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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Anyone due in April 2004?!

929 replies

dot1 · 28/07/2003 12:45

Hello!

I found out last week I was pregnant, and although I've not been to my GP yet, various websites and Miriam Stoppard have told me I'm due on March 31st/April 1st! (poor little april fools baby - let's hope it's late...).

I know it's early days, but wanted to start this thread as I've already got lots of questions - like, is anyone else having quite bad pains? I've been getting bad period-type pains, which have been worrying me, but I understand people do get (this is my first pregnancy by the way!).

Right, that's it - hope I get some company soon..!

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MrsDoolittle · 28/03/2004 11:16

Gosh, how exciting. Udar must be in hospital now - I hope she gets her waterbirth. That's what I am hoping for too. I am so envious. I woke up at 5am with contractions (the worst yet) and went back to sleep. Was awoken again at 6.30 with more contractions and I thought that maybe this was it. But to no avail! it's all settled down again and I've walked the dog since then. Baby is moving around alot - makes me want to sit on the tiloet all the time. Oh Goodluck Udar, if you haven't already gone to hospital. Keep us posted!!!

emmagee · 28/03/2004 11:39

This thread has been a godsend for me. I am due on 18th April - 3rd baby - first two were both really late (11 days and 2 weeks) so I have been convincing myself for ages that this one will be too. All this week (since Tues night) I have been having the strong Braxton Hicks/mild contractions on and off. Sometimes every ten minutes for a few hours, sometimes long ones that last for 5 mins, some painful and some not. It's driving me potty! I don't want to get my hopes up as based on previous experience it could be another 5 weeks, but can't believe it's all for nothing either! This morning have had mild upset stomach, but no other signs. Just wanted to know if anyone has had this and then have it go away for weeks, or whether it's more likely that something will kick off in next few days?

Fennel · 28/03/2004 11:58

good luck Udar! (wherever you are, hopefully in the pool)

Hi Emmagee, join us all in the "is it early labour is it not?" stage!
Like you I don't dare get hopeful as I am only 38 weeks and know it could be another month
Am hoping all the signs mean it's more likely to be early than late.

as for clueless dh/dps. Grr. Mine thinks he's very experienced and tolerant but still keeps assuming if I'm sitting around doing "nothing" (except having backache or contractions etc) I might as well look after the dds while he does something more interesting.

hewlettsdaughter · 28/03/2004 12:06

MrsD - if you're wanting to sit on the toilet all the time it sounds like you're not far behind udar! Bizarrely I was up between about 2.30 and 4.30 last night with what I think were mild contractions - and I should have over 3 weeks to go yet (if I go to my due date). Maybe they were sympathy pains . Emmagee, I don't know if it means something will kick off soon or not. When I had ds I never really felt contractions before I was in labour.

hewlettsdaughter · 28/03/2004 12:10

Fennel, posts crossed. My dh has just taken ds swimming, but it wasn't with the best of grace I have to say.

MrsDoolittle · 28/03/2004 12:10

Oh Dear! I thought it was supposed to get easier with experience. It's funny what you wrote about dh/dp's - I was telling my dh about this page and he was telling me how he would like to write and tell us all how he thought we were all conning them. How come I can't reach the remote control at the other end of the couch when I am lying on it?(Okay, I might have been pushing it jsut a little bit!!) I was trying to explain how I couldn't bend, but he doesn't believe me! He's a goody really - I just think pregnancy is a concept he CANNOT understand!

MrsDoolittle · 28/03/2004 12:15

Having just said all that - dh has asked me if we should do a dummy run to the hospital. It's a cottage hospital 12 miles away. Guess that's where we are going! Will catch you later ladies!

Fennel · 28/03/2004 12:19

Like HD and Emmagee, I didn't have contractions or other signs except just as labour was starting (dd1), or the day before it was starting (dd2) so have no idea if it can go on for weeks but I suspect it can for some people.

my dp is very good usually but I agree he doesn't get pregnancy, he's not tolerant with prolonged illness or weakness (neither of us is ever very ill), and just doesn't see how you can feel crap for weeks or months on end.

Fennel · 28/03/2004 12:24

Mrs D it does get easier with experience, I am much calmer this time than the first time!

my dp would be very supportive if I wanted to go off for the day and do something active, he'd happily take the kids while I did that. or when I go abroad with work etc for a few days. he just can't get that it's worth giving me space to do "nothing".

MrsDoolittle · 28/03/2004 14:48

Well I am back after our little trip, takes half an hour. Is that a long time when you are in labour?
However, that wasn't the best idea when you need the toilet all the time!!!! Oooooh squirts. Isn't pregnancy fabulous??

Lesley76 · 29/03/2004 07:40

Good morning girls - are we all still here?

Is EVERYONE in pre labour or early labour except me (sigh)? Can someone please tell me why i don;t have a single sign of anything happening? I know some of the rest of you are preg with your first baby too, though I think I'm a little behind most of you, at 37+ 2. I feel exactly the way i did months ago , except fatter and more tired. And more fed up and moany of course........

Mrs D, Fennel, Udar, Dot1 - how's it going?

udar · 29/03/2004 08:15

Hi all, Udar's DH here. Just a quick note to let you all know that mother and DD are doing well after an emergency C. Not sure when they will be home but she will fill you in when she gets back.

b. 29/03/04 01:01 3.19kg

M2T · 29/03/2004 08:29

CONGRATULATIONS UDAR AND UDAR'S DH!! A girl.... how lovely. Glad both are doing well despite needing an emergency C section. Looking forward to hearing all the details.

Names yet????

udar · 29/03/2004 09:07

Jaimee Danielle Thomas

MrsDoolittle · 29/03/2004 09:19

CONGRATULATIONS to Udar and Mr Udar. How womderful - I am soo envious. !!!

I was experiencing terrible contractions last night after taking the dog for a walk with dh. Every hour and they seemed to go ooonnnn! At 11pm I put myself to bed with paracetamol, ibuprofen and gaviscon conscious that I was going to need all the sleep I could get. We thought this was it. Woke up at 3am feeling tight and uncomfortable, went back to sleep and that's the story for the rest of the night. Got up this morning feeling like I have been hit with a sledgehammer and a very jumpy dh!!!

Lesley76 · 29/03/2004 09:46

Congratulations Mr & Mrs Udar & welcome Jaimee!! How wonderful!!! Just think Udar, you were worried about being bored stupid during your LLOOONNNGGG maternity leave .......

Sorry you are still having such a bad time Mrs D. Let us know what today brings for you.

Fennel · 29/03/2004 09:57

Brilliant, congratulations Udar family! A great day to have a dd, it's my dd1's 4th birthday today.

Looking forward to hearing a bit more about the birth.

Absolutely nothing going on with me, no contractions since Friday. ho hum. At least dd1 won't have to share her birthday with the new one. and I feel fitter than the last few days so at least can get on with life a bit (it helps that dp and dds are all out at work/school/nursery too).

Mrs D, you MUST be getting close mustn't you? Let's hope so.

MrsDoolittle · 29/03/2004 10:05

Hell, I hope so Fennel. I can't imagine what it might be like to have a baby in the house next weekend!

Fennel · 29/03/2004 10:07

Mrs D, well, a few nights bad sleep might be a good omen, I had that before dd1. it made labour harder as I was SOOO tired but even so, it might be a good sign for you!

hewlettsdaughter · 29/03/2004 10:13

Congratulations udar and udar's dh! (and thanks for the message, dh!) Best of luck for next few days/weeks - hope you recover from c section soon udar.
Lesley76, think my 'contractions' were just a practice, not expecting my baby just yet (will be 37 weeks on Thurs).
MrsD, sorry you're feeling like you've been hit with a sledgehammer . Am just about to email you.

emmagee · 29/03/2004 10:41

Congrats Udar, hope you have a swift recovery form the section. Mrs D, we must be the same person, I had another night of strong aches and tightenings, after a pretty strenuous session in the garden yesterday I thought I would be too tired to notice! The thing I am finding hardest is constanatly having to think about what to do with my two older kids, we have different plans/people lined up for day or night, and I don't want to put them all on high alert. One thing may be holding it up is that our boiler broke down a week ago and is due to be finally fixed this pm - maybe baby is waiting for a warm house!! Do you ever thinks it's all just pschosomatic/wishful thinking?

emmagee · 29/03/2004 10:53

just got this from the NCT website:

PRE-LABOUR
As you get towards the end of your pregnancy, you're likely to wonder just when your labour will start - and also, perhaps, how you'll be able to tell that it has started.

There are various signs that might occur in the days leading up to labour, which may show that you don't have long to go.

Braxton Hicks
Braxton Hicks contractions are 'practice' contractions, or strong tightenings of the uterus, which can be quite painful. You can distinguish them from real contractions because they'll stop if you rest for a moment (if busy) or get up and do something (if you've been lying down).

Weight loss
Just when you thought you couldn't get any bigger, you may suddenly find you weigh less. You'll still be feeling increasingly uncomfortable, though, with perhaps breathlessness, swollen legs and insomnia at night.

Nesting instinct
As these months draw to a close you may experience a strong urge to clean, tidy and sort things out.

False labour
Sometimes women experience 'false labour', when contractions appear to start, but then fade away again. This can go on for as long as two weeks. These 'false labour' contractions are usually part of the prelude to labour, and are an indication that labour will get going very soon, but they can be very frustrating.

Fennel · 29/03/2004 10:53

Emmagee, how old are your two children? I find it hard not knowing whether I'll be pre- or post-natal for the next couple of weeks as dd1 will be on school holidays from the weekend. so it's hard to fix up appropriate childcare.

Have we lost a couple of people lately? where's Dolbear gone? And is there word from Dot since Saturday?
Maybe there are other births we're missing here.

Fennel · 29/03/2004 10:56

Emmagee, thanks for the NCT update. That sounds quite hopeful, "false contractions can go on as long as 2 weeks" (implying, not for a whole month which is my fear!).

MrsDoolittle · 29/03/2004 11:13

I was just wondering where dot1 had got to. oh and M2T??
emmagee I think this false labour thing is what is hitting me. To me the contractions seem too strong to be BH (although I don't know). Somehow it felt different last night but the thought that this could go on for another two weeks is awful. Even the dog will be fed up with me, let alone poor dh!!!!