Giving Birth

[Lumpy]

I am due my baby 2 weeks on saturday and have started to feel a bit nervous about labour (as Im a bit of a wimp when it comes to pain) - does anyone have any advice re pain relief/best positions for childbirth - I was ok until I started reading the baby books - agghhh...HELP.

I WANT ONE!! See what you have all done, broody, broody, broody. My husband is too after holding a ten week old cousin at our sons christening on Sunday, would like to try and wait until next year though. I used to graze when I felt sick also crisps, gingernut biscuits, chips all the wrong stuff, all the good stuff tasted nicer when the nausea had gone. Good luck all.

Well, good news. The MorningWell tapes seem to have worked. My morning sickness has receded dramatically (in fact I haven't retched at all today). I'm such a sceptic I still think it may just be a coincidence but.....If you want to get hold of the tapes you can order them over the web. I'm off on holiday for a week and they're definitely coming with me, so sorry no loans!

Expect to witness a stampede when others read this!

Has anyone had a localized pain in their belly at the end of her pregnancy? I've got this weird place on my bump that hurts every now and then for about 5-10 seconds then goes away. It's the same exact spot every time-- about as big as a 50p piece. It feels better if I push on it. The pain feels like someone pushing on a deep bruise inside my belly, but it's not the baby or, at least, there is no little knee or foot there to move away. I have some intense Braxton Hicks contractions, but those and the pain don't seem to be correlated.

The doctor doesn't think it's something bad happening with the placenta. I went in last night and got everything checked and the baby is fine. (Yet again, the first comment from the nurse was "It seems to be a big baby!". Oh no!) I'm 35 weeks along, due in 4 weeks and 3 days.

Any ideas? Other than that, I feel ok. Like my body is going to fall apart at any second, but relatively fine.

Jj, I would say that it's almost certainly the baby, mine often caused me intense discomfort, sometimes it was a recognisable part of the body and sometimes not.

Jj - I know just what you mean. I'm nearly 41 weeks pregnant and have what feels like internal bruising just by my belly button, I even have an extra stretch mark to go with it. I think the intense kicking started at about 35 weeks ish and I think its the baby trying to engage.

Thanks. It had me worried for a bit which made it worse, I think. My doctor thinks it might be a tiny fibroid. As long as it's not hurting the baby!

Just got back from the 36 week scan. The baby is healthy and doing fine and I know I shouldn't complain BUT...
his estimated weight at the moment is 7 lbs 11 oz. I'm a little freaked out, that's going to be a big baby! So today's snack is going to be fresh pineapple, followed by a dinner of curry and then, later tonight, a nice round of sex. Tomorrow it's off to the health food store for Norfolk punch. I'm figuring that if I'm really not ready for labour, none of those will start it. However, my B-H contractions have gotten more and more frequent and maybe one of those will push me over the edge.

My husband doesn't quite understand why I'm so nervous about having a large baby again. BAH!

Eulalia if you don't mind me asking, are you planning to keep breastfeeding your son throughout your pregnancy and then after the birth?

Hi JJ
I had what felt like a horrible bruise around my tummy button towards the end of pregnany. A few weeks after giving birth found out that I had an umbilical hernia which I then had repaired. Don't know if the two were linked but maybe thats what you have.
If it is, don't worry - does absolutely no harm to baby and is relatively easy to fix later if needed.

Embarassing question time: My due date is tomorrow and I wondered if it was possible / normal to leak very small amounts amniotic fluid at this stage?.

Yes it can happen but I think you need to call the midwife to tell her because in some cases this means that you need to deliver the baby soon (I know that if your water break - presumably in "larger" quantities - you must deliver within 48 hours). As I am no expert, I would really recommend that you speak to your midwife.
Keep us posted !

Ah-ha! This is what happened to me Bells, luckily my Mum, being a midwife, told me that what probably had happened is what's known as the hind waters (ie the amniotic fluid to the top of the baby, surrounding his body) has been ruptured therefore it is seeping around the outside of the sack and 'leaking'. Its definitely best to see the midwife, however take note; with my experience, because I was only leaking slightly, they couldn't get a reading on the 'stick' (technical term there!) that tells you if its actually amniotic fluid or not (so very embarassingly asked if it could be just stress incontinence!) However, in my case my fore waters (ie the waters in front and around the baby's head) burst a few hours later. It is a good indication you are about to go into labour because when the sack has gone so thin (enough for the baby to kick it and tear) it is obviously ready for the whole process to begin!!

Ooooo, I'm so excited for you Bells, take care X

PS watch out for a 'show' soon too as the leakage can nudge the plug of mucus out of place.

Thanks a lot Lizzer and Pupuce. I actually called the midwife after Pupuce's message (as I was sitting in the office surrounded by men at the time). Have been to the Labour ward and they weren't really able to tell if it was amniotic fluid. Anyway, I am suffering from bad lower back pain and lots of tightenigns so think I will just stay at home now!.

Many thanks again.

Oooooooo Bells! I'm even more excited now - I'll be thinking of you XXX

Bells, fingers-crossed for you. I feel all teary now!!

love
Lil

Good luck Bells let us know asap. Oh when this happens I really want No2 and all my doubts and fears go out the window.

Oh Bells, take it easy. No more work for a while then? Missing it already????

Thinking of you and wishing you happiness. Post soon, won't you?

Best wishes,
Tigermoth

Bells, will you tell us when you've given birth? Is there a birth announcements thread? We can't have people vanishing off into a cloud of nappies and feeds without telling us what has happened. (although if I don't get a computer and internet access at home before next March, that's what'll happen to me) Good luck and very best wishes.

Not much of me disappearing I can tell you!. Thankyou very much for your kind wishes - much appreciated.

Errrr, I meant not much chance of me disappearing!!

Bells, if you're at home it sounds like your colleagues have missed out on the oppertunity to play midwife!!Damn, I was waiting for them to log on and ask for advice!

How exciting! Good luck Bells2! Let us know how you get on.

LOL lots, lil.

Sorry to joke at your expense, Bells. Hope you're not feeling too bad and that none of the discussions here get too heated and send you into labour!