Could it finally be starting??

[goodlifemummy]

Hi I am 39+6 today, and this morning had mild contractions (or BH??) for an hour or so , 10 minutes apart, then nothing. I have just spotted some blood in my knickers, only the size of a 50p piece, no mucous or anything, just a spot of blood (gross, sorry!) Is this normal? I am a vbac, so no idea what to expect!

Thanks in advance

[mumatron]

wod mine are the opposite, painful but not regular!

i have been using one of the online contraction timers. works it out for you.

off to bed now anyway, see if i can get any sleep. no doubt will be back on soon.

night all.

[WriterofDreams]

Good luck mumatron, hope you get some sleep :)

[ChippingIn]

Yes it would be lovely :)

[mumatron]

no chance of sleep yet, 2 big contractions and baby wriggling like a loon.

i have a feeling it's going to be a long night :(

[WriterofDreams]

Oh no mumatron, what a pain! Still, sounds like you're having proper contractions which might mean something will actually get going. I tried to time my BHs but they obviously twigged and have now completely stopped. I don't know why I even bothered. Sigh.

Would a bath help?

[WriterofDreams]

Right I'm going to attempt sleep now. Keep us posted on your progress mumatron, my fingers are crossed for you!

[goodlifemummy]

How's it going mumatron and WOD? I have had bugger all all night. Woke up and 3am for no apparent reason and have been awake ever since. Absolutely nothing happening and today is my due date.

Am trying not to think about not being around with my DTD's on Christmas morning to watch them open their presents. But people can't help saying "Oooh - I bet it comes on Christmas Day."

I can't get to the midwife quick enough tomorrow morning! Just hope she can do a sweep.

[mumatron]

managed a couple of hours sleep, only had one more big pain, lots of cramps and back ache though.

i seem to be leaking a bit aswell, not sure if it's just very watery discharge or actual waters

[WriterofDreams]

I slept surprisingly well last night (yes you have permission to hate me). Things all quiet again this morning apart from a very sore pelvis that makes crunching noises when I turn over in the bed.

I feel a bit pathetic now to be whinging considering how worried you both are (with very good reason) about missing Christmas Day. I have no other DCs yet so it doesn't really matter if I'm in on the day, I'll just have Christmas a bit later. Fortunately Christmas Day is my actual due date so the chances of me actually being in then are practically nil. It's unlikely you guys will be in that day either really. And look at it this way, if your DCs brother or sister is born that day, they'll have a wonderful memory to keep with them every Christmas from then on :)

Mumatron, I definitely think you should go and get checked. They might be able to tell you if you're any bit dilated. Of course if you're not dilated at all would that send you right over the edge??

[FairyTaleOfNewYork]

oh good luck ladies. am 38weeks+ and praying my little one stays put until my road is cleared of snow.

[goodlifemummy]

WOD my pelvis crunches too! I'm always quite impressed by its ability to make huge amounts of noise and not actually come apart!

Just off for another clary sgae bath - fat lot of good it did yesterday, but baby a bit dozy so hopefully it will wake it up again!

Thought we'd go over to the pub for lunch to cheer ourselves up - could be our last time as a family of four!

Might go for a bumpy drive after!

[goodlifemummy]

Oops sage

[everybodysang]

ooh I hadn't realised this had turned into a labour watch thread, how exciting!

Urgh, the pelvis crunches, what causes that? It's so horrible.

I've had contractions since 4 this morning, they've slowed a bit now but I also have had a proper bloody show today too so I am feeling hopeful...could this finally be it? Please please please...

[WriterofDreams]

Sounds good everybody! I really hope things get moving for you. You're 40+4 now right?

I think the pelvis crunching thing is caused by the ligaments loosening up, which means your bones aren't held apart as well and they rub off one another. Gross. DH heard it this morning and his eyes nearly popped out of his head!

Is this your first?

[CardyMow]

I'm 36 weeks today with dc4. I have had a (bit of a) show over a week ago now, am having (regular, every 15 mins) BH every blooming night from around 7pm to 1am every night since Tuesday. Pelvis is also very crunchy, have SPD. Baby is sitting so low down it feels like he is going to stick a hand out and wave at me. I have 3 other dc and am petrified of going into labour on Christmas day as I only get every other Christmas day with DS1 as he spends the other with his dad, and it's my Christmas this year.

If one more person tells me that I'll go into labour on Christmas day, I'll bloody kill them poke their eyes out!!

Thing is, I've been induced with all 3 of my other dc, for various reasons, so have no experience of going into natural labour. DD was born at 34+5, DS1 dead on 40 weeks, and DS2 at 40+2. AARRGGHH!!

[everybodysang]

Yes, WOD, I'm 40+4 today. It is my first and I'm desperate to avoid induction so I'm really hoping that something happens soon.

Contractions have eased off a bit, never thought I'd wish for more pain!

[WriterofDreams]

I know, people's "oh so funny" comments are really annoying aren't they loudlass? It's funny because I'm actually due on Christmas Day so everyone keeps saying "Oh so you won't be in on Christmas Day at all then" Shows you how much faith we should place in due dates, doesn't it??

It's mad isn't it when you catch yourself sitting there thinking "Get more painful, get more painful, more pain for god's sake!!!"

I don't even have BHs today so I'm trying my best to resign myself to waiting. It's bloody hard though.

When will they want to induce you everybody?

[goodlifemummy]

I am vbac and the last registrar I saw said they will only induce me by breaking my waters if favourable. Got to go and see them on Wednesday. So bring on tomorrows sweep! Off to my mums for Christmas lunch (an hour away) straight afterwards!!

[CJMommy]

I also hate the way everyone says 'bet it'll come on christmas day'. My mom said yesterday that it would be 'a real shame' if it did come on christmas day - trust her to find something negative!
I'm resigned to the fact that it'll come when it's ready and if that be on christmas day then so be it! DH and I have agreed that if I'm in on christmas day, we'll have another day as christmas day, especially for DS (3. I know I'm lucky to be able to do that as he's too young to know which specific day it's on.

Had a very quiet night last night, slept really well for the first time in ages and no BH's whatsoever!

[ChippingIn]

Cj - I was just going to suggest having another Christmas Day if the kids are young enough - even at 6 they don't really have too much idea which day it is. If they are older than that - see if they would like to open a few small presents and wait until Mum is home again and have a 'proper' Christmas Day then - you should all be able to swing one option or another :)

I hope they all come when you would like them to x

[mumatron]

still nothing doing here

i might try going for a walk today if weather permits.

had a nice hot madras yesterday and a pineapple but didn't make a difference.

[WriterofDreams]

Same here mumatron

I keep getting random pains but I think they're more due to gas (lovely) and pelvic pain than anything else. My DH is gone to work and it's just started snowing again so now's probably not a good time for things to hot up anyway!

Spoke to my mum on the phone last night. Two out of her three births were pretty horrendous so I normally avoid talking to her about the ins and outs of it all but last night she started asking about what my plans were. I had to explain the concept of a midwife led unit to her in great detail (despite being very intelligent my mum can be shockingly slow on the uptake) as they don't really exist in Ireland. All she wanted to know about was the epidural, which of course isn't available in the MLU. It took me about 2 solid minutes to get this across to her. Her response was "Well you know it does hurt"
Em yes mother for fuck's sake I do know that. Sigh. And as usual it ended up being me reassuring her that everything would be ok rather than the other way around

Sorry about the rant, I needed it!

[Crystylline]

can i join you all?

have been having a show for the last two days - (TMI) lots of mucus/discharge.

Am utterly snowed in and waiting to see if midwife can walk to see me.

am 34+5, so a bit scary.

i'm very much hoping he'll stay put, but that might be wishful thinking...

[WriterofDreams]

Hi Crystylline, welcome to the club! Fingers crossed that this is just a very early show for you. If the experience of the rest of us is anything to go by you're going nowhere! I had a show over two weeks ago now and nothing at all is happening for me.

It's worrying when it all seems to be kicking off early but often these things are just grumbles sent to annoy you. Even if things do start to move, there's plenty they can do to stop it and if that doesn't work 35 weeks isn't really that early.

Hope the midwife can get to you to give you a bit of peace of mind! Meanwhile keep posting :)

[Crystylline]

Hi WOD,

not sure I'd be so concerned if I hadn't had a fall and PV bleeding a couple of weeks ago.

At least they gave me steroids when i was in then - gives me a little confidence.

Feeling v. paranoid - back and forth to the loo checking waters aren't leaking etc.

and the delivery suite phone is permanently engaged. Guess there's lots of us in Devon worrying away!

ah well, i'll settle in here with you guys for the day and hope all these snow babies hang on for better weather.

x