Who else is due in the next few weeks? This thread is for moaning (no-one else will put up with us now). I'll race you to the finish line!

[SarahScot]

Hi all

I'm due on the 11th of March, only 12 short days away now! DS (3.6) was 12 days overdue though, so am trying to tell my brain to stop getting excited - it probably has 24 days to wait!

I hated being induced last time so have laid it on thick to my consultant so he has agreed to start sweeps from today. I'm going in at 2pm to get one. Not pleasant, but if it hurries things along, worth it. It's good to feel like I'm doing something too.

Been trying to tell baby that I'm ready for her now - have packed my hospital bag, put up the cot and even finally caught up with the washing. The last load is in the machine now, such a good feeling!

I don't really have too much to moan about about from the usual tiredness and cant-ever-get-comfy-ness. I did have a lot of pain in my pelvis up until 33 weeks, but found a rather extreme way of making it better. DS and I were in a car crash after an old man pulled out right in front of us. As we crashed my legs were jammed out straight in front of me, standing as hard as I could on the pedals. I ended up with very bruised knees, but bizarely the force of the impact seemed to jolt my pelvis back into position a bit, so now as long as I'm careful and take it easy I've harldy got any pain. DS got a bump on his head, I think his feet flew up and got him, but apart from that we were both uninjured as were the old couple in the other car. We were incredibly lucky as both cars were a write-off.

So who else is in the last few weeks? I'll race you!

Hi Haloflo, I'm 38 weeks + 2 days with DC1. My moan is almost the opposite, this morning i woke up not even feeling pregnant....no period pains, no discharge, of course i'm going to the toilet every three to four hours but i'm so used to this that i don't even seem to wake up and go straight back to bed as soon as i hit the pillow. I'm getting bored at home, had two weeks of maternity leave already so everything is ready, well as ready as I can be being a first time mum. My DH keeps telling me to nap in the afternoon and take it easy but i just can't do this - I'm restless all the time, pacing around and think i will go crazy if she's late.

I think your pains sound promising, at least something is happening......are you keen to get it happening? I am, the waiting is excrutiating. I just want her out and safely in my arms.

OK, my wierd rant is over now - good luck Sarahscot on your sweep - hope it get things moving!!

Hi Roxy I am keen to get it happening I think, as you say I want my baby to be safely in my arms. Every morning I'm not happy until I'll felt kicks/squirms.

I am with you on the boredom front. I have spent the morning cleaning the blinds (!). Might go for stroll later but my legs ache more if I overdo it. I'm going to an aqua-natal class tomorrow so am looking forward to that.

You got plans for the week? I have one little thing to do everyday after today until next Monday. Hopefully this will keep me sane.

Hello everyone

I was due on Sat 5th and now BORED BORED BORED! strangeways I don't know how you're coping - two days over and I'm going mad! All my friends with children keep saying "enjoy it" but that's kind of hard when you are constantly expecting / hoping something happens.

Have no symptoms whatsoever - have had bh for a couple of weeks but that's it. Am booked for a sweep on Weds and induction for Friday if nothing has happened by then... Come on baby!

Btw - those who've had sweeps - any advice or info? Am a bit scared by the idea.

Panic yes I am struggling a bit but am feeling a bit perkier than earlier. My moods are a bit irrational at the moment. Everyone keeps telling me to enjoy it too, but I just want to say b*gger off I want my baby!!

I am probably not the best to advise about sweeps as I was meant to have one this morning, but said no in the end. Deep down I know it's not what I want. You might be different, but for me in previous labours I found all VE's extremely uncomfortable and the thought of being poked about with just doesn't appeal. I have read a lot of threads on here about them and some are good, with good results and no pain and some are not so good. Everyone is different I suppose. I had got myself into a right tizz this morning about it tbh.

The mw has booked my induction for Saturday so maybe as that day looms I might change my mind. However, being a difficult customer, I might refuse induction too and go for monitoring instead. While my official due date fromt eh scan was 27th Feb, from my LMP it was 5th March so I am keen not to rush things unnecessarily despite being desperately frustrated at not having gone into labour yet. I am between a rock and a hard place really.

But the sun is shining, so a nice walk might help. Onwards and upwards .

Re:sweeps

After having 2 and then inductionw ith DS2 I think a sweep only really helps if your cervix is already favourable. After both of mine the MW was doubtful they achieved anything as she said my cervix was still high not soft or whatever it was supposed to be so it was uncomfy (not painful in my case but not the nicest experience) so not sure if I can be bothered this time.

Strange: re Induction. Although I am DESPERATE for this baby to come out I would like to try and forgo induction if I can (providing eveyrthing is still safe etc), but not sure I can do daily monitoring with school drop off and DS2 around so will play by ear but am going to mention to my MW tomorrow how much I really dont want to go down that rouyte and see what she suggests.

Good luck to all.

I'm trying to do the same Haloflo.......i was waiting on a delivery from Next (ordered some nice relaxing PJ's) but plan on walking to the butcher this afternoon for this evening's tea. If i can try and plan things for each day then hopefully time will pass by. Dying to get out and garden but not sure how easy it will be to bend over and weed. Did you manage to get out for a walk?

Aqua-natal class? That sounds very relaxing although not sure i could do that at the moment, it's been at least a month since i've seen my bikini line so they may ask me to leave the pool area for fear of scaring children

I'm drinking raspberry leaf tea and cooking a curry tonight - let's hope they bring on some period pains (can't believe i'm looking forward to getting some pain!!).

Hi all, I had my sweep this morning, and the midwive said I was 3cm dilated! Yippee! Last week I was 1-2cm dilated so this is some definite progress. Can't wait for it all to kick off even though I had a horrible labour last time.

In my experience sweeps don't hurt at all. I had 2 last pg and 2 this pg. Maybe they only hurt if your cervix is still closed and high? They are uncomfortable but painful at all. The midwive said today she could feel my baby had a lot of hair - that seemed really wierd, she was actually touching my baby.

She also write down in my notes that they head was at -1 station. What does that mean? I seem to remmeber a diagram from a baby bok but can't remember what it means.

haloflo your pains sound promising - good luck.

Roxy, here's wishing some pain for you too!

Roxy - he would kill me for saying but thanks to the anonomity of MN my very ciommitted DH cleaned me up as he didnt want me to be embarrassed with the MWs. It was a very funny moment.

Oh Sarah congrats on that news. See I can see the usefulness of sweeps for bringing that kind of knowledge to the table.

sigh still not in labour.

You'd think after going 12 days overdue with DS I'd know I was being an idiot to imagine I'd go early this time. You can convince yourself of anything when you're impatient though!

Thanks for advice re sweeps. Am still hoping not to need one... Have been having period pain type ache on and off all day but it's now stronger and more often (esp in my lower back - is that normal?). Fingers crossed...

Oops, wrote this over an hour ago and forgot to post. Pain is def getting more often and stronger....

Would post more but am feeling v distracted! strangeways glad you are feeling cheerier and good luck with whatever you decide re induction

That sounds promising NowPanic, hope it's the real thing for you.

nowpanic Hoping things started for you yesterday. Being too distracted to post sounds promising...

sarah How are you feeling today after the sweep yesterday? It freaks me out slightly that your midwife could feel the hair, its all so new to me being a first timer!

roxy I mananged a stroll yesterday with DP as he finished early which was nice. As for the swimming worries, they close the pool off for pg women only and i'm just hoping no one looks too closely and if they spot something they are sympathetic! I can't see anything so am happy to live in denial.

Gardening sounds far too much like hard work! Although maybe if you have to do it on all fours it could encourage baby..?

mixedmama Hope the chat re induction goes well. Hopefully it won't come to induction/monitoring and baby will come on its own. How many days over would they want to induce?

Nothing new here, woke at 1am with a strong BH & period pain but that was it, nothing else happening. Having googled lots of threads it seems these niggles are quite normal at 38 weeks so I guess I shouldn't get my hopes up.

Hello again

I just thought i'd announce the arrival of my baby girl Francesca. She was born on the 7th (on her due date!!!)

The labour was eventful as she was back to back but after 27 hours of hard work she made her arrival.

Oh wow, congratulations Lauzifer. On her due date as well, what a good girl! 27 hour labour though . . .ouch! Back to back is meant to be very painful, did you get an epidural? Don't think there's any way I'd ge tthrough 27 hours without one!

Any news NowPanic?

I've no promising pains after my sweep yesterday, but did lose the rest of my mucous plug this morning. Pretty sure it was the last of it, it was streaked with brown blood and quite big and more solid than the bits I've had over the last week or so.

I woke up at 3:30 this morning and my arm felt 'dead; like I'd been lying on it too long. Couldn't get it back to normal though and my fingers went kind of numb and itchy. Ended up getting up until it felt better again and went backto bed at 6:30. Googling it just panicked me as it said numbness is a sign pre-eclampsia, but I had my blood pressure checked yesterday and it was it's normal 110/60. Pregnancy is WIERD.

Just back from MW apointment. Accepted a sweep as was keen to find out whether I am favourable or not. Cervix was high soft but not effaced and she was able to get the tip of her finger to the babys head. Doesnt bode well for the next couple of days but better result than with DS2.

Next Tuesday another sweep and induction Wed/Thur if no progress.

Induction here is 41+5. I would have to go to the labour ward but would be able to use the bath (massive corner ones) for pain relief but wouldnt be able to give birth in the water which is ok with me.

She also said based on progress etc I can negotiate the level of monitoring etc. All in all very pleased.

Congratulations, Lauzifer! Francesca was our choice until we learned he's a boy! :) A lovely name and 7 and 27 are also lovely numbers (though 7 would have been more ideal for labour!

Halo, I'm so envious of your pool!!! Closed off for pregnant women? How divine! Wish they did that on the Tube.

Sarah, you are slowly getting somewhere it seems, though what the heck do I know? I'm actually a bit queazy with all this sweep talk...actually, everything about the birth process makes me feel a bit woozy, and I hope I'll manage tomorrow with all the needles, cutting,...just need to focus on the round healthy baby at the end of all the yucky stuff, right?

Mixed, the bath would be nice for relaxation! I saw what I call the jacuzzi room when I went in for my pre-op today, and was so sad that I wouldn't be able to have my dream pool birth, though everyone at the hospital seems to think I'm best off with the C. We'll see...

Ladies ? can I join you?

Am 38+1 and have had enough. Was induced with DS1 at bang on 38w as mild pre-eclampsia (fortunately PE doesn?t look like returning this time) ? just catalogue of other complaints ? sorry in advance to moan.

Anyway ? lost my show thingy (unpleasant) and had cramps/contractions at 34+4 so off to delivery suite at hospital where I ended up admitted for steroid injections and monitoring. All settled and got discharged after 3 days. Since then a bit more show and lots of discharge (sorry if TMI) along with:

Quite bad period cramps that come and go day and night and spread to my back (feel like have had awful PMT now for 3+ weeks).
Bad Braxton hicks ? tightening across whole bump ? get them lots, especially bad when I walk somewhere and so bad that they can make me feel nauseous.
Loose bowels ? like clearing out after any reasonable sized meal.
Shooting pains in ?bits?

Have had two incidents in last few days of pains having quite a good rhythm for an hour or so, but then they go back to being irregular.

Ready for it all to be over tbh, especially having dealt with the rollercoaster of emotion about the prospect of prem labour/ steroids etc. Thought something might have happened by now.

MW at 35 weeks said she thought I was in v slow labour, but that it could go on for weeks. She did say that I could request a sweep at 38 weeks, but didn?t see her last week so haven?t had the chance to book this in. Seeing her Thursday so might request one then. Sarah have you managed to have one before your due date ? on what grounds did you request and was it agreed??

Also fed up with people saying to me haven't you dropped yet - you are enormous - yes I know I am chuffing uncomfortable do you think I enjoy being this size??

Suppose should go and eat some more pineapple or something .

Glad things are happening for others and congratulations to Lauzifer

Hi Jupiter and welcome to the moaning thread. Sounds like you've had a bit of an emotional rollercoaster ride already.

I got my first sweep at 38 weeks, and yesterday's was at 39. I got it by requesting it ages ago, kicked up a fuss about how traumatic I found induction last time round and wanted to do anything to avoid it this time. 1st baby was quite big too, which makes me want to avoid the overdue/induction route again.

No exciting news from anyone today?

Nothing from me - a few minor tingles but nothing to get me excited about

I was reading the thread about giving yourself a sweep - that's serious stuff, bit scary. I don't think I will attempt that just yet!

Nothing exciting here unfortunately.

Seeing MW tomorrow - will be asking for a sweep if possible. She did say a few weeks ago I could request one.

Hopefully more excitement from elseware???

Nothing too exciting, but I have had a little show and my BH's are getting more uncomfortable so who knows?? Some bowel clearing too, I really hope I am gearing up for something soon!

Bugger, just typed a long post and managed to lose it.

Was foiled in my attempt to get an extra sweep today. Called Community MW about my tingly numb fingers/arms. The wisdom of MN had already told me it was the beginnings of carpal tunnel, which the MW has confimed. I was hoping since she was here anyway she would do a sweep for me but she said they can't do them at home in case of accidently popping my waters or distressing the baby. The accidental popping of waters sounded good to me but she was having none of it!

Hi ladies, can I join? I'm 39+2 today and getting seriously tired of being pregnanant and uncomfortable (just like the rest of you). I've had BHs on and off for weeks and pretty much constantly since Sunday. They always start getting kind of regular and then stop. Then they start again... My bump is rock hard most of the time and and I have sharp pains down where the baby's head is pressing... I just wish these babies hurried up :) come on! let's get on with the programme!