braxton hicks with period pain or actual contractions?

[SolitaA]

since 7.30pm ive been having braxton hicks coming quite often and in the last half hour theyve been accompanied with period pains. Had lower back ache since 4.30am too and feel extra "damp" downstairs 😷.
I am 34 weeks and had a scan yesterday for growth as I do every friday and all seemed fine. Movements are fine. Is this a perk of pregnancy or worth worrying about?

I'd ring the maternity unit, they'll want you in for assessment I think.

Always worth getting it checked could be nothing but it could be something.
If it’s nothing,great.
But at least you know.
If it’s something your in the right place and you and baby will be better off having been seen and treated.

Have you had any blood or blood stained discharge? Or a 'clear out'? I had my boy at 35 weeks and thought I had Braxton hicks until I also had both of the above too. They were also more painful than Braxton hicks and in my back like you, but more regular if that makes sense. I do get cramping after growth scans though, my babies arnt too compliant 🙈

Hm yes, that sounds a little unusual for 34 weeks. Please call for advice.

Definitely give them a call. My daughter made a surprise appearance at 35 weeks. I had some funny crampy sensations in my cervix every 6 minutes and a slightly damp feeling just after 1pm. I called triage and they said to pop in, I was 4 minutes apart by the time I got there, 2 minutes apart by the time I finished the trace too see if I was in labour and gave birth just after midnight. I had a bit of gas and air in the last 2 hours, but I barely had any pain.

how do they check if its real or not?

They put you in a monitor and it measures the uterine contraction strength. Along with baby's hb.
That's what mine was anyway.
And some might check dilation, but that's obviously something you can consent to or not.
My labour started like yours, although I was a month further on. Best to get checked, worse that could happen is they send you home with a false alarm and the all okay! 😊