28 weeks.. period pain and back ache

[liveinthemo]

I'm 28+5 and have been getting what feels like period cramps. Some are stronger than others and I also have slight back ache. I felt extremely dizzy yesterday and keep feeling slightly 'off'. I was wondering if any of you lovely ladies have had this and if it's normal? I'm trying to hold off ringing midwife incase I'm just wasting their time! FTM and have no clue what I should be expecting! X

Any chance you might have a urinary infection? The symptoms sound similar. Tbh (I am only 16wks FTM) I would call midwife anyway. Everything I have read says to always call, you aren't wasting anyone's time. Hope everything is ok x

I have had quite a few utis since I've been pregnant and this doesn't feel the same. I've just took some paracetamol to see if that helps but if I still have them in an hour I'll ring midwife, thank you, it's quite painful! X

I would ring the maternity unit and explain. Hopefully they can advise.

Please go and get checked out. You shouldn't delay with those symptoms.

Should I wait to see if paracetamol helps first? I'm scared of coming across dramatic to them

Honestly, what matters most, the health and safety of your baby or whether they think you are being dramatic?
My mum had my sister at 30 weeks.

I'd call. I'm sure they're used to it, and we all think it's something worth calling about... Peace of mind is priceless anyway.

@endofthelinefinally are these signs of pre term labour? I'll ring them now, thank you

Definitely ring you are not wasting anyone's time. If it is early labour the sooner you go the better as they could hopefully stop/delay it.

@TinyTerror1 @endofthelinefinally just rang maternity unit and they said sounds like a UTI and to ring GP in the morning. I feel like I've just been fobbed off tbh! I don't feel like I have a UTI at all

@sweetpotatoe I'd have liked to have went in to get checked but the midwife didn't seem like she wanted me to go in when I rang then.. worried now

Gah. All we've done is make you more worried. Hopefully it is a UTI though, just presenting differently from the previous ones. But if the pains get a lot worse I'd call again.

Are the period pains coming and going?

I am sorry they fobbed you off. I expect they are short staffed as it is a weekend, but that isn't your fault.

I am sorry, I didn't mean to cause you more anxiety. I am concerned for you.

OP I was a week behind you (27+5) when I went into premature labour. I had no idea it was labour but to try to reassure you, it didn't feel like period pains, it was really painful in the bottom of my back (to the extent it woke me up and it was coming and going).

So I don't think it's labour but I would want to be checked. I'd have a bath to see if it helps and if you don't feel any better in an hour, phone back and insist that you want to come in.

Yep the period pains come and go and my back feels achy like a dull ache. She's normally super active too and I don't think she's as active as usual (unless I'm just being paranoid). Took paracetamol at 2 o'clock and hasn't eased pain. Just spoke to my friend she's saying ring back and say you'd rather be checked... in such a shy person though!

@namechangedtoday15 the pains go round to my back and keep coming and going.. paracetamol doesn't seem to help really! Was everything okay when you went into pre term labour? X

If you were my friend I would take you there myself.

Did you tell the midwife that you think that baby's movements are reduced as well?

OP Yes, all was ok but I did give birth at 27+6. If you are in labour they can give you a drug called nafedapine (not sure that's the correct spelling) that can stop the labour.

Just ring them back OP. Be assertive even if it's not natural for you and say you want checking.

@RowenaDedalus I didn't get to say half of what I wanted to.. she's was very quick to get me off the phone, so nope!

I would insist on being seen. If you are in pre term labour you need steroids pretty much now. They are less effective later. So I would be really insistent. There is a small window in which pre term labour can be stopped.

Going to give them a call back now.. I'd rather be safe than sorry really! Will feel so stupid if everything is ok but rather be checked

This is not the same thing at all but I rang my midwife at 11 weeks with bleeding. She was really dismissive and basically pushed me off the phone. I felt really stupid and I'm usually really shy but I rang back and got another woman who was really helpful and kind and I went to EPU who were worried about ectopic- I hadn't even had chance to tell the first woman that I was in pain!
I know you are 28 weeks and I was 11 but I'm just telling you that to say I know what it's like to feel like you aren't being listened to. Ring back, or you will just be worried, and tell them that you have reduced movements, lots of back ache and period pains coming and going. Tell them you would like to be seen.

This makes me so cross.
How many times do HCPs on here tell people that it is unreliable to diagnose over the phone?
They should see you OP and they shouldn't be making you feel guilty.

@RowenaDedalus I hope everything turned out ok for you! Yes will ring them back now. I honestly didn't get a chance to say half of what I wanted to and even if it is a UTI I'd still rather not wait until tomorrow because I've been feeling like this all weekend