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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

When exactly is the big day going to be...?

16 replies

DeeOfTheNorthPole · 19/12/2011 17:44

Ok - I pretty much know the answer to this question but I thought it'd be interesting to ask anyway. Does anyone have any clues or indicators of when their labour may begin?

I was just thinking that I am now considered full term (37 + 2) but potentially could go right up to 42 weeks before being induced. Five weeks just seems such a long time and I'd love to have a hint of whether I might be early or late.

I've heard that first time pregnancies tend to go 'over' and the fact that my mum was induced at 40 + 10 makes me think I'll probably be late but I was just wondering if there were any other indicators or signs of when the big day might be. Anyone? You can be as medically accurate or superstitious/old wives tale-y as you like!

(I realise the only really accurate answer to this is it happens when baby's ready but I'm just soooo impatient!)

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pixie04 · 19/12/2011 18:22

I was planning on having the baby between 37 - 38 weeks. I don't know why exactly it was just in my head that baby would come a couple of weeks early and this is my first, I'm quiet small somehow that was linked with my theory. Everyone said first baby's are late and long labour ect I thought pfft what do they know. Four women that I know well all due around the same time as me had their baby's a weeks or two early and relatively short, uncomplicated labours all first time mums too.

Me I'm now 40 weeks today, loads of signs labour is imminent but to be perfectly honest I think they are all signs of being heavily pregnant and that it's being heavily pregnant and now due that is the sign IYSWIM.

I'd really like to know any signs aside from regular contractions (because I've had a fair few irregular ones, varying in pain over the last two weeks), waters breaking or a bloody show. I've had a bit of a show but was tiny, looked a bit like I'd picked my nose (sorry TMI)

Original poster

DeeOfTheNorthPole · 19/12/2011 20:07

Any other ideas?

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scentednappyhag · 19/12/2011 20:10

Labor was nothing like how I'd expected DD was born at 38 weeks, only symptom of labor was on and off tummy aches, by the time I believed it had started and got to hospital I was 7cm dilated waters had to be broken for me, and had no show until after it had been done. It really is a case of every labor is different! Good luck with it all, and hope it's soon for you

Original poster

DeeOfTheNorthPole · 19/12/2011 20:13

Thanks scented! Hope mine is as straightforward as yours!

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scentednappyhag · 19/12/2011 20:17

To be fair, it did take 7 hours after getting to hospital for her to be born but I'd do it again in a heart beat! Fingers crossed for a simple and safe labor for you both!

NotCravingChristmasCake · 20/12/2011 07:12

What did it for me was my other half going 4-5 hour drive away for his work for a few days. I told him before he went that my waters would break while he was away and they did. I was 38 weeks.

Oh, and make sure there's something you will need but havent brought, in my case maternity bra's , but i do have a mothercare shop 5 mins from my house so wasnt too much of an issue.

Original poster

DeeOfTheNorthPole · 20/12/2011 08:05

Ah, sod's law.....I can see how that might work

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Oeisha · 20/12/2011 08:44

Dee Our MWs told us that first babies actually are born 'earlier' than subsequent pregnancies on the whole... I know my SIL would agree. 34+4, 36+3, 40+9.

As for "when are you in labor" we were firmly told that the ONLY sign was regular contraction at 3-5mins apart (waters breaking, irregular contractions etc were all latent rather than established labor). Other than that, it could all stop and you could still be there for days...

However with me and my bros, my Mum's longest labor was 3h. I was no.3 and Mum managed 20mins of "established" before I emerged and very little preamble..about 1h. None of us engaged until established either, so she basically had no warning other than waters wooshing.

Original poster

DeeOfTheNorthPole · 20/12/2011 08:47

That sounds hopeful Oeisha. I really don't want to be going two weeks over but I'm worried that's going to be the case. I do think that maybe my due date has been calculated slightly out and it should be the week before (or is that wishful thinking....?)

OP posts:

Oeisha · 20/12/2011 08:53

Who knows. People are starting to drive me nuts now with the "any day now" stuff...not term yet, so I certianly hop she hangs on in there for another week or so.
I've been countering with the "well, the latest they'll let me go is 1st Feb, so that's the date I've got in my brain". Soon shus them up as Feb really does seem a very long way away for most.
I'm sure if you deploy and the positive thinking/hyponoborthing visulaisations you'll get LO out on time!

COCKadoodledooo · 20/12/2011 09:14

I was 1o days overdue on Christmas day with ds1, so I said to dh that there was no way I was cooking a full turkey dinner because I'd go into labour and miss it. We had fish fingers chips and beans instead (v. festive!). It is to my eternal regret - ds1 didn't show up for another 4 freaking days.

So - cook a turkey! Might work for you..

My chum tells me that in France a full pregnancy term is 42 weeks, not the 40 weeks it is here btw. Don't know why it's different.

wahwahwah · 20/12/2011 09:25

Only 5%of babies arrive on the due date. It is more of a guide, not science. The way they work it out is based on averages, so can be a week or so out either way. Yes, my French friend told me that it was worked out differently in France.

FrillyMilly · 20/12/2011 09:41

My mum went in to labour at 39+5 and had me at 39+6. I had the same happen with DD. In fact I had a pretty much identical labour as well. I'm hoping my 2nd is the same as my mums 2nd. She had my sister at 38 weeks. Waters broke and sister was born an hour and a half later. I didn't have any sign that I was going in to labour I just woke up one day having strong contractions

wahwahwah · 20/12/2011 09:59

DH was due mid August. I was convinced he would be late August... Only a month out!

Oeisha · 20/12/2011 11:01

WHO guidelines put term at 37-42wks. So, 42wks is still term. I assume 40wks is something to do with stats on nautral births, the degredation of the placenta form about 34wks on, and the larger bubba gets the more chance of needing intervention??? Could be totally wrong mind you...
MIght be witchcraft an educated guess, like a lot of maternity care (fundal heights etc) seems to be.

Wants3 · 20/12/2011 11:36

First baby came at 38+2, second came at 39+5 I have it in my head that this one will be overdue as I have been told 3rd babies are akward. I am working until 38 weeks so that might change things!
First two babies DH worked a twenty minute bike ride, this one he will be a twenty minute walk to catch a train 2 hours away! Let's hope it's a night time labour:)

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