False Labour

[GeeWidge]

Hi all,

I’m feeling a bit confused and frustrated and would love some advice. I am 39 weeks pregnant today. For the last 2-3 weeks I’ve been getting cramping and backache on and off and have been putting it down to Braxton Hicks even though the midwife says it is a positive sign.

Last night I was at Triage as I was worried about reduced movement. The CTG thankfully showed that baby is OK and naturally she decided that that was the time to have a party making me feel a bit daft for worrying. However the midwife asked me if I was feeling any contraction type feelings and showed me the points on the graph where uterine activity was 100% and it coincided with when I was getting more intense cramping and back ache. She suggested I might be in early labour and to go home and see. Overnight and this morning I was getting more pain and cramping, spreading across my whole abdomen but it seems to have dwindled down to only a couple an hour now. I’m feeling a bit fed up with the endless cramps over the last few weeks and finding it is really wearing me down after what has already been a very difficult pregnancy.

Anyone else had this? How did you put up with it until labour properly began? I’ve taken paracetamol which helps a little but not completely. Thanks in advance

[Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

Hi, I had this on and off for weeks before my labour properly started. I just got into the mindset that this was all helping get me ready for labour and I really think it did because both my active labours were only 3/4 hours long. I just spent a lot of time walking, sitting on a birthing ball and just getting on with things. I ate out at restaurants while having these contractions continued with my hobbies I got so used to it I barely noticed it by the end of my 2nd pregnancy. Find something to take your mind off it, learn something new or do something you enjoy. And keep in mind it's all helping your baby get here. I also would say active labour was very obviously different and I knew when baby was actually coming.

[GeeWidge in reply to Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

That’s really helpful, thanks! Hopefully it will mean a quicker labour! I’m trying to work on a philosophy of ‘it’s not labour until it’s clearly labour’ and just continuing to do what I normally do. It’s just tricky cause I’ve developed pelvic girdle pain and I normally love going for walks etc so I feel quite limited, I’m finding swimming really helpful though

[Hidden]

I know it’s hard but your body knows what it’s doing! It’s all really postive. And the baby is getting in the optimal position. Like the other reply suggested do everything you can to take you mind off of it that’s gentle and active, podcasts and potter around I suggest . If you are really struggling osteopaths and acupuncturists can help but obviously a women’s specialist. Some light inversions like polar bear yoga pose and other safe late pregnancy yoga poses to help baby do its thing. Good luck x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

also false labour isn’t a very positive term your body isn’t wasting its time or failing it’s more like latent labour it’s a time to nourish your body eat and rest and prepare !! Best a long early labour and short active labour !! 👍

[GeeWidge in reply to Hidden]

Good point! I definitely prefer latent labour, I think because my MIL and others like to tell me it’s false labour I’ve got it in my head I’m just being a hypochondriac. I felt quite vindicated when I found out the cramping and backache was actually uterine activity and not just psychosomatic!

[Hidden in reply to GeeWidge]

ahh the beginning of learning the skill of the nodding politely at your mother and MIL when they give parenting advice 😬

[GeeWidge]

If anyone is reading this and in a similar not long story short she was back to back and in a really odd position which can apparently causing sporadic on and off contractions. My contractions when they came on properly we’re almost exclusively in my back. Due to her very odd position she was born as an emergency C section after 50 hours of labour