"Period pain" at 32 weeks

[LoveInAColdClimate]

I'm getting lots of period-type cramps, which are worse when I'm standing up and tend to go away if I lie down. Are these Braxton Hicks or something I ought to be mentioning to the midwife? I suspect this is totally normal but just thought I would refer it to the wise ladies of MN. Thanks.

Probably nothing cos they stop if you're resting, but call the m/w. That's what they're there for...... I went in with a heavy bruised periody feeling at 32 wks and was 2cm dilated!

Oh bugger, the hospital have just said to keep an eye on it and if it gets worse to go in. I was convinced they would just say it was Braxton Hicks and to stop being a baby! FX that they stop, I do not fancy triage in a Friday night when I'm knackered (or, obviously, a premature baby).

Thanks for your help, lostlenore - did they manage to stop your labour?

I've been getting them since 34 week, now 40 weeks on Sunday. I got excited thinking the baby would come early, no such luck.

How is everything? Calmed down any?

Nopes, my dd was born 32+5, but was pretty enormous for her dates and I had the steroid injections which I think helped a lot.

I hope your pain has gone. Have you had BH as well? I had what I presume were BH (but they hurt) for a good three weeks before I went into hospital....

Oh my god, I'm 33 weeks and was getting periody type aches all of last week...I thought it was due to pants digging in!!!

Ok at the mo, just think I'll keep a little eye on it now though. Baby cant come yet, my pram hasn't arrived!

Haha, I feel the same, MrsRV, only it's our car seat that hasn't arrived, despite being promised by the shop for November .

Still got the cramps but no worse. I do wonder if they are some kind of painful BHs, as I haven't had the kind everyone talks about with a hard bump but no pain. Thanks for checking up, LostLenore - glad your DD was ok. I think I'll call my usual midwife on Monday and see what she thinks, rather than just triage. Thank you.

Good luck with m/w tomorrow then, think it's probably best if you go in and get someone to take a look, just in case. My BH felt like someone was pulling a rubber sheet really tight round my belly, and sometimes would leave me bent over leaning on something trying to catch my breath.

I went into labour two days after we got her cot, so not sure if it was that or the Wagamamas :o

I have had nothing like that at all, LostLenore, just these period-like cramps. They're not awful, I haven't been reaching for the paracetamol - they really do feel just like I have my period. I'll call the midwife tomorrow.

Our cot arrived this week and I built it yesterday, but made the disturbing discovery that our bed is a bit high to fix it to (it's a sidecar cot), so the baby can't arrive until I have worked out a practical way around this!

I had exactly that around 34 weeks, went to hospital and got checked, told to rest, they went away and nothing developed, baby came two weeks late!

Thanks, ladyparking, very reassuring (except that I am secretly hoping he will rock up at about 37 weeks and I can stop being pregnant ). I don't feel like anything is massively wrong, but I should probably get it checked out tomorrow just to be safe. Thanks.

Just a thought, but having been admitted to hospital at 31wks with ultimatly contractions being cause by and what I knew was IBS pains, causing period pains, could it be constipation/UTI causing he crampings?! Lucky me, I had both...
Currently 40+4. Won't re-tell the whole story, but please don't ignore rhythmic pains, or assume that a even being a little bunged up won't cause havoc.

I'm 32 weeks and have had the exact same thing for a few days now. Just low level period pains. I know this baby is very low and head down so tbh I'm putting it down to that. As soon as I get any real pains I will call the midwife to be on the safe side but for me, I remember them from this stage in my last pregnancy which went overdue, so I'm not overly concerned. Interestingly, I had a very short, easy labour then, and I know from sweeps that I was already 3cms for a few weeks before labour even began, so I do think maybe it's just things getting prepared, but nothing sinister.

my period-type pains resulted in a late trip to the hospital. not painful, but stubborn. 4cm by then. dd was born at 24+1.
don't ignore, just get it checked out.

Could be a UTI, I also had period pains at 32 weeks and no other symptoms but it was a UTI.

Thanks, everyone. I don't think it's constipation, and it doesn't "feel" like a UTI, although I have noticed that when I've been for a wee recently it doesn't necessarily feel like I'm "finished" but no more comes out (sorry for TMI) so I suppose it's a possibility.

Do you think it's ok to wait until tomorrow to see midwife or should I call triage just in case it is something sinister?

FX it is just my body preparing for my pain-free four hour birth at 37 weeks .

I'd give them a ring. The worst they can do is give you the "hysterical mum" talk.

Its BOUND to be that, think positive :) but you could go in to your nearest hospital for an examination just to reassure you if nothing else.

Gave Triage a call and they said to take a paracetamol and if that doesn't stop it to pop in. Oh dear, am clearly going to spend my Sunday night waiting four hours to be told I have trapped wind or something . Thanks, everyone.

Agreed with Triage that I can go in in the morning rather than tonight, unless the cramps get worse or I think my waters have broken.

I'm sure it's nothing, but just on the off chance that the baby is attempting to put in an early appearance, what will happen? I assume the hospital will try to stop labour? If they can't, I assume my birth centre water birth is out of the question and it will be all very medicalised and followed by SCBU?

But sure all is fine...

Yes, if born at 31wks baby will be put in SCBU, though it may not be for as long as you think. Lungs are their no1 concern, followed by infection and feeding (babies don't have a suck reflex developed at 32wks). You'll probably be given steroids to develop baby's lungs (consisting of 2 injections, I know there's a set time apart, I think for me it was 12h, not sure waht happens if LOs born before then, I assume steroids are administered direct to LO thoguh can't tell you how). They'll monitor you, and yes, will try and stop contractions if they feel they have to, though despite my contractions, my waters hadn't gone, so they didn't try with me.
No nice water birth I'm afraid, but if it's any comfort, premes are usally 'easy' to birth (apparently - MW told this to try and give comfort "they just slip out"), if they don't section because LO's distressed (which LO might not be).
Hopefully someone that's been through it all will be along.
I know the lady in the bed next to me's waters had gone and she was having infrequent bouts of contractions but was allowed home (before me!). She had a UTI, so, well, just because all of the above MIGHT happen, it doens't always mean a preme baby. I listened to what they were telling her about SCBU. If waters do go, or there's any evidence of infection, be prepared to take antibiotics, and possibly a "large" amount for a long time (I was on them for 14days).
Other than that, it will totally depend on what's happening with you and your LO. I knew my LO was staying put, despite the steroids and not wanting to let me out of delivery until my heartrate, LO's heartrate went down and the contractions were less strong.
Please don't be worried to call an ambulance if the pains/tightenings become rhythmical or worse and you're worried. DH and I tried to get to hospital ourselves, but I was in so much pain from the UTI, that wasn't going to happen as DH was so distracted and the roads were so busy that, well, it wasn't worth it. I was much better of in an ambulance where DH knew I was being cared for, and he could slighlty more calmly make his way to hospital knowing I was as good as could be.

I'm sure it will be fine, and like you say, one almighty fart/bowel movement will see you right, but if at all concerned, get thee to hospital.

Thanks, Oeisha, that's really useful. Thank you for sharing your story. I am 32+3 so even if it does turn out to be something worrying, hopefully it could be stalled a little longer, as I understand things are much better for babies after 34 weeks?

If it does turn out to be something ie you are dilating, they will probably say bedrest and give you steroids. They would probably only try to stop the labour (if you were having full on contractions) in order to give you the steroids. Think they are ideally given 24hrs apart but can be given 12 hrs apart if necessary. Hope all goes well tomorrow.

Phew, Triage think just Braxton Hicks presenting in an atypical way, if you see what I mean (i.e. period pain rather than the tighening everyone else seems to get). Baby is not on his way just yet, thank goodness. Thanks for all the advice, everyone.

Excellent. Well, not idel, but good. FX for a calm rest of pregnancy!