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Childbirth

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

Original poster

38 weeks, labour signs? The end in sight?

32 replies

yougotthismami · 14/03/2022 23:01

I've been getting lower back pain and period like cramps in my lower abdominal area. Also shortness of breath and not sure if baby has "dropped " as I feel pressure. What signs did you all have prior to going into labour?

OP posts:
iamsoreadyforbednow · 15/03/2022 08:57

Following intently.

I’m 38+4 now and have been having awful lightening crotch for a few days, woke up last night with period cramps, they eased and I was able to sleep, then they was a bit worse when I woke up this morning and accompanied by random diarrhoea! Back aches a little but I can’t decide if I’m having tightenings or not - i must be so out of tune with my body because I think im having a tightening (whole tummy/uterus feels hard) but it feels hard a lot and sometimes feels like it’s just baby pushing up against me so im dead confused!

I had a sweep on Saturday and lost lots of
Brown mucus plug Sunday morning and afternoon xx

Original poster
yougotthismami · 15/03/2022 09:06

@iamsoreadyforbednow

Following intently.

I’m 38+4 now and have been having awful lightening crotch for a few days, woke up last night with period cramps, they eased and I was able to sleep, then they was a bit worse when I woke up this morning and accompanied by random diarrhoea! Back aches a little but I can’t decide if I’m having tightenings or not - i must be so out of tune with my body because I think im having a tightening (whole tummy/uterus feels hard) but it feels hard a lot and sometimes feels like it’s just baby pushing up against me so im dead confused!

I had a sweep on Saturday and lost lots of
Brown mucus plug Sunday morning and afternoon xx

Is this your first baby? Of to see the midwife this am?
OP posts:
iamsoreadyforbednow · 15/03/2022 09:26

This is my second baby but first (hopeful) vagina birth/labour. My first had IUGR and we needed a planned c-section so I’ve never experience labour before Smile x

Original poster
yougotthismami · 15/03/2022 09:51

@iamsoreadyforbednow

This is my second baby but first (hopeful) vagina birth/labour. My first had IUGR and we needed a planned c-section so I’ve never experience labour before Smile x
Aww all you prepared and ready for baby? How old is Your first? It's my 3rd but been 8 years since the last one so feels all new again. Have you thought about pain relief options?
OP posts:
Snoringmonkey · 15/03/2022 20:14

I’ve had 2 babies, I don’t remember having any signs at all before DS1 was born, he was 12 days late and I went into labour after a sweep.
DS2 was born at 39+6. I had been losing bits of my plug all week and having some very mild period type pains for a few days, then one afternoon my waters went and DS was born 23 hours later.

Lzgs · 15/03/2022 23:09

I am 38+5 and impatiently waiting for signs of labour too!! I’ve had weird loose motions and light crampy feelings for a week accompanied by nausea. Hoping it’s a sign that things are moving along! I seriously can’t cope with waiting too much longer 😭

Original poster
yougotthismami · 16/03/2022 09:41

@Snoringmonkey @Lzgs are you both prepared and ready to go? The period cramps and lower back pain have been ongoing. Do you find things are worse in evenings / before bed?

OP posts:
Snoringmonkey · 16/03/2022 19:51

@yougotthismami

I had my baby 5 weeks ago now! The pains were worse in the evenings for sure, I was super achey by the end of the day. I was convinced every evening that it was the start of labour!

How far along are you?

Original poster
yougotthismami · 16/03/2022 20:12

[quote Snoringmonkey]@yougotthismami

I had my baby 5 weeks ago now! The pains were worse in the evenings for sure, I was super achey by the end of the day. I was convinced every evening that it was the start of labour!

How far along are you?[/quote]
38 +2 today, was this your first? How far along where you when you gave birth? The period cramps and fatigued is crazy, don't feel like myself at all and anything I want to get done I try and do in the morning.

OP posts:
Original poster
yougotthismami · 16/03/2022 20:14

@Snoringmonkey

I’ve had 2 babies, I don’t remember having any signs at all before DS1 was born, he was 12 days late and I went into labour after a sweep. DS2 was born at 39+6. I had been losing bits of my plug all week and having some very mild period type pains for a few days, then one afternoon my waters went and DS was born 23 hours later.
Ignore me, I'm losing the plot! You clearly told me already haha! How are you settling with your little one?
OP posts:
Lzgs · 16/03/2022 22:02

Been ready for weeks 😭 I’m 39 weeks tomorrow and losing the will a bit. No progress yet but we can symptom spot together in anticipation of labour!!

MotherOfShihTzus · 17/03/2022 11:56

Can I please join? 39 weeks tomo!

mindfulmotherhood · 17/03/2022 12:59

@Lzgs

Been ready for weeks 😭 I’m 39 weeks tomorrow and losing the will a bit. No progress yet but we can symptom spot together in anticipation of labour!!
Cramps, cramps and more cramping. Lack of sleep and nesting. Super emotional this morning too. How about you? Completed my hospital bag today. Not sure if I've over packed though...
mindfulmotherhood · 17/03/2022 13:00

@MotherOfShihTzus

Can I please join? 39 weeks tomo!
How are you feeling?
MotherOfShihTzus · 17/03/2022 20:35

@yougotthismami well baby is super active this evening - feels like they are moving even further down as I can feel a difference in where kicks are as the evening goes on. I think I had some mild contractions whilst out for a walk earlier, and potentially more since, but certainly mild and not 'it'! Plug went 11 days ago, period cramps in bed through the night, sore lower back and lots of reflux 😂

Lzgs · 17/03/2022 22:01

@mindfulmotherhood I’ve been cramping for the last week too! Usually only at night but today it’s been all day...
I have packed and repacked my hospital bag and put it by the door today in the hope that something happens soon. I’ve been really tired and grumpy today and spent most of it bouncing on my damn exercise ball. Lower back is killing me too which makes sleep impossible. Been dreaming about going into labour too 😖

mindfulmotherhood · 18/03/2022 20:33

[quote Lzgs]@mindfulmotherhood I’ve been cramping for the last week too! Usually only at night but today it’s been all day...
I have packed and repacked my hospital bag and put it by the door today in the hope that something happens soon. I’ve been really tired and grumpy today and spent most of it bouncing on my damn exercise ball. Lower back is killing me too which makes sleep impossible. Been dreaming about going into labour too 😖[/quote]
That's good it's just not me packing and repacking this hospital bag. Think I'll leave it in the car soon too. Scares me to think they're getting bigger as each day passes 🥺

123feraverto · 18/03/2022 20:50

Second baby 41weeks
No signs in the day , was just going to bed about 10pm felt like needing to poo , cramps turned into contractions which were in full force and 3 minutes apart by 11:30pm
Phone maternity about midnight told to come in , arrived there just before 1 , waters broke arriving into birthing suite.
Meconium in the waters so not suitable for a birthing suite birth :(
Taken to labour ward
Gas and air , pushing supported with episiotomy and suction cup as baby was back to back - baby born 02:2am

So very fast for me

mindfulmotherhood · 19/03/2022 20:37

@123feraverto how's the healing with episiotomy? Sounds amazing but was it more intense because it was quicker?

mindfulmotherhood · 19/03/2022 20:37

@Lzgs any signs of little one yet?

mindfulmotherhood · 19/03/2022 20:39

@MotherOfShihTzus have you had the baby yet?

123feraverto · 19/03/2022 21:10

[quote mindfulmotherhood]@123feraverto how's the healing with episiotomy? Sounds amazing but was it more intense because it was quicker?[/quote]
Much better than I expected , the bruising was probably the worst bit because that took the most time to go away

My first birth was quick too but induced, contractions 5am, baby born just before 10am - I think the contractions took longer to get intense

This time I did feel more chaotic , there were a lot of people in the room

Both times I was pretty much high on gas and air

MotherOfShihTzus · 19/03/2022 22:30

@mindfulmotherhood no baby yet! Though I have now had a bloody show... could start within a few days it seems! How are you getting on?

mindfulmotherhood · 20/03/2022 00:16

[quote MotherOfShihTzus]@mindfulmotherhood no baby yet! Though I have now had a bloody show... could start within a few days it seems! How are you getting on? [/quote]
Cramping eased by hot water bottle this evening.

Lzgs · 20/03/2022 10:25

@mindfulmotherhood not yet. Just went for my daily walk and feeling super light headed and nauseous with back ache and pelvis pain. Think I’m just going to spend the rest of the day on the sofa! 39+3 today so trying to mentally accept it might be a few days to go yet!

Re: them getting bigger everyday...absolutely! I feel like my bump has got bigger and heavier this week and my stretch marks are a testament to that 🥲