Charters Anonymous Graduates Volume 2! – No more temping!

[Iwish]

A nice cosy place to accommodate our growing bumps and little wrigglers.

oooh, I think maybe something maybe going to happen soon!

I have been woken up constantly in the night with contractions which are stronger than the BH now, and been timing them since 6am, averaging about every 6 mins since then

Also wondering what the dickens to do with myself this morning. I've just loaded myself up with porridge and toast and put a big water bottle in the freezer so I have a nice icy drink to take with me when the time comes.

Spilt! Have you got some relaxing music? Practising sleep breathing? Warm bath? Ooh I'm so excited for you!

Newyears I hope the growth spurt is fast and effective so sleep returns for you and the baby!

Hmmm, may have jinxed it. All gone a bit quiet. Going to go back to bed for a nap anyway.

Waves to everyone, hope you're all ok.

pippa that was a speedy response!

Hope it happens soon for you, Spilt. Exciting!

Ooooo split hope this is it!!!!!!

Can't seem to help waking up at about 5.30 every day at the mo so was reading the newspaper app and mumsnet on phone to avoid waking DH! Hope today's the day

spilt yay, hope this is it. Good idea to rest when you can, early labour can take a while. Try to relax and walk when you can and as long as waters are intact, don't worry.

My birth pool in a box has arrived!!! V excited.

Just had my 36 week appt, baby's head is well and truly engaged! Thought they didn't engage until late with 2nd babies Ah well, not complaining! Tis definitely head down and lying on the left at the moment which is good.

Noticing that spilt has gone quiet

I was sleeping

Things have rather disappointingly petered out somewhat. More like 20 mins apart now. Oh well. Maybe tomorrow. Tis our 5 year wedding anniversary today anyway so would be a bit too much to hope for that big a pressie!

Great news that yours is all lined up properly GetDown. Just have to hope it stays that way! At 34 weeks mine was lying nicely on the left. By 36 she'd switched to the right and has no intention of going back it seems.

Ooh MrsA how exciting to have your pool already. You can set up your living room spa style if you fancied it

Bah, just had 34 week appt with midwife (am 35 weeks on Monday) and Bean is breech. I thought she was - have had a head shaped lump by my right ribs for the past fortnight. Am now googling how to get babies to turn round!

Spilt can I ask how long each contraction lasts? And do they feel like Braxton Hicks or different? (Not because I can give you any insight as to when you're going to give birth, just because I'm curious and want to try and prepare myself!) Hope things pick up again soon. It's got to be a good sign that your body's doing this though - gearing up for the the actual labour!

MrsA I am very of your pool - where are you going to set it up?

pippa do not panic, you have plenty of time for baby to turn. Most babies turn before labour and if you are brave/confident, most of the rest will turn during labour. Those that don't, well, women have been birthing breech babies for thousands of years - you can give birth naturally to a breech baby if you feel confident. Google Mary Cronk and breech birth.

To give your baby a helping hand have a look at spinningbabies.com/ It contains lots of info as to how to get babies to turn eg spend about 15 mins a day on the floor with your head on the floor and your bottom up in the air.

I am thinking about setting up the pool in the lounge. The lady we have bought if off never used it as she went to hospital but she has included 3 shower curtains (for carpets etc), pump and all the bits including a sieve!!
My instincts tell me I will want to give birth either in the pool or if not, then I want to be kneeling on the floor with my upper body leaning on the sofa. I can't picture myself labouring upstairs - not sure why.

spilt early labour can sometimes take days. Alternate sleep/rest with walking outside and upstairs, plus rocking/bouncing on ball and also keep eating light meals when you feel like it.
[disclaimer no expert but this is what I would have done last time if I'd been allowed, plus the reserach I've done says keep relaxed and trust your body to know what it is doing] :)

Thanks MrsA - and that website looks great, going to have a proper read through it now. Part of me thinks I've jinxed myself, because I've always been quite relaxed about birth and terrified of c-sections! If it is possible, this baby is coming out the way nature intended...

at the sieve - very practical of her!

That's a bugger pippa. Hopefully she will turn soon. If not you can consider an ECV so that you can hopefully go for a head down delivery. Get onto your hands and knees at every opportunity!

The contractions feel like the BH but much more intense. With the BH I think "ooh that feels weird" and with these I go "breathe....." and stop what I'm doing and concentrate on nice slow out breaths. They're mainly about 30 secs long. They sort of start at the bottom of the bump and gradually the whole height of it goes hard, and then they go back down, bump gets softer at the top first and then it all relaxes again. If that makes sense.

Had a show I think - a big string of gloopy bloody yuckiness
Actually a bit scared. It just all feels suddenly rather real and rather imminent.

As you say though MrsA, it could still be a few days. My mum contracted for 5 days with me before going into active labour, so I'm trying to pace myself and stay rested and well fed.

Oooh Spilt - sounds like my first labour. Started contracting in early hours quite gently, on and off all day, show in the afternoon, DS born 10am the following morning. Good luck!!!

Don't be scared Spilt, sounds like you're doing really well so far and I'm sure you'll continue that way. Hope you get a good night's sleep tonight and can relax between surges. Thinking of you!

spilt last time with DD I had a show, and she was born the next day! Hope all goes smoothly. Keep calm, you can do it! xxx

Ooooooh, very exciting spilt! Hope this is it - good luck!

Hope your 4D scan goes well today MrsA.

We're finally going shopping today to try and buy all the nursery furniture etc.

I am knackered.

Not seeming to make much progress yet though. It all got a bit exciting in the early morning, nice and regular 5-6 mins apart and pretty strong (couldn't bear to lie down during). Obv couldn't sleep through that so got up at 4.30 and we had breakfast. All still going well. 6am decided was tired so went back to bed and napped on and off for a couple of hours and they've died back down to every 20 mins or so

Been for a wander round the shops and sat on my ball for a bit, but no progress and I'm sleeepy!

Thank you for all the encouragement, it does help keep me going. Feeling like this may be a long one!

Oh spilt don't worry it sounds like things are definitely happening. I bet they will pick up again in a bit. If they went to 5-6 mins apart, it would have started dilating the cervix. I reckon you will be in established labour soon.

Remember to keep using your techniques - sleep is good, the more relaxed you can stay the better - it will make the contractions much more effective and you won't "fight" against what your body is trying to do. As you start a contraction do a really deep breath in for as long as you can and concentrate on trying to inflate your belly like a balloon.

Good luck, and lots of hugs.xxx

Thanks GetDown, I remember that picture in the hypnobirthing book of the womb going up with each contraction and breathing it "up" further. It's quite hard to actually do though, like trying to inflate something rigid

I'm managing relaxed and calm, just a bit frustrated as we'd got all psyched up this morning thinking it was "it" and today was the day. There's still time but it's looking more likely to be tomorrow onwards. By which point I may be begging for a sweep!

No change. Here's hoping for tomorrow...

MrsA how was the 4D scan?

She will be here before you know it spilt So exciting! try not to get frustrated. Hope you can get a good relaxing sleep tonight. xxx

oooh spilt sometimes with no 1 labour can take a while to get going. Hopefully all happening now...lurks in anticipation

Getdown,... I went into labour the day after the head engaged.... Eek... :) How long have you got left?

Lady G hows it going.? How is DS being now? I am struggling with DS1 as his behaviour has become unmanageable... thinking attention seeking but not sure.. any tips?

Waves to all from the other side xxxx All fab here DS2 is wonderful and thriving.... feeding like a milk demon (so much so my norks feel like they want to drop off) and unfurling as we speak. Hes a real sleeper... :)

#Waves to everyone else... hope you are all fab xxx

Here's hoping for tonorrow spilt 4D scan was ace, though a bit on the clinical side. I have an issue now that at 12 wk scan they dated me a wk behind the date I had based on charting. Didn't matter so much at first but now he's showing a wk or so bigger than dates. Well no surprise to me, knew I was further along but am now anxious the mw will start getting jumpy about big baby etc. But it was fab to see him wave and he had his foot by his mouth too. She also said it was a boy, as did the nhs sonographer. Don't mind telling on minute but not telling in rl hence my 'don't know' on fb!

nickster I'm also expecting DD to become a monster when it sinks in that DS is here to stay. Very normal. Back to basics - ignore the bad, praise the good and give DS1 as much attention as you can. Easy to say if you're bf like mad. Remember DS1 is still your pfb (in his eyes anyway!!) Glad to hear things are going well.

Anyone remember jaggythistle? She got her bfp this week after 11m of charting. Yay!

That's great news about jaggy. Do point her in the direction of this thread, we need some new bumps!

nix glad your DS2 is doing so well, he must be piling on the ounces with all that feeding.

Day 3 in the early labour Spilt house. It's hard to sleep when the darn things wake you up properly every 15 mins. All Night Long. I'm actually feeling pretty ok though for now. Please come out baby!