The start of labour?

[FunkyMouse]

I'm only 36 weeks but I just have this 'gut feeling' that labour is soon on it's way.

I know my baby is head down but not engaged yet & it's my first. I feel different. I was so tired last night & felt really sick but I think it's because I'm still working and I'd over done it a little yesterday.

Then I woke up at 4am with what I think was mild braxton hicks and without thinking, got out of bed craving sweet stuff. I ate a snickers, half a packet of biscuits and a chocolate brownie before getting back into bed. I'd never normally do something like that but I think maybe my blood sugar was low because I was shaking a bit.

Then today I've felt really run down and tired. I slept for a few hours at lunch time and still feel like I could lay back down and go to sleep. I've been getting mild braxton hicks on and off through the day too.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into it & it's normal to feel this way at the end of pregnancy but like I say, I just have a feeling. Could I be right?

[leewayne]

It is very normal to think 'is this it' I had that lots of times with both of mine! But you will soon know when you are in true labour believe me!! Youve probably got a few more weeks of the pains and aches and eating like a pig!! You must be fed up and wanting baby to come out thats why your thinking that way......maybe baby is getting ready and will soon be engaged and be ready to come out!! Sorry im not much help but it is normal....dont worry : )

[isymcd]

Can't say i had that type of experience with my three but all i know is, everyone is different. If you are concerned at all, call your midwife for some advice.

And if you feel like sleeping - sleep when you have the chance. I dream of the day i have a full nights sleep & don't get woken up a 6am!

Good Luck!!!

[Psychick]

Im not an expert and everyone is different, but I wouldnt think it is quite the start yet. The last few weeks are hard on you because of all the extra weight youre carrying, espesially if youre still working. If youre feeling shakey and sick, you really should give your midwife a call. Im sure everything is perfectly fine but they normally like to know about any little things like that. As for feeling more tired, that is definately normal at this stage.

Although not all ladies get these, here a few more signs you could look out for. Having a show or losing your plug. You will have a mucus discharge, possibly blood streaked. Do not be alarmed if it is blood streaked as this is normal. You may have these for a week or two before baby arrives. If your BH start to feel more like period pains and occur regulary, start timing them. Once they are regular for longer than an hour and dont ease after having a warm bath, call your midwife to ask her opinion on whether its the start of labour.

Again, you may not get them, but backache and mild period type pains are a more definate sign. Keep in mind though that these can stop and start several times before things really kick off.

[Psychick]

Just to add, you will be considered full term at 37 weeks, so dont let the fact that your only 36 weeks worry you :)

[warpig3]

Mornign funkymouse, I had BH constantly from about 28 weeks on and was worried that I would not be able to differentiate between them and labour pains, oh how wrong I was! Labour started as period pains with me and quickly escalated, first pain (mild) at 5am, baby born at 7.41am and to be honest I think having the BH actually helped me have an easier and quicker birth as my body was 'prepared', dont know if that is true but it is what I believe anyway.

Enjoy what time you have left, I have been up since 5.30 and didnt go to be until after 12!

take care
warpig

[natalie_1982]

Hi FM, I had many "Is this it?"'s from about 36 weeks, I had several small shows (my first one at 36+5) and I didn't deliver until 41+3. I did have a real inkling the night before I went into labour though, I had a nagging ache in the bottom of my back and butterflies in my tummy like I knew something was going to happen, I felt bushed so was in bed asleep at 9pm and woke at 3am when my waters broke. Keep track of everything your body is up to, and make sure you don't run yourself into the ground, I worked until 38weeks and it's bloody hard - don't do yourself in, rest when you can and eat when you want, and, as Psy has said, you're practically full term now so don't worry about baby coming too early. Good luck xx

[sportsmom]

My baby girl (now 9 months old) was born at 36 weeks. I too thought it was only Braxton Hicks. At first the doctors kept thinking I was dehydrated and kept trying to have me drink a lot of water and even put me on IV fluids but the contractions kept coming and that's one of the ways you know it's real labor.

I also felt worn down and ready to go. I also felt very nauseaus and actually vomitted a couple times which I hadn't done since the first trimester. Sure enough, she was born 24 hours after all this.

Try drinking some water and if it doesn't stop the contractions, it might be time to have your doctor take a look.