menstrual-like pain...how early a sign?

shadowboxerkd · January 2010

I know that menstrual like cramping and diarrhea have been mentioned as early signs of labor. How early are we talking? Like a couple days? couple hours? No diarrhea yet, but last night I started feeling something a bit different that was very similar to light menstrual cramps.I'm not really feeling it much anymore though. I'm wondering if it could be my uterus effacing or something? Any ideas?

This was definitely a wakeup call-that I could really go any day now. DH didn't appreciate it as we're not totally ready yet. Our carseat still has not come in the mail, even though the carseat base we ordered with it came in like a week ago. I'm ready whenever she is!!! I'm really not worried-I'll be laboring at home for a while anyway, so we can still get some stuff done, and whatever we don't, I'm sure my parents will be able to help out while we're in the hospital.

naflmj · January 2010

last weekend I had cramps which we uncomfortable but not painful...nothing all week and this morning I started having timeable contractions and hopefully will be on my way to L&D today. GL to you!

Iheartkevi · January 2010

The cramping thing is so different for everyone. I've had menstrual like cramping since 35 weeks. It's definitely more intense in the last 12 hours, but it's still nothing that seems to be progressing. You could be effacing, but I don't know that you'd be feeling it.

swimrbride · January 2010

I have been having those for a week now. As of my appt on Thursday I was 1.5cm and 50% effaced. So doesn't really mean too much apparently!

shadowboxerkd · January 2010

Yeah...discomfort is more like it, not really painful yet. I was "soft and squishy" and completely closed a week ago, so maybe it's just my ute making a little progress. I'm not getting my hopes up!

noangel293 · January 2010

I hate to be the bearer of bad news... but I had menstrual-like cramps 3 weeks ago... still not dilated or effaced.

Jibbelle · January 2010

I have had menstrual like cramping for at least 4 weeks...and I have made 0 progress. Not sure that it means much...at least not for me!

Briellabella · January 2010

Same here. I've been having painful menstrual-like cramps for weeks, and my back hurts like hell, but no progress.

The websites all say it is your body's way of preparing itself for labor, but that can take weeks, so this may or may not be the real thing for you.

stina-bear · January 2010

Just so you know -- it's not your uterus that effaces or dilates. It's your cervix. So in terms of hoping to feel progress, menstrual-like cramps have nothing to do with how dilated or effaced you are.

I'm not sure if you can actually feel effacement -- but for me, the week before my 36-week appointment, I felt new kinds of pains in my cervix, and then discovered at my first internal that I was 1-2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. That's probably just coincidental, though...

I've been having menstrual-like cramps this week (alternating with gas pain like cramps), but nothing timeable or truly contraction-like. I guess we'll see this Tuesday at my 39-week appointment whether I've made any more progress!

shadowboxerkd · January 2010

stina-bear:
Just so you know -- it's not your uterus that effaces or dilates. It's your cervix. So in terms of hoping to feel progress, menstrual-like cramps have nothing to do with how dilated or effaced you are.
I'm not sure if you can actually feel effacement -- but for me, the week before my 36-week appointment, I felt new kinds of pains in my cervix, and then discovered at my first internal that I was 1-2 cm dilated and 50% effaced. That's probably just coincidental, though...
I've been having menstrual-like cramps this week (alternating with gas pain like cramps), but nothing timeable or truly contraction-like. I guess we'll see this Tuesday at my 39-week appointment whether I've made any more progress!

DUH! I misspoke. I swear I know this-let's blame it on pregnancy brain

jordans_wife · January 2010

i started getting those period like cramps at the beggining of week 36. off and on now. sometimes for hours at a time with back pain and loose stools. but they have gone away for now. on my first internal i was hoping that would show progress but alas. i was 50% effaced 1cm dialated but she did say the head was super low. i equate it to more practice for the ute but more serious practice then bh's. who knows, but that's just how i think of it to keep myself sane!

AtlJuneBride · January 2010

I have been having menstral like cramps for about 5 days and some diarrhea for the past 3 days. Before I started having these cramps I was 2 cm and 70% effaced and I am not 3 cm and 70% so I don't think what you're feeling is the dilation/effacement since I was already at a 2 before I felt anything. So I'm not much help but it's been 5 days for me and still no timeable contractions or anything good.