Please advise?

[Taymarpigeon]

I'm 36 + 4 weeks pregnant and a FTM, since 33 weeks I have been in and out of hospital with suspected pre-term labour. I've been told I am in slow pre-labour because I am 2cm dilated and have lost my mucus plug. The last few days however I have been getting really sharp cramping pains in my pubic  region/vagina, I feel constant pressure like I have to poo, my hips ache, I feel as though I have to pee constantly  and my whole stomach keeps tightening strongly (though I have no pain in my stomach, only the above mentioned pain) . The tightening and pain I am experiencing seems to be irregular, however I haven't timed them so I don't know for sure (I also don't always get both at the same time). I've been reading up online about labour contractions but haven't found any of the articles particularly helpful, my waters haven't  broken yet and I was wondering if any of you ladies could advise me as to whether or not you think this could be the start of my labour?

[Taymarpigeon]

Thank you. Yeah, especially with everything that's been happening the last month, I've had talks off the midwives and consultants about telling real labour from false labour. The problem is as a FTM it's not as easy to tell as they make out, I'd been having actual labour pains for 3 weeks (confirmed by the hospital) then they stopped and now I'm having all these new things happening. What I'm experiencing isn't happening close enough for me to be in labour but it does seem to have gotten closer and more intense over the last 3 days, that's why I'm unsure.

[Blue9312]

The constant feeling to poo could be from the weight of the baby or hemorrhoids, which I now have at 37 weeks. The pain/tightening you're feeling could be braxton hicks if they're not regular. My nurse told me to take a warm bath and if that makes it worse it's probably labor. Also drink plenty of water, lay on your side and all that I'm sure they've told you already.

[Taymarpigeon]

Thank you :-)

[shorty0325]

My mom always told me with my first if you feel like you need to poo... don't go!!! Get checked out at emergency good luck :)