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?

Moist Von lipwigs charming girlfriend in the last 2 books- head of the Golem trust.

thats the one. knew it wasn't a 'mainstream' character.

I have a terrible memory for placing pratchett characters lol!

I had pains last night, werent convinced they were proper contractions but came to nothing (i deliberately didnt post as i think this thread is jinxed atm)

Really depressed as am 40 +5 todaY at which point dd was born so from midnight i will be more pregnant than ever before! It is easy to tell as well am massive and uncomfortable.

Am thinking sod the natural birth centre thing and wonder if i turn up at hosp and make enough noise the will give me a caeserean to preserve my mental health/shut up my whinging!

littleducks - if you like I could see if I can find a boy scout with a rusty pen-knife?

obviously I'm joking as that is not doula speak!

Have the hospital said anything to you about induction?

Havent seen my midwife for a month, saw gp last week who seemed convinced baby would turn up as dd was 5 days late. Up until now i was feeling very anti chemical induction, took castor oil last time but am now really thinking sod it iwouldnt turn away any boy scouts who knocked on the door at this point!

bikini squonk?

MoM - on another thread I promised to wear a bikini as penance for laughing at mars' virtual bikini

littleducks - not seen midwife for a month? is that normal? I saw mw every week from about 32 weeks, then every other day after I was 40 weeks. Is it worth making an appt with mw and having a chat with her about your options then?

Thanks to all for tips re bf - I think it is the latch. Mw has also been today and given some more tips so will keep trying. Am sat here with boob out in air and a pile of muslin squares to catch the leaks! Dignified eh?

cue neighbour walking straight in without knocking

I have had antenatal checks by various others hcps but they dont do or didscuss anything as they are covering just check bp, dip urine and check fetal heartbeat and expect you to wait as my midwife had two weeks holiday followed by two weeks working somewhere else, tried to call her today as discussed a month ago (when she did practically promise baby would be early!) but she appears uncontactable atm. She works alone from what i can gather so is pretty busy.

Have arranged a sweep on wed if the birth centre is quiet but that is assuming that when they check my notes etc. they agree it is a good idea.

littleducks - whereabouts in the country are you?

And where are Mr. Angua and Mr. HQ with news of babies?

that does not sound that great little ducks! is your mw an NHS mw or an indie?

peachy.. how limited access is your doula allowed:? surely she will be with you when labour is established...

i stayed with a client who was being induced, we arrrived at AN ward at 6.30, she had gel at 8pm, at 11pm, MW woke me up! i had been snoozing next to my client in a chair, and she gave me blankets and pillows and said i could sleep in labour ward waiting room.... i went back to AN ward at 8am and got my breakfast and then stayed with client until she deliverd at tea time!

TBH Lulu I'm not sure how much acess she'll get, they're not exactly used to Doulas there (they thought they were provided on the NHS pmsl). The hospital runs rather limited visitor hours compared to many though, and I am probably influenced by the fact that ds1's induction (early induction for medical reasons) left me labouring on a ward as MW were too busy to take me to delivery unit, and DH wasn't allowed in to the ward until visitor hours, despite me being welle stablished (6cm) by then, and having ahd pethidine.

Whren I say wasn't allowed, i don;t mean didn't manage to get through double locked doors and totally ignore stroppy MW anyway pmsl.......

Peachy - when you speak to the hospital, are you using the word "doula" or are you using the phrase "birthing partner"?

The only reason I ask is that when I had dd1 I was on my own and my mum came with me for my labour. The hospital were veeeeery cagey about letting her stay with me as their policy was mum-to-be and father-to-be only

As soon as we started bandying the words "birth partner" around they realised that they pretty much had to let her in. In my case it was my mum, and in yours it will be your doula, but in other situations, it could well be that you are a gay couple and the other woman is your partner.

Also, if they are likely to leave you labouring on your own, you need someone with you. Do you want me to come and kick some hospital arses?

{looks disappointedly around for baby news}
{settles for some arse kicking instead}
{wonders which hurts more}

only got a about 100 more posts before your thread is full, Angua...

i think that using the phrase birth partner might be better then !!

LOL Squonk- that might be an idea about the wording, might try that.

Still trying to remember that the vast chance is that i won't make it inton hospital- still have a week - have stopped the RL tablets though,a s I think they were making my uterus irritable and that wasn't helping any bit.

Cross-posted from March thread, an update on HQ:

She has texted to say:

Leo Griffin born 18:52 last night (31st March) weighing in at 4090g or about 9 lbs. Everyone is doing well. Traumatic birth story to be shared, but she is too besotted to worry!

Congratulations to HQ and Mr HQ, for just making it in under the wire for a March baby!!

yay for HQ, boo for any trauma and c'mon Angua!

yay! welcome Leo Griffin!

Well done HQ. Will wait for the full traumatic details.

Come on Angua, we're all rooting for you here, girl

shakes pom poms and cheers Angua on

Yay, another baby! Get the impression mine wont be coming anytime soon, cons tried to do a sweep today and wasn't able to because my cervx is pretty much closed