I was 38 weeks yesterday and came home from seeing a friend with an incredible urge to open my bowels. This was accompanied by a really heavy pulling and dragging sensation at the bottom of my bump.

After relieving myself, the pulling/dragging sensation carried on and I made repeated trips to the loo for more bowel emptying throughout the course of the afternoon and evening (at least 8 times). The sensations across my abdomen kind of alternated between that heavy feeling down low to that of a belt being tightened sideways across my abdomen around the height of my navel.

Along with this I had intermittent pains similar to period/ovulation pains.

I went to hospital at 31 weeks with similar symptoms and it was false labour but back then when they did an internal, my cervix had effaced more than was common at that point so they mentioned there was a chance I might not make 40 weeks. This time the pains seems more consistent but the timings are erratic.

I managed to get off to sleep and woke a few times during the night (12:00 and 2:30am) when again I emptied my bowels (by this stage wondering how there was anything left in there!).

By 3:30am I was wide awake with the discomfort so got up, came and read for a while, took some panadol and went back to sleep until 9:30am.

Today I have kept moving as when I sit still or lie down, the sensations strengthen and sometimes take my breath away. I have vacuumed, cleaned the bathroom cupboards and done all sorts of wiping and cleaning! I then walked up the street to treat myself to some lunch (feeling ravenous today which is a bit unusual as I haven't been all that interested in food over the last few weeks). The walk was arduous to say the least and I don't usually move that slowly but the feeling of the dragging as though there was a very heavy bowling ball out front really slowed me down.

May be worth mentioning that prior to this kicking off yesterday afternoon, I had been sleeping really badly for the last 2 or 3 nights and had a big cry yesterday morning to Mum and friend and declared that I was officially over it! (Had not experienced this yet!)

Have sat down now to write this and intend to try and have another nap soon but just wanted to put the feelers out and see what you guys think. Baby was moving around quite a lot last night also.

Thanks in advance

Taurean78