My EDd isn't until the 28th May but I'm booked in for an ELCs on the 21st (a week on Friday). I am absolutely huge and so is baby and when I saw my Midwife last week she predicted I wouldn't even make it to my ELCS date.
Over the last few weeks I've been having Braxton Hicks which have been uncomfortable but not painful and I was usually only aware of them if I actually touched my bump. However, since Saturday I have been getting them much more frequently, they are lasting longer and also causing me a lot of discomfort. Last night they were at their worst. and the pain was radiating in my pelvis, hips and around my back. After about half an hour it eased off and I was able to get some sleep. I have woken up this morning to a very tight bump but no pain.
I was also told by my midwife that as the body gears up for labour your bowels have a clear out and over the last 2 days I have had 4 episodes of diarrhoea - despite having had difficulties over the last few months due to being on iron supplements.
I'm just getting a bit nervous now that labour may actually be approaching..
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Pregnancy
Does your body gear up for labour?
Writerwannabe83 · 11/03/2014 08:29
I had all this for 3 weeks prior to going into labour 
If you go into labour it'll just be done as an emergency c section rather than planned.
I did mean March
Oscar - My ELCS is because I have epilepsy and a heart condition that causes arrthymia (I can't spell that word) and SVT episodes. Natural labour can act as a trigger for both conditions hence why it's being avoided 
I've been really uncomfortable again over the last few hours - I keep getting strange pressure pains radiating down my back and into my bottom. They last for about 30 seconds and then ease off again.
Ooh misty you've got me feeling all on edge, but in a good way.
Usually the discomfort is just my bump which is why it's making me a bit nervous that the pain/pressure is spreading further afield.
Slightly worried that I haven't actually packed a hospital bag yet....
Farmyardanimals - I just got up and had a little walk around the house and it has eased somewhat - I'm going to take some paracetamol too to see if that helps. I will definitely monitor it throughout the day and see how things go - I'll be obsessively on knicker watch now
EEk sitting - I feel nervous at the thought of ringing my midwife. As much as I'm ready to have the baby the thought of actually having to go into hospital to be checked and then possibly have the CS scares the absolute life out of me. I know that's the far fetched and worst case scenario but I feel like I'd rather bury my head in the sand than face it 
Sorry to panic you! I was completely in denial - I put off phoning the midwife for hours.
If they've eased off, you'll be fine, but if they start again and are regular and painful, we'll hold your hand.
Thanks sitting - when it was happening last night I was getting a bit panicked and couldn't decide whether to wake my DH or not - decided against it in the end. My midwife does her clinic tomorrow at my GP surgery so if things continue to play up during the day and overnight then I might ring in the morning and see if I can go in and see her, even if just for some reassurance.
If things worsen though I have the Labour Ward's Triage phone number on my mobile
I'm quite an anxious person by nature so I'm trying not to let myself over-think things or worry too much but easier said than done when home alone....
I'm supposed to have my ELCS tomorrow. Baby will be a week old tomorrow
I'd been having BHs all along, some quite strong and painful and even 5 minutes apart, but what was different for me on the day I went into real labour was:
- Soft bowel movements with no accompanying stomach cramps like I'd had from mild viruses many times in pregnancy - this was in the AM
- Blood pressure "spike" - not abnormally high, but well above my normal levels (i.e. 135/85 rather than 110/70)
- Contractions all day instead of the occasional one here and there. My BHs had been evenings only
- Contractions that did not disappear upon walking around, visiting the bathroom etc - they lessened, but they didn't go
- Feeling oddly spaced out, and more emotional than usual. Wanting personal space more (this was up to a few times before)
- Urge to get things done - not necessarily tidying or cleaning, but to finish off my todo list (again, a few days before)
There was no show, or waters breaking. As such I went about my day in denial, as the contractions were not very bad and no worse than I'd been having in the evening. I was pretty much hoping and expecting it would go away, and I wouldn't have to bother anyone with my other three DC. Other people online were telling me to call but I was all "no, really, it's okay!"
It wasn't until I settled down for the evening that they got to 3 minutes apart and I started sweating and shaking through some of them (still not that painful) that I realised I should probably call. In my case an ELCS is 100% necessary due to a permanent stitch I have that closes off my cervix, so labouring for too long can cause a rupture. I was having an early c-section for that reason anyway, but I guess she wanted to come even earlier.
I reached the hospital at 9pm, monitored for a few hours, EMCS at 2am, even though the contractions had faded away to 6-7 minutes by that point. They didn't want to take any chances and I was 37+3. Not what I had planned for the day!
So do pack your hospital bag. If you are past 37 weeks and go in, chances are high they'll do the section just to be on the safe side.
Morning all.
Firstly, congratulations Crispy !! !!
I found your post really useful. I actually started to feel quite unwell last night, quite shaky and faint, although all the pains and BH completely wore off. I coincidentally checked my BP but it was only 125/64 so pretty normal for me. I made myself get out of bed though to pack mine and the baby's hospital bags and I felt more calm once I'd done it. I didn't have any discomfort overnight (apart from baby's normal movements) and had a really good sleep - I've woke up feeling much better.
boogles - I've made a list of 'Things to add to the bag just before leaving for the hospital" and after my slippers, my blankie is 2nd on the list
So, all the drama of yesterday petered out to nothing.
My midwife predicted baby would be here by Friday so we'll just have to see....
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Thanks, both!
I did have the childcare issue, and it did end up being an issue! We had the in-laws to stay with us for the week before and my mother for the final week, with a few days overlap. Unfortunately absolute law of sod, I realised it was "something" the evening my in-laws were down in London watching a play - the only gap in our emergency coverage in the final two weeks. And my mother was not due to arrive until nearly midnight. We had to call back the in-laws from halfway through their play (talk about massive guilt on my part) which I am quite sure they were not happy about but they never said anything. I had been convinced things would peter out so I hadn't said anything before they went. So we were left without cover especially as FIL didn't answer his phone (no signal I think).
I still had my list of school parent friends who had agreed to help out up until the in-laws had arrived, so I had to do one of the hardest things I've ever done (gave me a full on panic attack in a way labour just wasn't!) and ring round at about 8pm. Two didn't answer, and the two that did weren't exactly over the moon with enthusiasm naturally, but they did very kindly agree and were nice about it. Nobody was willing to take two year old DS at first but when I said it was just for a few hours until the in-laws could get there they were fine with it. DH took them round and I just sat there and felt horrendously guilty over all of it and hoped so much they would give me an EMCS so I hadn't wasted anyone's time! I was gutted when the contractions slowed when I was on the monitors and there was talk of holding on until my scheduled date, but thankfully they picked up after a totally unnecessary (in my opinion due to my stitch) internal so they went ahead. Phew!! Honestly I am such a people-pleaser sometimes 
Writer - glad things seem to be settling! In the final weeks all sorts of new and different things happen as the body prepares, not knowing you have a scheduled c-section after all, and they don't necessarily mean labour. Just late pregnancy. It's amazing what a good sleep can do! Although having said that, I had one of the best sleeps I've had yet when I woke up to contractions so who knows..
Good luck!!
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