Tummy cramps - tmi

[pingoed]

I’m 38+6 and have felt a bit constipated for the last few days so yesterday for breakfast I had some dried fruit. That had the desired effect within a few hours and continued until mid evening.

Since about 4.30 this morning I’ve been having low-mid intensity tummy cramps, about every ten mins for 10 seconds or so. My bump seems to harden with them too but it might be because I’m tensing a bit with the pain. They woke me up and I can’t get back to sleep, but if I go to the loo, there’s nothing. They cause a slight pain in my back too but are 90% in my very low abdomen, kinda in my bladder or where you get period pain but this is much more intense.

I am assuming this is just the after effects of yesterday’s dried fruit overdose and not very early labour? I am trying not to get excited because I’m pretty sure it’s not!

Hmm having just timed one it lasted more like 30 seconds, but not that intense.

Sounds alot like labour to me..

Sounds like Labour to me too - congratulations!
Emptying your system out can often happen the day before labour starts too.
Good luck it sounds like something is happening.

Eeeeeek, really!? Thanks ladies. Trying not to get my hopes up cause I’m sooooo ready to get this baby out!! Luckily I have a midwife appt this morning so we’ll see what she says then if it’s still carrying on in a few hours!

My consultant once said - if the pains don’t wake you it is not labour! The fact your pain has woken you is a GOOD sign

Please do update us later :)

Yeah. That sounds like the beginning of labour. Good luck !

Midwife said baby is fine but head doesn’t feel very low at all, and then said ‘but that doesn’t mean anything’.

The cramps haven’t changed in intensity or frequency so I am going to assume this is just a practice run unfortunately!

Though as these are quite painful it’s making me frightened for the real thing!!

Don’t be frightened. You will be fine. Good luck.

Still getting cramps which take my breath away but they aren’t as regular, so I’ve no idea whether this is baby related or something else.

If it’s early labour is there anything I can do to keep it moving? I’ve been for a little walk and am on my ball.

I think I’m just doing some very wishful thinking now :-(

How are you doing? I hope things are now moving along?

Thanks @Downeyhouse

I had a little bit of wind earlier this evening and thought perhaps that was the cause of the cramps but they seem to have ramped up in the last 90 mins. They are feeling more intense but effectively I’m no further on than I was 18 hours ago. I can’t sleep and can’t keep still when one happens, but they are still only in my back and lower abdomen so I imagine this isn’t anywhere near proper labour.

I’m finding the pain quite intense and seriously questioning my ability to cope if I’m already pathetic enough to be struggling this early on! Gahhhh.

Have a bath! First stages can last a while.. definitely sounds like labour tho.. good luck!

My labours were always in my back. Never felt any pain round the front.

Try and relax and sleep if you possibly can. Make an appoint,ent with your midwife tho to check you over. Sounds very much like early labour to me.

Thanks ladies for all your help and advice. It was indeed early labour and ramped up overnight. Saw the midwife yesterday morning after a night of contractions, and my baby boy was born last night at 39 weeks exactly. I am so totally in love!

Congratulations, lovely news!

Wow congratulations!!

Ahhhhhhhhh welcome to the world little one.

So glad he is safely here - congratulations