Can someone cheer me up?

[prolificwillybreeder]

I am 36+3, I'm a week behind what they thought apparently.
Second child, I've in slow stop, start labour for 6 days today! I am exhausted! I can't really sleep through the contractions but they aren't hard or fast enough.
I know being early it's best for baby to stay put but I have no idea how much longer I can function like this :(

I really don't know what to do. Anyone got any ideas?

[WriterofDreams]

Huge sympathies pet, it's horrible to be feeling that way

I remember feeling exactly the same with DS. I was ridiculously grumpy and I had contractions for 3 fecking weeks.

The only suggestions I can makes are:

1. See this as a time to make the most of your first child being an only. Chat to him/her, make something with him/her, throw yourself into being with him or her to try to get your mind off things.
   
2. Think of some little treat that you fancy and make it a mission to get to the shop and buy that and a few other things. Go home and indulge in your treat and really enjoy it.
   
3. Cry. It does help.
   
4. Chat and rant and moan on MN.
   
5. Write your new baby a letter about how much you're looking forward to meeting him/her, seal it and put it away for him or her to read when old enough.
   
6. Do a few of those easy sitting down jobs that you always mean to do but never get around to - organise photos on the computer, sort out your filing drawer, give yourself a really nice manicure (for the baby photos :) ) etc etc.
   
7. Slob on the couch and wallow. This is mainly what I did.
   
   In the meantime to cheer you up
   

Can you tell I love cats?

[NorthLondonDoulas]

Prolificwillybreeder - lol love the name!

Oh hun i totally understand what that is like, i had the exact same thing with my last two pregnancies... i found that having a nice warm bath at night followed by massaging my tummy (with a mixture of a natural base oil mixed with a few drops of lavender essential oil) really helped with the discomfort and the properties of the lavender helped me to relax and go to sleep - even more relaxing if you can twist your hubby's arm to do it for you, so you can lie back, close your eyes and relax!

Reading at night also made my eyes so tired that it made staying awake hard sometimes.

You never know, give it a go. Good luck and keep us posted if anything does work.x

[prolificwillybreeder]

Writer of dreams, your post was so lovely I cried!
Thank you both for your kind supportive words. It's amazing how isolated one can feel at this stage.
The fact this boy isn't back to back like DS means I'm feeling the contractions differently which even more odd.
I followed both your advice, I'm having a lavender massage later and I managed to nap for 3 hours (!) this afternoon after my treats from Sainsburys.
Got checked over this morning, couldn't tell me much other than I've dropped a lot in 2 days and he is in the right position. One mw did try to tell me they were BH's to which the look on my face made her scuttle away! But anyhow chief mw is very happy with my boy, lovely heart rate and very active. So happy baby, it's just mummy who is fed up and miserable.
Things have really died down now. hoping that we kick off tonight! Reality I think I could be like this for days, it's just so draining and I don't want to do anything or see anyone.
DS and DP are both being utter darlings!

Thank you so so much for posting. I'll check in tomorrow. The next post won't be quick as long I hope!

[WriterofDreams]

I'm glad we cheered you up a little bit :) How are things going today?

[prolificwillybreeder]

Still going not progressing unfortunately.
The washing machine has just gone bang with the newborn clothes in it! This is not a good sign.

Thing I could be here a while!

[mumatron]

Listen to wod she talks sense. She talked through my marathon am I/aren't I labour. Not much I can add really.

I found it really helpful posting on here (I might have started a few dozen threads during late pg)


and always makes me smile, even though it's been linked on here a million times.

[prolificwillybreeder]

She is very wise.
Posting here is keeping slightly more sane!
Think DP is tired of listening to me.
I'm almost bored to tears with it now. All quiet at the moment. So annoying!
Thanks for replying mumatron

[mumatron]

dp's just don't get it. keep ranting posting here. we'll sort you out

[WriterofDreams]

Aw you guys you're making me blush. Mumatron and I much had a support group going last December when we were both where you are now. I'd have gone mad without her. I think there's a tipping point where you just think "right I've had enough, baby COME OUT NOW!" and once you've reached that point there's no going back, you're just completely on edge until the baby arrives. Partly it's a good thing as it gets you in the right frame of mind for the birth. Once labour starts you're not scared you're just bloody relieved that you're finally on the last stretch.

My poor DH got sick of me too and I can't really blame him. I whinged and moaned pretty much non stop for the last few weeks. Can you believe I had a show at 37 weeks but DS didn't appear till 40+5?!! Oops that's not really going to make you feel better is it Anything nice planned for this weekend? Remember that this is one of the few times in your life that you can legitimately just throw up your hands and not bother doing anything beyond the bare minimum. If you feel like a bath, off you go, if you feel like a nap, off you go. DP will just have to suck it up

[WriterofDreams]

that should be pretty much had a support group...

[WriterofDreams]

Just reread that your DP is being great. Good on him :) Glad to hear it, it really helps.

[BertieBasset]

I had this but only for a week - 3 !!!!

I found my birthing ball really helped - not sure if you have one or if it works for you? Hope everything is a bit easier today

[WriterofDreams]

How's it going PWB?

[prolificwillybreeder]

Hi WOD, thanks for thinking of me. Well it all died down Friday night and yesterday. Today; bit of back ache and twinges down below followed by a few contractions I had to breathe through but manageable. Oh and had another show this morning.
I think my body just takes forever to get going! Same happened with DS1 but was more productive. I am really sleepy which for some reason I am taking as a good sign!

BB I have a birthing ball- brilliant things! I generally sit on that, find it more comfortable than the sofa.
Trying to keep my chin up, hoping it will all randomly just kick off :)

[WriterofDreams]

Arrrgh come on baby boy, time to meet your family!
I definitely had given up at 40+5 and reckoned I'd just end up induced. I stopped worrying and then, of course, that day everything just ramped up all of a sudden! I was only in labour for 6 hours before DS made an appearance, so clearly those weeks of annoyance had had some effect :) Sleepy is very good, hopefully you'll get a good sleep before it all kicks off. Good luck and keep us up to date. I recommend very large amounts of cake.

[prolificwillybreeder]

Thank you for the happy birth vibes!
I think if nothing happens by Wednesday I'm giving up. If I need to be induced then that's what will happen I guess. Hopefully by then I'll be at peace with that!
Been getting some pains right 'down there' does that sound hopeful? Back still hurts so I'm taking that as a positive!
Another early night and cake for me I think.
Will update tomorrow :)

[prolificwillybreeder]

Ooh I am also trying some accupressure points, hand, foot and shoulder oh and bottom of back.
If anything it means I get a nice rub from DP and avoids the clary sage bath which I cannot justify £9 on!

[WriterofDreams]

How's it going today? My DS (6 months) has a bad cold and is in horrendous form so I'm not having the most fun :( I feel so sorry for the poor little thing, he's very sleepy and grumpy. My dad is an accupressurist and he advised me to press a load of different points when I was overdue but I never did, would be interested to see if it works at all for you. I'm not a huge believer in it (much to my dad's annoyance!) but as you say it's nice to have a bit of pampering.

[prolificwillybreeder]

I pretty much am on the verge of giving up! Oh your poor DS :( mine is also a serious grump- teething, the tooth in question has come through but I guess is still coming down. He's passed out on the sofa next me after a bad night last night.
Hope your DS feels better, can't think of anything to suggest other than good old calpol and baby vicks if he is snuffly. It's horrible when they are ill, I feel so helpless.

The pressure points, a couple made him go mad but didn't put me into labour! Keep getting pains but nothing to write home about.

[mumatron]

wod E had a cold last week, I can only recommend saline nose drops and calpol. hope he gets better quickly.

pwb I think i must have tried everything to get dd out but still went 13 days over :(

[prolificwillybreeder]

Oh yes saline nasal drops, they are great!
Mumatron I've given myself until Wednesday then I need to accept that one way or another he will come but I'm giving up trying to encourage him.

[mumatron]

E was due on Dec 24th, I spent the weeks before trying to get her out, xmas week trying to keep her in then another week trying to get her out again! poor cow didn't know if she was coming or going

I don't know anyone in rl who has had any success with any of the old wives tales. Ds will grace you with his presence soon enough.

[prolificwillybreeder]

Sorry mumatron!
I know you're right, it's so difficult though. I just can't seem to accept it but I'm getting there. I'm stuck at home with only DS for company whilst DP is at work. I just don't have the energy to do much these days. Just keep wishfully thinking my waters might just go or labour will just kick off.
Ah well. When he's ready and all that I guess.
It's getting me down which is ridiculous.
Sorry for the moan!

[WriterofDreams]

I think the feeling down is more hormonal than anything, it seems to happen to everyone. Not that that makes you feel any better I'm sure, but just to reassure you that you're normal! I suppose it's a bit like a massive does of PMS

DS perked up a lot this afternoon and is sleeping ok now so hopefully he'll be brighter tomorrow. Calpol is a godsend but I haven't tried saline drops, I might give them a go if he's still snotty tomorrow.

I'm getting a bit broody too now mumatron! I saw a six week old on telly today and I got a bit tearful

[prolificwillybreeder]

Glad your DS is feeling better. Mine went down really well then woke at 10:30 and 4:30 and then 6! Urgh.
Had a couple of quick strong contractions this morning but now nothing
I am feeling down and teary but as you say this is most likely to be hormones- I definitely don't feel myself anyhow.
Waiting in for a washing machine engineer today as he didn't come yesterday.
Tempted to take DS out to the shops this afternoon but it's a bit of a walk sadly. Might kick start labour or exhaust me further!
Think we'll see how the morning goes. Hoping the man comes early so DS and I can nap.

How's your DS today WOD?