Regular contractions at 32 weeks but cervix is closed.

[CD1987]

I posted on here earlier about getting checked out for a UTI. I’ve just returned from hospital after being monitored for a few hours. When I first went on the monitor the baby’s heart rate was high for about 45 mins and she was going bonkers in there. They decided to repeat the ctg and the heart rate eventually settled albeit still at the high end but it showed regular contractions and I could feel the tightenings. They checked my cervix which was closed and sent me home but they weren’t really clear on telling me why the heart rate was so high or what it meant to be having regular contractions. Has anyone else experienced this and should I be worried? I’m awaiting the test results for UTI and they just said to come back if the pains don’t subside but I’ve been feeling like this for a few weeks now.

Any chance you can get a private scan? Probably not the same but my son had unexplained heart rate that sometimes settled, tho at 37+5 when my waters broke so further than you. Anyway it took them 3 days and until him actually coming out (and struggling to do so!) To realise the heart rate issue was due to his cord being around his neck twice 🤦🏼‍♀️. Thankfully he was fine! And he is now 5 and healthy. But If you can afford a private reassurance scan to just check what she's doing in there I think that'll help x

I’ve had this a few times. It’s been called a few things; prodromal labour, false labour and uterine irritability seem to come up most often.

I get into a contraction cycle which can last hours, even days… then it just stops.

in my first pregnancy this happened at 35 weeks and I was admitted because it lasted for 4 days, it did then actually turn into ‘real’ labour and I had my son at the start of week 36.

this pregnancy though it’s been all over the place. I’ve been admitted 4 times, starting in week 32. Each time my cervix has been closed and I’ve eventually been discharged once the contractions stop.

they’re different to braxton hicks in that they are regular (falling into an obvious pattern that can be monitored on a CTG) and they are often uncomfortable rather than just tight. Particularly the later episodes in weeks 34-36 where it felt like I had period cramps with the tightenings.

it’s enormously frustrating, and my first pregnancy taught me that it’s better to be safe than sorry because whilst I had several days of nothing really happening, when active labour started it was quick. I went from 1-10cm in less than an hour and baby was here within 2.

I’ve done some reading which suggests that uterine irritability can become worse with subsequent pregnancies.

best of luck with the rest of it. There’s not a huge amount of information available when it comes to this stuff and I’ve definitely had more than a few moments of resenting not having a ‘normal’ labour experience.

Oh and I forgot to say. In both pregnancies baby’s heart rate accelerated with the contractions and it caused a lot of movement. It wasn’t a case that the HR was up for the whole period of time though, just when the tightenings happened (which I almost always get 3-4 mins apart).

Thank you both for your replies. @Ttcmumma I have a consultant appt coming up soon and I think it includes a growth scan, but if not will definitely look into getting a private one.

@glasspaw that sounds exactly like what’s happening to me. I explained the pains to one midwife and she just said it’s braxton hicks, then I rang in yesterday and they said any kind of period like pains need to be investigated. On the monitor I was contracting every few mins and they had to get a second and third opinion before letting me go home. I guess I just have to keep an eye on things and go back if it becomes prolonged again? It’s not necessarily a sign that I’ll give birth early is it?

not necessarily, though with my first it was the case (this time I’ve made it to 37 weeks though and still no baby!) Over a prolonged period of time though the contractions do seem to start doing something (I’ve had some cervical progress during the prodromal episodes apparently. I have a very tilted cervix and during my longest admission of 3 days it went from closed, long and very far back to closed, shortening and forward).

I do also wonder whether the frequency of cervical exams during my admission with the first could have caused labour? I was checked twice a day for 4 days before active labour started. I’ve limited the number of exams I’ll consent to this time just in case but you can never really know.

once they stop just try and take it as easy as possible. Bed rest was suggested but it would drive me literally insane so I went with a more measured ‘limit physical activity to an absolute minimum until you hit full term’ approach 😂