To ask how you deal with the limbo-waiting of a loved one in labour?!

[Frostox]

Long time lurker, first post...

My DS is the first of four of us to have a baby. Contractions every 7minutes since midnight last night, now about every 5 minutes... This is excruciating!! I cannot bear the waiting, and can't even imagine what it must be like for her! So far, in attempt to distract myself from jumping around the room and checking my mobile, I have bought a baby blanket from the Brora clearance sale, and some yarn to knit him or her a jumper for winter. Any other coping mechanisms would be appreciated, if only to stop me from spending any more money!!

[Waggamamma]

wow your DS is having a baby. That's certainly one for the history books .

Seriously though congratulations and I hope you have some news soon. I was in labour for just over two days and was so exhausted when I delivered at 3am I forgot to let my mum know, apparently she'd waited up all night for news .

[WaffleWiffle]

By loads of newspapers for your son and his wife to save from the day baby was born.

I also saw on a thread the other day about buying pregnancy magazines from when a child is born, so that as they get older and times change with maternity advise, they can see what it was like when they were born.

If you haven't already, make the parents to be a couple of meals for their freezer and something nourishing for their first night home.

[WaffleWiffle]

buy* (not by)

[IdaClair]

Chill. Have a glass of wine. Go to sleep.

That's for the woman in labour. You could do the same.

[Annunziata]

I think it is her sister?

How exciting. My dc loved hearing stories from their aunties and uncles of their birth and waiting for them!

[Atavistic]

I reckon DS is Dear Sis. Just don't keep ringing her phone or her DPs phone- they'll contact you when they're ready. Yu could make them some food for the freezer?

[Frostox]

Ack! It is DSis, typing too fast... Thank you all! She's now at our dads, and apparently doing well just quiet and tired - getting updates from DD instead now as don't want to hassle her...

Waffle- that's a great idea! I'd totally forgotten that my uncle did the same for me when I was born, which was quite something - breaking news was the Chernobyl disaster!

Ida- that I can definitely do...

[Bunbaker]

I haven't had this. When my sister had her children I didn't find out until after they were born. I wasn't told she was in labour. Likewise I din't intentionally tell anyone I was in labour - except that my waters went when I was talking to a workmate on the phone. So she told everyone at work and they were all waiting with bated breath for the news.

[elliejjtiny]

I did a lot of twitching, pacing and leaping for the phone when SIL was in labour. Then got really cross with DH when he got to the phone first when BIL phoned . I prefer being in labour myself than waiting for someone else's!

[ThinkIveBeenHacked]

Id do a newspaper of the day, find out the number one single and the best selling book and cinema release, jot them all down. I love remembering popular music/film/news of the time surrounding dds birth.

[Heels99]

This is why it's best not to tell people when you are in labour. Just tell thm when baby arrives. More dignified all round, people don't need blow by blow updates.

[catgirl1976]

Ahhh :)

My DSis gave birth 3 weeks ago.

I knew she was in labour whilst I was in a meeting at work. I couldn't stop checking my phone.

When I did get the call (in car with DH on the way home) I cried so much DH had to pull over :)

Enjoy your new niece or nephew

[TaliZorahVasNormandy]

Dont do what a friend of a friend did, and constantly text the mum to be for updates.

[Mim78]

Just feel glad it is not you!

[littledrummergirl]

My dsis was in labour for over 40 frigging hours! It was hell- and not just for her.
I spent my time checking my phone, sending positive messages, screwing up sudoku puzzles and moping.
In the last 10 hrs I needed updates as I was worried sick for her and the baby- and nobody told me a thing!
I was sooo relieved when my dn was born.

[Frostox]

Thank you all so much - Its so reassuring to know I'm not the only one that finds it unbearable! Just had an update - she's in the hospital now cos she had a bleed at about 11 but they've checked her out and said all is well, and she's 7cm dilated!!

[ICanSeeTheSun]

You don't.

7cm sounds good hopefully not to much longer.

[DizzyKipper]

MN like mad, it'll help time pass.

[strawberryangel]

I remember feeling like this when my best friend was giving birth, and my cousin. No idea what got me through! Hope all goes well for your sis.

[Andrewofgg]

OP All the best and tell us the good news when you have it.

Auntie Catgirl congratulations and has Kittenboy got a he- or a she-cousin? I hope things have got better since Shit Saturday in May.

Older readers will know that when rellies have young children and you don't you can give noisy and messy presents without fear of retaliation YEAH!!

[FrootLoopy]

Also buy the newspapers for the next 2 days - that way they can find out what happened on the actual day they were born, rather than find out what happened the days before they were born, IYSWIM.

[catgirl1976]

Kitten boy has a boy cousin :)

He's adorable.

Things are much improved since that Saturday - thank you x

[lotsoftoast]

Any word frostox?

[CarbeDiem]

I was lucky not to have the nerves, pacing and waiting when my Dsis's gave birth.
I was a birth partner for both :)

Obviously I lived quite close to them to be able to do this and of course, was asked to be there. It was lovely to be there for them but in all honestly I'd strangely rather give birth myself than witness someone else go through it.

Congrats to all who've recently had a new addition to their family.