Menstrual-like cramping at 35 weeks?

almostjones · July 2010

I'm a little nervous...but not wanting to be the super on-edge first time pregnant lady running to the hospital for every little thing...

I had menstural-like cramping all night last night. I woke up every hour to pee and noticed it every time from about 12:30-5am. I got up at about 6 and checked my trusty What To Expect book, only to read that persistent menstrual cramping can be a sign of pre-term labor. But what's persistent? I haven't had it happen since I got up.

I called the doctor's office last week and talked to a nurse about the frequency of my Braxton Hicks contractions and mentioned that I had felt some menstrual-like cramping, very mildly, earlier that day. That was the first time it happened. She said it & the BH were normal and that both were a way of softening the cervix, and that the BH would get more intense & more frequent in the next few weeks. She said if I have BH that are every 5 minutes apart or so and they are so strong that I can't talk through them, I should then come in. I didn't have the cramps again until last night when they lasted for so long...

And now I've noticed 4 BH contractions in the last half hour. They aren't painful, just tight, and I can very easily talk/walk through them. I could very well be a bit dehydrated, as I'm just now working on my first bottle of water for the day after not having any since just before bed last night. I've read the dehydration can cause more frequent BH.

So, I guess I'm asking - would you just monitor throughout the day, drinking plenty of water and re-assess this afternoon? That's how I'm leaning. Don't want to over-react but I do want to go in if I need to...

Katieraye09 · July 2010

I think you're doing the right thing by re-hydrating and re-assessing later. I had menstrual-like cramping from at least 34 weeks until the day I went into labor. They were uncomfortable and somewhat nauseating but nothing like real contractions. Most of the time I just felt like I needed to run to the bathroom. They came and went and all was fine. You are most likely just experiencing some strong BH. You will know when the real thing hits but you're not overreacting by paying attention to your body.

KelleyA · July 2010

Drink lots of water and lay down on your left side. Take it easy and see if things calm down. I had a LOT of pre-term/early labor contractions and they all stopped after laying down and drinking. I had 8 hours of contractions one day and they eventually stopped. It wasn't until the day before I had DD that they simply wouldn't go away...they turned into labor. I will say that they were rarely painful, but they were persistent. I hope things calm down for you soon!

LisaK2b · July 2010

4 or more contractions in the hour needs a phone call to the Dr to let them know.

For me, menstrual cramps were one of two things:1) UTI or 2) actual pre-term contractions. Contractions for me weren't really painful and felt exactly like really low menstrual cramps. It was confirmed every time I was on the monitor that I was contracting. But peeing and drinking water made it go away. Also...pre-term contractions doesn't mean pre-term labor either (so that's the good news). I was contracting for a good 4 weeks in the hospital and when I was induced, they checked my cervix and not even dilated.

kat.in.the.hat · July 2010

lay on your left side, drink water, take a hot shower and go for a walk (not necessarily in that order.) If they persist after those things, call the doctor.

kimthgrt · July 2010

water and rest! def. call your doc if they still persist after all of that. I think 4/hour isnt a big deal, but any more than that, def. call just in case.

And make sure your not having any extra fluid leakage "down there" and such

almostjones · July 2010

Thanks everyone. I decided to go to the doctor at about 11, after I had 6 BH in an hour and had the cramping again. They did a stress test and an internal and everything is fine but I am starting to progress (effacement, not dialating) so they sent me home & advised me to rest. So, that's what I've been doing. I had to see a different doc than mine, so I will go back for my regularly scheduled appointment on Friday to see if I've progressed anymore and if there is need for concern.

Karey08 · July 2010

Glad everything went well. I would get the same symptoms you described when I was over doing things the second pregnancy. If you lay down and rehydrate they should stop. Just so you know though, the cramping is all I could feel of contractions with both kiddos until I was already like 7cm - I would have never known it was actual labor with Aidan if I hadn't jumped up and ran with my dog across the living room to answer the door causing my water to break. The only difference was that I had been cramping and taking it easy and they weren't going away but I still didn't think it was labor because everyone told me I would just know and wouldn't be able to talk through them - that didn't happen for me until I was at the hospital an hour out from pushing.

almostjones · July 2010

Karey08:
Glad everything went well. I would get the same symptoms you described when I was over doing things the second pregnancy. If you lay down and rehydrate they should stop. Just so you know though, the cramping is all I could feel of contractions with both kiddos until I was already like 7cm - I would have never known it was actual labor with Aidan if I hadn't jumped up and ran with my dog across the living room to answer the door causing my water to break. The only difference was that I had been cramping and taking it easy and they weren't going away but I still didn't think it was labor because everyone told me I would just know and wouldn't be able to talk through them - that didn't happen for me until I was at the hospital an hour out from pushing.

Yikes! But good to know! Thanks, Karey.

kat.in.the.hat · July 2010

you're getting so close!

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