Due today - can I have a moan?

[Secondtimelucky]

I am due today with DC2. DC1 was over a week late and I didn't mind too much - lay on the bed reading trashy magazines and bounced on my birth ball watching trashy telly.

This time round I thought it might be different. Have been having really intense Braxton Hicks at decreasing intervals for about two weeks and thought it might mean that this one was early. Only have to walk up the stairs or unload the washing machine to set them off. Now I feel stupid for getting my hopes up and demoralised. I am soooo uncomfortable so much of the time and the thought of another week or two of this makes me want to sob! And it's bloody half term, so despite DD only being 2, all her activities and playgroups are off for the holidays and I've limited ways to keep her entertained (normally work pt, so not really fully part of the local mum network).

Even had a tearful fight with DH last night when he said it 'didn't matter' if I went overdue and I totally lost it with him.

Anyone care to sympathise or share a similar moan?

[squiggleywiggler]

Dear secondtimelucky's Braxton Hicks,

Please sod off and only reappear briefly at the start of Secondtimelucky's swift labour.

Love

Squiggley

[palerfire]

You have my sympathy! I'm due today as well and no stirrings at all yet. I guess I should have expected it given I'm a first timer but still feeling fed up and the enquiring text messages have already started arriving.

[Thornykate]

Joining in to give sympathy & have a moan too.

I agree It is a lot harder going over when you already have DC IMHO.

I am 40+5 today. Ditto with the stop-starty contractions.

Decided late last night to stop waiting for labour & start ignoring any niggly cramps & pains. Have resigned myself to induction next Tues (it's arranged for 40+12 here) & I feel a million times better having accepted this.

Was expecting to be before EDD with this one too but hey ho such is life.

Hope your babies put in an appearance soon :)

[Thornykate]

PS I am sick of the "any news?" messages too

[Secondtimelucky]

Thanks Squiggley . Thanks everyone.

Thankfully no enquiring texts yet. I have been managing expectations since about 30 weeks with reminders to all relatives of how late DD was, so that hasn't started yet thank god.

I hope something happens for you before the induction Thorny.

[Secondtimelucky]

Palerfire - Hope things happen for you soon too. Given it's the first one, just try and take loads of big naps in the meantime. Time passes so much faster when you're asleep!!

[palerfire]

Thanks secondtimelucky. I think it's the uncertainty that's killing me. Every time I feel any vague discomfort in my abdomen I wonder if this is it, but more napping is definitely a good idea!

[dazedandconfused]

I'll join in the moan even though I'm only 39 + 1 with DC3 today, and it can't come quick enough. This time last week I had a false start so that got my hopes up and since then nothing but the odd Braxton Hicks. Just had 2 DCs off for half term although thankfully this comes to an end tomorrow in Scotland, and I might squeeze in a few more days of p & q before the weekend. Hard as it is, I'm trying to do anything that keeps my mind off how enormous and tired I'm feeling. Swimming pool is good, evens with DCs, films and they have been watching a bit too much telly already. I was a bit depressed to read this morning that 7/10 babies are born after the due date, and only 3/10 before. However, this is quite a good reality check as I could be waiting another 2 weeks. Nooooo!

Good luck everyone, and I'll second the sleeping tip - or even lying down at any opportunity!

[JellyBellies]

I could have written your post, I am due today with dc2 and dc1 was a week overdue! DH keeps asking me to have the baby ASAP ah he has cleared up his calendar for the next 2 weeks and wants the time off

[Shuang]

I am due today and the baby is not even engaged yet... I agree that it is the uncertainty which makes it so difficult. I want to try things like walking around or up the stairs etc but my left hip is too painful to make that possible.

Fingers crossed for all of us that things will start moving soon! xx

[Thornykate]

Is everyone still here? Am 41+1 & still here, induction moved forward to Monday as no beds on Tuesday so only 3 more pregnant nights.

I had a sweep yesterday which made me bleed but no proper show so I am continuing trying to forget that in theory i could go into labour at any moment. I think my body has forgotten how to do that so I am just waiting for Monday now.

[Indaba]

Hate to be a "girly know it all" but IMO due dates are rubbish...they are just averages....labour naturally can be calculated at up to two weeks either way and indeed in France they assume 41 weeks is normal.

I was 2 weeks "late" with all three of mine.....

Things would be a lot easier if they talked about expected period of labour rather due dates, which infer a specific early/late delievery.

Having said all that, I understand your frustration......

Good luck and I hope all goes well.

[camdancer]

I think you are missing the point of this thread, Indaba. Rationally everyone knows that, but when you are getting phone calls, text message and everyone constantly asking you "have you had the baby yet?" it is really annoying. Add to that feeling like a whale, not getting any sleep and knowing that the baby would be completely fine if they came out today, most people could do with a bit of a whinge!

40+2 here. DS and DD both arrived early. It's time now for this baby to arrive. I've had enough and just want to get on with the next bit now.

Hope everyone else who has posted on this thread has already graduated!

[Thornykate]

Still here at 41+3 camdancer so you are not alone!

I would be v worried if the ladies on this thread didn't already know what you are telling us Indaba but thanks for the good wishes :)

[Secondtimelucky]

I'm still here too!

[camdancer]

How did your half term go Secondtimelucky? I just couldn't plan anything so we had lots of days of playing at home and a bit of going out to the park each day. Not the most exciting week in my DC's lives! Back to normality this week - preschool for DS and toddler groups for DD. It's gonna be hell seeing people though. Do you think having a t-shirt made saying "no, I haven't had it yet" would be too aggressive?

Thornykate, hope things start soon for you. You still being induced on Tuesday?

[Indaba]

Sorry! Didn't mean to hack anyone off. As I say I understand your frustration having gone two weeks over with all three of mine.

I remember bursting into tears when someone who was due 8 days after me had gone into labour.....sobbing hysterically as though the world had ended.

And my stupid dad phoning up daily to ask if there was "any news" . I was so tempted to say "oh, yes I've had the baby forgot to call"

Good luck all!

[Thornykate]

Indaba I did say that to my lovely well meaning dad last week & he hasn't asked since, bless him.

They have no beds on Tuesday Camdancer so I am booked in for Monday instead. Have never been induced before so am hoping it will be ok. Seems a bit strange knowing I only have a couple of baby free nights left at the most. Providing they dont cancel & providing my body isn't going to be v stubborn about the induction of course!

Get the t-shirt!

[Secondtimelucky]

It involved a fair amount of Cbeebies and trips to the park Cam!

[Secondtimelucky]

Oh, and while you're printing those t-shirts, could I have one?

[palerfire]

Still here too. Interestingly my EDD was put forward to 31 May at my 12 week scan - the date based on LMP was today. Either way no stirrings though sigh

[Indaba]

Oh I do feel for you all.

[Secondtimelucky]

This is my new metaphor for being overdue!

You enter a marathon. The organisers say that it's officially a 26 mile race, but the way it works is that they'll pick when you can finish. It's normally somewhere between 25 and 27 miles, but it could be a bit either side.

You start the race and try to convince yourself to think of it as 27 miles, but at about 24.5, you see people starting to be pulled aside and given a medal. At the 26 mile mark, all your family are gathered at the theoretical finish line. They start giving 'helpful' hints about how to get the organisers to notice you and give you a finish. It doesn't work, and you keep running.

Eventually you get picked, and obviously you are very pleased. However, it is noticable that you are in worse shape that those picked a couple of miles back and it doesn't change the fact that, even though you knew you might have to run 27 miles, you feel completely short changed that other people only had to do 25!

Of course the metaphor breaks down a bit because, when you are picked, some people get their medal straight off and some people have to a triathlon first (depending on what type of labour you get!).

That actually makes me sound far more grumpy than I am. It's the weekend. I have DH here to help and I had a lovely reflexology session this afternoon which has perked me up quite a bit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all of you. Thorny I hope something happens before the induction, or if not that it goes well. I'm sending everyone contraction-y vibes!

[Thornykate]

I have definitely passed the 26 mile marker but can live with that as long as I get to skip the triathlon & most importantly the medal is safe

Wouldn't mind but I didn't even know I had entered the race until after it started IYKWIM but wouldn't change it for the world.