Period like cramping 39 weeks pregnant

[salmaahmed]

I'm having constant period like pain in my lower stomach and back. My stomach has become hard too, thought it was a contraction but it isn't coming and going it's there constantly. Haven't managed to sleep all night, anyone else having this or knows what's happening? Called hospital and they're being useless saying its normal pregnancy muscle pain but it feels like actual period cramping

I'm 38+5 and been having exactly this since Monday. Midwife seemed to think it was body gearing up. Getting a bit frustrated with it now after so many days though.

I think you may be in the early stages of labour!

At 39 weeks I would think the possibility of it being the start of labour is quite strong, wouldn't you?

Labour cramping and period cramping are the same thing, uterine contractions, just obviously one happens when a baby has grown in there. So it's either labour starting or your body doing a practice run, Braxton Hicks. At almost full term it's to be expected, not sure what you thought the hospital might tell you other than you might be in labour and it's totally normal at your gestation.

Time the period cramps, I timed them for 90 minutes and found that they were actually regular at 8 mins apart. My waters started to go half an hour later and six hours after that my DD arrived, so you could be in early labour.

I'm having the same today - 39 weeks. Really not sure if it's wind though. So far it's felt exactly the same.
Do you have what you need just in case?