2 questions - a bit of a quandry!

[legallyblond]

Hi all

I am 38+5 today... finally finished work on Friday and baby could, I guess, arrive at any time..

I am in a bit of a quandry..

1. My dh and I are supposed to be driving down to Cornwall tomorrow (we live in London) for a wedding. Its not quite as mad as it sounds, as my parents live in Devon, so we had planned to stay with them. We would just stay for Sat night and I'll be basically 39 weeks... We warned the couple getting married that we might well not make it - I could be in labour or have a very newborn... but I'm still in one piece.. I am however starting to feel really nervous about it. I mean, Cornwall is about a 6 hour drive away. Supposing I went into a quick labour half way there! We could I guess turn up at a random hospital, but where would dh stay while I was in hospital? Arrgh! I shouldn't go, should I? Or am I just being a paranoid first time mother? Dh is happy to go with my decision here and the couple getting married really won't mind if we were to pull out.

1. Also, what on earth do contractions feel like?? I have had no braxton hicks at all and don't get period pains/cramps, so that's no good as a comparison... I ask because last night at about 4am I had bad stomach and lower back aches, I don't really know how to describe, that seemed to sort of come in waves... I was awake for about an hour and a half, but then fell asleep and feel ok, although a bit more "achey" than usual, this morning. I have basically had no aches and pains this entire pregnancy... it this "things" starting to happen, or is this just what its like at 38/39 weeks?! Maybe my tummy and back muscles have just had enough? Baby seems just as striggly as usual this morning too...

Sorry for the long post and the 2 for the price of 1 questions!

If they are very close friends then maybe I would go, but otherwise I think I would stay put. It may be that nothing more happens for a couple of weeks, but if it does then the logistics are a nightmare. Can you afford £xxx for a hotel for DH for several nights if you do end up somewhere random?

Sounds like you are either in early labour or you're having Brechin hicks now. Labour starts differently for everyone. For me I had pains that came in waves across my stomach that progressively got stronger. If you are worried about travelling for so long it isn't worth going as you'll just feel anxious the whole time. :-)

Braxton - sorry on iPhone!

Thanks guys.

I think we should probably stay put too. I know its relatively unlikely that I will go into labour during the exact 30 or so hours when we're driving/at the wedding, but if I did, it would be a bit of a stressful nightmare.... I just worry I'm being silly and paranoid though!

I don't think its early labour as the aching has stopped now... I guess braxton hicks? I just thought I would have had them by now if I was going to get them!

I agree with funkychunkymunky, it does sound like Braxton Hicks. However, I went to a wedding in Oxford (lived in London) when i was 37 weeks pregnant with my DS1. Think maybe i drank more than i had done the entire pregnancy (over the course of the entire day and night, prob about 5 glasses of wine) and danced most of the night. Then went back to the hotel and WARNING TMI...had sex with DH. Drove back to London on the Sunday and then waters broke on the Monday. Everything was fine, DS born a healthy 7 1/2 lbs, but i still can't help but think, WOW, we were lucky, what if........ As Ali says though, if they are really close friends, and you really want to go, then go, but do check where the local hospital is, and don't forget to take your notes!!

I agree with funkychunkymunky, it does sound like Braxton Hicks. However, I went to a wedding in Oxford (lived in London) when i was 37 weeks pregnant with my DS1. Think maybe i drank more than i had done the entire pregnancy (over the course of the entire day and night, prob about 5 glasses of wine) and danced most of the night. Then went back to the hotel and WARNING TMI...had sex with DH. Drove back to London on the Sunday and then waters broke on the Monday. Everything was fine, DS born a healthy 7 1/2 lbs, but i still can't help but think, WOW, we were lucky, what if........ As Ali says though, if they are really close friends, and you really want to go, then go, but do check where the local hospital is, and don't forget to take your notes!!

Did you go?

i reckon if you'd stayed at home you wouldnt go into labour and if you go - you will!sods law!

If I were in your shoes I would personally go, but then I do live life on the edge

If it's your first baby you'll be more likely late than early, but saying that I have a friend whose first baby was 2 weeks early - that's probably unusual though. Do you know whether your mum was late/early?

Did you go?

We went to a friend's wedding in France when I was 33wks. I remember having weird stomach things like you describe in the hotel on the monday morning before we left (& was sick on the Eurostar) - waters broke 3 days after we got home & had DD the next day! - DH blames it on my night of disco dancing