Does this sound promising for labour?

[comeonbabyboo]

I'm 39+5 today (Tuesday)
Had some bloody show on Sunday night, and again Monday morning.
Started getting quite strong period type pains at about 8/9pm, and overall bump tightening too. I would say they're coming every 8-10 minutes (haven't timed them as so far I'm managing to snooze between them...)

Do I get up and walk around? Keep trying to sleep?! Baby is still having a good old wriggle in there.

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Sleep. If you can sleep, sleep!!
Your body is preparing to do some heavy lifting so rest up if you are able.
ELVs

[comeonbabyboo]

@Waddlelikeapenguin thanks for the advice! Will keep trying to snooze between tightenings had a feeling I should be up and about trying to get things moving... I guess if it's a false alarm then it won't make any difference anyway

[Flyingchimps]

Good luck!! ❤️

[comeonbabyboo]

Thank you @Flyingchimps hopefully this time it will amount to something!

[moofeatures]

MW here

Sleep (ideally on your left side), eat and drink lots of high energy food, stock up on isotonic sports drink, eat chocolate/have a cuddle/watch a Disney film (anything to release oxytocin). Distraction therapy works wonders. If you're planning to BF, try some hand expressing - if nothing else it'll make some oxytocin, and you may even get a tiny bit of milk to use whilst BF establishes.

And most importantly, do some bulk cooking and stick it in the freeezer!

[moofeatures]

Oh, and good luck!

[comeonbabyboo]

Thanks @moofeatures
Struggling to get comfortable in bed, might take myself off to the couch shortly and see if I can get in a better position there without DH all over my side

[swingsandmusic]

How are you? I hope you are away having a good, not too painful birth. Good luck

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Ooh no updates! Hope you are busy cuddling

[ferntwist]

How exciting, hope all has gone well?

[comeonbabyboo]

Update - baby girl born last night 'not too bad' of a labour, just gas and air/waterbirth. But needed stitching after for a third degree tear 😫 if anyone has any tips on how to help with recovery for that they'll be gratefully received!

[Emma198]

Aw congratulations ❤

[comeonbabyboo]

Thank you

[Mrsramsayscat]

Congratulations. Really well done.
Sit in a rubber ring or soft cushion for a few days.

[sparklepops123]

Lovely news, congratulations 💐

[lmx0]

@comeonbabyboo congrats!!!

[Waddlelikeapenguin]

Congratulations

Take all the stool softeners & careful with the codine

[Flyingchimps]

Congratulations 😍 enjoy the cuddles

[MamOfFrankie]

Mothercare sell specific ice packs for lady bits. They were a lifesaver when I had an episiotomy with DD1!

[FranticallyPeaceful]

Pee in the bath or shower, drink A LOT of water to water it down! Congratulations

[FranticallyPeaceful]

And get your OH to make you a tonne of fruit smoothies

[Bluebirdsky]

Congratulations @comeonbabyboo make sure that you are doing your pelvic floor exercises as often as you can as this encourages the blood supply to the area which speed up the healing process.

[comeonbabyboo]

Oh thank you all so much for your congratulations and tips
Have felt down over my tear today wondering if I'll ever feel 'normal' again, you're all giving me hope!

[octoberfarm]

You can drench sanitary pads in I think some sort of diluted aloe Vera or witch hazel mixture (google should be able to give better instructions, try googling "padsicles") and freeze them - this should give you some much needed relief if you can't find the mothercare ones. Also a spray bottle filled with warm water for when you pee, and I managed to find something that was like a mild anesthetic spray which if used intermittently can be super helpful with numbing down there as needed in the very early days - the hospital recommended it for me. Congrats on your little one!!

[lmx0]

@comeonbabyboo your a brave woman!! I dont think i would purposely feel or go looking for a while!! 🙈