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Childbirth

I'm still at work, please say this isn't labour!

47 replies

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:09

Looking for some reassurance please.

I am 38+1, I'm working in an office and my last day of work is tomorrow. I'm paranoid that baby might be arriving before her due date, which is the 14th. This is my first.
Symptoms - explosive diarrhoea this morning (sorry if tmi), twingy period like pains on and off and baby has been moving a lot less in the last 48 hours.
BUT...she is still moving/kicking, the bump still seems very "high" and I've had no show or leaking waters.

So please can someone tell me it's just my body practising and I'm not about to go into full blown labour in the tea room, cos I am really getting scared sat here at my desk!!!

OP posts:

Report

purpleturtle · 01/02/2007 13:10

Is your bag packed? (just in case)

StrawberrySnowflakes · 01/02/2007 13:11

sorry, cant 'really' help, but if no twinges or pain, it may be your body 'clearing out' , before the event?, in which case if you manage till home time, get your hsop bag ready tonight..good luck and hope your ok
if any concern ring maternity day unit(if you have one?), they could get you in for a once over?

katzg · 01/02/2007 13:11

could be so i would be prepared.

eviletc · 01/02/2007 13:12

give it an hour and see how you feel? probably not what you want to hear but it might be it.....

franca70 · 01/02/2007 13:14

diarrhoea might be a sign of labour starting as well as period like pains... it might be your body practising... have you experienced more braxton hicks? how are you feeling now??

foxtrot · 01/02/2007 13:14

Ring your DH/DP whoever and put them on standby just in case.

DarrellRivers · 01/02/2007 13:15

sounds exactly what happened to me before i went into labour both times, had some gripy tummy pains and some diarrhoea, thought i had a stomach upset and then my waters went with sudden onset of contractions.
good luck , but everyone is different

Longlegs1972 · 01/02/2007 13:19

That is how my labour started, without wishing to send you into a blind panic!

Sounds like your body is preparing.

Does your back hurt at all?

Call your midwife and start timing all the pains you are having, I didn't think it was labour and didn't get to the hospital till I was 9cm dilated - by then though I was def having contractions!!!!

Good luck and keep us posted...

Oh and well done to getting this far along and still working!

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:19

I have my labour stuff packed, but babies bag of clothing/nappies etc is still not done (shamefaced emoticon) but I know where everything is, going to go straight home after work and get it all sorted.

I haven't had anything yet that I could identify as Braxton Hicks, so I am just hoping that this is them preparing me rather than the start of full blown labour.

I've sent a text to DP, but he will come hairing back from work in a panic if I worry him too much, I'm booked in to the local midwife unit and its only 15 minutes away so I think i'll try and play it cool for now. Unless the twinges get any worse, but I think I may be "super aware" of them....eek, this is confusing!

OP posts:

Blu · 01/02/2007 13:20

2 weeks either side of due date is entirely normal and common....
Any 'show'?

Longlegs1972 · 01/02/2007 13:21

eee this is exciting!!

Blu · 01/02/2007 13:22

Even if it is the start of labour (and it could well be) this stage could go on for ages as it's your first, so rest, eat, don't get anyone panicking or haring, a baby only needs one babygro and one nappy to begin with...

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:23

no back pain, and the twinges really are pathetically weak. I feel a bit of a fraud, but I don't want to mess this up and give birth in a Cornish layby surrounded by truckers on a tea break!

my best friend has calmed me by informing me that she had diarrhoea on and off for 10 days before the birth - I guess I'll just have to find something to do with all this adrenaline, might go for some filing...

OP posts:

StrawberrySnowflakes · 01/02/2007 13:24

sorry, i read there was no twinges..can you get out early or get dp to go home and get baby things together?

Blu · 01/02/2007 13:24

I had twinges from lunchtime...went out for dinner that evening, had twinges still going on at midnight, went back to sleep, definite labour contractions (but still v mild) at 5 am...

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:29

thank you everyone for replies so far, it's really calmed me down as I was feeling a bit alone and isolated. Everyone in my department is totally anti-baby and will just stare in horror if anything "happened".
I think I will wait til 5pm,(unless it gets worse), and see how it goes overnight.

I'm going to be really peeved if it's still unresolved tomorrow morning as I was looking forward to my last day .....and all the presents
oh well, welcome to the life of uncertainty!

OP posts:

BettySpaghetti · 01/02/2007 13:30

It sounds very possible!

I was convinced that first babies are always late as thats what happened to all my friends but..oh no...

With DD I finished work 3 weeks before due date (tending to do my Xmas shopping etc in those 3 weeks before she was due). However I finished work on the Wed and she was born on the Fri!

Good luck and hope your bag is packed ready

spudmasher · 01/02/2007 13:30

Malta go home!! Why are you still at work if you feel dodgy? No one wants to mop up waters. This could be it and even if it is not, it will be soon. Go home and rest.Have a pasty to keep up yer energy bird.

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:37

pmsl@spudmasher, you're local to me then?!

but I don't feel bad!! she wails, it's just really tiny twinges with no regularity, no show, bump still really high up......and yes I'm probably in denial but I really don't want to go home if there's no good reason.
stamps foot for good measure

OP posts:

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:39

actually I was expecting everyone to say "don't be silly, of course you're not in labour, first ones are always late" etc etc
I am a bit that people are saying go home,

OK. I'll phone DH and see if he's ok to come and get me.

OP posts:

lulumama · 01/02/2007 13:40

go home and rest !! now!! full term is anywhere beteween 37 - 42 weeks. so , go home, if this is not it, you are getting ready for it, so pack up and go x

meowmix · 01/02/2007 13:40

sounds like my start - and I was in the office and they did look bloody horrified when it REALLY got going.

if you feel bad go home. You're not doing you, baby or your work any favours sat there worrying.

(by the way a friend of mine's waters broke in the office as she was sat at her desk - her 4th kid - the bloke nearest her started to run in horror and slipped, ended up in casualty so GO HOME, yer a danger to your colleagues )

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StrawberrySnowflakes · 01/02/2007 13:41

dont stamp your feet youll pop your waters!

maltatheterrible · 01/02/2007 13:43

ok, helpless with laughter at meowmixs male college...and as lulumama gave me such excellent advice when baby was back to back (she turned round, big cheers for lulu!) i will take advise and give in graciously

OP posts:

franca70 · 01/02/2007 13:43

yes, I didn't want to say it, but this is how both my labours started

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