36+5 cramps and diarrhea? TMI

[dreamerkr]

TMI sorry! I’m 36+5 and I haven’t been able to sleep yet because since the last 3 hours or so I’ve been having cramping in my lower stomach which is now accompanied with diarrhoea. I did eat something last night that could have caused it but usually when I eat something weird I don’t get diarrhoea so many hours later. The cramps get slightly better and then they get worse again. I can’t lay comfortably in any position and I’m wide awake, it doesn’t help that baby is breech. I have an ELCS booked for 38 weeks. What can I do about these cramps? I do feel like they’re because of my bad stomach but idk. They’re so bad I haven’t slept a single minute yet and it’s 4:15am. I was thinking to call triage but idk if I should at this time. I might wait and see if it gets better in an hour or so, I’ll call them in the morning if it’s not better? Help anyone? I was uncomfortable enough with baby’s head right under my ribs and now this is hell.

Sounds like early labour. Please call in and get checked. Mine both came at 37w0d and were fine.
Good luck

I think I’m going mad because I haven’t slept yet. The cramping is sliiiiightly better now (fingers crossed) but I swear I can feel pressure down there. Is this even possible when baby is breech? I’m going mad I know. Ughhh.

I also had an upset stomach as the first sign with both.

@InTheFourthAtMalloryTowers call now? This is scaring me now 🥺 I don’t think it’s early labour because the cramps are better than before kinda but I have no idea!! I need sleep. Definitely gonna call them if I get those bad cramps again.

I really hope it’s not early labour because I don’t have my hospital bag packed! Baby boy’s bag is all packed and ready but mine isn’t and I still need to buy stuff too 🥺

The baby won’t wait for your bag to be packed. Call the labour ward and seek their advice. Someone can always drop a bag off for you later.

The cramps got better and now they’re back again. Calling triage

For your bag, make sure you have a book/tablet for entertainment in case of lots of waiting when you're in, plus chargers.I find a decent pillow to be a lifesaver in hospital too, and flip flops or slippers. If you'll need a cs anyway, just about everything else, you won't need until after recovery. The ward can also provide most of what you need ie take big pants if you have them, but they have disposable ones for you if not, same with maternity pads.

You'll wear a hospital gown, and will be in recovery with a catheter for a while after - if your partner can go home at any point between the op and you being mobile on the ward, can he get the rest of your stuff then? My DH went home to sleep and I just gave him a list of stuff to gather for when he next came in.

@RebeccaCloud9 thank you so much. 😊

I called triage and they told me it sounds like Braxton Hicks and they’re not really concerned. I’m gonna try to get some sleep and fingers crossed the cramps won’t get any worse.

It sounds highly likely that this could be labour (symptoms are exactly the same as one of mine) and things can move quite quickly. Given this is a diagnosed breech, I'd want to be checked over if I were you, rather than risk a last-minute vaginal breech delivery that no-one is really prepared for.
Phone them back and tell them you're coming in for assessment. Hopefully they'll check you over, tell you it's nothing and send you home to rest but if it turns out it is labour, then you'll be in the right place to get the baby out safely.

@elevenplusdilemma what were your symptoms? 🥺

I asked them if I should come in to get checked and they said there’s no need yet 🙄 not sure how I feel about that. But they asked how far apart the ‘contractions’ are, I told them 10-15 mins and they’re not really regular. They said it’s Braxton Hicks, or practice contractions. I’m just really scared because there’s only 8 days left for my c-section and my pregnancy has been so good and straightforward so far even with GD and baby being breech.

This happened a few weeks ago too when I ate something weird. But the cramps lasted not even 2 hours that time. It’s been almost 6 hours now and they’re still going on, although sometimes they’re weaker and sometimes stronger. I don’t even know 😩

Craps and the squits. Not being able to settle. Same as you. Started about 3am, phoned hospital at 8am. They said to stay at home a bit longer to see if labour established. By 8:30am I told DH I'd rather start heading to the hospital (we live 15 miles away and I didn't fancy a home birth). We arrived at hospital about 10am ish and baby was born just after 11am.

I live in a country where our entire pregnancy is managed by a obstetrician.

Mine told me - you will know it’s labour if the pains keep you awake.

Contractions are unpredictable and you can be in labour even with stops and starts. Been there. :)

As you are feeling pressure and your baby is breech I would personally go and get checked for peace of mind.

Good luck

Thank you so much guys. I ended up falling asleep and thankfully I’m feeling completely fine now. No cramps, no upset stomach, no pressure. So I guess it was Braxton Hicks.

How are you doing @dreamerkr ?

Those cramps were just Braxton Hicks. ☺️
I’m doing great thank you! I had my baby last Wednesday by ELCS at 38 weeks, me and baby are both doing great and recovery has been smooth so far.

Ahhh congratulations :) so glad it went well.
Enjoy your little one ❤️