Wow, you have all been busy on here today, sorry if I forget something, and apologies in advance for loooong post (I just know it is going to be!!!)
HM I know how you feel about your DH being so far away, my DH can be anything up to, well, he could be anywhere in the UK at anytime really, luckily most of his work is in the North. If it helps any, I really do think that labour will only happen when you relax enough to let it happen, so if you know DH is too far, your body won't let it happen until he is back
Cal I can't help re. the pethidine really, I hated it in my first labour, so I haven't asked for a prescription for it this time as I know I don't want it.
The pictures sound great, I have seen some lovely proffesional shots of bumps, if I wasn't covered in stretch marks I'd have had some done myself this time!
Re. the sheets/towels, I have enough plastic mating/shower curtains to cover the floor in both the living room (where the pool is going to be) and the dining room, which can be moved if I want to go in the kitchen, or upstairs, I have a pile of maybe 8-10 old towels, that are covered in paint etc. to put down over the plastic, mainly so it isn't slippy if it gets wet. The plan is to have the baby in the pool, he can then be taken out and be dried off and dressed by DH while I get out onto the old towels to deliver the placenta (that is the bit you need to think about, if you deliver it in the pool, the water is going to be very messy, will your DH be able to clean the pool well enough? Or obviously if you get out to deliver the placenta, then the floor is going to be messy, which the midwives will clear up!!) once we are all cleaned up and dry and everything, we have bought a cheap quilt just to lay down either on the floor or the sofa or something so we can all have a cuddle. The only other towels we will have about will be our normal towels for when we are getting out of the water, and for the midwife to dry herself with.
Kaybee Don't forget the bath can be just as effective for the pain relief as a pool, it may not be the best place to actually give birth, but for the relaxation durring the labour it is fine. Sorry it isn't going as you'd hoped/planned though. I was induced with my first and although it was a strong and hard labour, it wasn't anywhere near nightmareish, but if you really would rather not to be induced, you don't have to agree to be just because you are 10 days, even at 14 you can still refuse, if you wanted to.
And Cal is right, they say that orgasms can get it going, but I think you would need to be very practised in ahem... multiples.... the idea would be to keep at it until the uterus picks up on the contracting pattern of multiple orgasms. I think the best way is to have sex, let DH do his thing, then you have your turn. It would sound like good fun if you weren't 9 months pregnant, wouldn't it?!!!
Debbsy It can't be much longer now, was it Saturday night your waters started leaking? That will only give you till Wednesday night before they will have to induce you, they won't let you go over 96 hours after your waters go because of the increased risk of infection.
LA I am so sorry, I really do know how frustrating it is, but still there is nothing I can say that will make it any easier for you. Also, I know it isn't what you want to hear right now, but I know I'd have had someone warn me at the time, I have twice had midwives tell me that the labour would be soon, they were both wrong. Sorry, just thought you would like to know that it might not happen in their scheduled 3-5 days (though it is likely it will!) Fingers crossed your next post is announcing the new arrival
I am still sick Feeling really down and sorry for myself, DS is much better still laid up on the sofa, and still hasn't had a decent nights sleep or a proper meal yet, but he is definitely on the road to recovery. DH has it as well, but his hasn't fully kicked in yet, so I am looking forward to that because you can just imagine how much worse it will be for him!!
My contractions had comepletely stopped, but they are back again today with a vengeance, was a bit worried this morning that something was going to kick off afterall when I am still ill, but I think it is just my uterus reminding me it is still there when I realised it was only when I moved/sneezed/blew my nose/coughed etc. that the contractions were happening! So fingers crossed he is staying put for now.
Sorry again for long post