To not know if labour is starting

[mammyemcbe]

I'm 37+3 on dc6 been having stop/start contractions for a couple of days and had a bloody show yesterday , and I feel like a idiot for not knowing if this is IT .
To be fair I was never sure if any of my labours were the real thing until I went and got checked. I've had mixture of early and late arrivals so previous form is no help.
I know there is no way of telling but I just need to vent. I'm keeping my mouth shut in RL to save myself constant update requests.

Sympathy! It sounds like it's imminent but as you say it could be a while yet.
I'm due on Sunday but was advised this baby would be early as DD1 was (15 days). We're now 8 days later than DD1's early arrival and no sign. Baby keeps dropping down, starting hip/back/cervix pains etc then I go to bed and it all passes. Think second or more babies are harder to predict as they shufty around as they like rather than getting on with it! Embarrassing thing is DH asking "is this it?!" every time I wince and having to admit I have no idea It's hard to keep it to yourself in RL as it's top of your mind.

Ps, you prob have slightly more idea than me of early labour signs as DD1 started with my waters breaking in the night and arrived after a three hour labour.

Thanks tinwe it's just such a PITA. The symptoms keep coming and going I feel like crying . My dh is watching the wincing and asking do you think this is it ? Like I wouldn't tell him if I knew . I've promised the other Dcs a trip to the zoo at some point over the holidays but I dont know what to do because on one hand I can't sit at home waiting for things to start ( it could be weeks) but then again I dont fancy giving birth at the zoo.
I should be used to this after 5 Dcs.

I have only done it three times, but I was rubbish at telling I was in labour too.

I was going to start a thread on this! Glad I'm not the only one in this boat.

I'm 38w today, been having (irritating, not painful) BH for a month, the odd pain here and there for a week and two hours of painful contractions, roughly 10 minutes apart last night. Then nothing - just as I was about to call the hospital for some advice. No bloody show, no waters broken.... Just been sore all day, and increasingly fed up. It's my first time and my book just says 'you'll know'. Feeling clueless!!

mamy feeling any better? I'm in a similar position re: not going far. I'm in a mood for tempting fate but we've been told to expect this one to come even quicker than DD (so less than 3 hours), so DH is too nervous to go anywhere far - especially as our chosen MLU is almost 3/4 hour's drive from here. Trying to find local activities suitable for an 11 month old each day which I can participate in bearing in mind I'm only waddling short distances... so bored and this could carry on for almost another 3 weeks! They offered me a sweep in a week but I refused, don't fancy it - might do in 2-3 weeks though.

Still here and moaning . I'm totally with you politico as far as fed up goes. It's the false starts that are doing me in . The niggles start to ramp up then as I think this might be it, it all dies down again. I was exactly the same last night, 3 hours of progressively stronger contractions completely petered out just when I thought it was getting serious.
Tinwe I'm seriously contemplating the trip to the zoo tomorrow if there's no change. Although the zoo is an hour away and my labours have all been under 4 hours once i know for sure. so I'm not sure if I'm pushing fate a bit to much . Keeping my fingers crossed for us all to get some definite labour pains

Hi mammy did you go to the zoo?

Hi tinwe I did indeed brave the zoo, walked (waddled) about 5 miles . In a bit of pain but I think it's more the shock of so much exertion hopefully something might kick off. Well if today's walk doesn't start things nothing will.
I just wish I hadn't had false starts , I can't stop symptom spotting. You'd think I'd be better at knowing after this many . Hopefully one of us will get a definite answer soon .

Ah, sounds like a good day out. Long walk too, well done! :)

I decided to sneak off shopping with DMIL today when DH was working. I figured that I should try to stay active and fit for labour rather than being penned up by a concerned DH. Was so relieved to be out for a bit (even at Asda buying nappies) that I completely overdid it, lifted too much and have pulled a muscle in my back. So much so I didn't realise til i sat down this evening that I've seized up and can't straighten up. DH is being quietly, smugly condescending about it, with chastising looks and tuts :(

I know how you feel with thinking that you can do more than you should. I'm very anxious to get everything done in the last few weeks which has resulted in dh coming in to find me standing on kitchen chairs cleaning on top of cupboards or on my hands and knees scrubbing skirting . He has face like do you really think you should be doing that .
Hope you're feeling better today. Extra aches and pains are something you could do without at this stage.

The only thing to do at this stage is to make (reasonably) expensive and non-refundable plans for something you can't do while in labour or with a newborn baby. I had exactly the same as you 3 years ago and it was driving me nuts. We made plans with friends to go to the cinema and have a meal out, so my waters broke. Babies, eh?

Can you get a babysitter for the night and try to go out for a romantic meal with your DH? That ought to clinch it.

It does sound like you're on the way, though.

Can't blame you for nesting... I've been buying more nursery furniture. Horrible feeling unprepared, not that baby will mind if the top of cupboards aren't dusted!
Well, today was a mixed day - was startled by baby bump suddenly dropping and sudden pain that I slid on the stairs. Managed to catch myself before I did too much harm (baby promptly disengaged again during the fall) but another tutty/worried face from DH set me off weeping (in front of mother in law no less) - then was too red and blotchy to go to toddler group with DD1. I wasn't even that upset, just shocked and feeling a bit stupid. On the bright side our new (second hand) footmuffs and double changing bag arrived and look great and are bargains so that cheered me up. Still feel useless and sore tho! Hope your day was good?

opener good idea! I had a full day booked too when I went into labour the night before.

Haha openerofjars this is dc6 so trying to plan evenings out is nigh on impossible. Might make plans with friends and leave the kids with dh ( now that sounds like a idea) .
I really hope it decides to appear soon because I'm not sure how much longer I can take my cervix being used as a trampoline. My midwife was very helpful today with the advice that it could be any time really .

Actually, the plans with friends sounds nicer. . Great advice from your MW. That never failed to send me into a boiling rage. "Ooh, I reckon it'll be this weekend". The nice thing about having your waters break before labour starts is that you know you'll be induced if you don't start contracting within 72 hours...

Falling down the stairs gives you such a fright tinwe, I completely missed the bottom two steps last week, no concerned dh just a gaggle of children laughing at me. Nothing better than some retail therapy to make you feel better though. No shopping for me as after having 6 Dcs in 9 years I think I have every item of baby equipment invented.

My waters never broke naturally with any of them so I'm not holding out much hope for that early indicator.
Now I must winch myself out of armchair and force myself to make dinner and do something house related

Not good being laughed at when you fell, here's a much delayed :)

Feeling chuffed today as new (second hand) furniture has arrived for Bean. House is a tip tho now! Thought things might be starting today as we were picking up the furniture - inconvenient time, contractions and baby felt low. Now we're home it's passed again of course!

Still no baby here but I did end up having to stay in hospital due to a kidney infection. Went in to be checked as was getting irregular contractions and generally feeling unwell. Anyway was dehydrated and baby wasn't too happy, fast irregular heartbeat , so had to be kept in for fluids and treatment.
Feeling a bit better now and baby's heartbeat has gone Back to normal so I'm back home to rest up also was checked and am 3cm but cervix is still thick so it's just a waiting game .

Poor you mammy, that sounds stressful - hope you are being well looked after at home! And 3cm is better than nothing! I'm sure it won't be long now. I'm only 38w+5 and since my pains last week, there has been nothing! Am resigning myself to another few weeks on the sofa......

Poor you mamy, does that explain all the early labour signs then? Don't they say that an infection can trigger contractions? Just as well it was spotted and you got the right treatment. Wonder if things will slow down for you for a couple of weeks now...

politico try to enjoy the rest if you can

Our DD today and... nothing! The day was even filled full of important engagements (visiting my mum for her birthday and my uncle for his golden wedding). Not in too much discomfort tho so I can wait. Have been offered a sweep on Tues but have declined. Baby can come when it's ready :)

Just updating, went into to labour on Thursday morning after feeling under the weather since getting out of the hospital on Sat .Quick labour 7lb 8oz baby girl . Hoping everyone else on the thread good labours too

Yaaaaaaaaay! Congratulations & well done you. Thanks for updating!

Congrats mamy! :)