Could I be close to labour

[Lily189]

Hi everyone I'm 37 weeks pregnant with my second baby
With my first I was induced due to them thinking he was massive he was 8lb13oz
It failed and I needed an emergency c section

So I've never went into labour naturally on monday my bump dropped loads and I've been having Braxton hicks on and off and heavyness down below
Has anyone dropped and still went to their due date
Also what are other things that happen as labour is approaching
My due date is jan 2nd and I'm hoping I last till at least after xmas day my little boy is 1 and want to be here for him

All advice be great tia

I'm also having period pains in my back for last 2 days and couple of times when I've bent over when I straighten up I get a shooting pain down below

I'm only 33+5 but today I've felt really heavy and last couple of days been experiencing BH for the first time. I hope it's not labour!

Your bump dropping is usually the baby engaging which has no bearing on labour. And Braxton Hicks aren't a sign of impending labour really. They can be a sign you're dehydrated however. Mostly, they're just one of those things!

The sharp shooting feeling is just the baby being engaged and pressing down.

The one which could be something is the period pains but to be a sign of labour, they'd become regular, longer and get closer together.

You're full term and the baby will come in the next 5 weeks. Impossible to predict when. So you are close yes in that you're pregnant with a full term baby. But imminent? Probably not! Who knows though? I went into labour at 37wks with one and 36 with the other with not a single sign. 0-60 in a heartbeat.