False labor.

 Scares I was in labour. 

I had a moment in hospital where I thought and so did the doctors that I was in fact in labor. I was only 36 weeks +3 days, having contractions. 

I had been feeling lots of pushing and pressure downwards. I was told at a recent scan that baby was very low and engaged, this meant head down in cervix and in the position they get in when they are ready to be born. Only thing is baby was back to back. This is where their spine is against my spine instead of my tummy. This can cause complications in a natural birth however as I had a planned c scetion it was not a concern for me. It just meant all baby's limbs were at the front so I felt lots of movements, kick and pushes. These were starting to become very uncomfortable and sometimes painful. I also had alot of back pains and pressure in hips because of the baby's position. 

Along with the pulling I was getting down below in my public groin area, I was feeling general like something was going to happen. My bump had dropped, I felt sick, getting stitchs, going toilet more, having more discharge. These all happened then I started feeling stronger Braxton hick although this time with mild cramps and back pain. At first was on and off however started to get more regular and uncomfortable, the pain was mild but enough to think they were not just Braxton Hicks. 

I started timing and were minutes like 10/5 mins apart so I went in to be checked anyways. When I got to the hospital they put me straight on the monitor, this measures contractions as well as babies movements and heart rate. I was feeling him alot in-between the tightings still so I knew baby was okay. The monitor did show contraction activity but again far apart and not regular enough to be in active labor. I also was not in much pain.  I was told it could be early labor signs, but sent home and told to come back if they got stronger or closer together, or if my waters broke.

Later that night the pains got stronger and the contraction were now minutes apart. We had packed an emergency bag for Ariyah and had my mum on standby. Our friend came over to sit with Ben while I went back up the hospital to be put back on the monitor. It was about 9pm, Ariyah was asleep so our friend would stay incase Ben had to come up the hospital. This time the monitor showed strong and regular contractions. The doctor told me I was in labor and would possibly have to do c section early. So I called ben, he came up the hospital with our bags all ready thinking we were going to have the baby now.

She then had to check if I was dilating, this is where the cervix opens to allow the baby to push through and to be born. The doctors said she was going to take swabs for infection and a pre labor test. This test indicate weather your water have broken or are at risk of breaking in the next 72 hours. If positive then I was in labor, if negative I just continue to monitor it and wait for things to progress or water to break basically.

However as I was under 37 weeks meaning they would try slow it until I got to then. It just depends what the test come back as. When checking me, my cervix was closed, and swab was negative however because of my contractions and me being pre term they kept me in overnight to see how things went. Ben unfortunately had to go back home. 

I stayed the night in the labour ward, but by the next morning the contractions and pain had eased. I was still having some tightness and contacting however was not painful, or regular like the previous night. This meant I could go home and rest. I had to just watch and see. If they got strong again, waters broke or feel baby moving less I was told to come back but that it was a false alarm which can happen. 

In the week things did ease and I felt better again. Still get random Braxton Hicks, heartburn, sickness and pressure down below. But everything settled and we got to finished all the last bits we need to. 

(Written at 37 weeks)