period pains? 26 weeks

[Jen27]

Hi
I am 26 and a half weeks pregnant. Last night I woke up to period pains. I have been having one-off occasional period type cramping, throughout this pregnancy, but very mild and I felt it, then it went (also very rarely, not oftenat all). Anyway I woke up early this morning to stronger period type pains, lasting for about 30 seconds, then going away. The pain was also around my lower back slightly too. After a while I decided to time the pains, they came at 5.33am, 5.38, 5.43, 5.48, so every 5 mins, but then the one after was 8 mins, the one after 10 mins. The whole thing lasted about 40 minutes but then stopped and I went back to sleep. I had another couple of pains again when I woke up a couple of hour later but now its lunch time and I feel fine, no pains at all.

So, do you think these pains where braxton hicks? I read that you get a tightening of the stomach with braxton hicks, but I didn't get that. The baby was active at the time of the pains, kicking and moving about.

[first_time_mummy]

Hi there. Im not too sure if it may have been braxton hicks or not, however i have just reached 26 weeks, and havent had any cramps up until now...but today it felt like i had my period...those really bad cramping pains down there...I was worried, as i havent had anything much until now.

Im also finding it impossible to get confty in bed from lower back pain, and panadol just doesnt work...

If your unsure on the cramps and what they are, give your doc or midwife a call :P

best of luck xx

[Sally2]

Go and get checked out hun, just to put your mind at rest as much as anything.
Not to scare you, but our son was born at 28 weeks after having mild cramps, escalating to bigger cramps and all in the back. Even the abulance drivers and the obstetricians didn't think Sal was in labour until they checked and found her 3cms dilated and he was born less than three hours after that. Premmie's have good odds at 26 weeks, if they are born in the right place ie in a maternity hospital set up to cater for that, so perhaps a trip to the doctors/emergency room wouldn't be a bad idea.
Good luck!

[Emitob]

I've been getting period pain type backaches for the last week or so, and I asked my midwife about it the other day. She told me that generally if you aren't experiencing the tightening at the same time as the period pains, then it is probably OK. She said it is probably just pain from different posture, stretching, pressure from the bub, etc. But I have to say, I still can't help worrying about it!

[first_time_mummy]

I have had unbearable back ache for the past few weeks too, its getting so bad that i cant even sit in a chair for more than 20 mins without feeling unconfortable and achy...

Its a lot in my lower back, but also higher up on the sides of my back near my ribs...

[Jen27]

Thanks everyone for the posts. Sorry it took me so long to get back, I was fine. I have been having the period like cramping through out my pregnancy but everything is ok and I'm now nearly 32 weeks.