Is baby coming????

[SteakChips]

I'm due in 11 days with my first and my braxton hicks have been coming and going. Sometime I feel like there is a balloon being blown up and release - I can imagine that how waters might feel when about to break. This ballon feeling is into my uterus. Also today my mucus has turned a different colour as well - sorry FMI, not it's white colour.

Has anyone experienced this? Or is this a sign that my boy is coming soon?

It could be the start of things. What colour is the mucus?

I get that balloon feeling you describe with strong braxton hicks contractions.

@thismammacat from white to like light brown/reddish?

I’m having that balloon feeling all the time now.

How far gone are you?

Oooh so that could be your plug coming away! You might want to call the hospital and get on their radar, they might even want to see you to see if you are dilating much.

I'm almost 36 weeks and feel like I'm about to pop! I've politely requested that baby stay put til at least 37 weeks

@thismammacat oh noooooooo.. it’s not thick just like when your ovulating. I will definitely keep an eye on it.

I know what you mean, I feel like a beached whale and can’t get comfortable.

Please don’t ring the hospital to let them know about braxton hicks and different coloured mucus unless you’ve been specifically told to by your midwife.

OP, this could be the start of something or it could be nothing. My mucus went to a pinky brown colour at about 39w but DD2 wasn’t born until 40+2.

It doesn't have to be thick to be your plug as far as I know- I've never seen a plug with myself, always just waters breaking. I'd be inclined to call them because you are at term and it is a change- better to be on their radar than not.

Trust me, when you’re in labour you’ll know. The mucus sounds like your mucus plug, it can come away for a few weeks though. I was 1cm dilated for 2 weeks with both mine and lost my plug so it doesn’t always mean baby will be here right away.

The balloon feeling sounds like strong braxton hicks, which is a good sign that your body is getting ready but doesn’t mean labour is imminent unfortunately. Contractions are very different to BH, BH are high up usually whereas most feel contractions lower down and in your back. Hang in there mama.. won’t be long, I promise !

Why does the OP need to be on their radar with Brixton hicks at 38w? They’re very much used to women ringing up when they’re actually in labour.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing I will keep an eye on my mucus and colour change as well as the braxton hicks. Seeing this is my first but I have underlined health issues I'm inclined to call them if it changes to a darker colour or contractions. I believe @ThisMammaCat is right to be on the radar then not. Plus my midwife has said from start if any problems to call.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing please don't put someone else's comments down, I value all opinions here.

I’m not putting her comments down. I’m pointing out that that’s not the done thing. If everyone rang when they have BH contractions or slightly different mucus, their phone would never stop ringing.

Most delivery suites have the guidelines I posted above about when to ring. Unless your waters have broken or you’re getting painful contractions, you don’t need to ring them.

You are presumably seeing your MW soon as you’re nearly due so you can mention it then.

I was just concerned about the change in CM that seems to include blood is all. Maybe that's because it's something that would cause me to ring up for myself (I've never even experienced it even though I'm on my 4th baby so it's reasonable that it would seem strange to me). People can disagree without it being a put down, it's okay! People can also ring the unit without it ending in some sort of chaos- they do say to call rather than not if anything concerns you, afterall.

Just an update - glad I called the midwife as I'm now a proud owner of a baby boy who came this morning. Contractions turned out not braxton after all. Soon after mucus plug came I started contractions.

Congratulations @SteakChips

@youcancallmequeene Thank you x

Oh @SteakChips I live a happy birthday story. Congratulations ❤️❤️❤️❤️