40 weeks today and.....

[QueenOfFlamingEverything]

No twinges.

No show.
Nothing.

Just outrageously Bad Tempered.
With DD I went into labour on the due date and she was born the next morning, and I just assumed it'd be similar this time round.
I might kill the next muppet well-wishing relative/friend that Just Rings To See How I Am.

To be honest QOE I would settle for nothing at all happenning (as I am sure that once you do kick off it will be all guns blazing and baby will be out in a shot) than for the exhausting stop start stop start.

I am so tired and grizzly I don't know what to do with myself, I don't even want to go out today....so I think I will just mumsnet and watch TV...probably something sad so that I have an excuse for crying buckets...might make me feel better

Today I am calm. The house is ridiculously tidy and I don't know what to do with myself.

But DH is feeling unwell and has stolen my thunder - if I moan, he moans louder; if I'm tired, he's tireder (excuse crap English) and if I've got heartburn, he's actually throwing up.

It means that I don't want to go into labour today as he'd be useless and probably complain that he's hurting more than me anyway .

I've had a bit of a show over the last 24 hours which got my hopes up initially but now it's back to nothing happening again.

Men just don't get it do they?

"I'm so tired" they reply "Tell me about it" yes you may have been at work all day but i have been looking after a toddler, doing the housework, oh, and growing a whole new person!

Booked in for pedicure and reflexology this afternoon, need to get away from grumpy cold filled toddler, tired grumpy DH (who is taking half day holiday) and just chill!

LIfe one lady on the antenatal thread had on/off like you, then baby born very quickly (ambulance and blue lights to get to hospital in time) and an easy birth. Hopefully your body is just doing all the groundwork

Oh poor life! But I think alice has a point, I think that those contractions are really doing grand work and you'll get to the hospital 6cms dilated the LO will just glide out, probably on a rainbow. I have decided that you're going to have a blissful, easy labour.
[needs a magic wand emoticon]

I have no excuse to be tired and emotionally wobbly, given that my DH has basically done ALL the housework in the last month (and quite a lot of in this pregnancy) and this is our first, so no toddler - I don't know how you ladies do it! Yesterday I couldn't do ANYTHING without (1) dropping stuff and (2) bursting into tears. I imagine today will be around the same regarding the dropping stuff, as my sausage-fingers are still too stiff and painful to really grasp anything (you should have seen me just trying to open the peanut butter jar - the height of pathetic), but I've managed to get a bit of sleep and am feeling less likely to sob at strangers on the street.
... so far! Now to go outside and test that theory...

Luckily my DD is 7 and so is fairly independent and even occasionally helpful now - she brought me a cold drink yesterday and it nearly made me cry [blub]

Though she did eye me up afterwards and say, 'Mummy, you are looking terribly fat now you know' which made me feel somewhat less kindly disposed...

I am off to drive down our bumpy track again to collect the post from the village shop - yep, our drive is so crap and rutted that the postman refuses to drive up it to deliver the post. Anyone else want to come and drive up and down it? You're all welcome

Heh, I might take you up on that, your majesty, if nothing else works... going in for a scan tomorrow (they do that here at 41wks if you're still preg) and the bus + subway combo might help. Maybe.... And your daughter sounds refreshingly honest, if a little too observant to be actually kind. Why are we having kids again?

Anyone else got an unbearably itchy bump? I'm slathering on calamine lotion but mainly I just want to scratch till it bleeds. I swear I'm not trying to dig the baby out, but oh god it itches soooo much it's driving me insane.
I wonder if it's prickly heat. Calamine lotion works (for about 3 seconds) but nothing else does.

scratch-scratch-scratch

Make sure you mention the itching, they may decide it is linked to something (can't remember what) that means baby should come sooner rather than later

Queen bless her, DD just likes to creep up to me while i am trying to nap and shout WAKE UP MUMMY!!!!!

Oh dear, I shouldn't be doing this - I woke up very early and have been watching some Baby channel where ladies are giving birth to lots of lovely babies. It's a form of torture.

Anyway, Day 9 in the Overdue House. I've now been through the full repertoire of old wives tales (apart from castor oil which just sounds too 19th century) and cannot physically bring myself to eat any more pineapple.

DD(2yrs)has been staying with my parents for the last few days supposedly so I can rest, but I'm missing her too much and she might be a nice distraction again. Like yours though Alice she does like to wake me up with "open your eyes mummy".

Hope your scan goes well Blackcurrants - I wish they did that here.

Morning!

No baby here still. Going to see my midwife later on and hoping she is serene and calming as usual - I am really starting to worry that they will start to make noises about my planned HB if I go past 41 weeks.

DD cannot wait for me to have the baby as she is going to stay with her riding teacher when it all kicks off, which is such an exciting prospect that she is starting to get annoyed it is not happening yet.

Glad I don't have the baby channel as I can see myself joining you in that torture if I had the chance!

Morning! Still Sodding Pregnant here, too - ooh, I have fingers crossed for you re: HB, Queen - hope they don't make a peep!

I actually DID try castor oil, Alice - it's a common enough suggestion over here, and I was desperate (or so I thought!) last Thurs. I took 3 tbsp in some juice around 1.30am when I woke for a pee, and then at 6am had the most regrettably explosive incident that I've had while not travelling in Asia. Least said about THAT the better!

I then had about half an hour of cramps (while I sipped oral rehydration salts and prayed DH didn't need the loo any time soon) - aaaaand - nothing.

I think it's something that will only tip you over the edge if you're right on it, which means - frankly - why bother? This is my approach to ALL labour induction methods now: bollocks to 'em, pass me the cake (apart from sex, which, oddly enough, is still something I fancy - not that it's working).

Apparently sex is the only thing that can actually start things off. Especially if lots of foreplay. Lots of touching releases the natural oxytocin (so i believe) orgasm stimulates the uterus and semen has the prostiglandins (or whatever) in it that helps ripen your cervix.

Can you tell i have been doing my homework

I do think the curry/pineapple/caster oil thing is possibly the worst suggestions as all it does is give you a bad tummy. Like adding insult to injury really, bad case of the shits and being in labour

ARGGGHHHHH still here. Had contractions from 18.00 last night at 2.00am they were about 6 minutes apart so I called my midwife (she lives 1h away). All was fine until about 5.00 and then things fizzled out. We called it a day and went to bed at about 6.00 only for me to be woken up by toe curling contractions from 7.30. Everything stopped again at about 11.00...I don't know how much longer I can take of this (and of being completely unable to sleep) until I beg the hospital to deliver the baby...

Sorry for the rant but I am so gutted.

I hope everyone else is faring better!

Thank you for your kind words blacurrant and alice I would so love to believe you. On the plus side the baby is now fully engaged (wasn't a week ago)....I just hope the acupuncturist will mellow to my despair and agree to a home visit as she is fully booked today...

Life i think this baby will come in the next 24hrs.

Good luck life

qofe Homebirths round here anytime from 37-42 weeks (as the vey slight uplift in risk is at 42 weeks not 41)...although i'm not even thinking that far ahead yet...

Bathroom: tiles, toilet, sink, towel radiator & bath all in! built-in cupboard, floor, painting woodwork and bath panel...work in progress. Work commenced on bedroom - hideous built-in wardrobes emptied ready for demolition

so just as well no labour yet.....

Morning

Well in case anyone has missed my other two self pitying threads it turns out the baby is completely back to back despite my best efforts with OFP, head is still bobbing around nowhere near my cervix which is tight shut and nowhere near ready. Bummer.

Have sore knees now from spending all yesterday afternoon/evening on hands and knees.

you don't know how it's going to go...DD was born still unturned...it doesn't always mean a crap labour. I think self-pity at this point in events is. v. justified though! Poor Mummy.

is bby still bouncing around? i hear that they go quieter before labour (my babies bouncy state = excuse for yet more nesting)

anyone elses other children being unbelievably naughty because Mummy is in a weakened state?

Still bouncing around but not to the degree s/he was a week ago. Getting the same number of movements, but the movements themselves are not as big iyswim? Running out of womb as DP says. Ooooh he is funny...

DD is being atrociously annoying. This is mainly because its the holidays and we are just not doing anything, its like we are in limbo. I'm the only driver, and I just don't feel confident to go far because if anything starts I will have to drive us home! So its a lot of hanging about for her. Plus, I have absolutely zero patience atm, I am very ratty. Poor DD though I am considering sending her to stay with my lovely mum for a few days - she keeps offering but I didn't want DD to feel 'packed off', but now I think it might be better for her after all.

Still here too.

Queen - DD was back to back and I spent the whole labour pretty much on all fours or standing up and leaning over, but still managed a straightforward waterbirth as she swung round at the last moment.

I've just had another sweep but although she could feel the baby's head, it's not at the right angle yet apparently so I'm not expecting any results from it. Booked in for induction on Friday .

I'm now awaiting the return of DD who's been staying with my parents since last Friday, so the peace is about to be shattered. I think she's enjoyed the change of scene and having lots of attention lavished on her though and it has given me a bit of time to myself which has been bliss!

Hi everyone how are you all doing today?

QueenofFlamingEverything I know you probably didn't want to hear that your baby is nowhere near engaged but if s/he is back to back then that is good news as there is still time to get him/her to turn. Mine was back to back and not engaged last week and now is 4/5 engaged and in the right positions, on your knees leening on your ball young lady (sooo uncomfortable I know).
And I understand what you mean about DD being packed off but she would probably enjoy being spoiled by her gran and you would be able to relax, perhaps present the option to her so that she makes the choice, she would be less likely to feel packed off?

I wish I had a baby channel, I am sure watching all these babies pop is good for oxytoxyn levels like holding a newborn.

Re baby movements it feels like mine is trying to crawl its way out with its hand, I don't think he understands he needs contractions to do that.

Re other children, mine are alrightish but keep asking why the baby isn't out yet and telling him to come out.

As for me...went to see the acupuncturist yesterday and still nothing, apart from another night of irregular but very strong contractions (squeezing accompanies by a feeling of insertion of a sharp knitting needle in the pelvis area)...nice. But at least I managed to get a bit of sleep in between (half an hour there, an hour there) so I feel less tired than yesterday where I had no sleep at all. I am very emotional though, I have already burst into tears twice this morning.

Have decided to bite the bullet and start researching induction as I am know 41 +3, just to know what potentially lies ahead. Best to be informed.

Apologies for mammoth post but then I have to much time on my hands!

Oh lifeis thats encouraging to know you managed to turn yours at this late stage . Definitely best to be informed, I have my heart set on a homebirth again but am trying to mentally prepare for the chance that it may not happen.

I have just been for a two mile walk in the woods with DP, stopping every 15 minutes to lean forwards over handy branches. Its the first time in weeks I've had the energy to walk anything like that far, think the vaguest threat of hospital is enough to get me off my arse and into action though.

Back to leaning on the ball now. How do you stop your boobs getting all squashed and sore though, thats what I want to know?!

Don't know about the not being engaged thing, but don't worry too much about the baby being back to back.

I was told DS was back to back after labour had started. I wasn't v well informed about it and started worrying that it would make it very long and painful.

An hour later I was holding him. Obviously swivelling round was the work of a few minutes as he was keen to come out!

Have been checking religiously for days - didn't want to place any more bets as felt as if I was hindering some action.

Hope you're well QueenofFlamingEverything

Tonight is the night...

How are you ladies?

QOE I know the boob things was the worse, I could only manage about 45 minutes each time leaning on the ball because it was so uncomfortable so I did it several time a day and when I was fed up I bounced on the ball.