All you overdue Mamas - come join me!

[sillybean]

Hello, currently 40+7 (41 weeks).

Seen a lot threads in last couple of days about sweeps and inductions - so feel like I'm not the only waiting an age to meet their little one.

I read somewhere that summer babies tend to be overdue 🤷🏻‍♀️

Just wanted to put a message out there as I'm feeling impatient, huge and well just a bit fed up!

Feel free to join in a light hearted rant or share what you're doing to try and get baby out.

I've had a sweep today, been for a walk and done some bouncing - it can't stay in there forever!

@ExtremelyBoldSquirrels argh, it's disheartening isn't it. Great news about the scan! You are one strong lady, 42 weeks and still going with the sweeps 💪

Shame about the home birth, but great you get to use the birthing centre, the one at our hospital is a COVID isolation unit. I was really looking forward to using it, think that's why my MW pushed the hospital to treat me as an outpatient.

@EssElsiee poor you, I was crawling up the bed with my first sweep, I couldn't catch my breath. Hopefully by Sunday, you'll be in labour, or better still, have your baby.

Right, no more sweeps, let's agree we're all going into labour tonight. Come on babies!!

Can I join? I'm 40+5 with first baby. I had a sweep yesterday but cervix was high so she couldn't do a lot. I've had a few little niggles but nothing really. As a few others have said the constant messages are driving me potty!!!!

That’s very annoying about the birthing centre being used as a Covid isolation unit @Mimi91. Outpatient induction sounds much better than being on a ward.

I got my ‘maternity partnership document’ through. So it’s all in writing. It does make me sound a bit like a disobedient child (in tone) though.

I think today’s sweep might have started something off. (TMI) DH and I had sex earlier and the result was that I’ve had lots of blood tinged discharge. Actually I’m wondering if my waters have gone and I’m slowly leaking. The initial puddle of discharge was very liquid indeed (unusually). I’ve put a pad on and it’s a bit damp - but it’s very hard to tell. When my waters broke in a previous pregnancy it was A proper Hollywood style gush. This is quite different.

I’ve been getting contractions as bit too but nothing definitive of regular.

@ExtremelyBoldSquirrels omg, the same happened to me! We DTD after my second sweep and it was super watery, I was also laughing at the time because it was the most awkward sex ever, so also wasn't sure if it was pee 😅 sorry, TMI! I put in a pad and no more leaking, so doesn't look like it was my waters. Your signs sound very promising though 👀

@squirrelnutkins1 let's hope it does something 🤞 The constant messaging got me in full rage mode today. People are very frustrated they haven't had news yet. SO sorry for the inconvenience everyone, please let me know how I can make this easier for you!! 🙄

Haha. That’s quite a coincidence.

I’m still not sure if it’s my waters. I figure I can always mention it in the MAU at 9 tomorrow (I’m booked for early appointments) if nothing much happens tonight.

Maybe it’s just the result of the sweep. In any case, it’s something. It just might not amount to anything.

I was at the MAU for my daily monitoring this morning - all is fine. He’s still perfectly happy in there. The lazy little pest.

The MW thinks it’s just cervical fluid from the sweep (apparently there’s loads in there just waiting to come out if you bother it sufficiently). But it does mean the sweep did something. The first two did absolutely bugger all.

I’m back tomorrow for another CTG and a sweep. Unless this baby decides to make a move first. He doesn’t seem to be planning to.

I did agree to be induced at ‘officially’ 43 weeks (mostly because he’ll have definitely had his chance by then, and he’ll be 42 weeks by my own calculations - based on when I ovulated). The consultant did admit that the scan dates are only accurate to +/- 7 days (plus my wriggly little bugger wouldn’t go into the right position to be measured; both DH and I came out of the scan and said there was no way that due date was correct).

On the plus side, they’ve decided that I’m sufficiently risky that I get to be induced on the delivery suite not the ward (if it comes to that). So DH can come with me from the beginning and there’ll be absolutely none of the ‘oh it’s busy so you can just wait til tomorrow‘ nonsense that is extremely common in my hospital.

He’ll come before Friday though. Surely.

@ExtremelyBoldSquirrels ahh cervical fluid makes sense, I'm thinking that's what I had too as I lost some of my plug this morning.

We have some very relaxed little monkeys in there don't we?! Induction day for me tomorrow, but not until 5pm, so I have 24 hours to get this baby out!!

Good news about the delivery suite, even better that your DH can be there, its crazy how differently different hospitals operate. This time next week, we'll have newborns (would bloody hope so anyway)!

Morning ladies. So today marks 41 weeks for me and still no signs of baby. Someone asked how I was yesterday and I burst into tears. I really hope he comes today or at the very least, before my sweep on Tuesday / induction Wednesday. I feel so drained!!!

Today I want to spend curled up on the sofa with no human contact other than my partner 😂.

41 weeks today too! @zeeeex I don't feel too emotional just tired but really don't want to be induced I've heard it's more painful than it happening naturally 😩

I think I’m just panicking them @Mimi91. I’m the awkward patient who won’t just follow the flowchart in the guidelines. So it appears I’m a priority for any chance they get to interfere.

I’m in the MAU. I’ve spent ages on the CTG (in a hideously uncomfortable position, and a baby who didn’t like it so kept turning round and round in circles - which knocks the monitoring off). The trace shows lots of tightenings but I’ve had days (weeks) of that so I’m not getting excited.

I’m waiting for a sweep now. I’ve had lots of slightly bloody discharge today (including dropping some into the urine sample they asked for - eurgh).

I’d like to have a baby today. I’m fed up with daily monitoring already. It’s crap.

@zeeeex a sofa day sounds perfect. I cried 3 times yesterday, it's frustration, anxiety, the constant messages, heat and hormones. Relaxing may be the thing that triggers labour, fingers crossed!

@squirrelnutkins1 I've heard it's more painful because the contractions come closer together, intensify quicker and something to do with less endorphins being released? I've decided if my pessary doesn't work and they hook me up to a drip, I'm asking for an epidural first. Definitely more open to pain relief if it goes down that route. Hopefully a more relaxed birth will less likely result in a forceps/EMCS delivery.

Whatever happens, we totally got this 💪 positive thoughts!

@zeeeex That’s how I often feel about all this. To be left alone and to have a good cry. The hormones definitely don’t help!

You’ll get there. Probably quicker than me!

@ExtremelyBoldSquirrels it sounds like things are starting to happen 👀 come on baby!! They love an "awkward patient" really, it makes their jobs even more interesting. Plus, all you're doing is letting your body go into labour naturally, more than reasonable I think! This sweep could be the tipping point 🤞

Haha I've said the same over the last few days... I just want to be left alone 😂

I will believe something is starting when I’ve actually had a baby. I’ve had weeks of on and off contractions, days of shows and yucky stuff. I have no reason to believe today is any different.

My cervix is very soft but long. She could only get one finger in, but could sweep around the membranes. I had a contraction while she was doing the sweep. She could feel the membranes bulge.

But I am not getting excited.

Update!

I went in at 5pm for my pessary, they strapped the monitor on and I started having contractions. baby's heart rate decelerated twice and the doctor said they weren't happy to send me home...Goodbye outpatient induction!

They said they would continue with the induction, however, when they came to put the pessary in, they couldn't because I was already 3cm!!! They gave me a sweep whilst in there, which was horrendous because baby's head was in the way and she had to push behind it, there was quite a bit of blood after!

Meanwhile, DH is in the car wondering where the hell I've got to.

I'm now on a ward (alone), have no idea what's going on. I think I'm having my waters broken tomorrow morning when there is a delivery room available. Just going with the flow at this point.

@Mimi91 oh goodness!! That sweep sounds traumatic!! It's horrible that you've had to go through that alone. Will your partner be allowed in at any point tonight? The visiting restrictions are pretty strict by the sounds of it at the hospital where I'm due to give birth.

Thinking of you!! 💕 at least you're a step closer to meeting your wee babe xx

@zeeeex i think it was just because baby was so in the way, my other sweeps weren't bad at all. Don't want to put the fear of god into ppl on here due a sweep!

They said I can ring DH when they take me down to delivery. I do feel sad he's not here with me, but at least at home he can sleep in a comfy bed and rest up. Let's hope they relax the visitor restrictions at your hospital very soon, it could all change overnight!

I've just had a senior midwife come in to apologise. I came in as the staff were doing handover and I didn't get an introduction to the ward and wasn't seen for hours. I've finally managed to get some food, so I'm much happier now.

The really good news is that I've been having contractions and they honestly don't hurt at all, it just feels tight and there's a bit of pressure. They offered me pain relief as the contractions were going all the way up to 100, but I've declined for now (give it a few hours, I'll be screaming bloody murder). Think my body has been doing something this week, but I've just dismissed it all as just aches and pains of pregnancy.

How are you doing? Hope you had a nice relaxed day 😌

@Mimi91 any sign of a baby?!

I have a sweep this morning. Trying to convince myself it'll be better this time 🤣 still absolutely no sign of baby! I'm sick of the sight of my exercise ball!!!

Hope your sweep goes ok @zeeeex are you super uncomfortable? I feel horrible today ☹️☹️☹️

@squirrelnutkins1 Hey! It was actually better second time around. I think having my mask off majorly helped as I was able to breathe through the discomfort!! Cervix was still too high up so she couldn't actually do the sweep but she thinks she maybe managed the pull it down a little so hopefully it was enough to kick start things.

Feeling so uncomfortable at this point!!! Like getting up off of the sofa is a CHALLENGE!! How about you?

I've postponed my induction to Friday to allow a few more days for natural labour to start xx

@zeeeex I'm glad it was a bit better for you. Really hope it gets things going for you!
Yeah seriously uncomfortable. I'm booked for induction tomorrow pm. It's not what I want but I feel a bit on the edge today and just want her out!! I'm also panicking I have no idea how to look after a baby, all the self doubt is flooding into my mind ☹️

@squirrelnutkins1 I'm the same, feel like I have no idea what I am doing once he is actually here. It's an overwhelming thought but everyone says it will come naturally. You will be great ♥️

We've got this mama 💪🏻 @zeeeex

I feel like this baby is NEVER going to come on his own!!!!