period-like cramps at 39 weeks?

[Comma2]

I have period like cramps that are on and off, as well as nausea on and off, and BH on top. Feel pretty crappy. Baby is not engaged I think, but is this something to do with labour or just the usual aches?

yay have been to MW, baby is still head down, no longer back2back, 4/5th engaged and she has promised to do a sweep next week if I havent gone into labour.
Will only be 39 weeks so am very grateful for sweep.
She said student mw will have a go first, then she will also sweep 2-4-1

Way to go Moss ! Sounds like you are good to go then!

And you will have a double sweep, wonder what that'll do

U r lucky Moss. I haven't really had anymore twinges or at least not like they were. Getting frustrated to be honest. Also convinced babies movements have slowed down, but then the placenta is at the front & I have never really been able to feel loads of movements anyway - so it is prob just me. I feel baby have hicups nearly everyday...
I would love to ask MW if I can have a sweep considering they told me baby was ready last week to arrive. I'm 39 weeks now but I don't get to see the MW again until next Fri at 40 weeks
This must be the hardest part....the waiting when we're so close now!!

hopeful I wasnt supposed to see MW until 40 wks but she has said she'll see me specifically next week for the sweep.
Could you phone your MW or MLU and ask if they will sweep you before you see your MW next week (if you want it that is)

Can I just ask if any of you have been offered the SF vaccine and would you have it? (having mine on monday and a bit nervous)

Moss I may try my MW on Monday if nothing else has happened from now till then. See what they say - I just want little one to arrive now as I am getting more & more anxious which is not good for me or baby.
My GP has not offered it to me yet. I must admit I am a bit hesitant to have it. I don't know if enough has been researched on PG ladies. The fact that u & I r so close to having our babies I am not sure whether it is even worth it?? Does it give baby some resistance? Did your GP give u a bell? Someone just suggested to me whether I waited to have the vacine once baby has arrived & then have it & then does get into babies system anyway via breastfeeding(which may be a better option)? I am just not sure about having it while baby is still inside me. I am going to ring my GP Monday & ask some of these questions. If u r worried maybe u should speak to some more people .ie. MW or GP etc. Don't feel pressurised into having it if u r not 100% sure. Not sure whether enough testing has been done...I am just staying inside till baby comes now & using loads of hand gel.
I'll let u know what I find out & what my MW says about the sweep. Have u had a sweep before? R u able to tell me anything about them? This is my 1st bubba so I am very new to all this

hopeful yes I had 3 sweeps with no.2 baby, but they didnt work and I ended up being induced at 40+15. Both of mine have been late which is why Im being proactive with this one and starting early

Im not sure about the vaccine either, I can have it in work, as my GP is still not organised enough to do it .
What worries me about leaving it is that women at the very end stages of pregnancy are at higher risk than anyone else, plus the fact that I am also asthmatic, makes me think I should have it.
I think if I was only 10 weeks then I wouldnt but my baby is fully formed now and just putting on weight, developmentally he's all done

Moss it's good that work r doing it for u. R u still at work then? I went on A/L at 36 weeks & then started M/L at 38 weeks. I couldn't have worked any longer, it's hard enough walking currently
Well I had period type pains in tummy & back from 02:30 this morning & they went about an hr a go. Still nothing though
I think I am a little anxious as this time last yr I had a missed mc at 10 weeks. I know this baby is ready to come but I just worry the longer he stays in there...silly I know. That's why I was going to speak to MW & explain how I am feeling.
I'm going to ring my GP tomorrow to discuss the vacine & see what they say & ring my MW ref: the sweep.
Hope yours goes well & keep us posted.

hopeful, so sorry to hear about your mmc it must be hard with having mixed feelings of remembering that time and yet being excited to meet your new baby.
Just think the longer he stays in there the more protected he is (you said he, do you know its a boy?)

Im not still in work, I finished at 29 weeks on sick leave, then some annual leave, then m/l started at about 34 weeks I think, it seems ages ago now.
Im doing some keeping in touch days starting in January so dont see why I shouldnt have my jab like the rest of the staff now.

Moss yes we decided to find out & were told baby is a boy. How about u?
Good idea ref: work & vacine.
Hope it goes ok tomorrow.
Yes it is hard & u r right, baby is at least safe in there, I would just love to meet baby now. No more pains since last night ...
See what later brings

ANy news comma2?

No, nada. :-) Is fine though, I don't mind a few days more or less now. Though, come to think of it, not having to pee every two minutes would be quite something. Also not keen on having to get up in the middle of the night to eat cheese, but I hear there are worse coplaints...

Full moon tomorrow, I think!

Hello, hello.... No Halloween babies then?! I have been quite glad of last few days' distractions (pumpkin carving, ghost outfits, poorly 2-year-old up all night - well, obviously not glad about the latter but it has at least stopped me obsessing re. baby's no-show + reminded me I do have other children to look after!). No news from this end but am booked for a sweep this afternoon - not sure why they've booked it before due date, but presumably something to do with it being a VBAC? - so hoping that will kickstart proceedings. My mum is staying at the moment and just told me she had one with me and it was excruciatingly painful - oh right, thanks for that... Best friend has also just texted to say 'sounds awful'. Am off to google positive membrane sweep experiences.... Mosschops + Hopeful when are yours?

maniacbug dont worry about the sweep, its a bit like having a smear, although i found it less uncomfortable than smears. I am also having one before due date, will be 39+2 when I have mine on Friday.

Cant believe we are all still waiting, but at least we escaped the halloween babies
I was sure it was gonna be last night, for a number of reasons but despite having strong BH but then nothing here either.
Am deffo more uncomfortable yesterday and today with a lot of pressure down below.

Had the swine flu vac this morning, woke up at 4am worrying about it and couldnt get back to sleep, but I think Ive made the best decision with the information thats available to me.

Keeping everything crossed for us all, surely one of us must pop soon

The sweep felt a bit like labour pain to me...just sort of crampy. nothing to worry about!

I went to speak to MW yesterday about the sweep but it was not the normal lady & all she said to me was you'll have to speak to the MW on your next appnt - which is this Friday (I'll be 40 weeks). So I assume I will be having a chat with the MW Friday to see whether I should have a sweep or not.
Maniacbug I hope your little one is feeling better now. Yes we've all passed the Halloween baby time
Moss I'm glad the vacine went ok. My GP isn't doing them yet so I can't really discuss about having one with them just yet, so maybe baby will be here before that time comes.
So ladies, just a quick run round - I know Moss is having one soon, but would you all op for a sweep if given the chance or wait to see what nature brings?

Had sweep yesterday - had to do some serious breathing throughout, but it was not that bad and both the consultant who did it and the MW I saw beforehand were lovely - reassuring, gentle, etc. Am sure bedside manner counts for as much as hands-on technique! Had contractions 10 mins apart from almost immediately afterwards + for the rest of the evening, but they tailed off overnight. Spotting (which they'd warned me about) + bloody show this morning, but since then... zilch.
As far as 'is it worth it' is concerned... Sweeps only work if your body's ready anyway, so obviously everyone has different views on this but I just figured it wouldn't be too much of an interference with the natural order of things + that I had nothing to lose. I'm not going to have the option of any more 'medical' induction procedures (and would prob not be too keen anyway) as the speedy labour that can follow increases risk of scar rupture... although having said that they did book me in for next Mon to break my waters. Not sure what the success rate/implications of that are... more googling to be done!
(BTW yes, thanks Hopeful she's still catching up on sleep but singing songs again today for the first time in 5 days so must be feeling better!)

any news maniacbug? did they say if your cervix was favourable or had you dilated at all?

hopeful dont forget that women are still high risk for SF soon after giving birth so might be worth still having the vaccine if you wanted it.
I felt terrible after mine though, monday night I went to bed at 7.30pm, had hardly any sleep, arm was agony, chest pains etc etc, went to see GP yesterday who said that all the staff there had had theirs on monday too and all felt like theyd been beaten up so apparently thats the norm, feel much better today though.

Thought I had a trickle yesterday but turned out to be nothing. Am sure something must happen soon, I was convinced I wouldnt go full term with this one

I am due on 16 Nov. I have been having 'contraction' pains which last for a few hours then go away for about 5 days. It soooo frustrating. A good sign, however, that we are all looking forward to our babies!!

My first was 40 plus 10 so I am NOT holding my breath!

I am (half) hoping that the baby holds out till I have the swine flu vaccine. Our health centre is really not getting going.

Does anyone know if there is a way I can hurry along getting it??

hi egg welcome to the fatties waiting thread
I know what you mean about the waiting game, both of mine have been late, am praying this one is not.

My gp surgery also dragging feet on SF vaccination but i was lucky enough to be able to go into work and have it. The problem is that they just dont seem to have any idea about how urgently those of us in late pregnancy want it, mine were saying 'oh well we'll send out letters next week and then go from there', its exasperating.
Could you maybe ring and speak to practice manager or senior partner GP and discuss how desparate you are to have it?

now where the hell is comma???? Have you gone into labour?

Yeah, comma, what's happening? Your due date today, right? Hoping (enviously) that things have started for you!
Still no news from me - had same pattern last night of contractions 10 min apart all evening but eased off again during night, sigh... [fed up emoticon]
mosschops did you go for reflexology in the end? What did you think of it? I am considering acupuncture as there's a clinic locally but not sure whether there's any point just having one session - anyone know what the recommendation is?

Thanks mosschops - I will call the surgery and ask to speak to practice manager or senior partner. I was not sure who I could quiz about it. My midwife and reception just keep explaining letters will go out etc.

It would be terrible to get it now and be seriously ill when the vaccine is available to most pregnant women!

yes egg they do seem to be dragging their feet a bit, I know a lot havent had delivery yet, but youd think the ones that have would be cracking on with it wouldnt you!

maniac I didnt go in the end, it was £40 per session and she said it was best to go once a week until baby came which at the time could have potentially have been 5 weeks so couldnt afford it really (better things to spend that money on).
I did see my arometherapist though who made me oil to start with this week, then different oil for labour.
Am also keeping on with the RL tea and pineapple.

I know he will come when hes ready but Im so desparate to see him now , he keeps flailing around in there as if he hasnt got any room and is frustrated and I keep saying 'well come out then, we're all waiting'

Hi girls, sorry, have mil here and little time to internet. I had some more period cramps last night and thought it might actually work out into something as was quite painful and it is edd...but nothing today. Well, one day less that MIL will get her hands on the baby, can't wait until she leaves again. Well-meaning but oh so annoying and DH in complete regression as usual when she is around.

Hope you all do well! hang in there with the waiting and the pineapple!

WARNING: I went into labour last time after a really spicy curry from Indian Takeaway.

PROBLEM: you really don't want to be contracting and pushing when your bowels are full of smelly food, believe me!! I would not try this again!

All other efforts I tried (and I tried everything), failed, but entertained me in the meantime!! I don't actually think the curry worked, I think it was just my time!

EVERY SINGLE TWINGE AND I AM WISHING DESPERATELY AND HOPING FRUITLESSLY THAT IT IS THE REAL DEAL!!! (Am I mad, have I forgotten what I am letting myself in for hehe!) No it is absolutely AMAZING holding your baby for the first time .... I really cannot wait!!!

Sounds like there's some seriously frustrating waiting games going on with a group of you on this thread. I'm relatively new to mums. net, am due 13th Nov with my first and so far have hadn't any signs that the wriggler is on the way out. A bit of mild stomach ache every now and again but nothing to write home about.

Have had 3 pre-birth acupuncture sessions over the last 3 weeks with the last one scheduled for next Tuesday (10th). These are designed to soften all your birth ligaments apparently to help ease wrigglers way out. Also on the Raspberry tea although reading some of the other threads I think I need to up the dose a bit as I'm only having 2 cups a day.

Good luck to those of you that are overdue and waiting....hope things start moving soon.