Period-like pains at 38 weeks pregnant

[novamama]

Hi mamas, especially ones that have already given birth and experienced period-like pain cramps around 38 weeks!

I have been cramping in lower front abdomen for 3 days now - associated with very strong Brackston Hicks. No loss of mucus plug yet. Waters intact still.

How long did it take for you for labour to properly start?

I'm feeling fine physically, just mentally a bit deflated. I was really hoping I'd go into labour by now. I'm not only keen to meet the baby but also I was really hoping for a low risk birth in the MLU. My entire pregnancy I've been low risk and it's all gone smoothly, it feels strange to go on alternative pathways now :(

i have no advice.

My waters broke and 30mins later i started feeling contractions that got more and more intensen (nothing like
period cramps… they were MUCH MORE INTENSE!)

baby was with me 8.30mins later..

I should mention that the evening before her birth I had been swimming…

Oh, OP, I'm sorry. This was me in my first two pregnancies - I was really, really set on the MLU! Ah well. Try to relax, go with the flow, and if they turn the drip up too fast for you, go for the epidural.

@thebestinterest

That sounds amazing! I suppose some of us are luckier than others 😅

The only running thoughts atm are what if waters my broke because I've twisted strangely in the night, and actually not baby nor my body are ready for labour 😅😅😅

@Thankyouthankyoujellybean thank you lovely. I'm sorry you've had to go through this as well.

I really appreciate you lovelies replying here, makes me feel less lonely in this journey.

Are you 100% sure it was your waters breaking rather than a small gush of (replenishable) fluid? I imagine that you are, but you said you were keen to hear all stories.

With my first I was told my water had broken at 41+3, and after another day that I should be induced if I had no contractions (which I didn't). That didn't work and when they did the eventual c-section at 41+5 the consultant observed that the waters seemed completely intact. So it's possible to lose some fluid, even very late in pregnancy, without labour being exactly imminent.

Wow!

Get some rest OP! Hope all goes well.

Importantly, the guidelines have changed regarding antibiotics - they are only given once labour starts, not as a preventative measure after 18h from waters breaking.

This is only the case if you are not known to be Group B Strep positive. If you are, you need antibiotics every 4 hrs from waters breaking (just in case anyone with GBS reads this thread!). I know this because my first baby had GBS sepsis and so i am being considered as if i am positive for this current pregnancy.

Hope things get moving soon, OP!

I'm going to sleep now, but I'll check in in the morning - should be around 6am, thanks DS2!

I broke my waters with DS1 in a coughing fit, but with DS2 I was asleep in bed. Sometimes these things happen. Boo.

Good luck!

I should have mentioned they are guidelines for first time pregnancy - they don't test for Strep B for first pregnancies where I am.

I imagine you'd be on antiobiotics regardless of the time post waters breaking though if you were positive for strep B, or?

@Thankyouthankyoujellybean

Ughhh coughing! Good to know it's not just me with random waters breaking then 😅

Anyways, good night! I will do the same.

I'll let you know if things start progressing overnight!

Fingers crossed I don't need to go all the way to the drip induction 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻

Yes exactly. There is a big trial going on at the moment into GBS where in some hospitals all women are being tested, even in first pregnancies, to see if it catches more cases, meaning women can have the preventative measures and have antibiotics from as soon as your waters break. They are looking at whether it reduces overall case of GBS infection. But for those hospitals not in the trial, you would only know if had previously been diagnosed prior to your first pregnancy, or you booked a private test, or it was found earlier in the pregnancy, or like me if you had a previous pregnancy affected.

@ProjectKettle forgot to actually say that I am so sad to hear about your firstborn, it must have been so scary.

I actually wanted to do a private swab but didn't get around to do it.

Fingers crossed your current little one will stay clear this time 🤞🏻

Thank you! Yes it was very scary at the time but she's a gorgeous lively 2yr old now so things ended well for us.

Keep positive! Im sure it wont be long and you will be having lovely newborn snuggles 😊

@ProjectKettle That's really great to hear!! I enquired about testing and midwife said they'd only do it if prev pregnancy happened to be Strep B positive.

Which is a bit ridiculous to me, as just as we have lateral flows for COVID nowadays you could really do a quick easy test like that. Hopefully the trial comes out as beneficial and no more sepsis babies happen...

@ProjectKettle always happy to read happy ending stories ❤️

I'll try to keep neutral if I cannot be bursting with joy; but for now, sleep time for me and I'll attempt to visualise those happy newborn snuggles in my dreams 🥰

I hope everything is going well OP. My contractions started just after I'd done 2 flights of stairs after my waters broke!

Fingers crossed its soon for you

Good morning ladies! Some progress has happened during the night. I've started having mild contractions at about 1. I managed to sleep 2h and rest later on. I called the MAU and I don't need to go in for them to break waters fully, yay! Just need to call again when I'm in established labour. Then I'll have to go to delivery suite and be put on antibiotics.

I'm just so happy they let me labour at home for now. 🥳🥳🥳🥳

Woohoo! Break out the feel-good movies and chiiiiiill 😀

Wonderful! Rest, relax, eat some good food so you'll have lots of energy later. Sending best wishes ❤️

How exciting good luck!

Aww how exciting. Good luck. Keep us updated

Thank you ladies!

Such a wild ride this labour! Contractions have gone down massively after my morning nap.

I've then tried walking around the house, light dancing and singing on my fave tunes, ball circles, yoga, nipple stimulation; which helped a bit but still overall less contractions.

I've just woken up from the most restful nap and baby is moving around like a happy lamb making me have BH, but no contractions! I'm as relaxed as I could possibly be. I'm waiting for these contractions to pick up again 😅 I would have never thought it's going to be such a rollercoaster. 🙈🤞🏻

Oh believe me I know exactly how you feel. I was like that when I was pregnant woth my daughter.