To panic?! 34 weeks pregnant...

[Scarycoaster]

Was checked out the other day due to pains that seemed mainly muscular for the last couple weeks. Given stronger pain medication for it, all other checks fine but told to keep an eye out as could all be the start of something as I had other symptoms. Reassured that if he did come soon all will be okay.

This morning I woke up to what looks very much like my bloody show. Mucus in texture and a light brown/reddish colour.

WE ARE NOT READY! We are still in the process of an extension. The very end of it, fDH and my dad (who lives with us) is putting it down today.

I have half a sofa in my bloody kitchen.

My dd is running around like an adorable feral animal.

I am super excited, super scared. Panicked they'll keep me in during all this going on as i was planning a home birth but accepted that wouldn't happen, but would go in last minute to avoid staying too long in hospital.

We live with my parents who are in the shielding list and I'm terrified of bringing anything home. I have a phobia of hospitals at the best of times.

I am panicking. Really panicking!

You need to call maternity triage right away. They might not need you to go in, they might need you to go in, but if you are in labour prematurely they need to know.
I can reassure you that if you have to go in for any checks, the maternity unit at my hospital felt extremely safe with lots of distancing, cleaning and precautions and I would have felt more at risk going supermarket shopping I think! It's the place in the hospital they least want anything to spread so that is their number one priority keeping it sealed off and safe.
Ring up and good luck xx

I've already called. They said to wait unless it gets worse. Spoke to my midwife and showed her photos via phone and she agrees it is my bloody show. A case of waiting until things get worse before I can go in still though.

Although it's hard knowing what is considered worse. I'm still bleeding, but steadily. No worse than it started at and no obscene amounts.

Feel a little sick and achy. Taken myself and

Dd to chill out in the bedroom while all the mess goes on downstairs. Bless her she isn't even two and she is being so good laying next to me watching her tablet!

My little hurricane seems to know mummy needs a rest

If you're still bleeding call them back

Call maternity. You'll be fine though. I remember being told at 35 weeks the baby was going to come (turned out to be a false alarm). DH managed to put together the nursery furniture in record time but it made no difference anyway. The baby was permanently in my arms or right next to my bed. If a toddler can cope with the chaos of an extension a baby won't care.

They said not to unless it got worse though? I'm so worried over looking like a pain now as I had to chase them all for over a week before I got seen for the pain before. Now this! With everything going on the default seems to be "let's wait it out" which, I get completely.l considering the world atm. But jesus it is bloody scary!

Handfulofdust- my dd was exactly the same for the first couple months! I was just hoping things would be organised before he came so I could have places to lay him down as DD is still very much clung to me and I don't want her seeing a new little one come home and take her mummy :(

Do they know you are bleeding?
Don't worry about the things you cannot change, as long as you have a cosy space for you and your little ones to rest once they are here and everything will carry on around you.
Look on the plus side that you have your parents about to meet the new arrival and can help.
Good luck.

Try and relax OP, the baby amongst an extension isn’t the issue, it’s the toddler and you’re already handling that. Your baby will just need you for weeks and months!
As for shielding your parents don’t worry too much, midwives are taking lots of precautions, a birthing suite is different to the rest of the hospital.

Best of luck!

They do. They said to wait it out as due to the colour it is likely not fresh. I sent a photo to midwife and she said it looks very much like my bloody show. To go in if the pains get worse as I will need injections for the babys lungs. Thing is it's more uncomfortable than a pain, beyond the muscle pain I've been having anyway.

I'm finding it so hard to judge without thinking I'm overthinking.

Such a hard one to think what is best. I don't want to show up despite them saying not to just to be told all is fine and then them not listen to me later on as I am "that" woman. Same time I don't want to leave it too late as dd birth was fast so if things get going this likely will be too.

I am forever grateful we live with my parents. Especially with all this going on. I couldn't imagine not having them during this!

Please ring and double check they understand you are still bleeding and don't want you to come in. Much better safe than sorry and they won't mind!

Good luck!

I thought they needed to give you steroids twice and a couple of days before the birth. I could be wrong as it's a while since my 34 weeker arrived (home at 36 weeks). I also think you should get checked out.
Good luck.

If it were me I would be asking my midwife to book me in for an emergency check up, mostly to make sure baby is okay and also to see if steroid injections should be started if it looks like you might be dilating. Sure, it is possible to have a show and for nothing to happen but if your waters broke tomorrow, the current circumstances are not the ideal time to have a premature baby if at all possible. Please demand to have yourself checked xxxx

I will be calling again within the next hour or two. As it stands on checking just now it seems to have slowed down a little, and the cramps are no worse than before. Just feeling a bit sickly.

As I was induced with my dd (due to bleeding as it happens) it's hard to know the real signs as once things really kicked off with her I was so exhausted and unwell it's all a bit of a blur!

This happened to me when I had my 34 weeker. Had been having pains on and off for about a week or so but they kept stopping. Had a show and went in 3cm dilated when I got there. Had 2 doses of steroids during the labour and baby arrived at 5lb 4. Needed tube feeding for 2 days and had a touch of jaundice but never needed NICU or anything. Good Luck!

Twinkletoes - that makes me feel so much better knowing no nicu was needed. Dd was only 5lbs 10oz when she was born at 37 weeks though, although due to that we've had extra scans this time round and apparently he is measuring as ti be expected this time round. Certainly am a lot bigger than I was with dd!

I'm quite excited now, worried naturally. But excited to think I may get to meet him soon. Just hope he stays put a little longer for his sake and for us finishing off everything!

You will make it work mummy bear and I am sure everything will be fine whatever happens. At least when they first arrive they can't go flying around everywhere like our toddlers do :D

@Scarycoaster how’s it going?

Sorry, been a hectic day of running after my hurricane and desperately trying to get the lounge in livable state. Thankfully all is done bar the bedroom now! Relief.

I'm still bleeding, steadily. No worse or better than earlier. Sickness has gone but cramps are still here although sporadic.

If I'm honest I never even realised the time until half hour ago. So I will be feeding my dd then calling the unit again to ask if they consider this an improvement or staying the same or what.

Just got back from the hospital.

Baby is fine, my cervix is just irritated as such. Been told to get lots of rest. Usually they would keep me in over night but allowed me home to monitor until the morning when I will call. If I'm still bleeding I'll be kept in overnight to keep a check.

My musings is that he is a similar size to what my dd was at birth. She was induced due to a similar issue at just before 37 weeks. I assume my cervix just doesn't appreciate a baby head bashing against it too much!

Planning on as much rest as possible with dd tomorrow and avoiding any bending or lifting her too much.

Last thing I need is an overnight stay. I've never been away from dd for more than a brief hour here and there before. Spending time from her in a hospital setting that already causes me massive anxiety, let alone on my own during all of the covid stuff sent me into a panic.

Hoping if I rest more and avoid anything that may push his head around that area more than needed i can avoid any more bleeds and a hospital stay!

I haven't started to dialite yet so I'm not in early labour thankfully. But her concern is that it may be the very early stages of body getting into position as such.

So rest rest rest!

Glad you're okay and good luck.

I hope you’ve managed to spend the day resting OP!

Glad to hear all is ok for you at the moment. Get a good nights sleep .

My 34 weeker was 5lb 5oz. Needed tube feeding for a week or so. They don’t get the sucking reflex until 35 wks apparently. After that I started BF with no probs. Took her home at 20 days old.

Now she’s 25, fit n healthy, taller than me, very intelligent.

I’m sure your baby will be fine even if he/she comes now. 💐💐

I'm glad you've had a good day, definitely keep up the rest .

I was in and out of the hospital for 9 weeks with bleeding. I lost my plug at 24+3 which as when the first bleed happened so there was a big gap between that and actually having my baby. We had steroids a week or so before his birth. My little boy was born at 33+2 and didn't require anything other than a Nasogastric tube for 9 days. Hopefully, this will give you a little bit of extra reassurance.

So lovely to hear everyone's positive outcomes :)

I got some rest yesterday and also my lounge is now finished (and turned into a bloody toy shop!) So that has helped ease some stress too.

Was up through the night aching a lot, had a little bleeding through the day, but all brown. That went to light pink/white come evening and continued to look more plug like!

Hoping that means I still have a few weeks ahead of me judging by your stories.

Thank you all so much for the support and help. Fingers crossed baby stays put for a little longer!