My daughter is in labour and I'm a mess of emotion

[Eremomila]

As above. My adult daughter is in labour with her first baby, her partner is with her, and I will get updates from time to time.
I won't be mithering them for updates, I'm happy to hear whenever they choose to update, including if they wait until baby comes, but I'm a mess of emotion and worry. I just hope all goes well for her and the baby and it's not too awful.
She's been in early stages of labour since early this morning, has been up to the hospital and sent home again. She says she's doing ok.
Just sharing on here as I have nobody around at the moment to share with, and hoping that some can understand my emotions at my lovely daughter now being in the process of birthing her own child.
I can remember my labour and her birth so well, as if it was yesterday. I was in labour a long time, and she was born at home (as intended).
Feeling quite teary at the moment with the wonder of it all.

Walking nonstop was what got things going for me.

No, don't worry - as long as her waters haven't gone yet, it's fine for early labour to take this long and the baby doesn't need monitoring. Once she's in active labour they'll keep her in hospital and will keep a closer eye.

I had my son in covid times so had to labour alone on the induction ward. I wanted my husband to sleep before the baby so spent all night texting and chatting to my dad to take the mind off the pain. He was such a solid support for me, you sound like you'll be an absolute rock for your lucky daughter in those first difficult weeks 💜
Hope all is well with your newest family member when she arrives 💐

Oh I can well imagine this, I had my first baby 6 months ago and had my mum (and my husband) with me at the hospital during labour. I’m sure my mum thought she was a member of staff at the hospital for those days looking after us before a midwife got a chance😂 congratulations OP, won’t be long now!x

Looking forward to you hopefully having some lovely news today!

I can imagine I’d be feeling the same as you if and when my dd has a baby-apparently my mum was like a cat on hot bricks when I was in labour!

Bless you OP! My mum would have been exactly the same which is why I didn't tell her until after the baby was here. Lovely that your daughter wanted to share the journey with you, however I hope you feel less anxious asap and all goes well with the new arrival.

Good luck to your daughter! Maybe offer to go over and let her partner get some sleep so he's at his best to advocate for her once she's admitted to hospital if they're happy to have some more support.

Aw I came back expecting baby news so am sorry to hear she’s in for a long one. My first labour was about 48hrs in total as well. I’m sure when you are waiting it’s easy to think things are going wrong but it can just be slow as baby and mums body work out what on earth is happening! Enjoy those first cuddles, will be magical.

The waiting is just awful isn't it.Far worse than doing it yourself! The worry for your child is overwhelming. But it will be over fairly soon . Try to keep busy xxx

Pretty normal! I think it was about 36 hours from being allowed to stay at the hospital to baby for me (and I'd been sent home before that!). Not ideal but fine.

Could you do some baking and prepare some healthy meals for her? Imagine how good it would feel to have a baby then get a delicious home cooked meal dropped off by your mum.

I think that's fairly understandable. My mum and MIL were both apparently bags of nerves/ worry until I had both of my babies.

As you know yourself labour can be slow. My 1st took 3 days! I'm sure all is going well and you will hear soon

Everything crossed for you and yours, OP!

I knew I’d feel exactly the same when dd was having her first (knew I’d be a nervous wreck) so told both dd and SiL that I didn’t want to know until it was all over. And from my POV, just as well, since labour was long and difficult.

For no. 2, however, dh and I had been babysitting Gdd1 (still only 15 months) all day when dd went into slightly early labour while we were still finishing dinner. So the relief was colossal when SiL phoned - while we were still sitting at the table! - to say it was a boy! He was evidently in a hurry, and has been charging around like a human hurricane pretty much ever since…

Ah OP what a lovely post. I remember my mum being more nervous than me when I went into labour with DC1 😂 Just to reassure, my labour was a long one first time around and I think this added a lot of anxiety to those outside of the hospital like my mum and MIL. It really was all ok. I got through on gas and air, DC1 was born healthy but had just been in a tricky position so needed a ventouse in the end. It was nothing hugely major so please try not to worry. If it has escalated and she’s needed more intervention she’s in the right place with the right people who will be used to dealing with all sorts of births. Sending you lots of good wishes!!

Hopefully not long now, best wishes to you all.

Ah. My mum left a full trolley in Tesco and went home when she heard I was in labour with my first as she needed to 'focus'. She couldn't eat or sleep for the next few days until my baby arrived and then she breezed in all calm and relaxed (my dad told me how unbearable she had been). Same with my second.

Sounds like my first labour; I was back in hospital again about 12 hours later, and it definitely was all go from there.

In normal labour there is no need for continuous fetal monitoring.

OP this could go on for another week. Truly.

But slow start, rapid finish!

That makes me glad that neither my mother nor my in-laws knew when I went into labour early (my baby was only five days early, no problem). It was just me and my husband, first at home then in hospital, to which he drove, a 15 minute journey, and he phoned them after the event.

They were all terribly hyped up/excited after being told; my mum said she couldn't eat her lunch, my father-in-law left work at lunchtime and they arrived promptly at visiting time in the afternoon. A dear old friend of mine also turned up, she had travelled to London from Bath to see me for the day, found I was not in and had the common sense to phone my mum. She was delighted. i had sent her a telegram before I left for the hospital but it didn't arrive until after she left :-). Happy memories.

I am looking forward to the op returning with good news, bless her.

It can go on for days.

I was in labour for 52 hours. Went to the hospital but was sent back as things were progressing too slowly. Took ages to get the baby out and it was not like in films at all. Haha. I was really bored and wanted to get it all over and done with. 😂

Can't be that long for your daughter now OP. How exciting! 🥳

How exciting OP! Sounds like your DD is strong, and has a good supportive partner. I'm sure she'll be absolutely fine.

When she went in did they say how dilated she is? When I had my baby, I remember going in but being sent home as I was only 2cm - the midwife gave a really good sweep though and it really got things going. I was back in a few hours later fully dilated and DD arrived an hour later! Just wondering if they said how progressed she is/offered her a sweep?

Been following this thread and wanted to chime in to say how lovely it's been. Fingers crossed you get a brand new granddaughter today and whilst you're waiting here's a few noteworthy people she will share a birthday with.

Carrie Fisher - I'm genuinely jealous.
Alfred Nobel - The name sake of the Nobel prize.
Janet Ahlberg - This means your absolutely definitely have to buy her a copy of each peach pear plum, peepo and funnybones. 🥰

What a sweet and lovely mum you are. Your new granddaughter is very lucky!

can I make a suggestion? When my mum was in Labour my grandad wrote me letter. I still have it now at 34 and I will treasure it always. Can you write a card or a letter or draw picture for your new granddaughter to keep you busy now?

Aww @Eremomila it’s such a nervous but exciting time.

Our baby grandson was born on Boxing Day. We were at MILs and she asked me to sit down because I was pacing that much she thought I was going to wear out her carpet. I was so worried about DDIL because she’s tiny and the baby had been measuring big all throughout the pregnancy, plus it was 3 weeks early.

Being a granny is the best thing in the world He lights up our lives, everything has a whole new meaning. Last week I was sitting on the floor playing with him, and he pulled himself up on me, put his little chubby arms round my neck and gave me a hug, I melted into a puddle, You’re going to love your new role so much.