Cheer up a grumpy overdue woman with stories of spontaneous labour and coping strategies please

[mamarara]

So I am 40+12 with 2nd child. No sign of anything happening. 2 sweeps - the one yesterday resulted in a few hours of contractions which petered out into nothing.

It's 4am I have developed chronic insomnia the last few days and have gone from feeling positive and trusting that my body knows what it is doing to nigh on hysterical. Why won't this baby come out?

Giving up on old wives tales as have done them all and they don't work. Don't want to really see anyone much as fed up discussing the width of my cervix with people. Refusing to answer phone/texts as everyone is doing my head in with 'haven't you had that baby yet' comments. So self imposed hermitage.

I am v down in the dumps that this baby is never going to arrive. Heading towards induction which I don't want. Plus the building paranoia that something will go wrong whilst he is trapped in there and wouldn't it be better to just get him out ASAP.

So please tell me your stories of 'no labour signs at all then BAM spontaneous labour around the 42 week mark'. Alternatively any tips on retaining some sanity as I am now just a snarling, teary, desperate shell of a human being.

Thank you.

Didn't want to read and run. DD arrived spontaneously at 40+11 so I know how fed-up you must be feeling.

Have you seen www.haveyouhadthatbabyyet.comdirect all nosey interested parties there.

Hoping for action for you really soon.

I haven't experienced this but is expectant management an option? I'm sure I've heard that in some countries a pregnancy isn't considered overdue until 42 weeks (Norway?) so you may have a little Viking who will be with you soon of their own accord. You can't be forced to have an induction but of course there are pros and cons to refusing. I would be very grumpy in your situation and would be ordering nosy people wellwishers to bring me cake. Good luck, you will have your baby soon!

Am surprised to see responses at this time - thank you :)

Was meant to talk induction tomorrow but have pushed that back to Friday. On the one hand expectant management appeals as had spontaneous vd with dd and would like to repeat if possible (that was only 40+6). On the other hand the thought of something going wrong is building on a daily basis which I don't think is helping my anxiety.

I love haveyouhadthatbabyyet.com - that got me through the first week! Am now just ignoring everyone although dh seems v happy to tell anyone that calls the status of my cervix according to the mw!

Thanks again for replying at this ungodly hour!

Agree with ladywidmer lots and lots of CAKE!!

I'm 40+8 at moment and went over by 2 weeks with ds. It's the pits! I had bad insomnia few days last week was the loneliest place ever! Was imagining all negative birth situations and found myself waking up having to take deep breathes. I have downloaded a hypnobirth app which I listen to just before bedtime which relaxes me and have slept better.

Are you feeling like everyone you knew pregnant has had their baby already and earlier? That got me down but now I'm counting the days down to 6th booked in for elcs as refused induction due to it failing first time. Had a sweep and done nothing.

(((big hugs))) you are not alone

Thanks bighotmama - yep feeling everything you say and insomnia definitely doesn't help the middle of the night random panics.

Which hypnobirth app have you got? Have listened to the cd to try and relax but one on the phone would be useful also.

Boo am just gutted, after months of psyching myself up for labour (first one with dd was horrid) I got to the whole 'trust your body' point. But now I feel like my body has failed me and I am going to have to go to the big scary hospital rather than my lovely mlu. Feeling v low about it all.

Hope your baby turns up soon :)

Oh mamara it's awful isn't it? I have been psyching myself up to have a positive vbac birth this time round and really thinking my body would have a different experience this time round but looks like another cs.

I swear by this app the last three nights have been sleepy heaven, it's called innervision from the iphone app store and a bit pricey at £6ish but even though I'm resigning myself to fact i could end up with CS on Monday I am still listening to it as it's so relaxing and is helping me sleep. I got it a week ago as was really suffering with anxiety attacks in the night and couldn't sleep for more than am hour. Now I'm sleeping for chunks of 3-4 hours maybe longer and can get back to sleep easily.

Hi
I had dd1 at 42 weeks, which was the point at which the hospital would give me an induction whether I liked it or not (I kept putting it off).
But they did check me for the amniotic fluid and heartbeat of the baby to make sure she was still comfortable.
I was booked for the induction on the Wednesday morning and I went in to labour the Tuesday afternoon.
She had very long nails and lots of dry skin but apart from that was absoluitely fine!

You give us hope then nappy might have that 2nd sweep and I'm booked in for curry tomorrow night fx

How you feeling today mamarama ?

Apart from backache and a bit if heartburn I feel really well

Thanks for your replies, I really appreciate you taking the time to post. The big scary hospital called me for an induction this morning at 40+13. I so wasn't ready, had a bit of a meltdown on the way there. They broke my waters at 3, contractions started immediately by 4pm my 9lb 13oz boy was here! In the pool, just G&A - the birth was exactly as per my birth plan apart from having my waters artificially broken. Amazing. After a horrendous first labour with dd this one was amazing! Am now at home on sofa eating lasagne and watching American dad. Winner!

Oh how lovely

Well done & congratulations

Thanks :)

Aw, wow - congratulations!

Congrats, was it an hour in labour? or am I misreading, go you. Sounds fab anyway.

Yeah an hour in labour! Epic. Quite a shock but pretty pleased to get it over and done with so quickly to be honest.

Wow mamarama such a fantastic birth story! Glad your home safely with your little man that's lovely news

Congrats mamarama!

congrats rara! lovely news.