Oh blooming heck. Is anybody up?

[TinkerTailorSoldierLibrarian]

I'm 37+1 and woken up with several gushes of clear fluid and some gloopy show type stuff.

Only thing is I had a routine appt today and the head was still quite high and free. Do I need to ring somebody and go and get checked? I know the risk of prolapse is tiny but I'm wondering if I need to go and see somebody now? Do I wake dh? 4yo dd is fast asleep too.

No contractions. Several bh and baby is moving.

You're all lovely. Seriously. And very kind to a hormonal woman.

No progress sadly. I've got until 10am for things to progress or I'm off for a section. I don't want induction and I don't want to risk infection or scar rupture by prolonging things.

I'm having a cuddle with dd, some Chinese and a wallow.

You spend your life thinking you can give birth, that you're designed to do it and then when it comes to it, you somehow fail. I can't help feeling sad about it all.

It's not about success or failure Tinker, whether vaginal or section it will still be you who gives birth to your baby.

I think sometimes we feel pressure about the journey IYSWIM rather than the destination which is a healthy baby and healthy Mum, and the wonder of welcoming a new miracle into the world.

Try not to be too hard on yourself

We do 'know' each other LITR. I've had problems (which you've kindly listened to) dealing with dd's birth for years. I know rationally it'll all be fine and the important thing is that he's healthy. But I'm so sad. I keep thinking I just got through that time with dd after she was here and a baby doesn't notice you drowning as long as they're fed/clothed/cuddled. But if I fall apart this time, dd will know. She starts school this coming week and I'm possibly going to be exhausted and post-operative again. I really thought it would be different this time.

And it's just occurred to me that I probably have to be nil by mouth after eating this. Can I drink? I have no idea. I'm permanently thirsty.

Having a cuddle with DD sounds like ideal therapy :)

Is your chinese nice... it's all horrid around here :( I used to live in NZ and the chinese there is GOOD....

Tinker - if you're not having a general I think you can drink water, but just phone the hospital and ask them. If you ARE having a general anaesthetic then you should be nil by mouth, including water.

Tinker - sorry you have had such a bad time dealing with DD's birth :(

Maybe having DD will stop you falling apart, but if it doesn't - she will be fine. She's young, it will be a small blimp in her life. This time you will know how to deal with it wont you - if it happens, which hopefully it wont!

It'll be a spinal.

I think knowing I have to keep it together for dd's sake is keeping me going. She's written a song today all about me. I can't type the lyrics because I'll cry but it's called 'Mama is the sunshine'. She keeps singing it whilst stroking my hair. She's allowed to visit for 2hrs per day in hospital. I'm really going to miss her.

aww tinker, don't be sad.
this time tomorrow you'll be cuddling a super new baby, dd will have been to visit and have presents and stuff and it'll all be fab, really it will.

and yo know you've got all night for things to kick off and it really might happen, you just never know... go for a nice walk around the house to get things moving maybe?

hope all goes well however baby makes his appearance

Tinker - how lovely that your DD has written a song for you! What a beautiful child she must be, she sounds adorable.
It will be a short time away, you will all be together again soon with a lovely new baby - your DD will love him(?) and everything will work out.
You will have the support of your healthcare team and your family - lean on them, ask them for help as soon as you need it.

Most of all, focus on the fact that you are having a new BABY! So lucky. How he arrives is neither here nor there - arriving is the important part, not the means.

Oh poppet - this bit sucks doesn't it. Everybody else is right though - you are having a baby and you're doing really well. If baby didn't read the bit in the manual where it tells him where to put his head - well that's men for you!

Thank-you. You're all smashing.

My boy is here.

Congratulations!!
I have had two emcs and the 2nd one just confirmed that my cervix just doesn't work and it's not my fault!
Hope you are enjoying your new baby

Just checking back, wishing you all the best for tomorrow!