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Pregnancy

Clues that Labour is just around the corner........

62 replies

kicsr · 30/04/2002 19:34

Other than the obvious engagement, nesting, the Strong Braxton Hicks, the show etc.......are there any clues that you have experienced that Labour could be just around the corner.....

Only I am full term now, baby is NOT engaged, I have had no show, baby is more active than ever, (is even turning from cephalic position!)I certainly am NOT nesting, and feel the same as I did at 30 weeks!!!!

I think I'll start on the curries and nipple tweaking!

KICSR

OP posts:

Report

leese · 30/04/2002 20:15

Kicsr - can't really add to your impressive list! Just to say tho', I was exactly the same as you. Dd not engaged (to the concern of everyone but me!), active (her and me) and felt, well, normal! Absolutely convinced I'd go two weeks overdue - to the extent I told people my due date was 2 wks later than it really was (brilliant for keeping annoying 'have you had it yet?' questions at bay a bit longer). Got the shock of my life when I started getting period type pains, which increased over the next day or so - didn't actually believe it was labour 'til I was pushing!
Just to add - good luck.......and get eating that hot curry with fresh pineapple whilst you have sex and dh tweaks your nipples...what a thought....

Demented · 30/04/2002 20:18

This interests me too. I am 35 weeks pregnant with my second baby (I don't really want a premature baby so hope he can hang on a couple of weeks). First DS was one week early and the first sign was my waters breaking so I have not experienced the usual early labour signs (DS' head did not engage as he was OP). This baby's head has not engaged but I have just come back from a short walk to the local shop and as soon as I left the house I had a strong braxton hicks contraction which seemed to last the whole time I was out, followed by alot of lower back discomfort (not quite pain) when walking and a slight crampy feeling at the bottom of my bump. I wondered if this was just a late on pregnancy thing or could it be a sign that things are moving. I am nesting, thinking of setting up in opposition to Fly Lady, and have just had a curry but not with the intention of going into labour!!! I'm going to feel really daft posting this if I'm still here at 42 weeks!

kicsr · 30/04/2002 20:38

Leese/Demented

Chance would be a fine thing....DH went off of sex 9 mths ago!! (wink wink!!!)....I don't like curries, nor Pineapples and my nipples are sore!!!

I'm trying Rasberry Tea this evening!

I have had period style cramps for a couple of days now thou........

Kicsr
xx

OP posts:

CAM · 30/04/2002 21:48

Sounds like it could be close but the defining moment is when you get dh to get a takeaway pizza at 1 am - apparently mother nature knows you need carbohydrate to get through the labour - then you will be in labour within a few hours...

Demented · 30/04/2002 23:15

kicsr, I don't go for the sex/nipple twiddling lark in late pregnancy (in fact DH would probably say the whole pregnancy, but then they are never satisfied ). It takes me half the night to get comfy and get the heartburn under control, usually about midnight, then there are the two wakings for toilet trips and more Gaviscon, I don't care if it is supposed to induce labour I definately have too much going on in the night without sex as well!!!

Tillysmummy · 01/05/2002 09:10

Kicsr

I did everything, raspberry leaf tea by the gallon, mountains of pineapples (thought makes me feel sick), uncomfy regular sex, nipple tweaking for hours, hot curries none of it worked ! For me anyway.

Also, I never had any Braxton Hicks, just period pains but it wasn't how they described contractions. When mine started my contractions were just like severe period pains.

kicsr · 02/05/2002 14:26

I've just eaten and craved 2 packets of SuperNoodles chicken flavour. I HATE noodles. Is this my body craving for carbohydrates that CAM suggested may happen just before I go into labour?!!!

I hope so!

OP posts:

CAM · 02/05/2002 20:58

Yes!

Demented · 03/05/2002 00:35

kicsr, was just wondering if you were still around, hope you don't have long to wait now!

kicsr · 03/05/2002 11:17

Still here, eating some Fudge!
Come on "little one"!

kicsr
xxxxxx

OP posts:

Lizzer · 03/05/2002 11:29

supernoodles? fudge? Maybe you're not going into labour, Kicsr, maybe you're just turning into ME- ARGH!!!!

sister · 03/05/2002 11:41

Sorry Kicsr, it's not fudge and super noodles you need, a cup of castor oil mixed with orange juice worked for me. Depends how desperate you are though!!

Queenie · 03/05/2002 11:49

Sister, I was told by my mum's neighbour who is from India that castor oil works for her (she has 3) but couldn't find it when I went to look for it in Tesco's so tried a hot curry instead which didn't work - however have since read somewhere that some expert would not recommend castor oil and can't remember why however am still tempted to try it if overdue this time.

SueDonim · 03/05/2002 11:52

Castor oil can give you diarrhoea and stomach cramps, on top of labour pains!

sister · 03/05/2002 12:04

My midwife hinted to me that it might work when I went over due.
I got it over the chemists counter and went in to labour within 8 hours of taking it.
I must admit that at the time I was not sure if the pains were because baby was on the way or because I needed to make a dash for the loo
When I went to the hospital I told them what I had taken as I did not want to make a fool of myself, I don't think they were too impressed and wanted to know which midwife had suggested it.

Demented · 03/05/2002 15:28

Yum fudge sounds nice!

kicsr · 03/05/2002 21:39

Bless her my mother in law is CONVINCED that taking castor oil and orange juice in an attempt to start labour is very dangerous because it makes the baby too slippery to push out, and "ALL her friends who tried that method had a terrible 2nd stage"

I have now eaten pizza and am experiencing pains not unlike period pains, not in waves though more like constant, (as period pain is), I wonder if its the head engaging more, or maybe the Supernoodles and Fudge diet has worked.......???

Update you in a few hours if anything happens......

OP posts:

SueDonim · 03/05/2002 22:08

I suppose it depends exactly where your MIL put the castor oil, Kisc! Good luck, btw!

kicsr · 03/05/2002 22:40

Mmmmm not sure they are labour pains thou Sue........

OP posts:

Tinker · 03/05/2002 22:50

Don't do castor oil! My mum did this with my brother - she still doesn't like to talk about it!

SueW · 04/05/2002 00:32

As far as I understand it, the curry/castor oil theory works on irritating the bowel which is (naturally at this stage) fairly squashed up against your uterus. This can stimulate/trick the body into producing the hormones needed to start labour.

I have heard in the past that castor oil may stimulate baby to pass meconium but this might be a complete load of you-know-what!!!

I guess in the end, nothing is going to work unless your body is ready to go. Like hitting warts/ganglions with a bible, it's probably just coincidence.

MandyD · 04/05/2002 09:02

Castor oil didn't do much for me except produce a rather squitty tummy. The wife of my DPs friend, on hearing from him that I was going to take it, phoned me and implored me not to. She said she'd taken it with her first baby 20 years ago and hinted at some very nasty bowel fall-out effects, specifically agonising cramps.

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Demented · 04/05/2002 09:50

Kicsr, my mother thought when she first saw me and I was covered in that white waxy stuff that that was because of all the Rennies she had taken for heartburn! She now accepts that this was not the case but she thought and still thinks that everytime she ate something I "came up like a fish to eat it first"!

kicsr · 04/05/2002 12:51

Well I haven't been tempted to do the Castor Oil trick.

Tried a sausage roll and cherry bakewell for lunch, see if that works!

Co incidently, Labour Ward asked me to go in at 1am this morning due to the cramps I was experiencing yesterday, and the guess what happened.....on the way, they completely stopped enabling me to stop.

I have a feeling this baby likes being centre of attention.........

OP posts:

pupuce · 04/05/2002 14:06

I have also been told by several midwives NOT to try castor oil... because it doesn't work and can be dangerous... don't know why. Their tone was very affirmative.

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