Preterm labor: what were your symptoms?

Question

I'm getting a little worried. I'm 33 weeks. I know all of the symptoms I'm about to list are also common third trimester symptoms, but I also experienced them before my water broke with my first so I'm curious.
 
It started Saturday with an all over achy and exhausted feeling. I honestly thought I was unlucky and coming down with the flu. Then Sunday & yesterday I was contracting on and off all day. Yesterday I had about 50 contractions from 11am-11pm. I also lost the largest piece of my mucus plug thus far. 
 
Anybody else having/had these symptoms and it wasn't preterm labor? If it WAS how long after these symptoms began did you go into labor? I know every pregnancy/woman is different, but I'm just curious!

Answer

I wouldn't call inconsistent contractions labor, but it never hurts to call your OB/midwife to check. 
In my preterm labor experience I was 31 weeks when I started to notice I was loosing my plug, my midwife insisted it was probably just discharge but I knew it wasn't. One day my pelvis suddently felt heavier, but  I just attributed it to baby having a growth spurt or my carrying low. At 32 weeks I woke up in the night with some really mild contractions, I mean hardly contractions...more like period cramps and I actually thought of going back to sleep. When I went to the bathroom there was bright red blood so that's the reason I went ahead in to L&D. I was felt mostly fine, still just crampy and expecting to be told it's all fine and I can go home. Instead I turned out to be 4 cm and having a placental abruption when I got there. I'm pretty sure the things you need to worry about when it comes to preterm labor are consistent contractions that build in intensity, if you think your water has broken, or there is bright red blood or any sort of a blood clot.
It sounds like you're okay to me but I 100% endorse the safe rather than sorry mentality. It never hurts to check :)

Answer

Yes I had lower back pains, period type cramps and started losing mucus plug, no bloody show. Ctg showed regular contractions and I was effaced to 1.5cm, they managed to stop it and now I'm on bed rest at 29 weeks, still hoping to go full term! Don't wait to go in and get checked! Good luck x

Answer

My fetal fibernectin was positive and My cervix was 2 cm dilated. My experience was different because i had preeclampsia, GD, and pcos. I was ridiculously high risk. Had her at 33 weeks emergency c section because i was gettig seizures. It was a scary experience for me.

Answer

If you lost your mucus plug then the contractions are doing something. Cervix is effacing and opening enough for that to happen. When is your next apt? You will probably be put on bed rest. You have to do whatever it takes to keep that baby in there until at least 37 wks. I know it's hard if you have other children! We have been reading alot of books and crocheting on the bed the last few weeks!

Preterm labor: what were your symptoms?

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