Can Braxton Hicks be regular?

[dreamerkr]

Hey guys, I’m currently 36+3 and since the last hour and a half I’ve been up with light cramping that’s coming and going. It’s not that bad or that painful, however it hurts a little bit, it’s not painless. It feels like my period is about to start. Over the last few weeks I randomly did get cramps but those felt more like diarrhea cramps and now it feels like my period is about to start. I don’t think it’s labor but the cramps are coming and going. Ok maybe now I feel like I need to go to the toilet too. Could I be getting a bad stomach maybe? This is so weird. I’ve attached the timings.

why not ring triage? Might be better since you want a VBAC!

Now it’s more like every 9 mins but feels a bit stronger. I’ve taken paracetamol, if it doesn’t help I’ll definitely ring triage

Could it be the baby engaging?

It might well be your body getting baby's head to engage, or just warming up for the big day. I niggled for weeks with dd3 often for hours at a time. A warm bath eased mine.

TBH @dreamerkr you've described my early labour with DS, which started 36+4.

Make sure you aren’t dehydrated, but I‘d second going to triage.

On Friday, at 35 weeks my friends bh became really regular. We had a coffee during the day and were timing them. By 8pm she was in hospital and by 11pm the baby had arrived!!

I’m 34 weeks, so spent a the weekend packing my hospital bag 🤣

I called triage, they told me to take a paracetamol and a hot bath, and if the cramping is still the same or worse in an hour to call them back and go in. I definitely feel like it’s worse than it was a few hours ago, although the cramps are like 8-9 mins apart but they’re stronger than before. I haven’t even fully packed my hospital bag yet. Nothing is ready!

I'd pack your hospital bag @dreamerkr .

Today might be the day!

Today could be the day, or getting close. I'm 38 weeks today and get on off period cramps, back pain, pressure bowel pains like I've got the poop shoots since I've been 36 weeks, but I've just ignored them until they become intense and come and go quickly. As I've read that prodromal labour can go on for a looong time. Explained it to midwife and she said the body can really tease you.

If they are getting more intense and closer together however it sounds like something might be starting...

Thanks so much guys. I went into triage, I was having regular contractions every 9-10 mins, they weren’t that painful although there was some pain. They sent me back home saying to go back in if it gets worse. I was so tired as I was awake most of the night, so I slept for an hour or so and when I woke up the contractions seem to have stopped. So weird! I’m guessing it was probably braxton hicks then.

Hiya - just wanted to say I had this in my second and third pregnancies. It went on for weeks annoyingly. Anytime we decided to call the birth centre to check, they’d have me in, and moment they confirmed I wasn’t in labour I swear the pain dropped! Although they did say I was at 3cm from around 37 weeks each time, so maybe my body was just slowly preparing!

Good luck!