Anyone experience cramps pre-labor?

Question

What I’ve been feeling is like menstrual cramps... FTM so I have no idea what contractions will feel like other than “painful”... 
these don’t hurt much, more of a discomfort. They’ve been increasingly present over the past week. Also feeling slight pressure towards the bottom of uterus as if it were bottom-heavy. 
Is this how dilation feels maybe? 
I wouldn’t guess Braxton Hicks because I don’t see a contracting movement.

Answer

Early labor for me felt just like menstrual cramps, all the way up until my water broke, that's when it got intense!

Answer

You’re right, it’s not Braxton Hicks. Those will likely kick in very soon for you though. Think of what it feels like to flex your abs. It feels just like that but you aren’t controlling it. 
The cramping is totally normal in the end too. Unfortunately it can last weeks before labor starts. But, you never know how soon it could be either! It’s all just a part of your body preparing. 
The low pressure is a good sign. Perhaps it’ll help your labor to be shorter.  My babies always stay high with cervix tight until the day of delivery. It makes for a pretty long excruciating day. 
My first labor started with contractions that I could time 3-5 min apart for 30-40 seconds but I stayed at 2 cm from the Monday at 5:30pm until I woke up screaming to crazy painful contractions on Thursday (that’s right) at 4:00 am. I went to my midwife at 9:30am and was still at a 2 but she could tell because of the screaming and crying that today was the day. At 4:45pm she checked me and I was only at 4 cm. She said, “I’m going to come back in a half hour and you’re either going to be fully dilated and have your baby in the next hour, or we’ll be taking this to the hospital and you’ll be having your baby in the next hour. That was enough motivation. Lol. She came back and I was fully dilated. Pushing was completely different that the rest of the day. As soon as she said I was ready, everything changed. I felt an amazing rush of adrenaline and excitement. I had my first at 5:55pm that day.

Answer

Most likely pressure from baby in your pelvis! I’ve had the same thing

Answer

Same as Victoria! But due date is tomorrow, was really hoping the cramps would worsen into contractions (like with my first son) but they are just a discomfort right now 😒 come on out babyyyy 😂

Answer

I’ve had menstrual like cramps since around 34 weeks. They have been slowly increasing in intensity, and I’m 39 weeks now, dilated one centimeter.

Anyone experience cramps pre-labor?

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