Is *this* labour?!

[stalebananabread]

This is my second baby, so you'd think I'd know the drill but apparently not!

38+5, baby has been engaged for a good few weeks. Braxton Hicks have been a background noise for months now.

Had a terrible night last night and woke up feeling rotten. I've had backache, groin pain, shooting cervix pain and period type cramps all morning and it's getting more intense and painful but no discernable pattern. Baby is super active (to the extent that it's hard to know whether he's just pushing himself outwards or whether I'm contracting).

The reason I'm asking for the opinion of some Internet strangers is that I'm positive for GBS and, once established, labour with my daughter was very quick. I've been told to get myself to hospital for antibiotics as soon as I suspect I'm in labour, so I'm just wondering whether any of this reads like possible (if atypical) labour signs..?

Hiya
Give maternity triage a call and they will talk you through all your symptoms.
Good luck!!
X

Gosh, it's so difficult to tell. I've had 5 children (including twins, so 4 labours) and they all started differently and I didn't always know I was in labour.

Labour pains aren't always where you'd expect them (they can be like period pains or be at the tops of your legs or in your bum). Waters breaking and/or on-going contractions are the surest sign that labour is happening.

Your symptoms may indicate your body getting ready for labour or a slow run up to labour. If in doubt and as you have risks call your maternity team/hospital for advice.

I was going to call triage, then I fell asleep for an hour and it's all settled down again. Now I just feel really groggy and unwell.

This is the third time in a week I've felt like labour was starting (although this time was definitely the most convincing) - it's physically and mentally exhausting!

Did you go into labour?

I've had simian symptoms!

For just over a week, I've been feeling sick, dizzy, headaches, cramps, lack of appetite and just generally feeling rubbish!

I'm 38+4 and I feel like my body is just giving up and I'm not sure how much longer I can feel this rubbish 😭

@Sparkles512 unbelievably, I am still pregnant!

I'm going round the bend. Tightening and cramps on and off throughout every day and night, but nothing happens. I've spent a lot of time on the yoga ball and walking sideways up the stairs, but all that does is make my BH worse!

Seeing midwife again next Thursday (40+2) and she's promised me a sweep (early Christmas present?). Desperately hoping this indecisive baby has arrived by then but I'm giving up hope!

Hope something happens for you soon. I couldn't have guessed at how relentless these last few weeks would feel! On the plus side, the terrible sleep and physical discomfort is making the newborn phase look like a doddle.

@stalebananabread oh no how frustrating!

I've got a sweep booked for next Friday when I'm 40 weeks.

Fingers cross we both progress soon! I'm desperate for baby snuggles 😍🤞