Due in June - TA your baby WILL be here soon!

[bumperlicious]

Just in case we get locked out without realising!

holly, remember the exam was only a snapshot...that 1cm could've just been from earlier today and you are still dilating slowly...try not to be too disheartened, it can move pretty quickly as we've all seen recently.

Holly, worry about that if it happens! If there's one thing we know from TA we have choices. You keep focussing on your homebirth, and we'll keep focussing on your cervix opening like a flower in our lentil-weavery way

Well, I've just had a Burger King and loads of Dairy Milk. Might as well go the whole hog and have a glass of wine too!

I'm feeling really tetchy. Dd is winding me up and dp is breathing too loudly ! I think I need to chill! Maybe this'll help

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSEEEEEEEE!!!!

Yep, feel better now !

tetchy is good isn't it? another possible sign?

Holly sorry to hear your news

But DO NOT lose heart!!
On Monday I was 1cm dilated too!!
Hang in there xxx It's not over yet! TRY to stay positive, believe I know it's so hard. Take comfort from the women on here, they have helped me more in the last few weeks than they will ever know!

Thanks again ladies for the support - you have been a lifesaver. I am exhausted, the contractions are between 4-6 minutes now but not as long, I think I am a bit worn out. Trying to keep eating and drinking. The walk helped.

I fully expect that I will need to go in tomorrow to be induced, progress has been very slow, but I am happy that my body has done so much of the work on it's own.

Go and have a bath, leave DP to put Alice to bed, have a glass of wine and chillllllll

Holly sorry you feel so down, this is EXACTLY why I suggest not bothering with sweeps. This level of demoralisation is not helpful. I've got the T-shirt and hindsight has lead me to decide not to bother in the future. You WILL go into labour and you do NOT have to accept induction if you don't want it. I cancelled induction at 42wks and went into labour that night having my VBAC at 42+1. Can you imagine going through induction on an unfavourable cervix at 41+4? I had the only succussfully performed sweep at 42wks (trying from 41) and that only tells me that labour was about to start anyway, so if labour is going to start why put yourself through the indignity, the discomfort, the infection risks, the risk of ARM accidently, the risk of demoralisation....?

I believe you're only just past 40weeks so you've got loads of time yet! The wait is extremely hard, I know but try to enjoy the twilight of your pg because before you know it you'll have to share baby with everyone else!

I'm feeling better now. I think it was just the initial shock of having a completely incompetant body! It's making me think that nothing is going to happen though. When I went for a sweep on my edd with dd I was 3 cm and favourable and still had to be induced. It's all just a big pile of shite!

Have my glass of wine now and I'm going to eat all the midwife biscuits as it looks like they won't be here for a while!

Glad you are ok TA, make sure you eat and drink lots. Hope it happens tonight xxx

Klaw, I was thinking that if my DC is going to be late, I'd postpone any intervention as long as possible, but then I heard something about the placenta not being as efficient as I am over 35 and would pack up more quickly than if I were a sprightly 25 year old. Do you have any knowledge of this?

Last time I was 10 days over. First and second time I was on the day. So I have no idea for this one

Klaw from what I have just been through I agree with you 1000%.

I actually suspect it was my sweep that broke my waters on monday. I found the whole process pointless and demoralising and depressing.

I am by far the least knowledgeable person when it comes to childbirth, but sweeps seem to do bugger all except hurt, get your hopes up/down, and for what?

Holly hang in there xx

Thanks Klaw! I am just feeling a bit fed up and pissed off, so thought I'd come on here for a bit of a moan! I guess in a week or so I'll have to weigh up my options, but I guess for now I'll just make the most of my last few days with my dd!

Holly and TA, have a nice glass of wine, TA it is recommended in order to help a long labour to relax and rest. You must keep your strength up. Too many interventions are because mums get too tired. Have you looked through the Birthing Naturally site i posted earlier?

It may be that you are havign what is considered Prodromal labour, so it is very important to get rest, keep hydrated and then your body will get going again. You're a star! You're doing this, don't give up yet!! cos when it does get going it will all be over in a flash! I kid you not!

Baby Girl Bumper born at 16:54.......7lb 6oz.

More details to follow......

Thanks Klaw, I am hanging in there. Feeling a bit depressed as it just is going on and on and it hurts so much but I don't seem to be getting anywhere!

But I am sure that each pain is bringing me a step closer so trying not to dwell on timings etc.

Yes I read the site - bookmarked it, I thought it was useful.

CONGRATULATIONS BUMPER

Well done!!!

oh and she managed with just the tens and gas and air!

OMG Well done Bumper!

you've done fantastically well! Clever girl!! am delighted for you, Mr Bumper and Baby Girl Bumper! xxxxx

Should have also added my congratulations ....but i got so excited there I forgot how to add a message!!

So BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO BUMPER AND MR BUMPER

so at 11 am she posted that she was feeling 'funny' and by 5 pm she'd had a baby! That's some bloody good going!

Well done bumper - clever girl

TA - think you are doing fab. Really admiring you. Will be over before you know it

right, my job is done for the evening.....I'll pop in later for news of TA....off for a snooze before the milk monster wakes up again!!

Wow, well done Bumper! Huge congratulations to you, Mr Bumper and baby Bumper .

TA, you're doing so well, hang in there!

Holly, you do NOT have an incompetent body!!!!!! >

You have a perfectly beautiful and wonderful body! You all do ladies!

Foxy, I was 38 when I had dd and scoff at the ideas they put into our heads that we suddenly pack up our reproductive organs at 35! Why are we made to feel like our body's don't work? That's so negative and not conducive to labour!! I'll try to get back with some uplifting links for you to read, but for now, the placenta will start to deteriorate at some point but I don't believe it will suddenly switch off at a given point and if you trust your body, know how you work, listen to your body and trust your instincts you will be able to see the signs when help is required, iyswim? Don't rush into induction but equally don't assume all will be alright and stick your head in the sand. It's about making informed choices given YOUR circumstances, not following protocols based on an average medical model.

Careful observations and expectant management of anyone is far superior to blindly inducing just because you haven't conformed to the 'norm'. If you are overdue and have valid medical reasons to suspect baby needs to be out then fine but if expectant management confirms that baby is perfectly happy then I say to wait. This is my opinion and I am not a MW, so please make up your own minds. I have researched and learned a lot over the last two years though, and I'm a trainee Doula! But I'm posting as me, not a Doula.

Sorry I've rambled again.....

Congrats bumper and dh!! Well done! xxx

Off to update the stats thread now!