i need a quick reply please

[1stimer]

since about 11am i have had constant period like pains (not contractions cos they are consitant with no time in between) and my abdomen has been getting hard and tense and i have a small back ache

i also lost my mucous plug yesterday, but had no blood in it!

i rang the hospital and the midwife said to just take panadol and rest, and i have and it hasnt helped at all.

she said to only call back if the pain gets worse , it hasnt gotten worse it just hasnt stopped.

does any one know
What i should do?

[nellnell]

Congratulations. Sounds like you're in the early stages of labour. Relax while you can and try to get some sleep. Take the nurses advise and monitor things regularly but still try to rest.

Hope it all goes well.

[christy]

Okay the best thing is to do something to relax and take your mind off it. Seriously, I know how hard it is its awful. So go for a walk, have a hot shower, try to get into a massage asap.... today.

All of this things can help your body relax which will either reduce pain or activate labour. I'm sure either would be good

I had early labour signs or "pre-labour" signs on/off for weeks prior to labour and the best advice was doing something to ease the stress rather than focus on individual things. You may be in early stages of labour, but until you know for sure the best thing to do is try to relax as much as you can.

[Beach Mama]

It does sounds like things are happening for you hun, but if you are finding that it is just uncomfortable, and the pain isn't increasing, try to do what you would normally do today. Rest a bit if you are feeling tired, but otherwise try to stay active and try to keep your mind off it! Sounds terrible I know but if things are starting nice and slowly you don't want to rush to the hospital just yet. Good luck with it all and let us know how you are going. If you feel you need to call the midwives again but it does sound like pre-labour so things could take a little while yet. Good luck and you will be meeting Maxim very soon! How exciting!

[~Raven~]

It could be a bit of pre labour! Especially if you have had the mucous plug. It can go on for a while though so it's not always a sign that labour is imminent.

I know it's frustrating when you don't know what's going on Try to keep yourself busy to keep your mind off the discomfort.

Have you tried going for a walk? Gentle excercise can get things moving if it is almost time. I always feel a bit invigorated after a stroll anyway so it might be a good way to clear your head.

[mgm]

sounds like you might be close - but you might also find that nothing happens for days yet. as for what you should do - do you mean about the pain? if panadol's not helping there's probably something stronger you can take - ask the hospital, or a pharmacist. if you're ok with the pain, just take it easy and sort out any final things you need to do before your baby's born. how exciting! good luck with your labour and birth .

[1stimer]

i have tried to walk around but my tummy seems to get more and more tense when i do, and i can feel him inside pushing down on my pelvis area, its giving me a little bit of a strain inside.

thanks for all your advice girls, i know im freaking out a little and probably shouldnt.

i might go see if i can gert something else from the chemist and just keep resting more


Ta

[satya]

Panadeine is safe to take and might work better than Panadol. While I was in labour the midwife told me to take Panadeine Forte and it took the edge off. Check with yur midwife before taking it though.

It could be the start of several days of pain, or you could be like me and go fully into labour on the same day that you get the AF type pain. I had AF pain from the time my show started.

My contractions were really low down so the midwives thought I was in prelabour not actual labour but they were wrong. If you annoy the midwives by phone enough (if you are getting worried) they will end up suggesting you go in and get checked out but they will also warn you that you will most likely be sent home. When I got checked I was 6cms dilated so of course got to stay.

I didn't call the midwives once, it was always my DF who did it. I felt silly calling them but he'd do it and hand the phone over. Remember it's their job to answer your questions so don't hesitate to call them if you are getting concerned. It's really hard to know when you are in labour as it can be so different from one woman to another.

[BekZ]

I had period like pain for 4 days before DD1 was born, however, I did give birth 24 hours after lossing my plug.

Keep an eye on the pains , have a bath/shower, call midwives if you have any questions, get someone home to be with you, make sure you bag is finalised, call friends and have a chat. When I go into pre-labour I do heaps of hosue work!!! (Actually I did not have pre-labour with number 2 and I only got 2 loads of washing folded before going to hospital).

Finally, ALL THE BEST.....

[smiles4u]

My midwife suggested exactly what SATYA midwife also suggested with the Panadeine Forte ... though I never took it & just put up with the discomfort

I know it's hard but try no to think too much & certainly don't stress about anything ... rest, rest, rest okay ... All is running it's course ... ALL THE ABSOLUTE BEST

[Smoz]

like everyone has said it sounds like the early stages of labour, i lost the plug at 3am and had period like discomfort tried to sleep but couldn't, phoned hospital and they told be if it gets worse, once i can't talk through them i could go up the hospital. Whilst it may feel constant is it peeking at times (like more painful sometimes then eases but is still there) if so start writing down the times this peak happens and see if its regularily.

If you want to get things moving then lunges or a gentle walk are always good. but if you want to slow it down/stop and ease the pain have a nice bath and get the body to relax and try and get some rest because even if the pain stops now, chances are it'll be back soon!

[1stimer]

im still here, and i still have the period pains (i though it went away last night but it was back like within half an hour

i just hope it either goes away or he comes out, and nothing i take is stopping the pains mmm poor me!

[Alyssas_Mum]

Congrats 1stimer sounds like things are starting to happen, try a warm bath, the heat will help with the discomfort/pain otherwise get a heat pack and try that. Best of luck to you.

[~clover~]

Have you tried a shower? Or a bath to relax.
The pain may not go away, but maybe a gentle walk will get things moving along a bit.

[1stimer]

i have tried shower and bath and didnt really work, only when i was in it.

and when im trying to walk i start to feel nauseous and dizzy

[~clover~]

Yep, sounds like things are happening.
I know what you mean about getting out of the water.
The one good thing I found about the hospital was that I could sit in the shower for hours on end (about 3 - 4 out of 5 hours in hossy) & not run out of hot water.
Maybe just keep topping up the bath.

[Smoz]

i have tried shower and bath and didnt really work, only when i was in it.

and when im trying to walk i start to feel nauseous and dizzy

maybe just walk around the house, you might feel nauseuas and dizzy cuz the labour is progressing. I threw up during my labour cuz i felt nauseus. If its still there i would definately call the midwives again.

[~clover~]

Yep. I threw up at some stage in all 3 of my labours.