Advice please! Period type pains at 32 weeks! Keep thinking going into labour but not!

[pregnantmimi]

Hi for the last few weeks been getting period type pains in lower belly very low down but the other night was hign up in belly.

Woke my partner up in the middle of the night fist time it happened and said I thought I was going into labour!

Decided to pack hospital bag the next day and called my midwife whos lovely who just said "oh normal dont worry will get pains like that around this stage its not labour".

Anyone else had this and what helps with it other than lying down all the time which is all I seem to be doing at the moment! Dont like to take painkillers unless have to and wondered if anyone had any method that helped tryed baths but tummy doesnt go under the water too big now and rolling round too uncomfortable! Like a hippo lol

I have had terrible BH in both my pregnancies, but they really frightened me in the first. I found that it helped to slow down and do less, keep well hydrated and eating lots of fibre, and my bladder and bowels empty as often as possible. Hot water bottle per my back also helped.

If the pains become regular and don't stop when you rest, do have them checked out, just to make sure you are not going into premature labour.

Thanks the realMBG taken your advice and its helped I think slowing down and accepting I cant do much has made me feel a bit better plus tryed apricots to help clear bowels out and find baths help. Finding it uncomfortable been in tears tonight cause feel frustrated like Im on my own and no one is helping me. My husband is abroad now till the birth and friends seem to bother less when I cant get to them. Thanks for mumsnet for keeping me company!

Do feel for you! I'm currently 38wks with my 4th and last time and this have had a v long latent stage of labour from around 35wks! For me sadly my bod doesn't seem to work the same as others as with the painful and regular BH's I've been getting on and off, they DON'T go when I change position, drink water, eat, rest etc..! V v frustrating as will prob leave it too late again and get to hospital just in time before I give birth as never know when to trust I'm actually in labour!! Good luck and hope your remaining time doesn't drag. Just try and focus on around the time you'll become full-term (frm 37-38wks) as you don't want baby putting in an appearance just yet, and keep an open mind without getting too hung up on your "due date" (which let's face it could be any time between 37-42wks! :() I know this is easier said than done though!

twogirlsplusone I was in the car driving and breathing deeply with my pains and thinking Im prob not even going to know when I have gone into labour how do I know Im not in it now! That was just what was in my mind and I thought what should I do obviously wasnt as baby not here yet I not been in labour so thinking it must be much worse?

Labour's a hard one to describe to be honest, (even after 3 already and soon to be 4!) as we all have different pain thresholds. Can be harder to work it out with your 1st but in my experience it's got more difficult each time as I was induced 10 days late with my 1st so it went from nothing to v extreme v quickly and I was in hospital and being watched closely. With my 2nd I had no twinges or Braxton Hicks at all until my due date then I luckily had the text book labour that started, progressed and I kinda knew as hadn't had anything like it til then. Last time and this time I've had many many signs that labour isn't far off but my contractions haven't taken hold and continued past a couple of hours! :(
Are your pains either side low down mainly (or both sides?) Sounds like ligament pain as that can be quite intense at times. Try some different relaxation techniques as getting stressed won't help you. I've had periods of ligament pain in the past on and off that have gone after a few days so hope that's all it is and the same is the case for you! Take care :)

two girls1more thanks for post the pain is very low down like stabbing pains sometimes and achy the rest of the day worse at night decided to do very little now and rest up till the birth will check on wednesday all ok got hospital appointment. Feet and hands swelled up lot more. It could be ligament pain as notice it more when walk.xx

hope you're feeling a bit better this evening, I had almost permanent burning type sensation in late pregnancy with my DS, which was ligament pain and drove me mad some nights because it just wouldn't ease off. Resting and hot water bottles seem to help as well as finding that elusive comfy position :) Got another on the way at the moment so about to go through it all again.....xx

Glad you have hospital appointment as always good to get these things checked and/or dealt with. Take care and hope it eases for you soon xx

Hi has scan today and checked with midwife she says its normal and its not contractions or they wouldnt go off was in bed in pain was on the phone and freidn said to me you sound like your in pain. I then thought I should count when it went off then it went off and didnt come back till next day!

It is confusing thou I do wonder if I know when Im in labour read up on it so will watch for waters breaking and mucus plug.

The scan I had today Im 32 weeks is measuring the baby at 34 week and hes 4 pounds 13 0z. I dont know if that means Im going to be early but my due date still 22nd december. My sister was early with hers dont know if that makes any difference dont want to yet thou in the house alone till end november:(