Yesterday at 37+1 I ended up going in to be monitored after a day of reduced fetal movements. I also didn't feel particularly well... my appetite has been down over the last couple of days and I feel quite nauseous and had a background low level tummy ache. Baby was absolutely fine on the monitor, but when the doctor came in she showed me that they had picked up regular contractions about every 3 minutes lasting 10-20 seconds every time. She asked if I'd felt them and I said yeah I was having Braxton Hicks. She said that due to the regularity and the strength she wouldn't class them as BH, they were actual contractions. I was offered an induction there and then but declined with confirmation that baby is fine and things seem to be starting naturally. I've been asked to go back in today for further monitoring. She also confirmed with a scan that baby's head is now fully engaged.
I'm a bit shell shocked tbh! I know I'm full term but only just, and had totally built myself up to go overdue. I don't feel ready! Still need to finish packing my bags 😬 I've been able to sleep on and off tonight but had to take paracetamol around 2am to allow me to get a solid block of sleep got a few hours.
I know that no one has a crystal ball, but I'm wondering how long this is likely to go on, so would like to hear some people's experiences of very early labour! Particularly if your contractions were picked up by a CTG before you even realised! Pain is currently pretty low, just tightenings and cramps a bit like mild-moderate period pains, so it feels like it's very early days, but the doctor seemed to think things could ramp up. I sort of hope not, I haven't even started my mat leave yet!
Also any stories reassuring me that babies born at this gestation are fine would be lovely 😊 A little worried he's not fully cooked yet!