31 w + 1 d, and getting crampy

[missjennipenni]

Ok, here goes.

I passed a few blobs of mucus at the weekend.

Ive been feeling crampy since yesterday, with an almost constant low backache. The cramps are not regular and are not tight, they just feel pre-menstrual.

(TMI alert) ive had diarrhoea today too.

Im not really worried, but just wondering wether its a bug or an UTI or something else? Or just a common pregnancy niggle that i wil just have to endure?

Thanks in advance x

I would give your Midwife a ring could be all sorts of things, there is a lot going around at the moment.

Ive no sickness, and dont feel unwell though? Id feel a little silly ringing them lol

An untreated uti can lead to cramps and premature labour

I would really advise you to ring a mw, and tell them about the mucus as well.

You are not wasting their time, that's what they're there for!

The mucus may have been your plug, back pain could be early labour (if baby is back to your back you can get more back pain than anything else) Could also be branston hicks UTI what ever is it worth risking it? surely it's better to get a bit of professional advice?

Ill probably give them a ring then, i just hate to think im taking up time that soemone else needs more than i do!

They are not Braxton Hicks, i have those a lot and these dont feel the same at all, theres no "tightening", IYKWIM?

You may not feel 'tightening' I never did when I had contractions (and I went into labour at 28 weeks - I thought I just felt like shit). It's well worth going in and seeing them. They will examine you, check your cervix is closed and check you don't have an infection. Some women have an irritable cervix (I'm one sadly) and get pain throughout the last trimester - I had contractions every five minutes, notable on monitors - for the last eight weeks, which didn't do a bloody thing and DD had to be evicted out the catflap in the end (cs) but it's really worth going in. They won't make you feel stupid and they will ask you to come in anyway because they can't take the chance.

If you ARE in labour, they can give you drugs to mature the baby's lungs to give him/her the best chance of survival and also try and stop things.

Don't think you are wasting their time they are there to advise and support you and this is a time you need advice and support. It may be nothing but it maybe something and not worth risking yours or babies health.

Thanks for all the advice girls xx

Although if they are born early at 31 weeks they will need extra support breathing and feeding the usually do really really well (I worked in neonatal intensive care for nearly 12 years so lots of babies this gestation)

Ive been told he is already big for gestation, but i knwo hwo wrong growth scans can be! does being bigger give him a better chance?

Big doesn't necessarily mean developed though - you can have a baby who is born at five pounds who is just as healthy as an eleven pounder and vice versa. You need to get checked out.

But yes most babies born at 31 weeks make it and have good outcomes according to Bliss.

Being 31+ weeks gives him a better chance as does getting professional advice as said if this is labour they can try to stop it and obviously the longer he is in there the better. They can also Give steroids to mature his lungs and prepare him for delivery these are not nice for you I will not lie but We could always tell which babies had received them and which not it really really makes a difference to how much help they need and for how long.

If it is an infection they can get it treated this too can help prevent pre term delivery.

The very best thing you can do to give this baby the best chance is to use those professionals. That is there job and that is what they are paid for.