May 2013: 5 in the thread and the little one said, roll over - there's lots more on the way!

[Rhienne]

Running out of space over here so a new thread for all our fabulous birth stories!

Eek indeed Aber!

Hello Buttery.

Bood, sorry to hear that feeding has been a challenge. Have you stopped with the breast altogether now? It's funny how differently each baby feeds. DD1 was a dream, DD2 not so much!

I just had a sweep. I'm joining NG in the 2cm dilated club but baby is only 1/5 engaged and cervix is thick and long so I'm not expecting much action. I'm off for brunch and a trip to a gallery with friends so tempting fate that baby won't decide the sweep was his cue.

Bood forgot to say sorry breast feeding is a struggle this time. That is why I'm not attempting this time as unlike you I've never had success before. This time maybe I would but DP and the boys want to be involved in feeds so I plan on breastfeeeding for about 5 days then formula after that.

Arti Impressed you managed to get a sweep already. I waited an hour for my midwife appt this morning. Got told I can only have a sweep at 7 days over due. She has bookede on for two weeks and ill be 6 days over due so she said I won't be getting a sweep.

Babies head is engaged 4/5 today. Blood pressure was 131/82 which is my highest ever but not high by any means if you see what I mean. Strangely I'm measuring 37cm at 38+6 not surprised at that especially with all the food Ive been putting away.

ooh, aberjen, things kicking off! Are you feeling okay otherwise? Frustrating that all these things come in fits and starts and get us all excited only for it to take AGES. I've not had a show but lots of (poss TMI) discharge, which is apparently normal and a sign that everything is softening etc.

Getting periody cramps most nights, on and off, which are only relieved by sitting on the birthing ball, and lots of BH during the day but nothing more.

Beaut I think you can have bleeds back there just from the straining etc. I have mild hemmorhoids (so glam, being preggers) and got some cream from my GP after going days and days without any 'movement' but that doesn't seem to be a problem now as my system is back in gear...a clear out before the clear out, I reckon .

Just realised the car needs its MOT by 26 May...wondering when to book it in. Earliest my garage can do it is Monday - which is my due date, so poss not the best idea. But if this LO goes overdue the latest I'd be induced would be around 27 May, two weeks late . Sod's law says the date I book in for will be the date she arrives...

Ho hum. Back to cleaning out the cupboard under the stairs and avoiding the chocolate hobnobs.

39+2

Afternoon all

Aberjan- exciting stuff! With DS I had increased discharge for a week or so and then a partial show before the full show just prior to my waters breaking. 37w5d and nothing here so far... Frustrated as was
Convinced this one would be a little early but zero signs yet. Off to useless midwife appt in an hour.... Sure she will have nothing to say- I hope everytime I go that she's in hol!

Was in well known shoe shop with DS today getting his feet measured ( still no new ones required- same size as Nov!) some random old dear asked when due before replying ' yes I can see you've dropped!'. WTF- you don't know me - would
You like me to comment on your anatomy?! Hmm

Beaut - it was an early sweep because I'm booked for induction on 13th which is the day I will be 39 weeks. The early sweeps and induction are because DD2 was over 10lbs. I have another sweep booked for the day after tomorrow as well, they are really hoping to get me going naturally before Monday. I've had a bit of pinkish water since this morning's sweep but I think it is discharge not waters and I feel totally fine, no pains at all, so I don't think progress has been made.

Cheers arti, beaver and scooby. Got quite excited this morning and freaked DP out as emailed him to let him know and then didn't answer the phone when he called because I was in the loo again - recurring theme He was then worried I'd gone in to labour down the bottom of the garden! However, absolutely no other signs - bump hasn't dropped, haven't had any bh let alone proper contractions, so not holding my breath (but it did give me the kick up the bum I needed to add final bits to hospital bag!)

beaver Argh, hope you can get mot sorted okay - why do these things always need to be done at the worst possible time?

scooby how rude!

aber with my first, DS didn't engage until I went in to labour so it could be sooner than you think!

scooby that's hilarious. I have found, particulary very recently, that EVERYONE wants to chat about the bump. Total, perfect strangers. The guy behind the till at Pret. The woman in Boots. Random man in the park. I don't mind it really, but you're right - we would never DREAM of commenting on their body shapes.

People at work (blokes) would comment on how my tits had grown. Not in a weird, pervy way - just observing that they'd got bigger. The bump was commented on EVERY DAY. I mean, it's not unusual to be pregnant. It's probably the world's most common experience (apart from being born itself, and dying. And taxes, while we're at it). I'm quite bemused by the whole thing.

Hi again all, been to the midwife today. (39+6) and she has already booked me in for induction on the 22nd! Talk about jumping the gun eh? They apparently only 'let' you go 12 days over. I have had about enough of that word in the past few weeks 'we won't let you give birth at x hospital, won't let you labour in x place.' it is literally all I have heard.

I wanted active management as suggested by my doula but I was blanked when I was mentioning this she was dialling the phone! I'm quite timid so didn't really say much to it didn't feel I had a choice at all. Heres hoping baby arrives soon.

Hiii all,
Can I join? I'm due next saturday (may 18th) with my second DC. Scan showed her to be a girl but you can never be too sure. Hasn't stopped me buying pink/red/white headbands tho.

Also my due date is my 23rd birthday (woo) so I'm hoping she will come on her due date like her big brother did. I been meaning to join this after I started maternity leave. (4weeks ago). Anyone start maternity leave early? At the time i was so ready to leave, now I'm thinking... I could of done a few more weeks.

Is anyone having a v.sharp pain (down there) that makes you shout or wince when it happens it's like a sharp stabbing sensation. I honestly can't remember it with my DS but I just wanted to check its normal and I'm not the only one shouting SHIT walking down the high street

One more thing... Anyone seen my nesting instinct? Please return it ASAP as I fear I will become a hoarder

Awww, lolly, don't get my hopes up!

Hi to the newbies. Have either of you had any signs of labour yet?

Abergen Sounds like something's happening for you. I went into labour a couple of hours after my show both times. I do know that it can take up to a week after but is rarely longer than that. Also yes baby doesn't always engage until labour starts.

Beaver You are due on my ds2 birthday. I really am going to rest up that day. I would maybe book the MOT for then. If you go into labour so be it but if you don't you will regret not getting that job done whilst you had the chance.

Scooby The comments make me laugh. The mums at school keep saying 'have you had it yet'. I look at my big bump and think did you really just ask that

Those of you that have had sweeps did you really ache afterwards? I have a constant lower stomach and lower back ache. Not contractions just constant. It's a bit horrid actually.

Arti Ive never had a sweep before. I have had the pains you describe all day today though. Sorry that's probably no help to you.

Can feel movements really low down as well like someone said a tiny bit up thread (sorry memory like a sieve). It's really quite painful and I have so much pressure. I am knicker checking expecting to lose my plug but no nothing

Your not alone with the comments, I am so fed up of them. I'm not very big and I get all the time, your wouldn't think you had a week left and going on about it at my toddler group or why are you not puffy (photographer at my bump pictures). Drives me insane. If I go over my due date I'm gonna hibernate till she is here so I don't have to listen to all the tips from the other mums. they only leave us 12 days here so it's not too long.

Had my 1st lot of braxton hicks last night and it was all night and also my waters have started to trickle a bit. My DH was freaking out saying don't go into labour tomorrow I have a golf competition. Men make me laugh.

Hope everyone that has started to show signs of labour are moving along nicely. I'm actually looking forward to labour starting I'm so impatient!

39+6

That's a complete lie I'm not 39+6 I'm 39+1.

I can't believe I'm going through another night of constant painful tightenings, just like last night. Can't wait to talk about with the midwife tomorrow to see if she can explain it to me. Also, got the day off work so only 1 more day (Friday) until maternity leave x

Beaut me too, as soon as I go to bed, baby goes mad and I keep waking up with it all scrunched in one side and with a v painful bump. Very odd. It was in the optimum position apparently so I hope it hasn't moved too much!

Good luck everyone who is cracking on - I realised that if this one is as overdue as DS, I will be pregnant for another MONTH

Evening all!

Also having lots of BH, specially after plodding about for a while after DS. Definitely loosing my plug, but bit by bit (last time I only remember one show but I don't know that I would have known that I was loosing plug last time iyswim). Sometimes I think, I'm in early labour but other times I feel a million miles from labour and slightly too focused on getting to see Star Trek in the cinema tomorrow.

I am in the sudden shouting in the high street brigade, too, also can't remember this from last time but last time I was tres busy before the birth and put everything down to being tired/ active rather than noting in any detail what kind of symptoms I was having and at what stage before birth. This time I've managed more than a full week off work and have now packed my hospital bag, including notes, which I forgot last time. Plus have done some cleaning and watched a load of DVDs, I feel very impressed with how properly I'm doing it this time round. Last time, I worked up to the day before I gave birth and only stopped because it was actually Christmas day. Because I had this mad idea that the birth would be the beginning of a quiet period. Or some such madness.

It is a bit different with DS around though, I'm not sure how to explain that we might go to x place on Friday but it won't be practical if the baby has just arrived... Anyway, got my fingers crossed for a couple more days (he really wants to visit his friend on Friday) but suspicions that We Are Imminent... Good luck everyone!

40 exactly.

I'm with you all with the painful BH. I keep thinking I'm
In labour for about an hour and then it stops. I'm quite nervous because first time round I didn't know I was in labour thought It was BH and then two hours a later I had a baby in my arms.
I hear the second time is faster so I'm kind of wishing my waters would break or something so I know that baby is on her way.

Good luck to all reaching their due dates. I hope I get to read some positive labour stories soon

X

Hmm, not sure if anything is happening here but I have been having contractions, not too painful yet. They were getting closer together and more painful but now spacing out to 15 mins apart. Could just be a false alarm but we are ready to go if we need to

Will see how it progresses this evening.

39+0

Ooo babygeek that sounds exciting. Keep posting!!!

Babygeek, that does sound exciting! Hope it's all progressing well :)

I had lots of BH at night that in my sleepy state I was convinced I was in labour and started 3,2,1 mantra lol. But no, nothing has happened yet. I'm feeling so so uncomfy with the huge bump and pains that I'm really hoping LO comes soon rather than later. Hoping to go for long walks this weekend to get something started ... Or so I hope :)

Babygeek sounds exciting!

Woken up in a complete state today, have butterflies and am overly anxious. Think it has finally hit home that in 5 days at the latest baby will be arriving. Have everything ready, have done for months! Just feel really nervous now.

No pains or anything else happening so looking like the C section next week will go ahead. Praying nothing happens tomorrow as DD's 2nd birthday!

Any news Babygeek???

I lost my plug this morning but no tightenings and last time I lost my plug about a week before labour so I doubt it's a sign for me.