40+1 period pains - start of labour?

[orzo15]

This is my first baby, but since 9.30 this morning i've had a wave of period pain about every 30 mins. Has anyone else had this as the start of labour? Or is it a bit meaningless?

Have you lost your mucus plug yet?

Congrats on your baby - sounds like they're on their way. 🎉 Cramps are usually an early sign - though they can last a few days before ramping up. Sometimes they can stop / start too which is very frustrating but at your gestation you'll probably be holding your baby soon.

Sounds like it 🥳

I haven't lost my plug, does that need to happen before labour can really start?

I really hope this is the start of something, I am so uncomfortable! I had a little bit of period pain a couple days ago which amounted to nothing but this seems to be a little more regular so i'm slightly more hopeful!

Definitely sounds like labour. I had those pains for first 12 hours after my waters broke.

You can dilate a few centimetres and not lose the muscular plug, but it'll come out eventually, just stay active! Rather than sitting down, as it can make the labour more slower

That is how mine started. I don’t lose my mucus plug either. It took another two days for my waters to break 😬. Hope it all goes well!

Thank you! Fingers crossed its the real deal 😁

Sounds like it.. not everyone loses mucus plug or some do so gradually you've not noticed. Good luck op!!

I've had three babies and only with my second did I notice my plug coming away.

I was induced with my eldest (but was 4cm when I arrived for the induction) and had my waters broken. Had very mild cramps building up to that.

Babies 2 & 3 had spontaneous labours and started with mild cramps. Slowly these became more and more noticeable and regular. Baby 3 this stage was quite stop start but it ended up being the fastest labour and birth overall.

I love the brilliant doula Natalie Meddings advice for this stage: just carry on as normal and don't think about it too much. When you can't carry on as normal and it's demanding your focus is the time to take some action.

Wishing you a lovely birth x

That's how I found out my period pains were actually cramps!