help - how long can i have period pain before birth

im 35 weeks tomorrow. for the last few days ive had quite bad period pain on and off, between one and four times a day. this is my second bub, first one was born at 37 weeks.
i know this is probably a prelabour thing. but other peoples stories ive read say they only had this pain for a couple of weeks beforehand.
is it possible that this kind of pain will go on for another 5 weeks? anyone had that?
i still have some big/important work functions in two weeks time - i need to still be around to at 38 weeks!:doh:
i thought, surely i cant go that early again!
any thoughts appreciated.
thanks

Hi ttcno2 - I have been having period like pain for a couple of weeks now, sometimes more severe than others. I also went at 37 weeks last time. I'm thinking that maybe the pains start earlier 2nd time around, as that seems the case for both of us! But I don't think that necessarily means we will go into labour earlier.

I guess we'll both have to wait & see what is happening!

thanks linda..
good to know someone else in my position. looks like our due dates are very similar.
im quite happy to have my babe at 38 weeks but beforehand will be VERy tricky!! serves me right for trying to control everything!! as you say, its all out of our hands now, just have to wait and see.
good luck to you.

IKWYM - I'm not quite ready yet either - mind you I'm sure we are tempting fate by saying that!! LOL.

According to one of my pregnancy books, the PMS type cramps are considered a sign of early labour, but I don't think that they necessarily mean that things are going to happen too fast, unless they start happening quite strongly/regularly. I have had that type of crampy achy feeling almost every morning for about 1/2 an hour or so for the past few weeks, and my bub is no where close to being ready to come out! It would probably be a good idea to mention them to your OB/midwife, just so they know, and maybe he/she would like to do an internal to see if you are dilating, etc. too.
Since you have had an early baby, I think it makes another early baby a little more likely, but of course, only time will tell! All the best! :)