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

[MidnightinMoscow]

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.

I'm 40+4, and other than slight blood after the acupuncture yesterday, NOTHING.

My DH has just driven to Cornwall for 2 days (270 miles away), we are deliberately tempting fate

Kenobi Wow your DH is brave going away when you're 4 days overdue! Was it a planned trip? Is this your first baby?
Hair all shiny and new today, so feel so much better just because I look a bit more presentable
Picking DH's new car up tomorrow afternoon so a baby on my due date (Friday) would be grand.
Midnight I think that's a good idea re cancelling sweep, there's no pointing putting yourself through it if it's causing you this much discomfort

second baby.

I was 16 days over when I was induced with the first, plus my family has a strong history of overdue babies - DM was 2-3 weeks late with us 3, DGM had 5 babies in 6 years and all were between 3-4 (yes 4) weeks late!

It's brinkmanship but very calculated

Safely back home having not given birth in the concourse of Waterloo. Not even mauling an 8 week old baby got my waters gushing. Had my mw appointment as well and baby is engaged and low down. Interestingly they don't do sweeps if you are not going to be induced (they will ELCS me at 40+14 if no baby) as the sweeps are 'part of the induction' . Can't say I'm desperate for a sweep anyway and last time they did bugger all so I'm with you midnight, why put yourself through it?

how far are you arti out of interest? so if you dont go into labour naturally by 42 weeks they'll automatically give you a c section??

Oh midnight, I have heard similar horror stories about the agony of sweeps. I found internal examinations with DD excruciating, sure I'd be too wussy to even try . And anyway, you'll be in labour by Friday . In fact, you may even be home with DC2 by then.

kenobi, still brave. I wouldn't let DH go, just because I want help with DC1!!!!

daydream, totally a Friday baby for you.

fuckity, I have still not even got round to putting a mattress protector sheet thing we have for DD's cot under me on the bed, let alone wear a proper pad. I am still only on a pantyliner... But then, I am only 34+6... All this talk of 'twins come early' has got me properly jittery though!!!

And midnight, or in fact everyone, we should all suggest to the mw's (in our un-induced labours) we'd like to bitw the cord, just to check out the reactions

feekerry - I am 39+4 today so still some way to go. Yes, at the moment the plan is ELCS at 40+14 if I don't go into labour 'on my own'. I have another consultant appointment at 40+4 so could discuss induction but tbh my last experience of it was so long, dreadful and utterly pointless, that I'm not inclined to disagree with them.

Ok, tmi I know, but bowels are busy busy today, which is a change as normally I err the other way in pregnancy and take sachets every morning religiously to avoid blockages. This could be a good sign, however, baby doesn't feel that low, and although I have continued to have bAck pain, it's a grumbling thing rather than severely uncomfortable. Cramps and bh very infrequent. 39 weeks today. I'd had my first 2 weeks by now !

Had a fab country pub lunch, weather s glorious today, and just enjoyed tea in garden with dad and his brothers. Tonight cooking monkfish tails with roasted veg and fresh soda bread. Gourmet!!!! And a welcome distraction.

Feeling happy as my friend had a much longed for water home birth yesterday at 42+ weeks. Baby was well over 9 lbs but they are all doing well.

arti i'm also 39+4 today. feels like ages left doesn't it.

joy my friend had her lovely little boy 5 weeks ago and loose/busy bowels were her only real sign of labour really. started with going to the loo 3/4 times that day then woke up that night with 'uncomfortable tummy' went to hospital and she was already 6cm and baby born within couple of hours. so maybe its the start for you??!! ooh i hope it is!!!

Nothing to report here, again...! Glad you ladies have been out and about today, makes time pass a bit quicker if nothing else.

Have MW tomorrow morning for sweep #2, and no doubt she will want to book an induction date. Please God let something happen before then!

Hoping for eventful evenings for all of us - maybe watching OBEM will set us off.

Oooo. Had forgotten it was Wednesday obem guilty pleasure. Have heavily iced chocolate sour cream cake in the tin - will retire to bed with huge slice plus red bush tea at 9pm on the dot. Knackered today due to 4am wake up call. Right - must go and pick the wee girl up from childminders.....

I'mm sat watching my belly contract tightly every 3 or so minutes. But utterly painless. I'm in for another night of it I think. I did get out for a huge walk with a very grumpy ds and I feel exhausted. An hour til he's in bed, another hour til dd is, then I'm going to crawl into bed and await another night of pain. I'm going to take a couple of paracetamol tonight I think and see if that helps my back ache enough to attempt some sleep.

Blimey, seem to be having one continuous bh. Massively uncomfortable, but hard to tell if it's caused by baby stretching in limited space or achy ore-labour contractions. Possibly a bit of both.

Fingers crossed there's some labour action on this thread soon then!

Good luck everyone. My symptoms have all pissed off and left me. Ho hum!

Ok, baby is no literally disco dancing, or doing Zumba or something. Ouch ouch ouch.

Mine is trying to dislodge my bellybutton with his elbow. I thought I may have had a problem with separated stomach muscles after ds, but tbh now I know I do. Am not looking forward to having to deal with this afterwards, I think it's quite difficult to get it taken seriously. Contractions have calmed down again here, have my bed prepared for a flood of biblical proportions so I fully expect another fruitless night. Maybe I should walk on the wild side, stop shaving my legs, go pant free and tempt fate that way.

Ugh I feel sick. In bed trying to keep my eyes open watching OBEM.

Hope Midnight is ok? Been quiet today.

Fuckity, I seem to remember exercises to help tummy muscles go back to normal - do you think you're past that stage??

I'm fine, no news I'm afraid.

I was in agony again last night, there is a pattern emerging. It starts later afternoon, lots of cramps and BH's and then sharp shooting pains in my cervix. Last night I was begging DH to call the hospital and book an ELCS.

Think I am going to cancel the sweep tomorrow, what's the point of going all the way to the hospital, have someone poke my fanjo etc when my gut feeling is that I'll be having the ELCS next week. 'Scuse the language, but I am starting to feel a bit, "Fuck it".

No doubt though in six months time I'll blame myself for not having the sweep and convince myself that if only I had done it, I'd have had a beautiful water birth with just camomile tea for pain relief. I am bonkers like that

Big wave to everyone else this morning.

I don't blame you Midnight, it sounds like you've had enough of being messed about with. So sorry you're in such pain, it's so miserable for you.
Just remember that an ELCS is so calm and controlled and what baby wouldn't want to come into the world like that?

As for me, shit nights sleep, up 4 times for the loo, woke with raging sore throat (actually I've had that about 3 weeks now) and headache. Thank god DD is at playgroup for 3 hrs this morning

Ah Moscow, I wonder what it is about that time of day? I'[ve been exactly the same for days now, all quiet in the day and then the pains start at about 4 or 5 o clock and don't relent all night. I had 2 paracetamol and a glass of milk before bed (rock n roll) and that seems to have helped a bit.
As far as my stomach goes, i don't think exercises will cut it tbh. I had a lot of fluid (and blubber) in my first 2 pgs and I think that's what did the damage. I can feel the gap in the muscles when I'm not pg, but I can feel it even more now that there's limbs poking through it. Very strange sensation.
39.5 today and I think my 'this one will definately be early, to make up for the other 2 being super late' belief has all but gone. I must just cook them longer. I can just about handle the thought of being here in a week (just) but the thought of another 2 is enough to send me loopy.

I was reading about the statistical likelihood of having a baby on your due date, and it's interesting, us late cookers are in the minority. But... and here's the rub... not by much.

There's a big spike of people having their babies on 280-283 days after conception (ie due date or 3 days after), then another big spike at 41 weeks. Then it trails off very neatly and prettily all the way down to 4 weeks over (this is all spontaneous labour btw). And yup, whoever's doc says there's no such thing as a month overdue (as opposed to 4 weeks) was right!

People having babies early isn't nearly so neat, there are no big spikes.

So anyway, I am still preggers. Seriously, someone has to pop soon. We can't all be statistical outliers!

Except for you dreaming. I command you to cook a bit longer

Interesting Kenobi. I don't know may people that go over like I did. Most of my friends delivered within a few days either side of their due dates.
I'm 39+6 today and this morning I've had texts and comments from playgroup mums saying 'ooh only 1 day left' and I want to punch them. In the face. And these are people who have had children! I reckon I've got another week in me at least. I feel like I'll be disappointing everyone next week when I'm still waddling around! Getting fed up of people greeting me with 'Still here then?!' Its like my first pregnancy all over again

Snap Daydream - already getting messages saying 'have you had the baby yet?' Er...the last one was 17 feckin days over - what do you reckon??!! Most people I know went a couple/few of days over, although I have one friend who has gone to nearly two weeks with all three.

I have had the odd BH since last night, completely painless and uninteresting but I suppose it's a step in the right direction...

And I feel compelled to reply to texts IMMEDIATELY because if I don't they'll think I'm in chuffing labour. And the texts are always from random people I haven't spoken to in months.