Could someone please explain the concept of LABOUR to my body

[SilverHoney]

Venting out of bordom. And also hoping to hear your own miserable stories to make me feel better What... Misery loves company!

DD was born last year. I tried sweeps x2, acupuncture x2, swimming, walking, birthing ball, clary sage, raspberry leaf tea. You get the picture. The only thing midwives recommended was sex, but it's just not DHs thing. Fair enough.

On day 12 I was induced. Luckily the induction and labour went well, she was born the next day.

I'm now 40+5 with DC2. No niggles, no braxton hicks (sp?), nothing. I turned down a sweep because it's firmly on my "waste of time" list. Why doesn't my body get what it is supposed to do?? Was there a book I was supposed to read to my uterus? Was there a secret antenatal class I don't know about??

Arrrgghhh!!

[JolieColombe]

I sympathise! DD1 went 9 days over (plus a stupidly long labour as she was back to back), and DD2 was 10 days late (presumably had to go one better than her big sis ).

However, she didn't take too long - from first twinge to last push was about 15 hours. And in that time I went shopping and curled up on the sofa to watch TV.

And something I didn't find out until my last midwife appointment (for a second sweep that did precisely naff all) - you've got a head start this time. She said the cervix never completely closes after childbirth, so you're starting from 1cm dilated already. Made me feel a little bit better as I waddled back home...

[SilverHoney]

The crappy thing with being induced is I get to spend my early labour in hospital. No curling up on the sofa for me. worlds smallest violin plays sadly

[JolieColombe]

Ooh, yes, that's a bit shit. Fingers crossed for no induction this time then. OTOH, by the time the triage people let me come in, it was rush hour. What should have been a 15 minute journey took nearly an hour.

The shopping was fun though, got to really freak out the staff member who passed saying 'oh you've not got long now!'. 'Actually,' says I...

[Shanster]

Same boat here, my uterus didn't get the memo either. Had to be induced with my first two - first was pretty awful and took 2 days, second time around the pessary worked straight away - they put it in at 10pm and baby was born at 6am, active labour for 3 hours. Both kids were breech until 37/39 weeks respectively before turning head down. Now I'm 37 weeks with DC3, he's breech and although I have a c-section booked, I just know he'll turn and then I'll be sitting around at 41 weeks waiting.....and finally being induced again.

[kiki22]

I'm with you my body seems to get all geared up weeks in advance then not know what to do next. People told me from 37 weeks I looked ready to go I got all the signs the midwife even thought I would go early and ended up induced 😞

I'm 37+1 and again people are saying you have dropped, your waddling I bet you will be early I feel like shouting at them LIES ITS ALL LIES and waddling away to wait another 5 weeks

[SortItAhhht]

I had an epic pregnancy with my DC1. Had a sweep at 40+1 and again at 41+1. Nothing. Not even a twinge. Went in for induction at 42+1, and after four days of having the pessaries I was still not even 'soft and effaced' or whatever the term is, let alone dilated. They couldn't even administer the syntocin drip I was that unready. Had a c-section at 42+5 in the end.

My body is just crap at labour and birth .

[Gunpowder]

I think its a hormone from the baby that initiates labour!

It's completely woo, but with both DC once I was really fed up with being pregnant, I spoke to them and told them I was ready and they should come whenever it was safe for them to come. Labour started that night both times. Maybe that's because that's when I felt relaxed, but would definitely try it again.

[SilverHoney]

Well at 40+9 nothing has happened so I'm in for induction. Had my first gel, it seems to be doing the trick. Fingers crossed!

[JolieColombe]

Hope all goes well SilverHoney, good luck!