Do a reader's belly pains during the third trimester mean that labour is imminent? Our midwife considers the evidence.

Raisingkids member's problem
I'm nearly 35 weeks pregnant and I have been getting pains in the bottom of my belly. It doesn't happen everyday, but when it does it really hurts. I'm pretty sure it's not Braxton Hicks as I never felt this pain with my other two children. I'm not sure if it's very near my labour as the baby has dropped and I'm getting all the signs for pre-term labour but my waters haven't broken. I'm also getting more and more discharge everyday but the midwife said it's normal - is that right?

Midwife Genevieve Kingston's Advice
Yes, everything is normal and you are heading towards labour, not necessarily preterm though as in one week from now it wouldn't be considered preterm. As for the discharge, it's perfectly normal. Your vagina needs to be very lubricated for delivery!

Quite often you can experience erratic contractions with any child after your first, and they can sometimes go on for what feels like ever, ie something one day, and nothing for a few days, then a run of tightenings and then nothing. You've been through it before, you'll know it when it really happens.