Is labour starting?

[M2B91]

Hi all,
I’m 37+4 today. I’ve been having tightenings and a little back pain since last night. I haven’t timed it and to be honest it doesn’t seem regular so making me think it’s just braxton hicks. However I was full of energy last week and most definitely nesting but yday and today have extreme fatigue and generally struggling to do every day tasks.
I am booked in for a c section in 8 days time and am really anxious about going into labour naturally due to having my first child only 12 months ago via emergency c section. My waters broke with her at 37+5 weeks and she arrived at 38 weeks.
I know this is not a sign that current baby could come at that time but really feeling like this is the beginning of labour.
I have lots of watery discharge that was already checked last week as was worried it was my waters but was told it wasn’t. No mucus plug or show yet which went a few days before my waters went last year.
Not really sure of the reason for this post, I guess right now I’m just waiting until these tightenings are accompanied with moderate pain and there is some consistency, or am I crazy for waiting it out when I could potentially end up having a quick labour and contracting and I’m at high risk of uterine rupture due to very recent c section.
I did ask for my c section to be brought forward due to anxiety over this but it was not possible so now I’m just waiting it out until 38+5 and hoping this is not labour.
thanks for reading and any advice really appreciated.

Hi OP,
can you call the midwife and pop in for monitoring?
I had to do that a few times with 2nd pregnancy and got reassured they would much prefer to give a quick once over and the news everything is fine. Your gut reaction is there for a reason too!

Thank you, I did and was told to wait it out to see if the dull pain intensifies. Nothing seems to have changed for the last couple of hours so thinking it must just be braxton hicks now. However, I do feel a real shift in the way I’m feeling these last couple of days so if labour isn’t today it may be close 🤷🏻‍♀️

Well hopefully speaking to them reassures you, although if you are at all worried ring them and get checked over.

My second one was a super quick delivery but looking back I’d been a bit achy, out of sorts and braxton hick-ish the whole week before (hence why I went in so often!-I was an anxious one!) so actually I think my body had spent plenty of time getting ready, just did the last bit on speed!

If you’ve been nesting too I’m guessing it could be.

Did you go into labour naturally with your first?

Yes I went into labour naturally with my first, I don’t remember a build up like this. I didn’t get any braxton hicks or tightenings prior to labour. Just felt super uncomfortable and wasn’t sleeping well. I then went to bed at 37+5 and woke 2 hours later to my waters breaking. There were puddles everywhere! Had no pain but went in to get checked and confirmed waters had gone. Contractions started about 8 hours after this but they were regular and started mild then increased. The labour was a very typical one but ended in an emergency c section due to pushing for 2 hours and baby being on her side.
I feel really different this time round and am worried about a super quick delivery like yours as they say second generally comes much quicker.
With the first sign of any intense pain I’ll take myself straight to the hospital.
Would love to go now and be checked over but I’ve definitely been put off by midwife unless tightenings are regular and more painful.

@M2B91 How are you doing?
Your first labour sounds so like mine apart from the emergency c-section. I was just wondering as I think you do know when you are in full on labour but it might not be as painful or as full on as expected and could cloud judgement. If that makes sense 🤷🏻‍♀️
I think the position of baby can change the intensity of the pain too.
With my first one I woke up to my waters breaking too, got checked out and sent home, few hours late I got a few tightenings and mild period like cramps, I kept expecting the pain to get worse so thought I had ages to go and I was adamant they were further apart than 3/4 minutes - thankfully DH timed them, rang the hospital and insisted we went - so we did get there in time!

My second was quick but absolute hell and he got stuck so I didn’t get off lightly that time! Perhaps you could get checked over at a drop in in tomorrow if they have them in your area or ask to be on the monitor like you do for reduced fetal movements?
If you strongly feel you want a midwife to check you over perhaps your birth partner could phone and advocate for you, it can be hard to advocate for yourself when you are tired and anxious.

and thinking about it now I remember them taking a vaginal swab from me at one of the checks which indicated how likely I was to go into Labour in the next 48 hours as I had such strong braxton hicks and second one wasn’t a wriggler so I couldn’t feel him! Sorry I can’t remember the name of the test but perhaps that would offer reassurance

How far are you from the hospital?

Oh wow! They do sound very similar! I think I’m just expecting the same scenario as before if I were to go into labour naturally this time round but it just doesn’t work like that does it.
i actually have a midwife appointment in the morning so I’ll ask her about the swab. Thank you!
My tummy is still really tight, I can’t work out if I’m having braxton hicks or it’s baby moving, just feels like my stomach is being squeezed. There isn’t much pain anymore and after napping for 2 hours with my little one today, I’m ready for bed already. The fatigue I’m feeling is something else!
Do you know if the midwife can check tomorrow to see if I’m dilating at all? Baby is really low and feeling a lot of pressure.

I’m only 20 minutes from the hospital but sometimes traffic in my area can be bad so that’s always a worry.
My husband thinks I’m over thinking things and seem fine so won’t push for me to go get checked either. He has just said I’m sure you’ll hold out until the c section next week! Wish he was feeling what I am right now! We know our bodies! I’m going to try and sleep on it and who knows something might happen in the night or tomorrow or hubby could be right!

Yes I’ve not spoken to many people that have had waters go before any contractions, my Gran had the same with her first two as well!

if it helps at all my waters went first with my second as well. We went to the hospital to get checked out, all fine but I insisted I didn’t want to leave, no idea why really, just knew I didn’t want to. They let me stay in a small exam room for a bit longer, DC2 arrived around 2 hours later.

I’ve not actual ever been checked for dilation but I don’t see why the midwife couldn’t check tomorrow. Especially if you are feeling something is happening and you know you need a c-section.
Please tell her how you feeling mentally as well as physically.
Husband’s might not fully appreciate us knowing our pregnant bodies but midwives definitely should!!
Do you have a Mum, sister or friend that could advocate if needed?
That’s good you aren’t too far from the hospital.
Hope you have a good restful sleep - keep me posted, I feel a little invested tbh!!