Period type cramps in late pregnancy - trapped wind?

[flyingcloud]

I am 33.6wks pregnant (with DC2) and have been suffering from trapped wind since about 25 weeks on and off.

Yesterday I had what I thought was a recurrence (I have no idea what sets it off). I had severe cramping in my lower abdomen from about 4pm to midnight. We had a big get-together last night here at home so I took a cramping medication (given to me by my midwife) at about five and then a paracetamol at about six pm - neither of these made any difference. I drank some ginger and lemon tea but that didn't make much difference either. It finally abated when I went to bed at about 1am with a hot water-bottle on my back. The pain was constant but I had what felt like back contractions as it got worse throughout the evening.

I feel OK today - a bit tender, but no pain. Normally I wouldn't worry, but the fact that the pain was so low and severe (and constant) has slightly rattled me. It could just be trapped wind again, but last night was a really bad bout. Baby seems to be moving normally.

I am trying to get hold of my midwife at the moment, just to put my mind at rest.

Anyone with any experience of this?

Period pain like cramping could be things practicing or could be a sign of early labour. I'd ring MW just to chek they're ok with it. It probably is "just" wind, but it's worth getting it checked. I had a UTi that cause considerable pain, cramping and then contractions, that I put down to IBS to begin with, so, they might want to do urine dips etc.
I'm sure it's fine, but at least ring them and get it checked.

I had period pain about this 33/34 weeks not as painful as yours but consent so i knew it wasn't a contraction. I mentioned it to the midwife when i saw her next and she said probably 'things' moving for baby's head to engage

I feel your pain! i've had terrible trapped wind so bad it wakes me up at night and its got considerably worse in the last few weeks (am 39 weeks now).

Dont worry too much, wind has a habit of breaking eventually even after hours of discomfort. I find mine is much worse at night and i end up wandering about at silly hours to try and shift it by drinking gallons of gavisgon and stretching a bit. Ginger actually makes mine worse but eating yoghurt and having light frequent meals rather than huge dinners seems to help :)

Try peppermint/and or sucking mints. But do speak to midwife, just to be on the safe side.

Thanks for your replies.

I did manage to get hold of the mw and she said to go to the maternity unit if it continued or if I was worried. It is recurring more frequently in the form of period-type cramps and back-ache (yesterday afternoon and this morning). She thought it was contractions or pelvic pain and didn't seem that worried herself.

Feeling a bit miserable as I have soooo much to do and even the smallest effort is starting to wipe me out :(

If it was only related to me, it would be a simple case of mind over matter, but the fact that it is related to my baby makes me dwell on it so much that I don't know how much I am over-reacting.