Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

Eek - labour?

34 replies

TopazMortmain · 07/02/2012 20:06

Having spent weeks in unproductive false labour I have just woken up to relatively horrible period pain cramps in my back that coincide with the tightenings of the bump.

Hoping this is it (40 + god knows now, too many)

A little bit scared

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
MissPenteuth · 07/02/2012 20:08

Good luck :) Is it your first?

Dozeyland · 07/02/2012 20:11

Good luck, keep us posted!

IHeartIona · 07/02/2012 20:13

Good luck, sounds promising! Have seen a couplenof your posts on the pregnancy boards, think you were due on Sat? I was due on Fri... :)

Original poster
TopazMortmain · 07/02/2012 20:20

Yes is my first so utterly clueless Grin

heart are you overdue too then? Hope all is well

OP posts:
MissPenteuth · 07/02/2012 20:28

Try to keep moving to keep everything going. If they're regular, keep track of the time from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. And how long they last.

IHeartIona · 07/02/2012 20:31

Yes me too Topaz - had a bath with a few drops of clary sage earlier in case that might help!
Good luck and I second what MissPenteuth suggests re timing and keeping moving

Iggly · 07/02/2012 20:32

Rest if you can. This may well be the last night of peace you get Grin

Original poster
TopazMortmain · 07/02/2012 20:37

Hmm dilemma. They are every five minutes but not so painful that I want to cry / scream / shout but hurt just enough to elicit pirate noises (aarrrr) so tea and hot water bottle...

Bodies are so confusing

OP posts:
morethemerrier · 07/02/2012 20:39

I'm with Iggly! The fact you have woken up to painful cramps suggests that it's the real deal, don't exhaust yourself!

Good luck, very excited for you! Grin

openerofjars · 07/02/2012 20:41

This was how my labour with DS started! 2 weeks of stop-start bollocks then waking up and going "Hey, that really hurt!"? I bet you anything you're in labour.

morethemerrier · 07/02/2012 20:43

Are you planning on using a tens machine cause now would be a good time to put it on, the earlier the better!

When you move from pirate to mooing like a constipated cow you will be well on your way! Grin

Don't be scared, soon you'll be meeting your baby!

Original poster
TopazMortmain · 07/02/2012 20:47

No tens machine but looking forward to changing from pirate (arr) to cow (moooouuuuurgh?)

Loving this hot water bottle and hoping this is it...

OP posts:
Iggly · 07/02/2012 20:48

Pirate noises Grin

Now log off and rest.

drosophila · 07/02/2012 20:48

One thing that really helped me was-
One more contraction = One less contraction.

Do I make sense. With each passing one the means there are fewer to come...

It was a tip from hypnobirthing that really helped...

ghosteditor · 07/02/2012 20:52

Hi topaz and good luck! You've just described the start of my labour with DD, exactly three weeks ago Wink. It all went very fast for me and by the time I arrived at the hospital (contractions one min on , one min off) I was 8.5cm dilated. DD arrived shortly thereafter! All the false labour should mean that your body knows what it needs to do, so good luck! Grin

morethemerrier · 07/02/2012 20:59

How about a bath?

Yep pretty much a sound that you will not replicate again unless in labour! Grin

Do you know what you are having? I love this part, go with it try and relax and practice your breathing for later when it gets more intense.

Rest when you feel the need, if you can, its tempting to pace around and with all the anticipation and excitement you can wear yourself out!

Original poster
TopazMortmain · 07/02/2012 23:02
Grin

Just got out of a lovely bath and getting ready to go to the hospital as coincidentally I have a dr appt at the hospital this morning (not in UK which explains randomness of the time)

Really hope this is it.

No cow noises yet...

OP posts:
Original poster
TopazMortmain · 08/02/2012 02:32

Oh dear. They monitored me at appointment and cervix still closed and high, and now contractions irregular. Back home for me.

And perhaps a curry.

OP posts:
WillCrossThatBridge · 08/02/2012 02:36

Aw poo, Topaz, was hoping to follow a bit more of labour.

Hope they return for real soon!

CurryStairsPineappleSexBumpytrainsandCarrides and off you go!

WillCrossThatBridge · 08/02/2012 02:38

Oh, and it's around the full moon - not a usually mystical moony person but the full moon date predicted the birth of my two more accurately than my EDD!

IHeartIona · 08/02/2012 06:16

Oh that's a shame TOpaz, hope they become regular again. I was woken by contractions around 4am which I could sleep through. Going to start timing them now, fingers crossed the new moon will work for us!

Original poster
TopazMortmain · 08/02/2012 06:56

Hi heart good luck! Becoming more painful here - tried to nap but not happening.

Twelve hours of contractions just on the edge of bearable is making me a little grumpy now. Thank god for TV...

OP posts:
Original poster
TopazMortmain · 08/02/2012 09:47

Contractions are 8 minutes apart and am literally crying with frustration and pain Sad - mostly I think because of lack of sleep and so hoped that they would have progressed by now.

OP posts:
IHeartIona · 08/02/2012 11:22

Have you got a Tens machine? My contractions are still quite irregular sonhaven't put mine on yet. Just made a batch of scones and fairy cakes with dd, mixing was quite therapeutic!
Are you far from your hospital for when things speed up?
Thinking of you.

Original poster
TopazMortmain · 08/02/2012 12:35

Scones! I want one Grin

No Tens machine, just paracetamol. Have rung dr and he's going to induce me tomorrow night if no more significant progress Sad (the hospital policy here is a whole different story)

Gah.

Birthing ball and TV box sets for me I think... Plus those pirate noises aaaaaargh

Good luck! Tens sounds like an awesome idea.

OP posts: