Hi ladies,

I am 39+4 and haven’t had any really solid signs of labor starting (lost mucus plug and experiencing pressure with 70% effacement and 1-2 cm dilated but that’s it) but midday today I started feeling constant mild menstrual-feeling cramps. I also have a persistent backache.

My dumb question is this- is it possible for early labor to be way less painful than actual menstrual cramps? My day 1+2 cramps for my period usually have me balled up in bed taking as much ibuprofen as possible, so I have kind of assumed that I’d be smacked in the face with awful pain as soon as my labor started to progress in any way. Is it possible for early labor to be tolerable compared to my monthly cramps?

Thanks ladies! Trying not to get my hopes up 😬😬😬