Is this early labour? FTM!

[honeybeeeee]

FTM here with no experience of what to expect. I'm 37 and a half weeks.

At around 10:30 last night I started having what felt like spasms in my lower back around 20 minutes apart, but not super regular. They have continued and are now around 6 minutes apart. I would say they have increased in intensity but are still fairly manageable although it's hard to get comfortable. They sort of start off faint and then travel to my abdomen, peak, and taper off.

I have had no other signs - no loss of mucus plug or waters. Baby is not back to back or breach. My bump hasn't noticeably dropped. At my last check a week ago baby wasn't engaged at all!

Could this be early labour or could I be stuck like this for weeks?!

That sounds like it could be braxton hicks, give it a Google and see if it matches how you feel. Braxton hicks is normal xxx

It’s hard to tell. When I went into labour as a FTM my waters went and then I had fairly typical period pains before contractions began.

Thanks both for replying!

I've had a dull ache in my back and period like pain for the last couple of days before this started last night.

It could be braxton hicks although apparently they aren't supposed to be painful and if this is the level of discomfort I'm experiencing from them, I'm concerned for how I'll cope for the real ones 😂

Well you could be in labour OP, so do what you need to do. Better a false alarm than getting taken by surprise and not having the medical attention you need.
Best of luck!

My waters didn’t go until I was ready to push! I had 24 hours each time of pretty low key tightenings and once labour started properly it was intense - had my first DS in 8 hours and my 3rd baby in 80 minutes 😱 I think this is so different for everyone that it’s hard to say if it’s just a practice run or the start of the real thing. If you can, just carry on regardless. Exciting!

Braxton Hicks can definitely be painful.

However I tended to find they only lasted a short amount of time, then stopped. If you've been having constant contractions since 10:30 last night, it could be early labour.

That part of early labour can, also, go on for a while though unfortunately!

Do you have a hot water bottle or wheat pack? You could try that or a hot shower with the water stream directed at your back. If it's BH or very early stages, usually this calms them enough to sleep a bit. Did you sleep at all last night/today?

I have 4 children and only one of them my waters broke before my contractions started. The other 3 I had backache that became more regular before moving to contractions at the front. If they become more frequent I'd definitely get yourself checked out.

Could be tomorrow, could be another 4 weeks. You'll have to wait and see!

My braxton hicks were painful too.

But also, at 33w pregnant (so, really early) I was told to go to labour ward because I had such painful contractions. It turned out to be an infection they hadn't given me the right antibiotics for. I think it's called irritable uterus but it was as painful as early labour, as I later found out. Apparently it triggered extra training for my hospital, because they had known about my infection. But I couldn't talk during a contraction, only moan hunched over. If you feel that bad, (it doesn't sound it, but you haven't described in detail) call labour ward and see what they say, good luck xxx

@BertieBotts I had restless sleep last night but did manage to sleep through most of it. I've been using a mixture of a hot water bottle and wheat bag and they do seem to help to ease it pain wise.

Thanks for the replies everyone I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens! I'd feel a bit daft calling triage at the moment but will do if they get to be regularly three in ten minutes. In the meantime I'll finish packing my hospital bag in case!

An update! It was early labour and my daughter was born this morning at 10:12am ❤️ 37+4 weeks and weighing 6lb 11oz x

Yikes OP! (I thought it probably was but I didn't want to panic you unnecessarily.)

Huge congratulations. 6lb 11oz is a perfect weight. How lovely. 💕
Take care of yourselves. xx

Congratulations! Hope you are both doing well! Xxx

I did say could be tomorrow!
Congratulations!