Consistent period pain at 37 weeks getting worse?

[JellyBelly50]

I’m a first time mum so have no idea if this is normal. Midwife doesn’t work today so cannot ask her. I’ve been getting period pains for the last few days that have been getting worse daily. I do not think these are contractions as they are persistent, do not come and go or anything like that.

Baby is engaged so could be pressure but getting to the point where they are quite painful and feel like I’m having a heavy period.

Does anyone know if this is normal?

Well yes, it's normal, and it could be a sign that you are getting close to going into labour, however, it could dull down again.

Take 2 paracetamol and rest, put your legs up.

My natural labour started like that, dull, achey, lower back period type pain. This can come and go for a while before you go into active labour.

When it gets bad you will start to pass the mucus plug and after that contractions will start.

Don't panic, you might not go into active labour for days or even weeks yet. It's your body gearing up for it.

At 37 weeks I'd probably just try to rest (unless bleeding/waters break/anything else). Get hospital bag packed and lie on sofa with paracetamol and hot water bottle! But if you're worried you could probably phone the labour ward if midwife is not on today?
Period pains is how my labours started. It could be the start of labour for you. Or it might be a false labour and it will go away and you'll go into real labour in a couple of weeks. No way to know!

Hi OP, this is how my labours started each time, was like that for about a week prior for the first one

Yes, it sounds very much like very early or pre-labour pain. I was quite surprised to discover that at the beginning, labour felt like period pain. In the movies, you're happily browsing the fruit aisle in a supermarket then suddenly, without warning, doubled up in pain and rushing to the hospital.... where the baby is born 12 minutes later!

Take it easy, possibly some paracetamol, but if it gets worse I would be calling into your local clinic even if your midwife is off as they might want to check you.

You need to ring Maternity triage, not just sit around and wait for your midwife to finish her day off. The number should be on the front of your maternity notes.

@JellyBelly50This is how my labour began, dull achy period like cramps. I was in active labour within a few hours of this. I would give your maternity unit a quick call, regardless if your midwife is in or not.

That’s how my second labour started - period cramps. Best of luck!

@Katiec1 @Piffpaffpoff thank you! Were the period cramps consistent like mine are? Or did yours come and go

Sounds like slow labour to me. My contractions felt like period pains which got stronger and stronger.

Mine came and went.... I think.... Went to bed with paracetamol, woke up/roused myself as I needed the toilet, walking to ensuite was super painful, sat on toilet and bloody mucus started to discharge, just a little.

After that cramps, turned into cyclical waves, this was the start of contractions.

@JellyBelly50 I can’t remember exactly (over 8 years ago) but I do remember waking up with a dull ache in my back very similar to period cramps. I was 10 days over and remember saying to myself, “right baby is coming today”
I started bouncing and moving on the gym ball for 20 mins, cramps did ease, went to bathroom and noticed a bit of mucus when I wiped.
cramps did come and go every so often and I knew it was time. Daughter was born that evening.
It maybe slow labour in your case as it’s been over the course of a few days??!
wishing you a the best of luck xx