37 weeks and contracting but no waters

[Lucyhayley]

I am 37 weeks and 2 days

I was in hospital last night. Yesterday I started having what felt like period cramps at 2pm but 5pm these were quite intense. By 6pm I was curled up on the sofa, clutching my stomach which was rock hard and wouldn’t stop being hard and every time the baby kicked or moved it felt like a massive punch to my stomach. One call to labour line and a car trip away I was seen at the hospital and monitored. My stomach eventually softened and baby was heart beating and moving normally from the start. I then start having slightly painful irregular contractions that came and went like normal. which they said could be very early onset labour and to keep an eye on my waters. I got examined on my cervix using a smear test tool and sweeped with fingers and they said I haven’t started dilating at all. Has anyone ever been through this or similar at all before? I never knew you could get contractions before your waters break? How long is this going to take?
It's been 24 hours since this all started and nothing else has happened. But I can't go over 2 weeks in this pain.

Waters only break first in a v small number of women, less than 10% iirc. Contractions first is the usual pattern of labour.

Have you taken a paracetamol? Tried anything else like a hot water bottle, a walk, warm bath, shower, bouncing on a ball etc?

Are you well hydrated at this can cause discomfort and more pain during contractions.

My waters have broken really late on every time, it's very normal. Twice they have broken as I've started pushing (after several hours of contractions).

Some women have slow labours that start and stop for a few days, for some it ramps up quickly. Some braxton hicks contractions are extremely convincing too. Depending on how your baby is lying, some contractions don't build in a linear way to 3 every 10 minutes lasting at least a minute like the guidance says. But when your baby is coming, you will know.

If you are at all worried or movements lessen please go back to your pregnancy assessment unit - otherwise, it's just a waiting game. Your baby's arrival could be 5 hours, but it could be 5 days or even all come to nothing. I can hear how frustrating this is for you. It is ok to feel frustrated.

@BottlingBurpsForGrandma

My waters have broken really late on every time, it's very normal. Twice they have broken as I've started pushing (after several hours of contractions).

Some women have slow labours that start and stop for a few days, for some it ramps up quickly. Some braxton hicks contractions are extremely convincing too. Depending on how your baby is lying, some contractions don't build in a linear way to 3 every 10 minutes lasting at least a minute like the guidance says. But when your baby is coming, you will know.

If you are at all worried or movements lessen please go back to your pregnancy assessment unit - otherwise, it's just a waiting game. Your baby's arrival could be 5 hours, but it could be 5 days or even all come to nothing. I can hear how frustrating this is for you. It is ok to feel frustrated.

Well that's certainly reassuring I already have a 2 year and his labor was like textbook, water broke, lost my show, contractions, few hours later, baby. 😂 so it is strange that things are different this time. We're just seeing how things go but we are so excited to have this baby we wish things would speed along. We're going to try and get between the sheets tonight as we believe that's what started all of this in the first place! Wish me luck!

My contractions started at 40 weeks and waters didn't go until 40+2 at 6am, baby born at 10.02am. I laboured at home for two days/nights which was very hard and intense so I do feel your pain!

Try and keep calm, run yourself a bath, use your hypnobirthing practice (if you're using this), pop your favourite funny movie on and your baby will be here before you know it. I slow danced to Andrea Bocelli before heading into the hospital!

Slow danced with my partner, not just solo *

My waters didn’t break until ds nearly crowned. It looked like he was going to be born en caul as my waters were bulging out. They popped at the last second (covering both the midwife and dh) and he was born not long after

Dd, I had her waters broken to encourage labour to go quicker

Thank you everyone, going to keep an eye on everything and see how it all goes! Will keep you updated over next few days!

DS1 was similar story to your first - waters broke, lost plug, contractions intensified, baby!

DS2, however, totally different order. Had a bloody show, period cramps started a couple of hours later which turned into contractions, which eventually tailed off over night but remained every 10 mins or so, then by the following evening they ramped right up suddenly, waters broke, DS2 born 2 hours later!

I have heard a lot of subsequent pregnancies go on to have this slow prodromal labour that can last days or weeks unfortunately! In a way, no waters is good at this stage as there are no time pressures. Good luck!

My waters went as I was pushing! I had on off cramping from 37 weeks, eventually had her at 41 weeks.

Good luck!

That sounds exactly the same as what I'm going through so far!
Yes and I heard that contractions get much more painful after your waters break as well so silver linings!

My pain actually got a whole lot less after my waters broke with ds. I was trying to push this massive bag of water out AND ds and the pressure was intense.

As soon as I felt that pop, it was so much better.

They nearly gave me an episiotomy before my waters broke.

I agree. My contractions were nowhere nearly as bad when my waters went! Instant relief and just wanting to push 😊

Mine went when I had to start pushing. Don't think I know anyone whose waters naturally went before contractions.

You don't want them to go too soon as I think they only let you labour naturally for 24hrs due to infection risk. Then you need monitoring and also you can't get in a pool once they've gone.

Update: I think my waters will go soon, I feel so much pressure and it feels like something needs to pop down there.

I had a 16 hour labour and my waters went 50 minutes before ds was born - you just never know how these things will go! Good luck op

Bad news is I had strong contractions for weeks before mine arrived second time. Apparently Braxton Hicks can be much more convincing once you've done it once. I hope yours goes better!!

@Lucyhayley Hope you are doing ok! x