Hello, everyone. I am 40+4 with baby number 4, and I seem to be in early labour. I had a sweep yesterday, which was swiftly followed by regular, but very manageable contractions (as in, I was able to cook dinner and clean up without doubling over), coming every 5-10 minutes until midnight when everything sort of stopped and I went to bed. This morning my contractions are more painful than they were last night, but are only coming every 15-20 minutes. I have had consistent bloody show since yesterday afternoon's sweep, sometimes quite a bit of it. Is this just a reaction to the sweep, or the beginning of labour? This hasn't happened to me this way before (my previous labours were all pretty quick and not protracted like this one.) Anyone had a similar experience? The midwife who did the sweep said that I was 3 cm dilated with a soft cervix, and that baby is low and well engaged. Trying not to be impatient...just wondering how long this stage might last and when to go to the hospital! You'd think I would know these things by now...