Second pregnancy - 35 weeks.
Over the past week or so I've had what I'm assuming is early labour symptoms. I had a lot of pressure 'down there' which was from bubs dropping. I've since been having tightenings and contractions but they've been consistent, usually at night. They'll last a good 1-2 mins but are around 20-30 mins apart and don't increase in strength or time. Sometimes moving position helps, along with a heat pack. Generally I've been able to sleep through them. The last 2 nights have been different. They've woken me up as they've been more painful and I've had back pain along with it.
I never had any of this with my first. Labour started when my waters broke and contractions following almost straight away. Before that, no other signs.
I'm just wondering if other mums experienced this. Did you go into labour soon after or carry til 40 weeks? And what did you find helped with the pain?
I'm merely asking out of curiousity of those that have had the same and what their experience was.
Also, this may be a little TMI but with my first I don't recall ever loosing my mucus plug. Did anyone else not notice they lost it? And how did you know that was what it was when you did lose it?
3 Replies
Seeking medical advice is the only way to know if you're in labour or not. Are you not getting them during the day?
As for your other questions - my waters didn't break until just before I felt the urge to start pushing so had contractions for hours beforehand. Both my kids were OP so I had quite severe back pain; things that helped were heat packs, walking, hot shower and my husband massaging quite hard. I noticed my mucus plug for my first but not the second. It was just a smear of dull coloured blood when I wiped and I lost it at the start of noticing contractions
When in doubt - doctors!
That being said, it sounds very similar to the symptoms that I've been having. Baby's head has been engaged for a while, and she can apparently come at any time.
The tightening is likely Braxton hicks, but my bigger problem is the pressure she's putting on my cervix. Beyond painful. Especially since she's often punching me there!
For me, its been going on since around 30-32 weeks, and I'm currently 36 weeks. Nothing helps with the cervix pain other than her moving and not hitting me lol but moving around, taking a walk, changing positions if sitting or lying, a warm or cold drink, something bubbly (like sodawater), or something warm (like a shower/bath or waterbottle) helps ease the discomfort of the tightening.
As for the plug, it was like a heavy discharge that was oddly coloured. I started losing it before labour, and lost it completely during. It was when it became streaked with blood that I knew it was time to get to the hospital and give birth (and three hours later, I was a mum!)
IMO I don't believe this means much of anything.. I felt this way from 34 weeks with my last pregnancy and I went 5 days past my due date. I think you are probably experiencing Braxton Hicks.