Contractions and sleeping - following a sweep

[2023MumToBe]

Hi all.

So my midwife attempted a sweep earlier and unfortunately it was not successful, she said she wasn’t able to reach my cervix.

However im pretty sure I’m experiencing contractions. Every 11 minutes or so my stomach is rock solid, and I’m experiencing a cramping sensation in my lower stomach and back. They’re lasting between 40-50 seconds each time.

I haven’t really had any other signs other than following the attempt of a sweep, I’ve had an occasional light pink liquid when I’ve gone to the bathroom and wiped. It hasn’t looked like discharge but it hasn’t looked like blood, it’s hard to explain. It’s a very light pink, and so slight, and also isn’t a thick consistency.

I’m absolutely exhausted and was wondering, should I just try to sleep this off? As I’ve been told if contractions do start, do not contact the hospital until they are 5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute+.

I’m 41 weeks today, and this is my first baby so I’m absolutely clueless what to expect. I feel like nothing could possibly prepare me for what to expect no matter how much I read haha

Thank you for any advice

Yes try and get some much needed sleep. If the pain gets worse it will wake you up.

All the very best.

Thank you so much for your reply!

I would take some paracetamol and try and sleep whilst you can.

Take 2 paracetamols and get some sleep!
I'd use a tens machine if you've one if you wake up with the pain and it's not been 4hrs since paracetamol.

Hot water also works as pain relief hence I'd use that next.

Advice is to stay home and time your contractions. Call the birth centre if needed.

You got this, mama ❤️

Awww definately sleep it off- also if I could I would of chilled in the bath for a bit.
you sound super chill I bet this labour goes well for you.

Thank you all so much for your replies and reassuring words. I managed to get a decent four hours sleep, the pains a lot stronger today but still around 10 minutes apart. I’ll definitely try to ease the pain with a bath, thank you for that advice as well :)

what was the outcome of this?

So this is my post but I can’t remember the password for the life of me, so I made a new account.

I can confirm I had my baby on the 3rd June at 8:18am. It was contractions, but they was so up and down. They say to time them and see if they get closer together but for me this was not possible if I’m honest. I had absolutely no clue what was going on haha. When I went to the hospital my contractions were still around 10mins apart, they wasn’t under 5mins apart

when I went to the hospital about 12:00/1:00am on the 3rd and when I was examined and was 4cm

Also want to add that my waters did not break, until I was examined at the hospital and they broke while she was doing the examination. If that makes sense