39 weeks, sudden crampy pains bearing down on cervix

[FiveBells]

I've been experiencing these pains the last week or two, my obstetrician says its downward pressure on my cervix, pending the whole getting-ready-to-birth thing. Has anyone experienced these, and how did you alleviate them? They come on sharply and can wake me up from a deep sleep! At least it seems to be absolving me of any household responsibilities

Can't really offer any advice Fivebells but I'm nearly 39 wks and experiencing similar. So I know how you feel. Sorry I know that doesn't help much.

Same here - I don't think there is anything much you can do, it's just the baby headbanging your cervix in search of the way out.

Painful, aren't they?

They are the only thing that gets me sympathetic (or perhaps panicked?) looks from DH, but we are on baby no.3 so not much TLC around...

I've been timing them because I was worried they might be contractions! I know they're headbuts, they're not regular and not like the contractions I had last birth. They're not fun, though!

Hope you get some relief soon. When's your due date?