Traditional "It would appear that I am in labour, but when will it actually get going properly thread

[AnguaVonUberwald]

I have been having period like pains and backache since friday evening, last night I had an hour and a half of really intense contractions every few minutes, that suddenly stopped, had a few this morning as well, but now back to the period like pains and backache, how long could this go on for?

Jfly and turtle. 12 hours before i gave birth i was as described physically, standing, crying at my bedroom window ahving said bye to MW after sketching out plan for how to go with induction the next day. 8 hours before i have birth iwas contracting irregulalry as per previous flase labour for 4-7 times per hour. went to bed 6 hours before giving birth, in tears of tiredness.

2 hours later, wave of energy propelled me into birth pool, contractions every 3 mins, vocalising, midwife came, push, push, baby.

don't add to your worries by worrying how tired you are already. i was the same - remember i couldn't lie down the last 3 days, had to 'sleep' sitting up and thought i was at the end of my tether. but the birth hormones will pick you up. you see. eat and drink well, try and switch brains off, give up worrying like i did, resign yourselves to your worst case scenario. then meditiate, watch soaps, relive meals eaten, bore yourself into submission. i hope it works for you as well.

Turtle23 and JFly. I too am feeling wheepy and fedup!! Can't believe this.

WHY WON'T THE BABY COME OUT????

oh, you all need big hugs!

let it allllll out

all the tears, all the emotions, let it alllll go

let go

there..

that's better , isn;t it?

bacon/fakon butty anyone?

Thanks for the advise Merryberry, I have spent the last four days thinking it MUST be about to start but it just doesn't!!

My husband is of Irish extraction so maybe he is waiting for st Patricks day!! Here's hoping.

Thanks for that Merry and Luluchickenmama. It does require some perspective, doesn't it?

I've actually been pretty chilled (for me) about it all; I've been fairly happy to wait as I've not been horribly uncomfortable or in pain.

It's just now I'm finally feeling ready for it all (even labour ), and had hoped I wouldn't get fed up or anxious at this stage. So, I guess I'm fed up with being fed up!

Resigning myself to induction is the next step. Knowing that people make it through without it being an awful experience helps. It may not end up to be what I want or expect but that could be true of any birth scenario, so I've got to let that go.

I guess we have to focus on the prize, no?

Thank you for listening, all. I think that helps a lot! MB, I have to say that I have been overwhelmed in the past few hours with the need to eat and sleep. Am taking it as sign there may be work to come soon. Have just had a nap and half a cake and have crawled out of bed to get a new hot water bottle and to eat. I also plan to watch a load of crap tv as DH is out for the evening and just resign myself to the wait wrapped in duvet and fish and chips.Yes, eyes on the prize... x

Have started the day having had 12 hours sleep and 3500 calories for dinner and am trying to be positive. Woke up crampy and am off to acupuncture in a bit. Wanted to say thank you to all who listen patiently to whinging. It really helps. Especially as DH keeps saying "I dont know why you dont just forget about it, what does it matter if he's a few weeks late?"

stumbles blearily onto the thread and hands around tissues, chocolate and drinks of choice.

I've been reading and reading this thread but refrained from posting until now, but feel I'm reaching the end of my tether so now need to join in!

Still 10 days to due date. That's manageable - it's next week after all - but then yesterday I started counting to when I would be 10 days / 2 weeks overdue which is highly possible given it's my first, and realised that that is 3 weeks away. And I'm now feeling quite glum.

Until 2 weeks ago I was absolutely fine but I then had a show followed by lots of BH activity, having previously had very little and so we were convinced it would all get moving quite soon. But now nearly 2 weeks later DH and I are just wondering if it is ever going to happen.

I'm also really hot and bothered - literally. DH was quite sensibly sat last night with jumper on and central heating blazing because it was a cold, damp day, while I sat next to him with only a vest top on and suffering with bright red cheeks and sweaty hands! I can't sleep properly because I am just too hot, and I consequently wake up exhausted and parched. BH have intensified in terms of frequency/length again the past 3 days, but they are nothing more than uncomfortable so I don't really think they are going anywhere fast. I don't see how the baby can get any lower in my pelvis so even the pleasures of a walk in the park are no longer there as it aches too much, and his movements now are getting quite painful as they seem to target sensitive bits like my kidneys and bladder rather than just general squirming around.

I'm trying to resign myself to 3 more weeks of this, but it is ever so hard, especially as I had the show 2 weeks ago which got my hopes up and I can't believe I will go 5 weeks from a show to birth, yet can't see where this labour is coming from anytime soon. I have so much sympathy for those of you like JFly who are so overdue, as I really don't have cause to moan compared to you guys.

turtle clearly you are not making your DH's life painful enough- my DH will suffer in equal amounts to me at any stage, thus is the contract of pregnancy

Actually now the crib finally went up he's more desperate than I am to get things going- I'm having flashbacks now to ds3's birth which hurt more than the others!. Also have an energy thing ging on though so think I may have a few weeks to go yet, and from feeling absolutely desperate two weeks ago I am OK about that now I think. Not having to haul arse up the hill to Uni for 9am on a Monday helps though!

Its so reasuring to hear that others are as fed up, weepy etc as I am.

Have woken uptoday in some pain with stomach cramps, but they don't feel like labour at all (ongoing cramps, not defined enough)

I am really starting to belive that you just never give birth, you get to 42 weeks and then they just take you away and hide you from all the other pregnant women, so that they won't know!!!!!!!!!!!!

Might see if I can go and get checked out today as baby is moving less than before (though still moving)

hq - everything you said, i think were even due the same day

Lovely lovely acupuncturist took one look at me and said "We'll use as high strength an electric current through these as you can bear, shall we?" He's going away on Thursday and he's eager to see results as well. Am I mad to have spent the morning with needles buzzing in my toes? Have to admit, I don't feel down anymore.

Could I skip the bacon butties and opt for another handul of frozen peas, please? - broad beans acceptable as an alternative (as longa s still frozen).

I have Identified one isue with a plnned HB that I don't like- only the one mind, but it's the cleaning!. Instead of feeling like sod it all, i'm heavily pg so if tehre's dust then so be it I feel i have to keep the place spotless for the arrival of MW's at any given moment (as 4th have to call as soon as I suspect labour, not just when gets very frequent).

Am never even going to get to the bottom of the washing mountain though.

Oh, and HQ, I'm right there with you. Had a small show what seems like a lifetime ago and yet...here I am...

Peachy...these are midwives, not Kim and Aggie. They will have seen much worse and you will not be the first heavily pregnant woman not wanting to scour the house.

peachy - my mother visited after the birth of ds.

She cleared my laundry mountain

I've just dozed for an hour but still trying to work up the energy to get in the shower despite having been up since 7am. I'm so pathetic this morning it's laughable

I don't even know if my Mum will come up- chances are we'll have to go there (she doesn't drive though in her defence- 1 ssiter will come up but her car is full with her tribe, other one could fit them in but won't be arsed).

Suspect Dh will clear laundry mountain if he has time, but his Ebay shop going so well atm he has been effectively running 2 FT jobs for past few weeks.

Does anyone know if labour ward/ante-natal ward would give me another sweep if I called and requested it? Just wondering, as phoned MW but they were all booked up today. Thinking I'd like to have another sweep before induction day (weds).

jfly-Can't hurt to ask!