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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

39 weeks and getting period type pains

58 replies

Dalrymps · 10/10/2007 21:17

Hey
I'm 39 weeks and a day. This is my first pregnancy and over the last week or so I've been getting period type pains in my lower tummy and back and occasionally down my legs, happening more frequently and has now been constant for last 2 days, just wondering if this is the baby's head engaging?
Also i'm getting really quite anxious about the labour itself, any tips on keeping calm???

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Pruners · 10/10/2007 21:21

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MegaLegs · 10/10/2007 21:21

Sounds promising Good luck.

To help keep calm listen to your body, do what you feel is right, breathe, warm bath, keep focussed. Worked for me and I've had 4!

policywonk · 10/10/2007 21:21

Erm... I'd say those are early signs of labour - at least, that's how my labours started. However, I am NO EXPERT so please don't let me panic you!

Keeping calm: have you practised breathing (not as stupid as it sounds )? Breath in deeply and slowly, make a conscious effort to drop your shoulders and relax your pelvic/abdominal muscles, breathe out slowly. Keep doing this for a few minutes and you should feel yourself relax.

Good luck!

Pruners · 10/10/2007 21:21

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lomondgal · 10/10/2007 21:22

Plenty of gas and air! It helped me. Good luck with the birth and try not to worry. Sounds like it won't be long.

policywonk · 10/10/2007 21:23

If you are in early labour, it's a good idea to dim the lights - apparently this can help things to progress, whereas harsh and bright lighting can slow things down.

Pruners · 10/10/2007 21:28

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Original poster
Dalrymps · 10/10/2007 21:28

Thanks for all the tips, i've been listening to natal hypnotherapy cd's to relax but tend to feel relaxed whilst listening to them then feel anxious about the birth when i'm not, not sure i believe they'll work, guess i'm just afraid I won't be able to cope with the pain as well as I want to, also the hospital i'm giving birth at is just over an hour away so I have the car journey to deal with whilst in labour!

OP posts:
Original poster
Dalrymps · 10/10/2007 21:30

by the way i've just joined the site today... what does dh stand for?

OP posts:
xob · 10/10/2007 21:32

dh stands for dear husband and it sounds like you are going into labour!
good luck and all that! these are exciting times!

smellymelly · 10/10/2007 21:34

Def early labour - for gods sake get some sleep while you can!!!

Pruners · 10/10/2007 21:34

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policywonk · 10/10/2007 21:36

Yes, I think you'd be unusual if you weren't a bit tense and anxious - just try to physically relax because it really does make a difference if you can.

Original poster
Dalrymps · 10/10/2007 21:40

I feel a little better just talking about it really, I'm sure i'll feel very relived once it's over, trying to concentrate on meeting my little baby boy. I was going to give birth at my local midwife led unit but they realised my baby is small so want me to go to the hospital just to be safe, apparently there's nothing wrong with him, he's just smaller than average, think he'll be 6lb+ ...

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Pruners · 10/10/2007 21:42

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policywonk · 10/10/2007 21:46

It's a shame you couldn't have the midwife-led unit, but try not to worry too much about hospital - I had two hospital births and both were without any intervention, gas and air only, and the hospital midwives were lovely. And I actually really enjoyed staying on the ward for a bit of peace and quite for a couple of days as well.

designerbaby · 10/10/2007 21:46

HI guys - interested to know if this is just general 'body preparation' or indeed 'early labour? As I've had a similar thing for the last couple of day - and much more accutely today...

I was assuming, I suppose that it's baby's head 'engaging', and being thankful that my ribs no longer hurt and I could actually take deepish breaths for the first time in ages, but confess that today I have been having my doubts as it's been so uncomfortable...

As dalrymps (sorry to hijack, hon!...) has said - feels like a kind of constant period pain, with occasional sharpish crampy pains - oh, and speed bumps are agony, which is a bummer, since we're in London...

Any opinions? Professional or otherwise, I'm also a first timer and hence fairly clueless...

DB
xx

policywonk · 10/10/2007 21:48

We need a doula on this thread. Where are they all?

Pruners · 10/10/2007 21:52

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Original poster
Dalrymps · 10/10/2007 21:57

hey DB, glad someone else is getting the same thing, i'm just wondering, if anyone elses labour started like this, how long this bit will go on for before the real labour gets going??
Even though i'm anxious I kinda think if it's gonna happen soon then I wish my body would get on with it

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Pruners · 10/10/2007 22:00

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Pruners · 10/10/2007 22:01

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Original poster
Dalrymps · 10/10/2007 22:15

Yeah true, thats the thing, it differs so much from person to person i suppose you just can't tell... guess i'll just have to be pateint and wait and see!

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kitcoffey · 11/10/2007 00:00

Me too DB. If I wasn't in danger of diving through the floor I would have jumped for joy this morning as I could breath for the first time in forever (after 3 days of niggles, braxtons and period type aches). Only downside is awful ache in my pelvis hips etc! What I wouldn't give to be carried around right now! Wouldn't it be great to have some insight into baba's mickey mouse timex?

My first time 38+3 bit of a surprise after adopting 3 fab boys! Anyone got any survival tips for a wimp?

missbumpy · 11/10/2007 08:34

Hello. Hope you don't mind me gatecrashing

I'm 39 + 3 and I was woken up last night by period type crampy pains. They're not very regular and they come and go so I don't know if this is the beginning of labour or if it could carry on like this for a few more days (or weeks?!) before anything happens.

Someone on here said to get as much rest as possible. I had quite a busy day planned including pregnancy yoga and a longish walk this morning....should I be cancelling my plans and putting my feet up or should I be carrying on as normal?

PS. Baby's head has been well engaged for weeks now and I had a bit of a bloody show at the weekend. This is my first baby so I don't have a clue what to expect!