Anyone up? Early labour or just being a wuss?

RapunzelHadExtensions · 2025-09-05T22:59:43+00:00

38 + 1 today. Had my 38 week appointment today where they sent me down to triage in case my waters had broken (they hadn't, confirmed with speculum test and cervix still closed at 4pm today) Then had a wonderful pregnancy massage. All good. About 6pm began feeling period style cramps. Went for a walk which gave me BH and the period style cramps subsided but have now ramped up again. They're not regular yet and I feel like I can't measure them because it's more of a constant pain as opposed to waves IYSWIM. but then they will ramp up and subside for about 30 seconds. This has happened about 4 times. DH currently sound asleep I don't want to wake him until I know for sure. No mucus plug, no bloody show, no waters. I wonder if the speculum test could have acted as an informal sweep and got things moving 😂 Any advice appreciated.

AvantGarden · 06/09/2025 00:11

Ooh exciting!

It certainly could be something, or it could be nothing. I had very similar after a sweep at 39 weeks and very excitedly washed and blow dried my hair and went to bed early ‘before things got too intense’ and then woke up absolutely not in labour. I was gutted but at least I had nice hair and a good nights sleep. 😂

Don’t overthink it, try get some rest if you can or a bath if you’re too uncomfortable to sleep, and you’ll know when it’s time to wake DH up.

Original poster

RapunzelHadExtensions · 06/09/2025 01:02

AvantGarden · 06/09/2025 00:11

Ooh exciting!

It certainly could be something, or it could be nothing. I had very similar after a sweep at 39 weeks and very excitedly washed and blow dried my hair and went to bed early ‘before things got too intense’ and then woke up absolutely not in labour. I was gutted but at least I had nice hair and a good nights sleep. 😂

Don’t overthink it, try get some rest if you can or a bath if you’re too uncomfortable to sleep, and you’ll know when it’s time to wake DH up.

I think everything's tailed off 😭😭😭😭

OP posts:

AvantGarden · 06/09/2025 01:05

RapunzelHadExtensions · 06/09/2025 01:02

I think everything's tailed off 😭😭😭😭

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I know that feeling!

It’s likely the examination earlier just made your body react a bit. I think that was the case with my unsuccessful sweep.

Your baby will be coming very, very soon one way or another though, so please don’t be too disheartened and rest up while you can! I’m up now with my teething 11.5mo 😬

Original poster

RapunzelHadExtensions · 06/09/2025 01:23

AvantGarden · 06/09/2025 01:05

I know that feeling!

It’s likely the examination earlier just made your body react a bit. I think that was the case with my unsuccessful sweep.

Your baby will be coming very, very soon one way or another though, so please don’t be too disheartened and rest up while you can! I’m up now with my teething 11.5mo 😬

Edited

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Thank you so much. I think you're probably right.
I'm just so uncomfortable and fed up of being pregnant now I'm gutted I'm no longer in the right sort of pain 😂😫

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Ladyinpink1 · 06/09/2025 06:41

Hi op, just to say, with my second dc I had a really lovely and firm pregnancy massage very late on.

I remember having strong cramping the whole evening after it, but it was gone by the next day.

I didn't know if it was the massage or the fact that I was lying on the bed with the hole for your bump and so the bump was weightless that whole time, then once you stand up, suddenly theres weight on everything again and the cramping started. Hopefully you aren't waiting too much longer 🙂 x

Original poster

RapunzelHadExtensions · 06/09/2025 08:41

Ladyinpink1 · 06/09/2025 06:41

Hi op, just to say, with my second dc I had a really lovely and firm pregnancy massage very late on.

I remember having strong cramping the whole evening after it, but it was gone by the next day.

I didn't know if it was the massage or the fact that I was lying on the bed with the hole for your bump and so the bump was weightless that whole time, then once you stand up, suddenly theres weight on everything again and the cramping started. Hopefully you aren't waiting too much longer 🙂 x

Thank you!!

I managed to fall asleep about 3am and have been awake for about an hour with very very definite period cramps, worse than they were yesterday. Trying to just go with it and not put pressures on.

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Cantgetausername87 · 06/09/2025 08:44

Ooh it's an exciting time! Easy for us lot to say just go with it when you're feeling all the feels and just want to know!
But erm... go with it! Gentle exercise/ walking and try and rest as much as you can - is it your first? X

dontcomeatme · 06/09/2025 08:47

Oooh this happened to me too. By day 3 of mild cramps I woke up during the night and pooped my life away 🙈 sorry TMI. It was at that point I kinda knew haha! Good luck OP hopefully things move along nicely for you x

Humanswarm · 06/09/2025 08:50

Ooh go for a walk. Do some light cleaning/chores. Have a nice bath. How exciting...try to stop monitoring every single twinge, and just let it flow. It will happen, it is definitely going to happen, if not today, very soon regardless. Baby won't stay there forever!

letsstartwithlife · 06/09/2025 09:16

I had this with my last pregnancy it was like this for a whole week! They said it was latent labor my body revving up for the main thing, I was absolutely exhausted by the time I went into full blown labor but they wouldn’t do anything until my waters actually went which they did eventually. Just try and ease it with a warm bath, bounce on a ball or try and walk a lot. My bloody show never happened until I was in full labor too! I had the pregnancy clear out many of times that week too where my body was preparing for it. I loved labor! Hated being pregnant 🤰🏼

ChristmasMiracleBaby · 06/09/2025 18:15

This happened with my first baby, I had cramps on and off for 2 weeks which would tail off it was so frustrating.
I also had diarrhea and bits of my plug coming away, all signs body is gearing up for labour.
One evening after a cervical sweep I knew it was the real thing as they suddenly got really intense and I couldn't sleep..i was 4cm.
Good luck x

Original poster

RapunzelHadExtensions · 07/09/2025 21:22

ChristmasMiracleBaby · 06/09/2025 18:15

This happened with my first baby, I had cramps on and off for 2 weeks which would tail off it was so frustrating.
I also had diarrhea and bits of my plug coming away, all signs body is gearing up for labour.
One evening after a cervical sweep I knew it was the real thing as they suddenly got really intense and I couldn't sleep..i was 4cm.
Good luck x

Thank you!
I'm going to go for a sweep at my MW appointment on Friday if there's still no ramp up.
It's a slog this bit isn't it!

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Original poster

RapunzelHadExtensions · 14/09/2025 21:59

Well I'm still very much pregnant!

Had the sweep on Friday, was 1cms, which bought on contractions, bit of bleeding.

Have been losing mucus plug and contractions or at least tightenings on and off for over a week now and yet then.... They just dissappear!

I'd almost rather I have nothing at all so I can get to with my life and not keep having these false starts.

I've got a feeling it'll end up going to 41 weeks.

Any advice/similar experiences?

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user2848502016 · 14/09/2025 22:24

I was like this for about a week with DD2, very frustrating but take it as a good sign your body is getting ready for the real thing.
Once I went into proper labour it was all quite quick

NormaNormalPants · 14/09/2025 22:33

I had this for weeks with DS. Then at 40+4 I had my bloody show, contractions ramped within the space of an hour and then an hour after I arrived at the hospital he was here. Still blows my mind how fast everything was!

Scottishskifun · 14/09/2025 22:40

Are you trying to harvest colostrum? It can definitely help. Relaxing baths (not too hot!) bouncing on the ball and walks will all help.

It's about being relaxed - I had to go to triage with DS2 I barely progressed in 6 hours to 4cm but they wouldnt lwt me go home.....1 hour of being in the pool in the midwifery unit and I was fully dialated DS2 born 20 minutes later. Your body will do it when it's in a relaxed state so try to just chill, baths or warm showers etc and colostrum harvesting will all help.

Original poster

RapunzelHadExtensions · 15/09/2025 02:52

Thanks so much all.

@Scottishskifun Oh trust me I am an oxytocin fiend right now haha. Got my area in the lounge of the birth ball, oil's, candles, affirmations, the whole thing. We've been just relaxing and watching funny movies, going for multiple walks round the block with curb walking, for about 9 days now 😒

Colostrum I'm struggling with - I have a breast pump which I've been using but it's so crusted, if at all, it kind of just comes off in tiny clump like honeycomb and I can't get it??

OP posts:

dontcomeatme · 15/09/2025 07:37

Hope it starts happening soon for you 🤞

I wouldn't use a pump to harvest colostrum, you barely get anything out and it's soo thick it will just get lost in the pump. I would hand express. Good luck OP x

Squishydishy · 15/09/2025 07:40

RapunzelHadExtensions · 15/09/2025 02:52

Thanks so much all.

@Scottishskifun Oh trust me I am an oxytocin fiend right now haha. Got my area in the lounge of the birth ball, oil's, candles, affirmations, the whole thing. We've been just relaxing and watching funny movies, going for multiple walks round the block with curb walking, for about 9 days now 😒

Colostrum I'm struggling with - I have a breast pump which I've been using but it's so crusted, if at all, it kind of just comes off in tiny clump like honeycomb and I can't get it??

Hand express for colostrum is the way forward, then you collect each tiny drop. Don’t pump

ApricotCheesecake · 15/09/2025 07:57

Good luck OP! This bit is so tedious. I seemed to be on the brink of labour for ages and then in the end DC1 was 8 days late! 🤦‍♀️