I'm 39+5 with DC2. DD1 was born at 37 weeks after my waters broke spontaneously (had to be induced 36 hours later and then had problem free 3 hour active labour). This little one has a heart defect so we need to travel 45mins to a different hospital to deliver. I started getting pains and irregular contractions on Friday afternoon, called in friends to look after DD and we headed to hospital at about 11pm. Contractions became less intense on arrival and cervix was closed and posterior so we came home again, but knowing things were starting we got my parents to travel down (we know when the baby is born that he/she will need to be in hospital for at least a week so parents are coming to look after DD while I'm away and DH is up and down visiting us).
Contractions continued on Saturday, building over the afternoon until I felt I was getting near to needing pain relief so again we headed down to hospital. Contractions calmed again but cervix had moved a bit but was only slightly dilated (multips os??). This time they decided things were closer so I stayed on the antenatal ward overnight. I had a show on Sunday morning, contractions coming and going but never as strong as at home. Stayed another night on antenatal then came home yesterday lunchtime. I'm still getting tightenings but not often strong or regular.
My problem is that DM can only have 1 week off work (she's a college tutor and is having special leave to help me out) so I really need to get things moving again.
Any ideas? Today we've driven down a bumpy road, walked round Tesco's and spent a long time bouncing on my birth ball but still nothing. I have a midwife appointment on Thursday, should I ask her for a sweep? Will she give me one at 40 weeks? Will it help? I'm getting so stressed out by this on top of the worry of baby's condition (maybe I've got a psychological block on giving birth).
Sorry for the essay (I've lurked for 2 years and never posted before and now it's all just poured out!).