Possibly in labour?? FTM confused!

[Sophie2309]

Hiya everyone,

Since Tuesday I've had on and off strong pressure and pains on my cervix from baby. Gradually become more and more frequent.

Past three days, I've had such bad back aches especially in the evenings, whether I lay down, sit upright or back slightly.

Last night a hot water bottle helped to a certain degree with my back until I went to bed. Woke up several times during the night for a wee and I've been really stiff (past two nights) having to get up slowly because of my back.

Today, I've felt so tired and emotional too. I didn't have a bad nights sleep either, same sort of night as all other recently so I don't think it's because I slept bad. Tried a hot bath this morning which helped for all of about an hour after I got out.

During the whole of today, I've had pains on and off right down low, some sharp and painful right on my cervix area (this is what has been on and off all week), best way to describe it is when having a period and sit down at a funny angle or too quickly and get a shooting pain. It's exactly the same as that. Other times during the day and tonight I've had what feels like dull period cramps around bikini line (ish), same as I used to when periods started each month.

Today has been the worst out of the last few, gradually getting worse. They happen more when baby girl is awake/active. I've also needed a wee more often today, with flow not being that quick (think she's right on my bladder).

Today is my due date with first baby so I have no idea whether I am in the first stages of labour or not? Or very slow labour? Anyone have any ideas?

I'm so fed up now so i don't know whether it's just my mind playing tricks on me 😩

Sounds like a lot of pre-labour going on there. I think the phrase you are looking for about sharp pains in the cervix area is ‘fanny daggers’. I’d get a good night’s sleep if you can. It’ll ramp up soon enough and you will KNOW you’re at the main event. Good luck!

I've been having exactly as you describe, currently 36+3 weeks.
This is my 2nd baby but I was induced with my 1st, so have no idea what going into labour naturally feels like.

It's my due date tomorrow. I have been having those sorts of pains for about 2 or 3 weeks now. It's not labour IME (this will be my second labour). Its just stretching, muscles moving and getting ready, baby hitting off your cervix, and then general pregnancy pains of carrying such a weight. I hate to say it, but trust me, you will know when you are in labour. Contractions are a rise and fall thing, so over 30-40 seconds they will creep up in pain (for me it was a dull pain in my back), your stomach may go pretty rock solid, and the pain will come down the other side, like its climbed a hill. Then it will happen again between 5 and 10 minutes later. You will know it.

Everyone is different but my active labour was like riding waves with the contractions. The feeling started, built up, peaked and faded away.

I had a long latent labour (Pre labour) with my first which was a lot of griping pains, fanny daggers and back ache. Call your midwife for advice but unless there is a pattern to things it probably isn’t active labour yet.

Good luck, it sounds like things are starting to move

Thanks for all the replies guys!

I feel really tired for some unknown reason 🤣 so I'm definitely going to try get a good night sleep tonight. They have all eased off a bit for now, which is what confuses me as each time this happens, it is more painful/uncomfortable than the last but then will stop all of a sudden and then come back out of the blue aha.

I do get some rock solidness (if that's even a word) in my belly, all down the right side and across the top, but I think that's more from how baby is sitting/pushing out as left side will be spongey still🤷🏻‍♀️

It's so hard to know as I know everyone labours differently, my Nan had 5 children and each labour was completely different. One labour was all in her back, another belly only, and one all the pain was in her legs! Which is super weird but just goes to show how we all can vary so there's no definitive way of knowing when things are starting to move 😩

Thank you for all the advice though, I'm going to be keeping an eye and give the midwife a call if I'm the same/worse in the morning and see what they say to do. I'm hoping they are signs of the very early stages/pre-labour.... want this baby here before lockdown starts again!

It sounds more like late pregnancy symptoms to me or possibly early labour than real contractions. Everyone is different though.
Do you have a midwife appointment this week?

I’ve just been having these symptoms too. Baby feels so heavy on my cervix and any movement five minutes ago as I was sat down was so painful I couldn’t even deep breathe or get up through it. Once I emptied my
Bladder it went away I’m 37+3 how far along are you?

@37weekswithno2

It sounds more like late pregnancy symptoms to me or possibly early labour than real contractions. Everyone is different though. Do you have a midwife appointment this week?

I had 'due date/40 week' appointment on friday just gone..... booked in for first sweep this Sunday if she doesn't come before hand.

Nothing progressed overnight so I think it's all just a mixture of end of pregnancy, being tired and uncomfortable. That and me wanting this baby out before lockdown all playing on my mind and playing tricks on me!

@Whatinthename20

I’ve just been having these symptoms too. Baby feels so heavy on my cervix and any movement five minutes ago as I was sat down was so painful I couldn’t even deep breathe or get up through it. Once I emptied my Bladder it went away I’m 37+3 how far along are you?

I'm 40+1😬 it's so painful isn't it! Had it again a few times this morning, plus the sudden urge for the loo earlier. I swear this baby is trying to wind me up being like 'ner ner mum' with all these uncomfortable and unpleasant symptoms aha!

I am with you there OP! I am really hoping my baby comes before lockdown. I was worried they would change DHs visiting or being with you for labour etc, but it seems to be staying the same in my trust, so that's a bit of a relief. However, they dont let DHs in for inductions, only for active labour, so I am keen to avoid an induction. Really hoping this baby just comes of her own accord!

@SqidgeBum sorry I didn't see this message until now!! Did baby arrive before lockdown? My daughter was born at 40+3, on the 4th Nov so the day before lockdown🤣