Periodish pain during Braxton Hicks - labour or just one of those things?

[HorryIsUpduffed]

I get strong BH - even my midwife is surprised by how hard they are if they come on whilst she's measuring/palpating - which have started from 16w each pregnancy.

And over the past few weeks they've definitely increased in intensity, which is understandable as I'm now 38+4.

But just today they're accompanied by what I can only describe as period pain, which starts with the BH and stops when the BH stops.

I wondered if it might be digestive but the coincidence is just too much.

Ideally I'd prefer not to be in labour just yet ... so please tell me you had this for days/weeks before delivery.

The pathetic thing is that this is DC3, DC2 is only two and I just don't remember what labour was like

I didn't have BH with either of mind, but period pains definitely signified the start of labour for me. Good luck!

*Mine...

I'm on baby number 3 too and I've totally forgotten everything! I was induced both times before though so have no idea what going naturally feels like. I only remember contractions making me feel like I needed to number 2 A LOT throughout.
I wish I could be helpful!
I've heard lots of stories about period pain contractions being the start of labour, although I had them a few days ago for a couple of days, accompanied with BH and was convinced it was time, then they just stopped. Nothing since, until today when I've started getting little niggles that I'm trying to take no notice of but feel very uneasy and my rage and nesting have gone walkabouts.

I know it's probably been said but have you tried having a bath and drinking lots of water to see if it eases off?

Let me know how you go on, I hope for you that they ease off until you're ready xx

Thanks all. I've got some friends round tonight who are also pregnant so maybe I'll compare notes with them and see what they think

If DH gets home at a reasonable time I might be able to squeeze in a bath too.

Dr Google suggests that if they go away when you change position they aren't real. Will try that with the next lot. They are about 10-15 mins apart just now, so no urgency...

... except that DC2 was born within two hours of my first painful contraction.

The niggle in my mind is that DH has a 350-mile round trip for work tomorrow that I can't ask him to cancel unless we're actually definitely making progress. It would be absolutely bloody desperate for him to be on the M40 when I go into transition!

I'm having very similar symptoms at the moment - I've had very strong BH since about 20 weeks and now at 31 weeks I'm getting period types pains in my lower abdomen, pains around my back and vicious BH too! I saw my midwife yesterday who told me I may have been overdoing it and to rest for a week and if it didn't subside to then go and get monitored in the labour ward, just to make sure it wasn't premature labour. It's my first baby so I have no idea on what to expect for labour or what to recommend, just thought I'd mention it in case it was helpful to you. :)

Oh Horry is better not signal the start of labour as I'm only 34+3 and I started getting period type pain cramping with my delightful BHs while I was having a bath today. One of the buggers then woke me from my afternoon nap, not on!

I think we should all have a nice relaxing bath, a big fat mug of hot chocolate, and a foot rub from our other halves.

What do you reckon?

Hmm foot rubs do sound good, I shall have my slave... ahem, suggest darling husband that after he finishes cooking and then cleaning the kitchen that he might like to give my poor tootsies a massage.

I do not want that man near my feet!
Please see preggo rant thread for more information ;)

They went quiet after a bedtime bath so I got a decentish sleep.

See what transpires today. Hope all those suffering similarly get progress or respite today x

Glad you got a good night's sleep Horry. Mine was rather disturbed because of loo trips, aches and pains and a neighbour's cat getting in through my bathroom window! Cue lots of crashing about and yowling when my two cats found the intruder, bloody DH slept through it until he heard me slam the back door, I envy his ability to sleep.
Here's hoping everyone's aches, pains, rage and general yuckiness stays away today.