Anyone up? What do you think - am I in labour?

[feedmecake]

I'm 40+8 and I had sweep on Monday after which the baby engaged and I had some mild period pain that was constant rather than in definite phases and disappeared by the following morning. I then had another sweep on Friday, which was very uncomfortable, and where the midwife said my cervix was still not dilated. Then Friday afternoon I had a show, and more during Saturday daytime.

Went to bed last night, and woke up at 3am this morning with period pains both front and back and a need to sit on the loo. Since then, had relatively regular pains every 20 minutes or so lasting, maybe 15 seconds.

I'm guessing this is labour then?

They're a bit too strong to sleep through, and it's better when I'm upright. What do I do with myself at this time in the morning - bake cakes, clean the floor??

I've never gone into labour without help, so far from an expert, but it does sound very encouraging :)

What do you feel like doing? Do that!

Sounds like labour to me! Good Luck!

Can you have a warm bath or warm shower? Do you have a partned who can point the shower head at your back while you lean over or something like that?

Excited for you!

Very exciting yes this is it

Sounds like labour to me too

Btw no cleaning, upright and moving, bouncing or resting. Plenty of fluids and stuff to eat cause you never know when it will all kick off, can you tell I have quite fast labours.

Have you got everything ready? Bag or home birth stuff?

Good luck, this could be it, the long wait finally over!
My only advise is to leave DH asleep, they cope better with a full nights sleep

Yes, DH fell asleep in a chair when I was in labour :o

You'll need him later, maybe let him sleep a couple of hours.

Oooh, this is so exciting :)

Vicarious labour!

Best of luck feedme :)

Good luck sounds like labour to me! Have you rung the midwife so they are expecting you of they get stronger all of a sudden ( I had a 20 min labour with dc2)?

Crickey, I wasn't actually expecting anyone to be up! Thank you.

So far the solution seems to be mumsnet and hot ribena (and no, I'm not really 12).

Petesmump - I had the same thought as you and left DH to sleep. Stuff is packed, although I think I have way too much of it (labour bag, food bag and after birth bag), but one can stay in the car.

Odd that when you have a contraction you think, ow ow ow that's really not very nice, but the second it goes, you think it's all fine.

Ah, yes midwife...

Good idea! Will call them now.

Perhaps a warm bath or shower? (assuming your waters haven't broken)

Don't worry about your bags. Best tonne prepared as every good girl guide recalls leaving the bags in the car can give DH a fetching & carrying job to do later. Will keep him entertained...just like having a toddler!

Of course we're up!

We were just waiting for someone in labour to show up and give us something fun to do :o

My waters haven't broken yet and I'm looking at my sofa and thinking it might be wise to get a towel!

I've had two paracetamol for now and will save the bath for later.

Do you want to tell me your (nice please) labour stories to keep me occupied?

I'm up! It's not quite midnight here!

My labor was fine. Much easier than I expected. Is this your first?

Ooo how exciting!

Every labour that ends in a shiny new healthy baby is a nice labour story

This is indeed our first! We asked to find out the sex but baby was coy so that will be a nice surprise.

By the way, breathing really does help (I didn't really do any with my first labour because I really couldn't believe it would, but it was amazing with my 2nd the midwives couldn't believe how calm I was) - practice it on these little 'period pains'.

Take a deep breath in and breath out focusing on one spot, like you are trying to blow out a candle a few feet away. Somene else can probably help better on this too.

Good luck, baby awake now in addition to the toddler (see what you have to come? Labour is the fun bit...) so I'll be off now.

Yey sounds like you are on your way!
Good plan re paracetamol and saving bath for later, I found a warm bath really helpful as labour progressed.
Try and rest if you can I know it's exciting but it could be a long while yet!
Good luck I look forward to following your progress : )

I have to say I'm feeling quite chuffed. I was booked in for an induction on Monday and had resigned myself to the fact that it probably wasn't going to happen naturally.

sounds like you're doing great feedme- I'm on the other side of the world, awake . Labour stories? both mine were good, and I agree with howlong, the breathing was key for me, and keep a positive attitude if you can (sounds like you already have that :)). I found it helpful to count as I breathed to help me focus. And remember- you can do it!

Good luck! Try to ENJOY it

How exciting - I kept walking/pacing with all of mine when I was in labour as it kept the contractions going and helped a bit with keeping my mind off the pain. I tried to stop walking once (midwife was trying to get me to rest) but the contractions went off and I didn't want to be spending all day at it! Longest labour for me - 4 hrs, shortest - 10 minutes (literally - scary stuff!!). I think ultimately you have to do whatever feels right for you. Just be prepared for the contractions to get alot more painful yet - the more painful it is the closer you are to seeing your little miracle. Enjoy.

Ok, thanks for the tips and yes, so far I am quite enjoying it!

I reckon it might be ages anyway though conors - they're now 10 minutes apart, and the one every other 10 minutes seems to be a bit stronger, but they don't hurt much nor last very long and the first was was nearly four hours ago.

I'm practising the breathing and can see that it will help. Baby is wriggly, which is nice.

Think I'll check in with you all later - I have some sewing to do which will keep my mind off it until DH wakes up, then will head off for a gentle stroll.