Midwife examination started early labour?

[Millie890]

Hi- first time Mum so I am probably totally wrong :). Had anyone else experienced this? 39+1 and have just had my bump examined to see where the baby's head was. The midwife doing the check didn't half give it some force, as if she was kneading bread (as they have to). I've been having period type cramps right at the top of my bump ever since...might she accidentally have started labour off?? It's fine if she has, just wondering if that's possible just from an external exam.

*38+1. Typo!

Past 37 weeks you're full term anyway so this isn't early labour (if it is labour)
Midwives are highly trained and know what force to use and would never use force (I think force is the wrong word anyway) that could cause you or your baby harm.
If this is labour its a coincidence but a full term pregnancy so not early at all

If it’s at the top of the bump it might be braxton hicks?

My experience of labour pains were very low down and more in my lower back.

It’s unlikely she has started labour off, more likely just braxton hicks although if it is labour it’ll progress into stronger contractions. Just to correct a pp, you’re not actually full term until 39 weeks, 37/38 weeks are classed as early term, preferably babies stay in until 39 weeks but it’s not going to cause too much of an issue at this point.

Midwife may have caused some bruising if she used a fair bit of force.

@PickledScrump this from the NHS

If it was possible for midwives to start labour off like this then no one would ever need an induction! It’s just a coincidence. You are full term so labour could have started at any moment anyway.

This happened when I had my first. I had a very heavy handed examination to check whether the head was engaged (which she said it wasn't) which made me really tearful for the rest of the afternoon, and then the baby arrived that night (so the whole examination was entirely pointless anyway!) But I was 39 weeks though, so likely coincidence I guess.

At 39 + 1, labour is imminent anyway!!

The pains could be labour, could be Braxton Hicks. Good luck.

@Bananaandpecan https://www.nhsaaa.net/media/11171/amu20-007-cc-late-preterm-and-early-term-delivery-a5-leaflet.pdf

this is also nhs. When I had my first they said 37 weeks, but my second was born 2021 and they said then about early term and the importance of those last few weeks