Labour?

[Blugh]

Hi. I'm 36 weeks pregnant ftm and really need some advice. For the last 24 hours I've been having tightening every 5 mins for about a minute. It's not extremely painful just a bit and it will stop be in my tracks. Ive called the midwife and they just told me to keep an eye on it. The problem is I have no one to take me to get checked at hospital and can only get a taxi on my own and really don't want to spend 40 pounds getting there just to be sent home again. But also don't want to be having my baby in the middle of the road. It is an unusual situation as I'm currently in a womens refuge miles away from family so no support at all really.

That's a tough call. Have the tightening been consistently timed and in strength over that period or have they come and gone? Have you got any periody or back pain? I suppose if things were to ramp up quickly you just call an ambulance. If it is labour they wouldn't want you in until reaching regular 3-4 contractions in 10 min so keeping an eye makes sense but I understand your worry. Are there staff at the refuge or is it just a contained flat? Easy for me to say but try to relax

That’s tricky.

Are you drinking enough? If I haven’t drank too much I also get frequent tightenings, it’s one of the things that sets me off.

Ring the NHS helpline if possible. It’s a free number afaik, they will tell you what to do. They’ll likely tell you the same thing (to keep an eye on it) but also a call out doctor or a car ambulance may be nearby for you - but if it gets worse or starts to get painful then phone an ambulance. Tightenings can be caused by a lot of things but it’s when they get painful that the fun starts!

That's a difficult one. I've had similar from 36 weeks. Am now 38 weeks and still very much pregnant.

I'd keep an eye on it like they said.

Have you discussed a plan with the refuge about how they may be able to assist when you do go into labour?

It's an independent property but under the refuge scheme if you see what I mean. So they can't really do too much to help. Think I'm just panicking a bit tbh, I will just keep an eye on it like they said.

Why don't you call your community midwife in the morning and explain the situation and then maybe she could pop out and see you and check you over?
If things really ramp up in the meantime or you are worried about anything you can always call an ambulance if needed.

How are you today Blugh?

OK. Definitely it was me overthinking things. Just trying to relax as much as possible now and stop focusing on every little change. Think I might be a little neurotic

Glad you're ok. Don't worry about being neurotic- quite normal in late pregnancy I think and then just wait til you have the baby! Sorry that might not be that helpful a thing to say but trying to reassure you that most of us feel a little crazy some days. And when your body is going through all this weird stuff it's natural to worry. Hope you can do some nice things for yourself that you enjoy in these last few weeks