Does this sound like labour? constant pain rather than coming and going

[JamesAndTheGiantBanana]

40+3 with dc2, been having tightenings since 10pm last night, this afternoon getting a bit more painful but the grumbly period pain like sensation is constant rather than coming with the tightenings (it just gets much more intense when a contraction comes)

I can't remember if I had this in early labour with my first baby, I'm sure it all just came and went with nothing inbetween - anybody experienced this, and was it real labour or just part of braxton hicks, or several days of pre-labour? I've been to the loo so it's definitely not anything bowel related! Thanks

sounds like it could be - my early labour with DC1 was very much like that, it took a good few hours of period-like cramps and tightenings before it was painful enough for me to really think it was definitely labour.

Probably not what you want to hear, but my NCT teacher was saying 2nd labours can often niggle for quite a while before getting going, sometimes a few days! But once you're in established labour it tends to be quicker. I'm 37 weeks with no.2 so I feel your pain! Good luck, hope it gets going!

is your bump going soft at all between contractions/pains etc...

the period pain thing can be an indicator of things starting, i think as long as contraction type pain is not contstant, it is ok, you can always call labour ward for advice...

SqueezyB I had three days of niggly build up with dc1, I thought I might not get some many niggles with it being my second but I'm probably wrong!

Lulu, the contractions themselves aren't constant, bump's definitely softening between tightenings, it's just the achy pain that isn't going away and has me confused.

sounds ok then.. as long as bump is not constantly hard and tensed. hope this is it !