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Childbirth

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

Right, someone convince me it's not long now...please!

964 replies

MidnightinMoscow · 05/03/2012 07:12

I am 38+3 with DC2. Hoping for a VBAC after an EMCS for DC1 with who I got to 9cm's with.

I have had period cramps for over a week, two lots of plug coming away and last night lots of tight feelings high in my bump. The period like cramps are really painful and often are alongside sharp pains down below.

I have a week to go into labour, otherwise I am booked for a CS. I am so fed up of symptom spotting and being in this 'is it- is it not?' place. I went into labour at 38+4 with DC1.

So someone come along and tell me lie to me that todays the day. Grin

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
seemedlikeagudideaatthetime · 30/03/2012 22:27

Thanks flip - sounds like you've been through the wars though!? :S

I gather you have an epidural for the CS, at what point does the catheter go in. I'm not even good with blood tests and the thought of a drip thingy in my hand gives me the horrors, and the catheter thing is no good either...

...feel a bit sick thinking about it...I don't like sick either...oh god! Grin

FlipFantasia · 30/03/2012 22:48

I had a spinal for the c-section - we didn't have time for anything else (had the spinal failed it would have been GA) - so have no idea if a spinal or an epidural would be used for a planned one. My memory of when things went in is hazy, but as it was an emergency I imagine you'd know all of this in advance with a planned one (as you'd get a pre-op session).

Relaxation techniques may help with the needles/procedures etc - I just close my eyes, breath in through my nose and out through my mouth while thinking about nice stuff! - as well as remembering what the point of it all is, ie getting to meet your baby!

But it's still such a shock for you...

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 31/03/2012 09:00

How is it possible that I am 2 weeks over? HOW?? Have had some promising bloody show this morning, presumably as a result of vigorous sweep yesterday. But baby is nowhere near as low down as he has been, proven by lack of nighttime scuttles to the loo. The midwife said he jumped right out of the way when she touched his head, and I felt him too, but it seems he hasn't dared to go back down since Wink Grandparents are on their way today, and frankly if one more person tells me to try castor oil then I will bottle the results and courier it to them first class Hmm

feekerry · 31/03/2012 09:27

Dont worry fuckity i'm in the same position. I have until midday monday to go into labour naturally otherwise i'm in for my induction at 3pm monday. I'm so disheartened now. I really cant see this happening naturally.

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 31/03/2012 09:32

Well I'm fed up of feeling housebound, so have my walking boots on and am about to trek to town to meet a friend. If this isn;t tempting my waters to break, I don't know what is. I'm not even going to wear an arse covering coat. Take that, labour gods. Do your worst, I'm ready.

seemedlikeagudideaatthetime · 31/03/2012 09:39

lol fuckity - good luck!

granule · 31/03/2012 09:40

good for you, fuckity get stomping. Maybe some white linen trousers would tempt the labour gods also? worth a try Wink

Flip I read your post as having had a spaniel for your CS (which i thought sounded rather nice) but goes to prove my sleep deprivation is a bit chronic.

BlackEyed · 31/03/2012 10:19

You need to wear a skirt fuckity , preferbly a white one and go for a walk miles away from your home to a place with no mobile signal, make sure you un-pack your labour bag before leaving obviously!

If that dosn't tempt the labour gods then nothing will.

DreamingOfPeace · 31/03/2012 13:11

Right. I am joining in. White skirt, luckily still not completed hospital bag, no phone reception waddle. Although I'm not brave like lemele, do I want to try and vb a breech twin?! Can't take much more though, I actually can't imagine getting to Wednesday for ELCS. Argh!!

artifarti · 31/03/2012 13:37

Good luck, white-skirted marching ladies! Don't lose hope - my DS managed to make his appearance whilst the surgeon was literally sharpening his knives in the next room. Bombay Mix - 'tis the key, I tell you! Wink

FlipFantasia · 31/03/2012 14:45

I really feel for those now well past 40 weeks (or 41 weeks). I remember it so clearly with DS - the countdown to 42 weeks was the hardest part of the pregnancy. Wish I'd just gone for expectant management, but it was never offered to me as an alternative so I wasn't really aware of it. It was enough of a struggle to get to 42 weeks, as induction at 41+2 was my hospital's policy - the doctor was very negative about me going to 42 weeks and really put the fear into me of intrauterine death Sad.

So hoping that the white skirting, no mobile receptioning, lots of walking works for all Smile

HardCheese · 31/03/2012 15:05

40+ 12 today, and I am stomping around north London, up and down every hill as fast as I can manage with the world's largest bump, with the loudest/angriest music I can find on my Ipod - unfortunately, no white skirt fits me at the moment.

My angelic partner has been cooking the spiciest food known to mankind, culminating yesterday in onion bhajis that were so hot his eyes stung for hours afterwards - all to no avail. I've just sent him off to a pub with dodgy mobile reception to watch a football match.

Fellow-feeling to all others doing the same thing. You are the only people who are allowed to smile sympathetically at me should you see me stomping past you in the park - everyone else gets sworn at.

FlipFantasia · 31/03/2012 15:16

Hardcheese hey, I'm in North London too! What hospital are you at? I was at the Whittington.

HardCheese · 31/03/2012 15:38

Flip I'm currently sulkily stamping around Finsbury Park, but will be at the Homerton. Though the whole thing begins to feel increasingly fantastical/theoretical.

Congratulations to you, you sound like an absolute trouper and tower of strength etc through all your readmission etc trials. Hats off to you!

FlipFantasia · 31/03/2012 16:06

Oh I live 5 mins from Fino Park! I was there yesterday, for our first official outing - playground was mental because it was half term (which I had forgotten). DS's scooter was nearly nicked a few times!

I just read your other thread about ELCS vs induction and am Sad for you, but only because I was in your shoes 2 years ago (although there was never any concerns about fluid levels etc) and it was a Sad time, not helped by tips like "oh you should try pineapple/raspberry leaf tea/insert old wives tale as appropriate" as every "helpful" suggestion just made me feel more and more like a failure for not going into labour. And don't even get me started on the idiots who'd text going "are you in labour yet???????". I still hold grudges against a couple of people which DH thinks is mad but makes me feel better Grin.

For me, I had planned a homebirth. DS was conceived via IVF/ICSI, so just about the most medical conception imaginable, and I really wanted a natural birth. Kind of to compensate iykwim. We had been doing hypnobirthing and the birth pool was all set up (which was great to float about it relaxing but I started to hate it as I felt it was taunting me Blush - in my defence, I was not really rational by this point!). Once I hit 42 weeks they wouldn't advise a homebirth, so I really felt the clock ticking. I did the acupuncture the hospital offered and did try all the old wives tales. Including walking loops around Finsbury Park!

I didn't have a positive induction process but it didn't impact on my bonding with DS and I feel quite positive about his birth over all (on paper his birth sounds terrible, and always elicits interest from medical professionals as it was quite out of the ordinary). I'm actually glad I attempted a vaginal birth, even though I ended up delivering via a crash section. But as Fliss has said both on your other thread and on here, it's your decision and what's right for me/someone else may not be right for you.

You're doing hypnobirthing, which I found really really useful. Listen to your affirmations, repeat them out loud, relax with the colour thingy. I used my hypnobirthing breathing during my induction and managed pretty well with a little gas & air (and I was hyperstimulating so no break between contractions). And remember that once your baby arrives you will realise quite what an excellent job your body has been doing cooking this new person. I know how theoretical it all seems, but this day next week you will be cuddling your baby (my baby is currently as asleep on me!) and these days will be receding.

And once your baby arrives we could well be bumping into each other with our babies in Finsbury Park - I'd happily meet up for a coffee. I've never met a MNetter I didn't like Grin. I was also wondering, are you Irish? There's something about your posting style that makes me think you're also Irish (am from Cork myself).

OK, enough from me. My son is asleep, my husband is snoring on the couch and my daughter is asleep on my chest. I should really try to sleep myself!

fuckityfuckfuckfuck · 31/03/2012 19:53

Well I had a mammoth walk and nothing. So am now torn as to wether I want to go in and opt for an ARM tomorrow. I am really struggling to decide. On the one hand, I am truly fed up, I am getting stupidly emotional about every small thing and tbh am getting really down about the whole thing. I am struggling toraise a smile or even look forward ot the end result of all this waiting. On the other, I am horribly worried that one intervention will lead to another and I'll end up with a drip and constant monitoring. I'd ask for another sweep, but am already at 23 with waters bulging so I doubt they'd be able to do one without breaking the waters anyway. I am beginning to feel truly unhinged and I'm worried I'm due another dose of horrible PND :( I am crying for absolutely no reason and feel just down in the dumps.

feekerry · 31/03/2012 21:10

40+12 here today too. Honestly cant quite believe it. Done loads of stuff today tho which kinda takes my mind of the whole situation. In a way i'm starting to look forward a bit to my induction on tue. At least there is an end in sight.

BlackEyed · 31/03/2012 21:36

Sorry to hear that fuckity

Obviously choice is yours but wanted to say not all inductions lead to intervention. I was very reluctant to be induced with my first DD but this was 9 years ago and back then you were not told you had a choice.

I had the gel to dilate my cervix and then ARM, that was enough to trigger labour and I never had the drip which I was thankfull of.

DD was born in a total of 2 and a half hours with no forceps etc, no tearing and weighing a very healthy 9lbs.

DreamingOfPeace · 31/03/2012 22:41

fuckity, I think being 2-3 cm and knowing ARM is possible might just be enough. As others say, it might lead to other interventions, it might not. Even with my epidural in (lowest dose possible) and synto up i was still being disconnected from my monitoring to walk to the loo, and they let my get on and off bed, could only move about pretty much on the spot but was in feet for gravity etc. No instruments for delivery but a third degree tear . You've had two babies already though, so surely pre-stretched and less prone to tear, especially if not masses of scar tissue. I'm feeling shit about it all too, incredibly uncertain about my ELCS choice (& dh totally against vb now for me, not supportive even of a discussion). This Too SHALL Pass my lovely.

DreamingOfPeace · 31/03/2012 22:42

*In feet?! On feet

DreamingOfPeace · 31/03/2012 22:42

And hopefully you'd need nothing more than ARM...

feekerry · 01/04/2012 06:59

Morning all. +13 here today and feeling very down. Induction tomorrow afternoon. Sympathetic nods to fuckity, hard and dreaming. This was not supposed to end like this :-(

DaydreamDolly · 01/04/2012 08:02

Feek I'm so sorry you feel down Sad I totally sympathise. I had my really down day the day before I went into labour Smile Sending you love and remember, not all inductions end in intervention if you're favourable anyway it could be v quick and straightforward and a really positive experience.
Fuckity sending you lots of love. Going this overdue is really really shit.
Today babies, today please.
My milk is in today so I look like Jordan Grin

DreamingOfPeace · 01/04/2012 09:15

Morning all, just checking in.

Sun again today. Still no babies. Have put a pic up of my ginorma-bump yesterday. Toddler up 5 times in the night. Exhausted, vast, heartburn, rib pain, can't sleep, whingey 18 month old, whingey dh, I have Had Enough. Seems I will make my ELCS date on Wed no problem. Just pleased the end is in sight.

feek, you may be so favourable a quick ARM and sneeze and baby's here :-)

artifarti · 01/04/2012 10:13

Just popping in to offer virtual support to you all (although this time DS2 finally turned up, DS1 was 17 days overdue and I had to be induced instead of planned homebirth so I really do know how you're all feeling, it's pants, I remember). Still sending labour vibes to you all. x

DayDream - I can be the Jodie Marsh to your Jordan today Grin

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