38 weeks and spotting signs of labour approaching - who wants to join me?

[theborrower]

I'm 38 weeks tomorrow and the symptom spotting has begun! Who wants to join me?

Have been having lots of Braxton Hicks for weeks now, and I've been practising my breathing when they've come recently. I get period type tummy cramps every day, sometimes with the BH. Yesterday I was in the mood to dust the house / batch cook etc but today I'm quite happy to do as little as possible. And I'm constantly googling things like "signs labour is imminent".

Last time I went into labour on my due date. I remember waking up with period cramps that morning, and in hindsight I realise I had been a bit mad cleaning and baking in the week beforehand, but otherwise I don't remember any signs that labour was approaching.

I know it could still be a few weeks away, but I guess I'm just anxious for spontaneous labour (aiming for VBAC) so humour me - if you're nearly full term too, come and join me for the 2 week wait!

oh that pulled muscle pain is a killer! i get it if ive been rushing around too much. paracetamol is your friend!

well, my birth plan is done and all is well. baby isnt in a very good position though. head down and free but too far over one side which doesnt give even pressure to bring on regular contractions and progressive labour. apparantly when youve had so many babies they have too much room to move around! not ideal but at least it has a few weeks yet to get it right.

i dont know if it varies by area but ive always done my birth plan at 36 weeks with the midwife at the doctors. i had to do this one late because i had a consultant app at 36 weeks so had to wait. would it be worth phoning your midwife and asking about it?

urgh! just spent 10 mins calming a loom band bracelet argument and have forgotten what every1 has posted!

will be back in 5 after i have re-read previous posts.

eepie those symptoms all sound nice and positive!

princess sounds like you are doing some epic relaxing! when did your dd arrive? are you expecting to be overdue?

i am expecting (and praying) that i go at least a couple of days over. i need to really, ive still got do much to do. i seem to cross 1 thing off my list and have to add 3 more. this week we have had 2x school trips, 1 cricket tournament and 1 class assembly .

today they have come home with letters about 3x more small trips , 2 of which need me to transport them to.

oh and on the raspberry leaf note, i took the tablets from 38 weeks and she was my largest yet quickest and easiest labour. might be coincidence?

Elodie was born half an hour into her tenth day overdue hence why I'm not expecting any movement on Sunday because it's EDD! My next MW appt is 7th July, eight days after my EDD so I just hope not to need it...

aha, yeah i can see why your not expecting a due date arrival

i think its mentally easier to prepare for a slightly later birth date. i drove myself insane with dd4.

were you induced last time? i was induced with the first two as hind waters went and have had two spontaneous labours. I meant to ask the midwife yesterday when they induce as standard but totally forgot.

princessdave -- I have been wondering about b2b....my baby seems to change position all throughout the day, depending on my position. She is head down and engaged (was 70% engaged at 36 week & 38 week appointments) but seems to swivel from side to side. If I'm walking around or sitting up straight and forward my bump is perfectly round and hard - can feel her back...but if I recline or lie on my back (keep waking up on my back at night time!!) then my belly button dips in and is soft so I can tell she's gone sideways or b2b. I've been trying to spend equal time resting and walking around/doing things so I don't tire myself out. Want her to end up in a good position but can't stay on the birth ball or hands and knees all day !! Hoping it's just cos I have lots of fluid for her to twist around in maybe ? And that when labour starts as long as I stay in active and upright/forward positions from then that she'll get herself into the right position....?

mamachelle - Raspberry leaf tea is yummy and can't hurt...it's a uterine tonic so helps to tone your uterus...have been having a cup or two a day for about a month now. Not sure that's enough to make a different but may as well try ! Heard eating dates is amazing too and shortens your second stage so have been doing that too. Re: Birth plan I feel like I don't want to bother the birth centre by ringing up and saying "errr no-one has gone through my birth plan with me...." - my next appt is day after due date so I will def ask them about it then if she hasn't arrived by then ! And I trust my DP to relay my wishes and direct the midwives to the birth plan when we get to hospital. It's quite a simple birth plan and not super strict of course, but just states I want a natural third stage, liquid vitamin K drops not injection, skin to skin, delayed cord clamping (which BC said they do as standard anyway now) and I'm having my placenta encapsulated so they just need to know to put it into a container straight away etc which my DP can instruct them on...I've told him it's his job to do all that stuff - hope he remembers !

Eepie - Yep still got the dip along my belly button on & off but like you say, sometimes I feel like it's swung back around again. My bump is rock hard a lot of the time so it's hard to tell which bit of baby I am touching at the front!!

Mamachelle - I've not even packed my bag...

Ugh, went into town today with DD and my parents. I know walking is supposed to be good, but honestly, it felt like I was constantly going to wee myself, even though I'd just been. I've lost count of the toilet trips today, the pressure is constant. I told my mum and she said "oh, it might not be long" and joked to my dad that they'd be getting a midnight phone call. I hope that's true! I can see why people get pissed off at the end, I am not enjoying waddling around feeling like I'm going to wet my pants any second.

princessdave you've not packed your bag?? off you go this instant!

I'm 40+3 today, have been twiddling my nipples and I'm now even thinking about the S word, fed up with symptom spotting now

How much sex do "they" say you need to have? Guessing three times in a week isn't enough. Neither is pineapple everyday. Don't fancy nipple twiddling much... I'd like some sign, a show etc but I didn't get any signs last time until I woke up with backache & realised it was starting & also back to back. Grrr.

Bag was packed from 34 weeks last time & she went 10 days over so I'm not rushing. Plus there was SO much stuff in it I didn't need, stupid internet lists. I was out & home the same day she was born so this time I'll under estimate packing & if we need extra I can tell DH where to find it. I'm very organised so it's all where it should be, just need to round it up into a bag :)

theborrower - your trip into town sounds very familiar !! Arg I have that every time I go out... But then get fed up beig at home all the time. Also it's so warm but I can't even wear floaty maxi dresses or anything - have to wear leggings underneath - ew ! As my bloody thighs just get hot within 2 mins of stepping out the door and end up painfully/uncomfortably rubbing together the whole time!! I have always been slim with curvy bum & thighs but since 3rd trimester I've also got so much fluid on my thighs that they now rub together when walking & makes me feel even more like a whale ! :(

Signs today @ 39+3 -- was very achey last night - those pulled muscle pains again/ baby moving around loads - pressing head into my pelvis and bum out of my bump. Lots of tightenings/braxton hicks - especially when cuddling with my DP ! (Oxytocin??) In daytime had HUGE headache yesterday and had to sleep immediately (haven't had headaches all pregnancy) and been having diarrhoea every time I go to the loo pretty much (sorry TMI!) Feel a mixture of profoundly tired/excited/restless/random bursts of extreme happiness what I'm sure is oxytocin surges - yesterday I was actually dancing around the room when one of my favourite songs came on... Well I say dancing... 9 month pregnant dancing... Lol. Hope everyone has a good day...

No idea how much sex is right, but I seriously do not fancy any ha ha, so it had better have worked, my braxtons seem to come and go, have hardly had any past few days, anyone else have tingly boobs? My bag is all packed even though I'm booked in for a home birth, very fed up now :-(

Can I join in? Am 38 weeks today, last check up showed baby head down and 2/5ths palpable. My DD was 2days overdue but I've managed to convince myself this one will be early!!.... Think that's cos of the heat! Hope everyone is ok, I'm so glad it's raining!

Ahh exciting times. Good luck ladies. xxx

Ty Bambamb. I thought this one was coming 2 weeks ago, but alas I was wrong, and yes to it being cooler! x

Thanks bambamb

shitatusernames - Yes my boobs have gone tingly/really sore the last few weeks & keep having my nipples randomly going really stiff!! - hAHA (tmi??) which are very rare for me and I think again it's hormones/oxytocin which is what I want - lots of oxytocin please !! I have no idea about the amount of sex...prostaglandin in sperm is supposed to help soften the cervix....so probably quite a lot of sex needed to make a significant effect ! We have done it a few times in last 2 weeks, & I do feel like it but my body says no ! Haha...I feel like a beached whale as I can't get into positions very easily/at all - maybe it's our memory foam mattress - not helping! Also my DP not into it that much as he can tell it's very awkward for me & that's not exactly a turn on !

Also - I'm over here too loving the fact that it's raining !!! I actually was able to go out and about to meet a friend today and not overheat/have an awful time. YAY. Rain

hi Elvis -- I was the same at 38 weeks - 2/5 palpable ...my Doctor kind of got my hopes up by saying he thought I'd be on the early side of 40weeks ..and I had convinced myself that I'd be a bit early too...but 39+3 here and still nothing...But only 2 days overdue for your last one is brilliant - pretty much bang on time - fingers crossed for you that this time is similar !

40+2 today... No real signs. Period pain every now and them, lots of urges to open bowels. Had mucus discharge for weeks.
Only thing which is different Is my SPD... Horrific now. Hoping its head moving down.

www.uhbristol.nhs.uk/media/1629724/latentphaseoflabourideastohelpyou-2_1_.pdf

Just found this useful info leaflet online - could this be a long latent phase??

Argh so uncomfortable!! How can I get any bigger lol! It's that horrible pain u get after eating where your stomach is pressing on the uterus...... Ow ow ow

Is anyone else awake? I think it's started!

Had a curry at 9ish (which i'm totally regretting now) and went to bed just before 11. Woke up at 130 to, err, have a good bowel clear out and I've been having contractions every 5 minutes ish since then. I think they must be contractions, they're taking my breath away and start off as a really strong period cramp and I have to breathe through them. Either that or terrible tummy cramps because of the upset tummy. I can't stay in bed so I'm bouncing on my ball.

I'm awake
How are you doing?

Hello! I'm going in the bath - I hope I don't wake DD. They must be contractions, they're feckin painful. I've not been timing them but I really should. By looking at the clock I'm guessing 5 minutes. I also feel sick. If they're still going after a bath I'll get the tens out. I really wish I could sleep though but it's impossible.

Ooh how are u doing? Hope you're ok xxx

Oh theborrower I really hope this is it for you, please come and update when/if you can, but it does sound very promising.

Eepie, I am not having anymore of the S word I really can't be bothered lol, I'm now 40+4 and seriously fed up, although I do think I'm getting little niggles, not execting anything to come from though and not getting my hopes up x

Good luck the borrower!
Not sure if mine has started too on EDD! Getting waves of pain in my lower back that comes around the front too. Don't want to get my hopes up but this is how it started with b2b DD so... Argh! At least my bag IS packed now ;)