36 weeks & 2 days along...very crampy....?

Question

I am 36 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I have not yet had an internal exam, I go next Wednesday and he is then going to strip my membranes. I have been very crampy with menstrual like cramps and I have had some braxton hicks contractions I do believe. This is my second child..I was induced with my first child and never had cramps, pains or aches, or braxton hicks. I'm sure this is nothing to worry about but could this mean labor is near?

..okay..i said he's stripping my membranes NEXT week..meaning i'll be 37 weeks and 1 day. Of course..only if i'm dilated.

I guess I should add that when I walk...I feel a lot of soreness in my pelvic bone..it hurts so bad it almost throws me into tears.

Answer 1

I would seriously consider waiting on the stripping of membranes! That can be a very painful procedure & inducing in such a way can have many consequences. Aren't you at all concerned why the doctor is doing that to you soooo early? Yes, the baby can survive at 38 weeks, but term is 40 weeks and you can usually safely pass that by 2 weeks!

Inducing puts you at a higher risk for c-section. If you don't believe me go to the nearest chain bookstore & even just browse (not buy, although it is an excellent book) The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer. The things that the doctors don't tell you is what is most shocking...Like did you know that average 1st pregnancies are 41 weeks 1 day and that pregnancies with prior births average 40 weeks 3 days. So you may be uncomfortable & ready for that baby, but your baby & body really know when it is best to come out...Have even just a bit more patience, please for both your sakes.

Answer 2

Hey, I am almost exactly as pregnant as you- I think I am 36 weeks and 3 days. This is my first. I am crampy, too! I don't know what it means to strip your membranes; also not sure what you mean by an internal exam? I only had a pap at the beginning and then a sonogram about 18 weeks- don't think that is internal. Anyway, the cramps- YES labor could be near for us, so the books say. Baby's head is pushing on the cervix causing the cramps, so it could start to dialate. I take a tylenol if I get really uncomfortable.

Answer 3

I agree with the above answer...your Dr. shouldn't be stripping your membranes this early in my opnion. 37 weeks is considered full term, and without doing an internal exam and knowing what is going on with your cervix, I don't see how the Dr. can talk about doing that! I had my membranes stripped with my third at 38 weeks..I was dialated to a 3 and 90% effaced ( cervix was almost "gone") and the baby was already an ounce shy of 9 pounds..as I had him that night...but I would be a little hesitant to have my membranes stripped at 36 weeks. I had a 35 week baby ( my first) and he had respiratory Distress syndrome at birth due to underdeveloped lungs. I would try not to be in too big of a rush, personally.

Answer 4

It could, but not necessarily. A lot of women experience braxton-hicks and that crampy feeling for the entire third trimester. I had false labor so often in the last 6 weeks that when I finally went into labor I hardly felt it and had no idea it was the real deal until my water broke - I had gotten so used to those cramps! Your doc will be able to tell you if you are starting to dilate.

Answer 5

First off, congrats on being in the last few weeks of your pregnancy!! I am obviously not a doctor but I can tell you of my experiences during my pregnancy. I started cramping and having braxton hicks at 36 weeks and they lasted until my labor was induced in my 39th week. I was even having braxton hicks contractions 6 minutes apart for over a week. My doctor told me it was just how my body adjusted to giving birth and it was not necessarily a sign that my labor was any closer. Good luck and it will be over before you know it!!

Answer 6

If you have insurance or medicaid (don't know where you live) I would say call your OB's office and see if he wants you to come in immediately or just go to your hospital that you plan to have birth in and see what is going on. With my 15month old I went in once because I thought my water broke and then another time (the day I had him) from severe abdominal pain which turned out that my preeclampsia went into HELLP syndrome (where your kidneys and liver fail). TRUST YOUR GUT, IF IT SAYS SOMETHING IS WRONG THEN GET HELP!

Answer 7

i dont think that its a for sure sign labor is near... i have had cramps that are HORRIBLY bad... my doctor even tested me for a UTI (came back neg) but still she said nothing was wrong... i have had these for about 8 weeks now... every few days i can tell they are getting stronger and stronger.... i think that you might have a couple weeks left... assuming he doesnt strip your membraines.