Period pain/ligament pain/baby engaging? How is it that I have no idea? LOL

[Janie]

Well yeah, second time around you'd think I'd have a clue, but I don't

I have been having period type pain since yesterday, it has really hotted up this morning. No tightening whatsoever with it, just period pain down low, that comes and goes. I do think I've been having ligament-stretching pain over the last little bit, and it definitely feels different to that. A couple of weeks ago I was actually having very mild contractions (tightening, with discomfort) and BHs. Those seem to have died down (thank goodness!), but I'm not sure what's going on now.

What is this period pain? Another type of stretching? Baby engaging (although DS engaged by 32 weeks, and I don't remember feeling anything like this!)? Pre-labour? I don't think I really had pre-labour with DS, once my waters broke I had about 2 of these types of period pains in an hour, and then BANG full-on contractions every four minutes. So I have no idea what to look/feel for really, in labour starting, as PROM gave it away last time LOL. I am at slightly higher risk of preterm labour, but I know that pre-labour can go on for weeks.......if indeed that's what it is!

Any ideas would be welcomed! TIA

[Miss.B]

Hi Hun,

If you are unsure, call the hossy. I've been worried about going into labour before my scheduled c/s on 16/3. I was in labour in 2008, and for me it started with a very very sore back and then the cramping started. So I've also associated AF like pains as pre labour/labour pains. I get heaps of BH and have had them since week 24, and I also get the ligament pain every 2 weeks or so, so if I was having AF like pains I'd just ring the hossy and talk to a midwife.
Sorry if I rambled on, hope I made some sense!

GL hun.

Beata.

[Janie]

Thanks Beata . I have thought about calling my Ob, but I think I'm hoping that it will just go away . We have too many things that need to be achieved today .........if they don't get done today, they probably won't get done at all! I can feel bub moving away in there, even more than normal, which is reassuring. I might go and have a shower and see how I feel after that.

[Miss.B]

Good plan Janie. As long as bub is moving heaps that's good. I hope the pains go away and you're feeling better soon! But please call your OB/midwife if you're not feeling better by tonight or if it's getting worse.

[nicjay]

Janie, I had lots of period type pains for quite a few weeks before I finally went into labour with DD2. I honestly didn't really know if it was prelabour but I suppose in hindsight it must have been. But when contractions started there was no doubt in my mind about the difference LOL

It could well be nothing to worry about, but like Beata says I'd ring your ob or the hospy if you are worried At least bub is moving for you heaps that's always reassuring

[Janie]

Thanks guys. I feel a bit better after the shower, it seems to have settled. Still a bit achy and a bit of lower back pain, but not the real cramps I was getting before. Hopefully it will stay that way! Our Calmbirth instructor told us the other night that if you can ignore it, and it goes away it's not labour . Obviously our situation might be different, if I really think I'm in labour, I can't afford to ignore it! But if it's just prelabour then I don't want to get carried away

Yep, if it comes back and gets worse, or hangs around I will call my Ob

[SammyRo]

Well yeah, second time around you'd think I'd have a clue, but I don't

So I have no idea what to look/feel for really, in labour starting, as PROM gave it away last time LOL.

I've been feeling pretty clueless about what to expect too, and I can't remember really what my first few contractions felt like with DD! I also has PROM with DD, which as you say, gave it away that things were going to happen!! The other thing was DD was posterior, and so the mw and things I keep reading mention posteriors being a back labour. I can't remember where I felt the contractions, and it being my first didn't realise that they weren't normal. I'm sure that once things really happen, it will be obvious

that its not real labour just yet!

[Janie]

Thanks everyone . The feeling kind of returned this afternoon, but it hasn't progressed into anything more, so it's probably just normal 3rd tri stuff. Thanks for your reassurance Deb

[Janie]

The same thing has been happening on and off all through last night and this morning, so I'm assuming that it's just normal 3rd tri stuff . For a few hours I'll get cramping, sometimes with back ache, sometimes not, every 5-10 minutes, and then it stops for a few hours. I have been having alot more BHs today, so I will watch things, but it's probably just what happens to lots of women . The unknown is very hard in this situation, but I'm trying to relax

[*Beema*]

You are doing great Janie, are you going in for daily CTG's at the moment?

[Janie]

Hey Beema Because the u/s last week showed consistent growth rate, we are able to go in for CTGs every three days now, instead of every two . Thank goodness, I find it really exhausting some days. The last one was really good, and I've been feeling lots of movement over the last few days. We'll be there tomorrow, so I can always ask the midwife if I'm feeling worried about these cramps.