I've been putting up with the Braxtons getting stronger since Friday and had just put it down to my body 'preparing' itself, but this evening I've got to the point where I'm not sure if I can/should be ignoring it anymore. They're coming on quite frequently (about every 4-6mins) and have gone from lasting about 30secs to about 1 minute. I've gone from being mildly uncomfortable to being in mild pain when it happens now, but I don't really want to waste a trip to the labour ward only to be sent home. I also have a few questions I'd really be grateful if someone could answer:
1) Can you go into labour without a show?
2) If you haven't had a show, does that mean the cervix isn't even dilated?
3) Does anyone know if the pain includes feeling like you're really constipated - I'm talking rocks in your bum kinda constipated? I've been to the loo, it's normal, not like it would be if I were constipated.
4) Does the bump feel really tight at the top, and then more painful and crampy at the bottom?
5) Do you get a kind of pressure/stabbing pain down below too?
Thanks in advance for any advice y'all can give!
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Thanks for all your advice ladies. I called the labour ward and they told me to come in. Got checked over and monitored. Contractions are about 5 mins apart lasting a lot longer than a minute and getting very strong. Only dilated 1 cm though, but midwife says a lot can happen overnight.
Glad to be back home to be honest - I'd rather ride it out here than be hanging around the Birth Centre, lovely as it is. It flippin' hurts though.