pre-labour pains or actual labour?

[stephers9]

So yesterday I started to get bad period like pains that spread round to my lower back and also my thighs. During each strike of pain my full belly would harden and my baby would either kick just before or just after each contraction. timed each contraction for 30 mins and they were lasting between 30 secs and 1 min 30 secs and were varying between 2 and 4 mins apart. After timing them I called the midwife and she said I just had to wait for them to increase in intensity. But after 13 hrs they started to slow down and today I only get one every now and then. Had my partner check last night and we think I am about 2 cm dilated. I am 38 weeks and 6 days with my first. I don't think my waters have broke yet but I've been damp down below (TMI sorry!) But its defo not pee and its not enough to soak a panty liner within an hr or two, like another site suggested :-/ please help! :-)

Hi Stephers,
Am so sorry that I can't really offer you any advice as am waiting for any sign myself (3days overdue with first) and have had practically nothing. Just wanted to wish you all the best and bump the thread for you x

Oh it's really hard to say for sure but if the pains haven't increased in intensity and your waters haven't gone then I would say pre labour. I had bad period pains a few times before labour, so much that I'd wake in the night thinking it had started and then by the morning there'd be nothing. I had this every night for about 5 days. My had a lot if discharge as well, it's your body getting ready. All great signs - things are starting, just maybe slowly.

Once you're in labour the contractions will most likely be much stronger, regular and closer together. Hopefully won't be too much longer for you, good luck!!

Thanks guys! Beanful I hope you don't need to wait much longer as I can only imagine how uncomfortable you must be :-(
StretchyCat, they never increased in intensity but saying that they were strong enough to slow me right down when I was walking the dog. I have the midwife on Wednesday so hopefully she will be able to give me tips on what will speed up labour. Today I've been getting contractions every dew hours apart but nothing to the extent they were yesterday.
So its normal for the cramps to come and go over a few days? Im just becoming impatient to meet the wee guy :-)

I know exactly how you're feeling, you just can't wait to get to the big day!
It sounds to me like you're just having pre labour symptoms which are not a reliable indication that labour is imminent unfortunately.
I had "stop and start" strong cramps for over a week at 38/39 weeks so much so that I couldn't go anywhere because I was so uncomfortable. Nothing happened though and in the end I had to be induced.
The increased white discharge is also normal, it's the mucus around your cervix getting loser and again it's a good sign that things are progressing but not that labour is imminent.

Ummm..... How did your partner check?? If he had a feel around your cervix with his fingers (guessing no speculum or gloves at home?) then there's a risk of introducing infection. I think that if this is what happened the midwives need to know. I think it can alter the timings of things - or you need to be in established labour by a certain time post furtling. From what I gather they often use a speculum (decreased infection risk) for early examinations and if a manual (for want if a better word) is done then things have to be managed differently. Possibly not a conversation you want to have but you won't be the first and it could be important.
Perhaps there is a midwife on here who can help? Or ring triage?

How frustrating for you, I had DS on Saturday and my labour started in a very similar way to how you are describing on Thursday lunch time. They died off overnight on the Thursday but then came back with avengence on the Friday! I was 39 weeks exactly when the pains started. I was lucky and my midwife came to my house on Friday morning to see me, she examined me (not nice) and while she was up there did a stretch and sweep to get things going and that definitely did the trick, although I won't lie to you, it wasn't nice. I also drunk several cups of raspberry leaf tea and bounced on my birthing ball plus kept walking up and down the stairs. I would phone your midwife and see what she recommends. Mine did warn me that this could last a few days before established labour kicks in, so sorry I know that's not what you want to hear :( xx

How's it going Stephers?