Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Am I in labour?

35 replies

EllieRosesMammy · 10/12/2022 20:08

36 weeks & 3 days pregnant with my 3rd DD and I've got no clue if Im in labour or not. Had two induced labours (2017 and 2021) so I have no idea what it feels like to go into labour naturally as my induced labours went very much from 0 to 10000 almost instantly. I felt like baby dropped down into my pelvis about 2 days ago, I can feel her head resting very low down. Then last night I was woken at 3am with what I thought were braxton hicks, but these went on till 5am and then just seemed to stop. Then they started again today between 11am-1pm and then stopped. Then again 3pm-5pm and those ones were every 10 mins and moderately painful, and then they stopped. And now they've started again at 7pm, same pain intensity but still same distance apart. No idea if this is the start of labour or not and really trying to avoid going in to the maternity assessment unit unless I absolutely need to, as they're very busy and it's often a 4 hour minimum wait. Also got a lot of pelvic pressure and lightening pains up my cervix when I try to walk too much.

I know with low dependancy pregnancies you don't go to the hospital till contractions are regular and less than 5 mins apart but being high dependancy I'm supposed to go in as soon as labour starts and/or my waters go (which I don't think they have)

Xx

OP posts:
InTheFourthAtMalloryTowers · 10/12/2022 20:11

It sounds like it really could be. I would call especially as you are high dependency.

I was induced with DS 1.
With DS 2 was not sure I was in labor at 37w. Went to be checked was 8cm and still happily walking around.
natural labor felt very very different to induced labor.

PutOnAHappyFace · 10/12/2022 20:21

DC3 was like this, it's meant to be common for 3rd babies to be stop start.

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 10/12/2022 21:06

InTheFourthAtMalloryTowers · 10/12/2022 20:11

It sounds like it really could be. I would call especially as you are high dependency.

I was induced with DS 1.
With DS 2 was not sure I was in labor at 37w. Went to be checked was 8cm and still happily walking around.
natural labor felt very very different to induced labor.

It's hard to tell when you've previously been induced isn't it?! Obviously people say "well youd know if you were in labour" but I've got nothing to compare it to really🤦‍♀️ both times I've had my waters broke for me too so I don't know what that's like either!

OP posts:
Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 10/12/2022 21:08

PutOnAHappyFace · 10/12/2022 20:21

DC3 was like this, it's meant to be common for 3rd babies to be stop start.

How long did that go on for for you? Obviously with induction there's no stop start, it's nothing then all of a sudden very intense pain with hardly any breaks in between, especially when they keep turning the drip up 🙄

OP posts:
ProserpinaProserpina · 10/12/2022 21:49

Third babies are notoriously tricky but does sound like latent phase. Latent phase can last days or even weeks though. Without knowing your risk factors, it’s impossible to say whether you need to call and be seen. Obviously it is slightly earlier than is ideal so if you do feel thinks are ramping up, it’s definitely best to go in so that you definitely deliver in hospital!

PutOnAHappyFace · 10/12/2022 21:53

I was niggly for weeks, midwives told me he was gonna come from about 37week. Proper labour started on his due date, regular non stop contractions and he was born 2 days later, once waters went he shot out. All the hard work had been done over the weeks/days.

Tbh I think I'd just lie/exaggerate when you ring up and go get monitored and see what they say.

PutOnAHappyFace · 10/12/2022 21:57

Oh just seen you are trying to stay sway from MAU. Just carry on at home as long as you feel comfortable but be ready to get in if things suddenly dial up.

Good luck.

PinkButtercups · 10/12/2022 22:25

I was induced in 2019 with DS.
I had my twins on Saturday and was in early labour myself with exactly what you described.
On/off pain. I was actually already in the hospital as was waiting to be induced again. I was 2cm when they checked me.

I'd give them a call so they can check. My waters went when they placed the epidural which didn't actually work but was encouraged to have it incase I had to go for c section.

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 11/12/2022 08:17

Thanks everyone for your replies. I'm going to ring the MAU and I'll probably get sent in today. I'm high dependancy due to 2 x previous post partum hemmorages, and with this pregnancy it's also due to polyhydramnios. Also I've woke up today and been sick and there's blood in my sick, which is slightly concerning as they're already monitoring me due to finding anti D in my blood (I'm RHNeg and baby is RHPositive). So I think I've put off going in for as long as possible at this point 🤦‍♀️ x

OP posts:
Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 11/12/2022 12:26

Update:

Rang the MAU and feel like I've been fobbed off. From all the symptoms I'm showing the NHS website reccomends seeking medical attention (especially as I'm less than 37 weeks) but the midwife on the phone didn't seem concerned at all because my pain isn't that bad. But obviously everyone's pain threshold is different (I have a high tolerance) so how can she possibly know what's going on without seeing and assessing me 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
PutOnAHappyFace · 11/12/2022 12:32

Sorry you feel like that. When's your next midwife appointment?

I understand your frustration, I've has polyhydramnios twice with high risk pregnancies. Would you feel comfortable lying and saying the pain is worse or not sure about waters so they will see you?

PinkButtercups · 11/12/2022 12:49

I'd turn up. Don't let them fob you off

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 11/12/2022 12:51

PutOnAHappyFace · 11/12/2022 12:32

Sorry you feel like that. When's your next midwife appointment?

I understand your frustration, I've has polyhydramnios twice with high risk pregnancies. Would you feel comfortable lying and saying the pain is worse or not sure about waters so they will see you?

Luckily I see the midwife tomorrow and then I have a hospital scan an hour after that, and then I see the consultant on Tuesday. So at this point I'm torn between just waiting and also worrying that if I do wait something bad is going to happen 😥 the pain is actually getting progressively worse now, just very very slowly so I'm hoping it keeps up and I can ring back and insist someone sees me. Half the stuff she said on the phone didn't even sound right, she reckoned if I was in labour I'd be having blood streaked discharge... I've never had that with either of my labours before. Both were induced and both I had my waters broken and then also put on the oxy drip as I was failing to progress. And with both I was also failing to progress fast enough or dialate on the drip so they had to keep turning it up 🤦‍♀️ but basically because I've phoned MAU and my waters haven't gone and I'm not bleeding they've fobbed me off 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
Nursemumma92 · 11/12/2022 13:56

Sounds like it is worth you being assessed OP, especially with polyhydramnios. If they are fobbing you off, call back with concerns that pains are increasing and you aren't sure if baby's movements are following their usual pattern. They will have to see you then, it's important that you are not left to labour too long at home. The blood streaked discharge isn't something that everyone gets in labour, some women do, some women don't! Hope all goes well for you OP, even if not in labour, important to put your mind at rest that all is ok. Sounds like it's not that far away though!

FanniesFlaps · 11/12/2022 14:02

Call back and ask to speak to the midwife in charge today and relay your concerns.

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 11/12/2022 15:19

Sat in the MAU now waiting to be seen, waddled round to the little shop before coming in and I can barely walk more than a few steps without horrible lightning pains. Feels like her head is just resting in my crotch, didn't experience that with my other two babies either, both stayed high up till I was actually in labour I couldn't even have a sweep due to risk of cord prolapse 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
FanniesFlaps · 11/12/2022 15:37

Hopefully you won’t have too long of a wait.

Quitelikeit · 11/12/2022 15:44

glad you went in. As if you don’t know your own body! The health care in this country is very poor and seems to be getting worse!!

please update us!

your shooting pains might be SPD I think it’s called that. If your baby is big they can put massive pressure on nerves and ligaments

good luck abs fingers crossed for you

Original poster
EllieRosesMammy · 11/12/2022 16:00

Quitelikeit · 11/12/2022 15:44

glad you went in. As if you don’t know your own body! The health care in this country is very poor and seems to be getting worse!!

please update us!

your shooting pains might be SPD I think it’s called that. If your baby is big they can put massive pressure on nerves and ligaments

good luck abs fingers crossed for you

They did a similar thing back in 2018 when I had a misscarrige at 13 weeks. I rang for advice and got fobbed off. Showed up to the hospital and asked to be examined, they took a brief look at me but didn't scan or do any proper examinations, told me I was fine and to go home. Got to my front door and started bleeding very heavily. Had to be rushed back in for emergency d&c 🤦‍♀️

Just been triaged and had obs done, just waiting to be further assessed now. She asked "do you actually think you're in labour?"... I don't know, that's why I'm here 🤦‍♀️

OP posts:
Quitelikeit · 11/12/2022 16:05

Gosh op that’s so sad. You poor thing. And you are right those machines that start labour are damn nasty and painful and yes they cranked mine right up when nothing was happening then it was agony.

at least in a normal labour your contractions are initially far apart and you get to have a breather

your labour would feel like very bad period pains - across your lower tummy and your back would be achy, any of that?

I also found a app and it let you record your contractions so you could see how far apart they were

Quitelikeit · 11/12/2022 16:06

And op do not let them fob you off

tell them the last time you were send home without checks you lost your baby and won’t be going anywhere until you know everything is as it should be

keep me updated please haha I’m invested now!

PutOnAHappyFace · 11/12/2022 17:00

Glad you are getting check @EllieRosesMammy even if it's not full labour yet your body is still doing some work to get the baby out.

Razputini · 11/12/2022 17:06

Glad you're being checked. MAU is awful, AWFUL for brushing people off. My daughter would be dead if I listened to their advice during my labour. I always say to people who are expecting, my no.1 advice is to take yourself seriously and don't let them ignore your concerns. Again so glad you're getting checked over, hope everythings alright

Quitelikeit · 12/12/2022 06:47

Hope you are ok op

Confusedandperplexed · 12/12/2022 06:55

I had this with my second. 24 hours what I thought were uncomfortable Brixton hicks. Very on off though - a few hours then nothing for a few hours, then repeated.
rang midwife was fobbed off. At the end she said ‘you could always have a sweep to just give your body a nudge.’
so I went at 4pm having had no contractions for six hours. Was 8cm dilated! Baby born at 5pm!!