38 weeks pregnant - early labour symptoms

[FTMRLH]

Hi everyone.

I’m 38 weeks pregnant and due to have an elective csection next week due to tokophobia.
My husband works away and is due to go away for 2 nights this weekend.
The baby is fully engaged and over the last few days I have been experiencing groin pain and period like pain.
I wouldn’t say I’v experienced any contracting although my baby is measuring big and it’s hard to tell if some things I feel is the baby moving or my belly tightening.
I had put the pain down to doing too much in the house / walking around too much etc
Today I have had a very bad stomach and I feel exhausted.

My concern is that these could be symptoms of something starting and my husband being away at the time.

Obviously my due date is actually 2 weeks away. But being a FTM I have no idea what to expect at this stage.

Is this normal? Or should I tell him not to go (I have back up birth partners but due to covid I’m not sure if my husband would then be able to ‘swap’ out with them to be my visitor during my hospital stay)

Thanks in advance x

You would know if it were a contraction, I promise.
It can come on quickly though at any point from 37 weeks so just because it hasn’t happened so far doesn’t mean it can’t happen.

I’d check the birth partner thing - it’s not allowed at mine, so if you took a “back up”, your husband couldn’t join you. You’re also only allowed your birthing partner to visit, no one else. Not ideal!

But no experience of contractions yet, so I can’t help there. Could DH come back, if he needed to?

Yes he could come back. Although I’m sure he’d upset some bride and grooms 🤣
It would take him a few hours though and I don’t know if there’d be time for that if having a csection.

I guess my other option would be to go alone and he just get there as soon as he can.

I know il know when I have contractions. When I say my belly isn’t contracting I meant more braxton hicks… which I’v also never experienced.

I was just wondering if a bad stomach, groin pain and period pains were a sign of something beginning

Thanks for your advice so far

It could well be. My 1st baby I was having tightenings every 6 minutes immediately starting at 6pm they didn't hurt until midnight. They then felt like period cramping but came in waves every 4 minutes. I was 6cm when I went in at 5.30am and he was born at 9.20am. My 2nd I had one massive Braxton hick like contractions that didn't hurt but felt like I had a bowling ball in my uterus. I went back to sleep as was middle of night. Went to drs appointment next morning (11.30am - scheduled) and they examined me to check all on track for 37 weeks and found I was 6cm - not a single pain. My first o thought I had a bug as I was on the toilet a lot b4 the contractions started. So be aware, pay attention to the tightenings and see if they are regular

Upset tummy, lightening crotch and period pains can all be signs things are getting going.

I had my first baby at 38 weeks so if it were me I'd tell husband not to go.

My friends husband went away for work when she was close to her due date. She went into labour while he was gone. He had a mad dash to get home in time. He made it just as she was being loaded into the ambulance.

First baby, went into labour 37+6 and he was born the next day.
He started as back ache at 10am, that turned to tightenings throughout the day, excruciating back pain as he was back to back. Tummy just kept feeling like someone was crushing it.
I'd deffo ask him not to go this late in your pregnancy as it can happen any day now

Just call the labour ward and asked to be checked out.