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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

oh feck - is this labour?

36 replies

Weegle · 17/12/2009 19:27

35 wks with identical twins - section booked for next Wed. It is crucial for the long term health of my pelvis (I have an arthritic condition called Ankylosing Spondylitis) that I don't have a vaginal birth.

Since early hours of this morning have had irregular, but getting increasingly painful braxton hicks. I had a scan this morning - all fine, nothing mentioned. Since about 5.30pm I have been having these braxton hicks/contractions about every 11-14 minutes, very intense with the pain radiating around my back and a lot of pressure pushing down.

No show, nothing else labour like.

It's very difficult for me to tell if the BH's are getting more painful - I am on bedrest with crippling pain in my pelvis anyway and doped up on co-codamol.

We are in the South East currently being pelted with snow (and we live effectively in the middle of a field at the moment with a quarter mile of dirt track to the lane)... maybe I am just panicking.

Wondering if I should a) ring the labour ward (but REALLY don't want to be told to come in unnecessarily due to childcare issue and pain in my pelvis) and b) ring the friend who is on standby to take DS to warn her in case things develop in the night (but don't want to 'cry wolf')...

Problem is with DS I didn't labour spontaneously (was induced and went straight to 3 min apart contractions and boy there was no mistaking them) and I had about 10 braxton hicks the whole pregnancy - so I really have nothing to compare to. Maybe I'm just having a mega braxton hicks day (had one, but not quite this bad, a few weeks ago).

Anyone with any reassurance or advice I would be grateful...

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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GhoulsAreLoud · 17/12/2009 19:29

Ring the labour ward.

Now.

EldonAve · 17/12/2009 19:30

ring them

PoppyIsApain · 17/12/2009 19:31

Agree with ghouls ring them now, good luck

Original poster
Weegle · 17/12/2009 19:49

feck, feck, feck - so you really think this might be labour? I'm not ready for this. And I don't want to put everyone through a nightmare evening if it's just the bloody braxton hicks playing up again

OP posts:
GhoulsAreLoud · 17/12/2009 19:50

Ring them.

The worst case scenario here is you giving birth vaginally by the sounds of it.

Even if you have a horrible evening for nothing it's not as bad as that happening.

norksinmychristmasstocking · 17/12/2009 19:53

Agree with ghouls last thing you want with bad AS is an unplanned unsupported birth of twins at 35 weeks, much better to be told it's nothing and have a disrupted evening.

Not everyone has show, waters go, etc in early labour sometimes happens much later.

Please get checked out

bumpybecky · 17/12/2009 19:54

Weegle, my Dad has the same condition as you. Now obviously he's never been through labour, but I know how serious it can get with AS.

Please call the labour ward. I know it's scary and I understand you don't want the hassle, but you really need to put your future health first over potentially crying wolf.

Hopefully it is a false alarm but please look after yourself xx

Original poster
Weegle · 17/12/2009 19:54

ok - DH has literally just gone out and DS has just been put to bed - will ring them when DH gets back in about 40 min (gone to get supplies in case we get snowed in, it really is pelting it down) - that amount of time won't be critical will it. Everything's been the same for the last 2.5 hours. Really not sure I'm capable of thinking straight with the co-codamol in my head

OP posts:
gingeme · 17/12/2009 19:55

Ring ring ring them now Good luck and keep us posted xx

sunshinejanuary · 17/12/2009 19:58

No harm in being prepared Weegle - ring your neighbour and the labour ward, then you will have a plan when DH gets back

bumpybecky · 17/12/2009 19:59

have you had plenty to drink today?

BH get a lot worse if you're dehydrated

Original poster
Weegle · 17/12/2009 20:07

that's a good point bumpybecky - haven't drank that much today. Thursdays are always hard with the hospital (am wheelchair bound) and I have only drunk about half of the huge jug by my bed (normally drink a full one by the time DH gets home from work)... will drink now until DH gets back and ring my friend to put her on alert...

I don't need this

Mentally I needed this last week to get my head together about these babies arriving - it's been such a nightmare pregnancy, I really don't feel ready

OP posts:
sunshinejanuary · 17/12/2009 20:10

Weegle, i am waiting for my first so can't comment on when if ever anyone feels ready (i am nearly 38 weeks and cannot ever imagine feeling ready!) however, you have done it once before and you have already managed to get through a difficult pregnancy to this stage - you are already a star! Trust yourself - you will cope.

Anyway, hopefully this is a false alarm right? ;)

MarshaBrady · 17/12/2009 20:14

Weegle I had no show or waters breaking both times, and just started labour with braxton hicks.

This time the contractions didn't feel bad enough for labour, yet I was very dilated when midwife arrived. And all this despite it being a second labour.

Sorry to scare you possibly, but I really think you should get checked out.

LizzyLordsALeaping · 17/12/2009 20:25

Echo everyone else, please ring the Labour ward.
I had no show/broken waters with either baby, and very different intensity of contractions. DS1 I was in agony from the get go, DS2 I was fine until just before birth.
NOt wanting to scare you, I also had to walk up a very steep hill whilst in labour with DS2 to get to our car on the main road (here DH had had to abandon it) as we were snowed in.
So much better to be prepared, if it BH, then what is the harm in going in? Noone will mind.
Take care and good luck.

Original poster
Weegle · 17/12/2009 20:42

Ok - they are sending a community midwife around to check me out an decide what to do - am so relieved they haven't straight off said I need to go in given it's 40 minutes away without snow!

Thanks all for making me ring - you're right I lose nothing by being checked out.

OP posts:
sunshinejanuary · 17/12/2009 20:45

Good luck Weegle - i will be checking in tomorrow!

bumpybecky · 17/12/2009 21:00

good stuff

hopefully she'll give you the all clear and you can put your mind at rest a bit

I know exactly what you mean about needing time to get your head together. Perhaps that needs to move up your to do list a bit though?! top priority for tomorrow (assuming your're not in labour).

EldonAve · 17/12/2009 21:02

Good luck
Glad to hear they are sending a MW to you

FourArms · 17/12/2009 21:10

Good luck Hope you get the extra weeks respite and thinking time though.

DwayneDibbley · 17/12/2009 21:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

LizzyLordsALeaping · 17/12/2009 21:30

Hope all is OK with you, Weegle, glad that a MW is coming round.
Sorry for my appalling typing on my last post! Cheap laptop with sticky keys!

Sincerely hoping that you get your extra week.

MarshaBrady · 17/12/2009 21:33

Good luck Weegle I hope it goes well. So glad you called they won't mind at all.

sunshinejanuary · 18/12/2009 08:52

Hi Weegle, any news for us?

FabIsGettingReadyForXmas · 18/12/2009 09:00

Hi weegle.

Only just seen this.

What is happening?