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Childbirth

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

Is this labour?

58 replies

melonian · 19/10/2009 22:39

Oh God, this is one of those really annoying "is it or isn't it" threads, but is anybody around to hold my hand while my body makes up its mind?

Have been having Cx about every 10 min for 1 1/2 hrs. Feel like period pains at the mo, can type through them. Diff from 1st labour which was all in my back. Am 39 + 5, but 1st baby was induced 2 weeks late so have nothing to compare it to.

Haven't had any show, waters or anything, BH have gradually been getting stronger but not this ouchy over past few days, usually get more this time in the evening.

Don't know whether to bounce & twiddle my nips to try & get things going or chill & try to rest. Would really like to know as I don't have much in the way of childcare options - my mum is 3hrs away. Have the HB stuff here but if I had to go to hosp before my mum gets here then would have to go on my own while DH waits with DS.

Can anyone chat with me or give advice while I see which way this is going to go?

Thankyou!

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Countingthegreyghouls · 20/10/2009 01:13

Hi again Melonian

I am so excited for you! 3.5 hours does sound quite established (CTGG trying to sound like she knows what she is talking about

Oh I do love a labour thread and I would love to stay up but I think I am regrettably going to have to go to bed now but bumping for you - there is always someone about on here - don't be shy if you need support!!

Are you OK?

Countingthegreyghouls · 20/10/2009 01:21

Um, I am definitely turning in now (I imagine you are calling your mother and your midwife and doing useful things like that) or you may be cleaning(!!) but either way, wishing you lots of luck x

Niecie · 20/10/2009 01:41

Hi Melonian, sounds like this could be it! How exciting for you!

I had a similar dilemma to you when I had DS2 - didn't want to call my parents who were 2 hours away until I knew I was in established labour but it took 3 hours to work that out and then by the time I did, DS2 was born within the hour. Didn't get to hospital as my waters broke so we knew I wouldn't make it and it was all a bit of a panic in the end.

Having left it so long my parents didn't arrive until DS2 did so just as well I didn't go to hospital as we wouldn't have known what to do with DS1.

I think I would be calling your mother if I were you. Second labours can be so much quicker (1/4 of the time in my case) and the speed I went from am I/aren't I to the birth was scarily fast!

Hope you are feeling on top of things.

Keep walking around and good luck.

(Am supposed to be revising so will be knocking about for a bit if you are getting lonely)

melonian · 20/10/2009 01:57

Thankyou people. Have got DH up now and rung my mum as Cx v.sore now and needed support. Now every 6-8 min but only 45sec. Please send good vibes!

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nappyaddict · 20/10/2009 01:59

Did you have a nice bath?

Niecie · 20/10/2009 02:03

Oh defintely sounds like the real deal.

Have you got your TENS on yet? I never know if they work but it gave me something to grip when the going got tough so they have some use!

Good luck. Hope you have your new baby by morning.

Do you know what you are having btw?

melonian · 20/10/2009 02:09

Melonian's DP here. Contracting every 3-4 mins now. Midwife's on her way. All very exciting!

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melonian · 20/10/2009 02:12

Don't know what flavour baby either. Helen's being awesome. She's very grateful for all of the support BTW

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Niecie · 20/10/2009 02:27

Wow, really speeding up.

Hope you went to bed early Melonian's DP - I don't think you are going to get any more sleep tonight!

Sending lots of big contraction vibes. I reckon that baby is going to be out before the sun comes up.

liahgen · 20/10/2009 08:22

mel

Good morning, am hoping we will see birth announcement really really soon.

Hope it all went well

Well done DP for updating.

Ooh, exciting,

Poledra · 20/10/2009 09:08

Here I am! Do we have a baby then? Come on, melonian's DP, we're dying to know!

WartoScreamo · 20/10/2009 09:11

Ooh yes - update!

Ewe · 20/10/2009 10:06

How exciting! Hope you're all snuggled up in post baby haze as we speak.

Do we think girl or boy?!

Niecie · 20/10/2009 10:37

Still no news?

Hope that means good news and they have better things to do than post on here.

I reckon a boy - no reason I just do.

liahgen · 20/10/2009 11:56

girl. 8lb 3ozs. 5.35am

(or therabouts )

Poledra · 20/10/2009 11:59

Girl, 7lb 13, 06:30-ish

MrsJiggle86 · 20/10/2009 12:03

congrats im so happy for you , has she got a name yet?

MrsJiggle86 · 20/10/2009 12:11

i think we are guessing, lol, know i feel silly, hope she is ok

melonian · 20/10/2009 14:06

Wow Poledra, you were scarily close. Little girl, 7lb 8oz at 6.40. Still not thought of a name - we're both a bit too knackered!

Helen was amazing; she was so brave. Laboured at home until about 4.30; baby started to be a bit tachy so midwives sent us in. She was still 6cm at 6.10 when the midwife ruptured her membranes & she had meconium - baby arrived about 20 mins later! Contracting like the wind !

Thank you for all of the support; she was really touched when I told her about all of the posts rooting for her. She promises she'll post later on - I'm not very good at all of the girly feelings!

Melonian's DP

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madmissy · 20/10/2009 14:12

ahh thats fab! i missed this one lol

StarlightMcKenzie · 20/10/2009 14:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Poledra · 20/10/2009 14:22

Woohoo, fantastic news - have impressed myself with how close I was ! Girls are fab, I have 3.

Looking forward to hearing her name, and thanks for letting us know, melonian's DH.

liahgen · 20/10/2009 14:35

Yey, welcome to the world, babymel

Thanks Mel's DP. Well done both of you. Little girls are fab.

melonian · 20/10/2009 15:55

Thankyou so much to everybody who chatted to me in the early stages last night, it really meant a lot. Shame thw whole HB thing didn't work out, but in post baby smug haze safe back at home now, very, very happy.

Baby is a genius, has smiled already and feeding like a good'un, unlike her brother who took about 5 days to latch on.

Had to transfer at about 4.00 last night due to fast fetal heart rate. Am so glad we went in then though, as would have been sent anyway when they saw meconium, and then would have ended up giving birth in the ambulance!

Ambulance ride took 30min & was dire, got to hospital and heart rate was absolutely fine for rest of labour. Asked for G&A at that point, which wasn't quite as good as last time, only just coping with pain. Got examined and told only 6cm, at which point was a bit fed up as thought would still have hrs to go. Then they broke waters and things went off their tits, begged for epidural but there wasn't time. Midwife thought I was being a bit wussy when suddenly I bounced onto all 4s and started crowning! Pushed for about 3 Cx and baby appeared, midwives were not at all ready and dropped her on the bed!

Had a lovely BF, got stitched up but then just left on labour ward with a filthy bed. Had a bath and sat in chair for a bit then decided if they weren't going to bother looking after us we may as well self discharge. Baby was supposed to have obs efery hour for meconium - they did them once in 5hrs we were there. All due to short staffing I'm sure, but surely a new mum should be able to lie down properly, and if baby needs monitoring then what's the point in insisting on keeping you in then not doing it? Anyway, minor rant over, we are very happy to be home.

Loved up bliss vibes to you all
Melonian

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LadyOfTheFlowers · 20/10/2009 16:22

Ah well done Melonian! x

Sounds like you had a lucky escape from the hospital then - DS3 was born in a flood of meconium and I had to stay all blinking night and he was born just before tea time - they didn't bother to come and check him either - I had to buzz if I thought he 'needed help'.

Your contractions sound similar to mine - very strong and painful but mine only last 45 - 60 secs too but seem to do the job.

Very well done indeed!