

Greenmonkies - did that last night!!! No show yet which I am checking for. I'm worse looking for signs of labour than I was symptom spotting when I first got pregnant!

Any news Beanstalk?

Little Gyo kicked her way out I think. She really went for it during labour and it was quite hard going as it really exacerbated my heartburn. Not sure if this is usual or not

If it makes any difference she was very squashed inside me and was nearly 11bs - reckon she was making space for herself!

Greenmonkies - no, nothing since Sunday so a complete false alarm. Baby is well positioned but not even engaged according to midwife today. I now have a sweep booked for Friday so am hoping that will help.