Constipation or labour?

[PermaShattered]

Hi all, advice/experiences please! I'm 39+4 days with my 4th and had niggles for days. My bowels were relatively loose on Tues and Wed this week which I understand is a sign of the body preparing for labour. But since yesterday I feel completely constipated, so much pain down there!

Could it be early labour instead? Never experienced it with my others.....

Could be! I kept going to the loo with my 1st as I was sure I needed it due to the pains . . .apparently they were contractions and I gave myself some impressive bruising! Keep an eye on them and time . . . good luck if it is:)

Oh bizarre I had just come on to see if I could find a thread on this! I am 39+5 and the last two nights I have had pains which remind me of constipation or trapped wind. They don't stop and start like contractions though, I wake up sore and then it calms down to a dull ache.

It only happened once last night and nothing at all during the day!
With my first labour I went straight into full blown contractions so have never experienced 'twinges' Perhaps this is just baby pressing down on my innards!

I had what I though was constipation with my first. Took my mum, who was 250 miles away, to figure out over the phone that it was labour!
Keep am eye out for other symptoms and give your midwife a rung if your still unsure.

tothesea I'll race you to the finishing line! I've had that much discomfort tonight with it! Hopefully I AM in labour! (That said, I'm too tired, want to go to bed and sleeeeeeep!).

I've not had pains like this but then again, all my labours so far (3) have been so different!

Ha yes the first night I was thinking on no please don't be labour yet -I need to sleep first! Perma I think you will beat me as I have no other pains or signs Good luck!!!

Well, it's 04.20 and I've been awake most of the pain with pain and discomfort. Hope I give birth today (Sat) to make the sleepless worth it!

Ooh Perma I hope you are in labour now. I had no pains at all last night. DS was 16 days late, I really hope this one not as late.

Well it WAS labour and I had an amazing waterbirth and an even more amazingly gorgeous baby boy on Saturday afternoon! How are you all doing?

Oh Congratulations! That is brilliant news. Sounds like it all went well.
I am still having the pains but pretty sure they are bowel rather than labour related! Seeing MW today and will ask for sweep.
Glad to hear you had a good waterbirth, that is what I would like too. Even more than that just want to meet my wee boy!

tothesea i shall keep watching this space! Yes, went better than I could ever have dreamed. If you get the chance for a waterbirth - go for it!