Is this labour? First baby

[mrshadders]

Hi all. Looking for some advice and wise words!

Today is my due date and on Friday I started having my bloody show. It's been coming pretty consistently since then, not overly red, quite pink. I'm needing to wear pads.

Since approx 4pm today I've been feeling quite strong pains in my lower back. They are bearable but painful. They come and go so I have been timing them but there is not much of a pattern to them although fairly regular.

I'm just wondering if this sounds like it could be the start of labour? I wasn't expecting the pains to be in my back so that's what's puzzled me a little I suppose. My waters haven't broken.

Any advice would be great! Thanks

Didn't want to read and run. I haven't got much advice though as currently 16 weeks with my first!

I've heard back pain could be due to back to back labour though? I wonder if it might be worth googling some positions to try and encourage baby to switch round? All fours is meant to be good I think.

Hey!! I remember writing something very similar 7months ago!

How exciting! Defno sounds like the start.

I never felt tightening around my belly it was back and period location pain.

Sounds like you have started.. have you timed the contractions?

If you have a maternity ball have a gentle bounce eases the back pain and maybe will encourage little one down quicker ( that was my theory anyhow 😂😂)

Eat if you can ( just small
Amounts! As later on you will forget about it and you will need the energy I hadn’t eaten in 12 hours and being force fed Bourbon biscuits in-between pushing was not my favourite thing ( on a normal day I could eat a whole packet 😊)

Perhaps call midwife team about pain in back I didn’t have a back to back birth but then my back hurts pretty much all the time anyhow .

Keep us posted x

could be the start !!
My waters didn't break until I was in labour so don't let that confuse you
My advice is stay at home for as long as possible I got my other half to go to Tesco's and hire me a tens machine that really helped with coping with the pain!!!!
Good luck 😉

I have had four babies and my waters have NEVER broken on there own! So dont wait for that

Sounds like labour but early labour can be stop start for days. I hope it’s not like that for you.

Could the bloody show that is now pink be your waters? This was how mine went!
they slowly trickled for about 5/6hours until I convinced myself it was my waters and I wasn’t just nearly weeing myself!
Waters don’t have to be a dramatic gush so bare that in mind!
Sounds like the start!! Good luck 🤞🤞🤞

Thanks everyone! Trying not to get my hopes up too much but the 'contractions' are still coming! I'll try and keep you posted.

For those whose waters didn't break, when did you decide to call your midwife/go into hospital?

When the contractions are regular and close together!

When you really can't take anymore of the pain.

You sound quite early on, but it can happen quite quickly.

Track timings, there are apps you can track contractions - this is useful when you chat to your MW or delivery suite

I had a back to back labour with my first and i had barely any tummy pain it was allll in my back thats how it started! Just sudden back pain that got worse and closer together. I called delivery they told me to take a bath etc but they got unbearable so i called back 30mins later and said yeah im now coming🙈. Waters didnt break until i was at hospital in birthing pool x good luck x

Sounds like it might be the latent phase (early labour) sorry I read it can last days before proper labour starts.

If pain is in ur back that may suggest baby is back to back but not necessarily. Always worth a call to ur midwife or labour ward.

Both my daughters and I felt all our labours in our backs.

I was fully dilated before my water broke thankfully I had arrived at maternity walk in as was concerned about blood loss ( quick dilation caused that ) so Go based on contraction time and length I think it was 5 mins apart each contraction is and how long the contraction lasts. And perhaps check in with midwife unit to see what they say?

The boots tens machine was a godsend!! Totally get husband to pick one up if you have time.

Birthing ball too and a bath was a fab way of easing the pain.

Every birth is different I had a fast labour my friend took 2 days, take it easy rest nap and eat if you can .. how are you feeling ?

Hi op hope it’s going well! X x

Thanks ladies!

Still here and pains are still about 10/12 mins apart but have moved round the the front of my belly. No waters or anything but I have had a 'clear out'
I've been awake since 3.30am and had a bath around 4.30am.
Hoping they start getting closer together or my waters go as although they are bearable they are still painful!!

Sounds very positive!! All good signs!!!

Send hubby out for the tens machine it really is amazing and might help you relax a little!

Your doing marvellously x x

Sounds like you're doing fab!

Good luck, newborn cuddles soon

Hoping you have moved along now! And your baby is either here or nearly with you xx

Been to the hospital, 2cm dilated but cervix still thick of course my contractions stopped when I got there which midwife said is totally normal! Sent home to get bouncing on my ball and hopefully won't be much longer...

Fingers crossed not too much longer. I have four dc and it can take bloomin ages to get properly in to labour.
Have you got a funny box set you can watch? Laughter is good! And might distract you a bit?!

Fingers crossed things get moving soon!! X x x

How is it going? Did you manage to sleep any? I am on tenderhooks!! X

Well I slept 830pm-1230am last night and have been up since then in agony with these pains. They are so sporadic and ranging from 3 mins apart to 12 mins apart! There doesn't seem to be a pattern but they are excruciating. I have a midwife app at 10am so hoping she can suggest how to get moving

How horrible :( cant be nice! I hope the midwife helps somehow! Let us no. Good luck xx