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

[WriterofDreams]

It's maddening isn't it mumatron? I felt quite crampy last night too and woke up at one point with what felt like a very strong contraction (though have never had them before so I can't tell). I lay there for a while waiting for another one but fell asleep in the meantime! So it looks like another day of nothing for me! On the plus side I had a great time at my friend's house last night, despite the fact that I had to endure both himself and his mother mauling my stomach at the same time.

I'm seriously contemplating going back to bed. I woke up this morning at 6:30 and couldn't get back to sleep.

Welcome to the maddening madness thereisalight! God the phonecalls and FB messages are annoying, even though I know people mean well. Do they seriously think I'm going to have a baby and not say anything??

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Thank you - and this is definitely the worst bit. I woke early with a pain - but I think it was a ligament stretch pain as my bump is SO heavy - anyway - waited for it to subside then nothing else.

The thing is - all these pains are leading somewhere and it's good to remind ourselves of that (well, I have to or I'll go mad). It's the not knowing exactly when that does my head in.

Sometimes, I want to not ring anyone and not tell them for a couple of days - maybe I will this time .

at your mum's sympathy pains, mumatron!

[mumatron]

i had to give pil a lift to a friends house earlier. first thing mil says is 'any signs??' like i would be driving you around while in labour! problem is, i can't help being really sarcastic towards her. i feel bad.

lots of back ache today but no contraction type pains.

bouncing on my ball isn't helping.

and i took the tree down, feeling a bit scrooge like. i have left a few other decs up . feels much cleaner here. i'm hoping it's nesting!

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

You've taken your tree down? Oh I can't bear to do that yet? I like hanging on to the decorations until the last possible minute .

Why on earth are your ILs letting themselves be driven around by you as they know you are so close anyway? Don't feel bad about the sarcasm. The thing is - they don't have to put up with the daily comments from everyone you see or meet in the street, & everyone you know. It really is a pain.

Back ache could be a good sign?

I've been fidgety and restless and incredibly tearful (I burst into tears last night as we still don't have a name for baby and it was the end of the world last night!). I've had niggly period-like pains (nothing significant) and monster BHs. So I know it's soon - but don't think it'll be today though.

[mumatron]

any news? REALLY thought last night was the night. a few very painful contractions but managed an almost full nights sleep.

going for a looong walk today, see if that helps.

[WriterofDreams]

Morning mumatron, I see you're up as early as I am! I seem to wake every day at 6:30 without fail for no particular reason and I can't get back to sleep. It's weird because it's not like I used to get up at this time for work or anything.

Nothing happening with me except that shortly after I went to bed last night I felt sick and ended up throwing up my entire dinner. I have no idea why. Of course a sick stomach is a sign of labour so my hopes rose a tiny bit but nothing at all happened. I'm still getting BHs all the time but nothing else. My parents the the PILs are starting to go a bit loopy with the waiting I think. I wish they'd stop contacting me, I feel under pressure from them. I know they're just interested and concerned but I actually feel bad that they're waiting so long when there's nothing at all I can do about it!

[mumatron]

wofd, i feel sick to but i think mine is nerves. i have started having really dark thoughts about still birth etc :(

sorry to be morbid. this baby is a bit of a miracle for us, 4 miscarriages and being told there is only a 1% chance of a normal pregnancy makes you a bit more nervous than normal. i suppose the closer it's getting to her being born the more scary i'm finding it all.

on another note, my mum rang me last night to say she was going out with friends. i asked her why she was telling me as she never has before. ''so you can pick me up on the way to the hospital if anything happens'' i have no idea why she thinks she is coming in the delivery room with me. and to top it all off mil wants to come and wait in the hospital. i'm now trying to think of ways to have this baby without telling anyone!

[WriterofDreams]

Oh, really sorry to hear about the miscarriages mumatron :( No wonder you're so worried. I worry too, suppose it's all part of the fun of pregnancy! If I stop feeling him move for even a short time I have myself convinced that there's something wrong. It's so tiring.

That's mad about your mum and MIL! Are they nuts or what?? Luckily both of our parents live far away so there's no question of them coming to the hospital, although my parents are coming over from Ireland on Saturday for a week so they will be around when I go into labour if he hasn't come by then. I don't think my mum will want to be anywhere near me while I'm in labour though (thankfully) as she had a very traumatic time having me and my sisters and can't even watch labour on tv never mind in real life! Do you think your mum really wants to come in with you??

[mumatron]

yes she does :( i tried to tell her last night but she seems to think i'm joking. i need to go and see her today and sort it out. dp is really shy and is going to struggle through the labour without the added stress of my overbearing mother.

why is she trying to make my life extra hard??

[WriterofDreams]

Oh dear that's not good. Where did she get the notion that you want her in with you? I suppose you'll just have to be firm and lay down the law, or failing that just don't tell her when you go into labour. Do you think she'll get the message if you say you don't want her there?

I was thinking last night that I really hope I go into labour before my parents arrive because if they're around when it happens my mum will have a minor freakout and I'll be worried about her and my dad will oh so helpfully want to do acupressure on me (which I HATE). I'm really looking forward to seeing them as I haven't seen them since the summer but their presence will complicate things. Thankfully I had the foresight to tell them they had to stay in a hotel rather than with us when they came over. I am thoroughly congratulating myself on that one :) even if it meant I had to endure a stream of nasty texts about it from my bitch of sister!

[mumatron]

why do families think it ok to give this additional stress right at the end of our pg?

i'm only child so i don't have the nasty sister aspect of it thankfully. the mood i have been in the last few days i feel like telling everyone to f*ck off.

i wonder if it's normal to want to be alone so much?

[WriterofDreams]

I think it is normal. I feel bad that people's kind and interested texts and phonecalls are pissing me off because I know they mean well but it feels very intrusive. When I have had friends in similar situations I've just left them alone and allowed them to contact me themselves. Of course then there's the danger that I don't seem interested, but to be honest I think when you're preoccupied with waiting for a baby you couldn't give a shit about whether anyone's interested or not. It just takes up your entire headspace. DH is a star and is looking after me very well without smothering me so that's a blessing at least. I have to say when my mother texted me for the second time on Monday asking if anything was happening I felt like throwing the phone across the room in frustration. It's bad enough waiting without everyone constantly badgering you at the same time.

Do you think you'll manage to convince your mum not to come to the hospital?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Oh dear mumatron - I think my mum would be here too given the slightest encouragement - though why on earth she'd want to be is beyond me. I certainly wouldn't want her there - she'd stress me out something terrible.

Have a word with the MW - they won't let anyone in you don't want to be there - and they're used to dealing with mums and MILs - and it takes the pressure off you.

I think dark thoughts are perfectly normal. I have them with this one and it's number 4.

I can't understand why people pester pregnant/overdue women. I, too, go out of my way to not contact expectant mothers. It's the last thing you need.

Annoyingly - this one is due on NYE - so we'll have to endure the phonecalls (from people who don't normally call) to wish us happy new year - while slyly enquiring whether we've had it!! Grrrrrr.

[WriterofDreams]

Ok ladies, don't get excited but for the last few hours I've been having fairly regular pains. They're not unbearable but they're not exactly easy to ignore either. Just had a bath and shortly after I got out I had a fairly full on one that lasted over a minute. I'm trying not to read anything into it, but I'll let you know later if anything is happening!

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

Ooh! Ooooh! How exciting! Yes, let us know how it goes.

[WriterofDreams]

I'm timing the pains on contraction master and they're varying between 2:30 and 5 mins apart, lasting about 30 seconds. Still not unbearable by any means. This looks quite promising doesn't it?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

I'd say so. Have you spoken to your MW? Are you going in?

[WriterofDreams]

No I haven't called yet, do you think I should?

[thereisalightanditnevergoesout]

I think it's worth chatting through with them - getting a bit of advice/reassurance. Is this your first?

Certainly if they're 5 minutes apart and last for a minute go in - and I'd say you're getting there. And you might be double well hard and have a really high pain threshold or something!!

[WriterofDreams]

Just rang there and she asked me to hang on for another hour or so then give them another call. I'd rather be at home so I'm not bothered for the time being. Wish me luck!

[mumatron]

is it wrong for me to be jealous of your pain??

i hope this is it for you.

keep us updated if poss. very exciting!

it's dp's birthday tomorrow, he would love the baby to come then. i'm hoping she does as i have completely forgotten to get a card or a pressie

oops!

[WriterofDreams]

Totally not wrong mumatron, I'd be exactly the same if the tables were turned! It looks like the real things alright - contractions are about 3-4 mins apart, still quite short and fairly manageable, although I do have to breathe through them. Just spoke to my mum - she's all wound up and is telling me to get to the hospital right away! I am not a fan of hospitals so I want to stay home as long as possible.

[WriterofDreams]

Oh and I hope your little one starts to make a move soon - then you can say your pressie is a little baby!!

[mumatron]

when i had ds i stayed home until the pains were 3-4 mins apart lasting about a minute and i couldn't talk through them. iirc they started about 2am and i went in at about 7.30am i was 7cm when i went in. i wished i stayed at home longer tbh, labour really slowed when i got on the bed with the gas and air. took until 2.30pm for him to be born.

my mum is bringing me a card for dp and he will just have to have money. he wont mind. just seems so thoughtless.

ah well, not alot can be done now.

i'm bouncing away on my birthball, hopefully things will start moving for me too.

[WriterofDreams]

I'd say don't worry at all about the present, you have a lot of other stuff on your mind! I'm worried that if I go in things will slow down like they did with you. I'm happy enough at home for the time being.