Due Aug 08 - And the Signs of Labor ARE....

[TwilightSurfer]

This is it!! Some of us have already started the descent into new BABYDOM. Best to arm ourselves with the facts. Here you will find the Signs of Labor. Just don't panic. Remember women around the world have been giving birth for ages. You are not alone nor will you be alone throughout this entire process. We are all here for each other no matter what. So let us go forward with heads high and bellies low.

This little quiz might also be helpful. Remember we are in this TOGETHER!!

DUE AUGUST 2008 STATS
[TSupdate04JUL08]

GROUP TOTAL: 57

DELIVERIES [BOYS (0) vs. GIRLS (0)]
sample23JUL via VB SOMEBODY delivered Jenny Sue, 8lbs 3oz & 55cm [EDD 08AUG]
sample24JUL via CS SOMEBODYELSE delivered Timmy, 6lbs & 43cm [EDD 31JUL]

WAITING ROOM [BOYS (12) vs. GIRLS (15)]
21JUL IlanaK is 35 and lives in Central London. She has 2DSs, 6y & 3y. Expecting DC#3 via CSec (EDD was 24JUL), a BOY to be named Saul.
23JUL Voodoococonut is 29 and lives in Manchester but moving to West Midlands asap. She has a DD, 19M. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
24JUL Alittlebitshy is 28 and lives in East London/Essex. She has a DD, 5y. Expecting DC#2 via CSec (EDD was 03AUG), a SURPRISE.
29JUL Miamla is 32 and lives in North London. Expecting DC#1, a BOY to maybe be named Theodore.
29JUL Bigboydiditandranaway is 36 and lives in Midlands. She has a DS, 26m. Expecting DC#2.
30JUL Dizzydixies is 32 and lives in Fife. She has 2DDs, 4y & 2y. Expecting DC#3 via VBac or CSec, guesses it's a girl.
31JUL SassyLou is 33 and lives in Cheshire. She has 2DDs, 7y & 5y. Expecting DC#3.
01AUG PhilB is 31 and lives in SE London. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
01AUG Pertelote is 30 and lives in East London. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
02AUG Vintagegardenia is 35 and lives in Ireland. She has a DS, 9y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
02AUG Mum2b1 is expecting DC#1.
02AUG Shazza2002 is 27 and lives in West London. She has a DD, 5y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
04AUG SKYTVADDICT is 40 and lives in Lincolnshire. She has a DS, 13m, and 2DDs, 8y & 12y. Expecting DC#4 via CSec (EDD was 08AUG), a SURPRISE.
05AUG ChaCha is 32 and lives in Oxford. She has 2DCs, 2y & 10m, Expecting DC#3 via CSEC, guesses it's a boy.
07AUG BraveNewWorld is 31 and lives in London. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
08AUG LadyOfWaffle is 22 and lives in Berkshire. She has a DS, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
08AUG Mummypud is 28 and lives in Wiltshire. She has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL.
08AUG Bealcain is 21 and lives in Kent, She has 2DSs 2y & 1y. Expecting DC#3, a GIRL to be named Delilah.
09AUG BirthdayBaby is expecting DC#1.
10AUG Lcy is 30 and lives in Wales. Expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.
11AUG Sarahnh is 32 and lives in West Midlands. She has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL to maybe be named Tess Alexandra.
11AUG Foghornleghorn is 23 and lives in Northampton. She has 2DDs, 3y & 1y. Expecting DC#3, guesses it's a girl.
11AUG Sibh has 2DCs, DS 5y & DD 2y. She is expecting DC#3.
12AUG Buckets is 31 and lives in Southampton. She has a DD, 4y, & a DS, 3. Expecting DC#3 via CSec (01-07AUG?), a BOY to maybe be named Kurt.
14AUG Hardygirl is 36 and lives in SW London. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
14AUG HazieDazieandBaby is 26 and lives in Aberdeen. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL to be named Gabriella.
14AUG Gigglegirl is 32 and lives in Stockport. She has a DD, 4y, and 2DSs, 2y & 1y. Expecting DC#4, a GIRL to be named Imogen.
16AUG Longwayfromhome is 29 and lives in Argentina. Expecting DC#1, a BOY to named Tomas.
16AUG Pregnancy1 is 31 and lives in London. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
17AUG CaptainCaveman is 35 and lives in Nottingham. She has a DS, 3.11y. Expecting DC#2 via VBac, a BOY.
17AUG Iliketosleep is 24 and lives in Wolverhampton. She has 2DDs, 7y & 6y and a DS, 4y. Expecting DC#4.
17AUG Poppysocks is 30 and lives in St Andrews. She has a DD, 2.4y. Expecting DC#2 via CSec or maybe VBAC, a GIRL.
17AUG Warthog has a DD, 2y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL.
17AUG Jennylee is 30 and lives in West Lothian. She has a DS, 9y. Expecting DC#2, a GIRL.
18AUG Kezza7779 is expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.
18AUG Expectant is 32 and lives in Singapore. Expecting DC#1, a SURPRISE.
18AUG Cheerfulvicky is 24 and lives in Cornwall. Expecting DC#1, a BOY.
19AUG SazzlesA is 35 and lives in Cheltenham. She has a DD, 18m. Expecting DC#2 via VBAC or CSec, a GIRL to maybe be named Emma.
19AUG Karney is 39 and lives in Glasgow.
19AUG TwilightSurfer is 37 and lives in Tennessee, USA. She has a DD, 4y. Expecting DC#2 via VB, a GIRL to maybe be named Maggie Ethelyn.
19AUG Daisy26 is expecting DC#1, a GIRL.
20AUG Ejesmum is 38 and lives in Exeter. She has a DS, 4y. Expecting DC#2.
20AUG Stillhere is 36 and lives in Yorkshire. She has a DS, 2.5y. Expecting DC#2, a SURPRISE.
21AUG Pinchypants is 34 and lives in Guildford. She has a DD, 20m. Expecting DC#2.
21AUG Musm2go is 35 and lives in B'ham Solihull. She has a DD, 6y. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
23AUG Stickybean is 27 and lives in North London. Expecting DC#1, guesses it's a girl.
24AUG Libbyssister is 34 and lives in Oxfordshire. She has a DS, 2.11y. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
24AUG Cyteen is 32 and lives in Leicester. Expecting DC#1, a BOY.
24AUG SausageAndMash is 37 and lives in London. She has a DD, 3y. Expecting DC#2.
25AUG Petitfilou is 36 and lives in S Oxfordshire. She has a DS, 4.4y, & a DD, 2.10y. Expecting DC#3, a BOY.
25AUG Oopsacoconut is 32 and lives in Wiltshire. Expecting DC#1, a GIRL to be named Poppaea Anna.
26AUG Ellasmum1 is 30 and lives in North Staffs-Newcastle under Lyme. She has a DD, 5y. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
26AUG Dancerandprancer is 31 and lives in Devon. She has a DD, 28m. Expecting DC#2, a BOY.
26AUG No1putsbabyinthecorner is 30 and lives in South Yorkshire. She as a DD, 1y. Expecting DC#2.
28AUG Ataraxis formerly Readyforbed has 2 DSs, 5y & 3y, and is expecting DC#3, a GIRL.
29AUG Waytoomuchchocolate is expecting DC#1, guesses it's a girl.
30AUG AnnVan lives in Kent and is expecting DC#1, guesses it's a boy.

Petit, I've played with Reese Madeline. My best friend scored it though just five months ago. She has a Madeline Morgan now. We both agreed the story of the missing child was heartbreaking but there was no need in avoiding such a beautiful name. Magdeline is another one for me that I worked with before DD got hooked on Maggie.

Keep those suggestions coming ... that one was really close to the target.

TS - I remember the movements per day calculation thing before, 10 kicks in an hour period OR ten episodes of kicking - I don't think we finished the argument came to any conclusion, or else I missed the end of the discussion. If you say 10 kicks in an hour do you mean I have to get 10 kicks every hour, or if I get 10 kicks during one hour of any 24 hour period that's enough?

Am off to get ice cubes and agua. I definitely do not have a cold body so should be a sharp shock for sluggish sleepers in there.

Sorry to sound ill-informed (but I am, so what can I do?) but:

1. If the baby's head has engaged does that mean fewer movements?
2. If the baby's head had engaged would I know about it?
3. Is dropped the same as engaged?
4. Does engagement mean anything in terms of speeding towards delivery or could the head be engaged for weeks on end?

for ignorance.

i know you're not but for a first time baby can be engaged as early as 36 weeks and stay there til he's born (i think with number twos they engage a bit later). apparently mine's engaged at teh moment and i can def feel he's fiddling with bits that are lower than the bits he was previously fiddling with if you see what i mean! i haven't noticed fewer movements (apart from sat morning)

it sounds like you are getting worried...please phone your mw

oooh pf your work sounds so much better tha n mine. i'm currently watching little einsteins....yay!

TS definately across the board, i;ve never been testd for strep b. they dont do it unless you show signs of having after delivery #1, so that you can be prepared and have antibioctics with subsequents.

miamla is it you with the movement thing? they'll put you on a CTG monitor for about 20-30mins, it will monitor heartbeat, movement and TOCO (tension of uternie movements, contractions basically) they're pretty uncomfortable, but well worth it to keep youre mind at rest. Although do bear in mind that there's a lot less room in there now so i was always told movements go down towards end anyway

ATTENTION ALL LADIES WITH SLINGS remember the tighter the better. Dont be afriad of tying to tight the material will always give and yiou can always loosen.

Madeleine is one of my middle names! I recommend it.

pf it's because we both lusted after the Cherry Bomb gear for bringing touch of glamour to nighttime feeds! I am admiring the slings already & can't decide on the "colourways", perhaps the smartest is Tobi? I don't see a cashmere option but how fab for winter!!!

How very grown-up to have to leave the thread to answer a parliamentary question! Never again will I admit to leaving to wipe a smear of Marmite off my chin.

"10 kicks during one hour of any 24 hour period that's enough" -This is how the folks in these parts do it. {{{channeling John Wayne for some odd reason}}}

Vg - head engages usally around 36weeks in first timers but unlikely to engage until labour with subsequents

I don't have a midwife in the way you guys do.

I have my consultant and I suppose I have the hospital. Perhaps I will call the hos.

But surely if your baby didn't move at all for 23 hours that would be cause for concern, even if it had moved like billyo for one hour 23 hours ago?

Sorry guys to be hammering on here.

OOOOHHHHH Miamla just made me think... This is baby #2 for me. If they engage later, and mine's already engaged, there's yet another sign this baby's arrival is not far off.

VG this is just from experience and not from any text book or research but....... in terms of movement it is usually only when I am sat down and chilling or trying to sleep that I have ever felt mine move! I certainly have never felt 10 moves an hour - sometimes a hundred a minute and other times nothing. I think I would spend my life in hospital if I tried for 10 an hour or even noticing 10 seperate instances a day.

With all four of my pregnancies I have also fewer movements the later in pregnancy I get. Plus with this one I have a placenta at the front so have seen it wriggling away on the scan and not felt it at all.

Your questions:

1. I think so! Kind of makes sense!
2. Possibly but not def - i certainly didn't although knew it was lower
3. They can drop by degrees but engaged is when they are actually head stuck in birth canal - assuming delivery position
4. With your first they can engage weeks and weeks before. With subsequent pregnancies they often don't fully engage until labour and they can also pop in and out - don't think it matters one bit for a speedy delivery!

VG you have a good point about the non-movement 23 hour period.... Let me see if I can find some comfort knowledge. In the mean time, see if you can find someone who'll give a listen to your bump.

Thanks gg.

Thought process in last minute and half while waiting for an answer:
What if I had to go to hos and they kept me in, who would collect DS from soccer? What if I had to stay in and be induced, what would I do about work tomorrow? How would I explain to magazine have not completed work that is due? But I have a hair appointment on Saturday morning, now I will never be able to have my hair done ever again. But there is a hairdresser in hospital. But do they cut and colour or just blowdry? But my sister is going to France at the weekend I can't give birth if she's not here. But we haven't got the cot yet. But DP is snowed under with work I couldn't ring him and say I was going in, he'd be so worried and would have to leave everything.

ETC ETC ETC and I claim I'm not a worrier.

Hollow laugh.

VG, This is what just about every site is saying regarding late pregnancy fetal movement:
"37 weeks and beyond: Late in your pregnancy, your baby starts to run out of room and may be moving around less. This is usually nothing to be worried about, though your baby should still be averaging about 10 kicks per hour. If you are concerned, or there is a sudden and dramatic change in your baby?s movements, you should contact your care provider."

VG , You have just proven yourself to be so much like me it's scary. {{{HUGS}}}

VG I don't think that hospital hairdressers tend to be very good. Also if you go in to hospital for half an hour and everything is fine, as it is likely to be, you will do more work and hit your deadline much more easily than if you stay at home all day worrying and don't do any work at all.

(Am marking at the moment, deadline Friday and I only get paid per script marked, so the baby definitely can't arrive until the end of the week)

Sorry for a not very medical reply - but on that front, much more seriously, I think if you are worried you should get checked - in the grand scheme of things much more important than anything else.

On Sunday when I was considering going to the hospital, it was my hair dresser appointment this Saturday that I kept thinking about I hate to admit. I even cried about it. How nutz is that!!!?

lwfh you are right, of course, about it being more important than work. again at own shallowness.

Sazzles I think the reason for my / our worry is that the baby is normally so active and is definitely different yest/today. I don't count, but just have a sort of sense of what's usual for me.

Rang hospital & they said monitor over next 2 hours and ring again and if I'm still worried I can go in for a trace.

can i just point out that in TS post it said an AVERAGE of ten per hour, that could mean 240 movements on one hour and none for 23 hours and that would still be ok as it's averaging 10per hour

has the iced water done the trick???

as for thought process VG mine is so inline with yours it is untrue but with DD1 I had a TIA during pregnancy (mini stroke!) and you know what - work didn't care and neither did my hair!

Miamla - I had that this morning too. Just assuming I ate something.... (and in denial about the small clear leak that I had too ).

I have had too many diff desciptions about the 10 movements - some people say it's only 10 distinct movements a day... Midwife asked me today and I just replied that I never feel 10 sep boughts a day when i'm at work as I'm too busy, but I feel her a lot and I was comfortable with that and she agreed?!!?

BTW - bear in mind I am lacking in any kind of common sense when it comes to seekign medical help - I once dislocated my knee (it popped back in) and didn't go to the doctors for 2 weeks, despite the fact that I could barely walk. By the time I went I had lost most of the muscle mass on my left leg as I'd been dragging it round behind me!

Good, looks like I've added bugger-all value yet again

Hi VG - I've just had a few days like yours, where I've slept loads and there's been v. little movement. I just put it down to a growth spurt going on in there, sucking all my energy away with it. She seems to be busier today, but then I'm having to stay awake since I'm at work .

Hope you hear back from the hospital soon sazzles.

Oi petitfilou! Careful what you say about Madeleine. That's DD's name!

TS and all others considering Eleanor... I'm biased. It's the name of one of my sisters and she's lovely. She likes it too, in part because it's so flexible. She's, at various points, been Elle, Ella, Ellie and Eleanor as well as the occasional Nelly when singing about elephants .

Last full day of work here and should be packing up... Really, really must get on.

I've had iced water and half a block of smart organic dark chocolate (sweetest thing in house, but wasted on me as I don't really go for dark chocolate!) so I await the kickfest. Am sure all will be fine. I am ashamed to have said thinking about work and hair when of course the baby is the most important thing. I must say you are all extremely nice people .

poppy lucky duck ending work! Bet that feels fab.

preg are you trying to tell us your waters have broken???? What do you mean by "small", exactly??

Oh God from now on this board is going to be just too tense!!!