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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

So tired of waiting... will labour ever happen?

47 replies

FloralOne · 21/05/2011 09:34

Ok, i'm 40+5 today and at my last check up on Thursday was told that my cervix is thin and 1cm dilated... which sounds great... yet nothing seems to be happening! The mild period like cramps I had earlier in the week have stopped, my back no longer aches, and I'm getting SO sick of relatives emailing/phoning for updates. Argh!!! I'm also knackered as sleeping just isn't so easy these days what with the frequent loo trips and achey ribs. Getting really fedup.

Sorry for the moan - just SO tired. I know I should 'enjoy the time & relax' - but it's so difficult - especially as any potential early labour signs that I'd had seem to have all gone away :( Sigh.

OP posts:

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Bogeyface · 23/05/2011 18:50

Good luck for tomorrow.

I have been induced twice and tbh the biggest problem I had was that they managed to book me in on the day that every woman in a 30 mile radius went into labour! I had to wait a day for them to get space in delivery for me as they were delivery babies on the maternity ward at one point

But the induction and birth was absolutely fine, and we were home the same day i gave birth both times :)

pirateparty · 24/05/2011 21:27

Hoping none of you have posted because you're all off having babies! I thought all was go this morning at about 430 but it came to nothing...

ThistleDoNicely · 25/05/2011 12:42

Can I join in? I'm 39+1, finished work on Friday and so bored. I've been cleaning and cooking meals to freeze but most of my time is spent watching awful daytime telly. Feel so fat and fed up, and pelvic and back pain hampering mobility, so any suggestions of how to keep sane through the waiting? I've had no sign of the baby appearing any time soon and head is only just engaged so expecting to go over :(

nancerama · 25/05/2011 12:51

Well, as of today I am now 40+15 and still no sign of anything! I've given myself until the end of the month before I will consent to being induced. I don't feel big or uncomfortable or ready to give birth, so I'm hoping my body just needs a bit of extra time to work out what it needs to do.

I spent most of yesterday at the hospital in heated discussions with a consultant who was adamant that I should be induced. I'm happy to consent to medical intervention if there is a problem with me or the baby, but not without genuine reason or proof. I felt a bit teary and emotional after his attempts to bully me into treatment, but I'm glad I stood my ground. I've managed to negotiate monitoring every 2 days where I'm strapped to an ECG for 30 minutes or so, and I'm scanned once a week. All the evidence points to everything being totally normal, and there is the potential that due to my very long and irregular cycles I might not be overdue at all.

I've also managed to get an appointment with the head of midwifery tomorrow morning, so that we can go through my original birth plan and write a new one together that will incorporate as many of my original wishes as possible.

I guess the point I'm trying to make in this rambling post is that if you get to the point of being overdue, you don't have to go along with everything that you're being asked to do. Find a sympathetic ear at the hospital and work with the team there to put together a plan with the best outcome for YOU. I had a very sleepless night last night feeling very stressed and anxious after the way I was treated by the consultant, but the midwife I met with today has been so supportive and helpful, and I'm still hopeful that things will get moving in the next couple of days.

Bogeyface · 27/05/2011 01:05

Well today I have felt absolutely awful, snappy and grumpy with everyone, heavy "down below" and have just thrown up in a very spectacular way.

So, whats the betting that as these are all signs of pre-labour I go another full week and end up at my induction appointment a week from tomorrow?!

Justtrying · 27/05/2011 09:56

Bogey fx that todays the day. 40+7 here too. Thought things had started last night, contractions 20 mins apart 8pm-midnight then tried to sleep awake at 1.30 got up at 4 but contractions pretty much gone DH sent me back to bed at 6 and i've slept, no real contractions as such but pretty uncomfortable with sporadic tightnings. Going to get up have some brekkie then go for a walk to see if I can get things moving. I'd really like LO to come out now and not be induced next week.

Bogeyface · 27/05/2011 10:12

You sound like me, I get the periods of contractions that i think are doing something and then....nothing. and why the EFF are they always in the middle of the bloody night?!

I was up til 3 ish and the odd ones I was getting have stopped and now I feel perfectly fine and normal again. Bugger it!

Fx for us both JT, although I would say that inductions arent as bad as alot of people fear they are. I have had 2 and in all honesty, once labour was underway it was no worse than normal spontaeous labour. I had pessaries and ARM and it was quick and as I say, no worse than "normal" labour. :)

ThistleDoNicely · 27/05/2011 11:53

Well my baby didn't give me the birthday present I wanted - to be here by today. Hubby bought me a nice bottle of gin but since LO isn't here yet I can't open it :( only 39+3 but dreading the thought of a potential further two weeks as I've had no signs yet. Some mild cramping last night but didn't go anywhere so not sure if it was BH or just general achiness. Still, I ate birthday cake for breakfast :)

pirateparty · 27/05/2011 14:26

Lots of 'heavy' feelings here too, and contractions at night as well - strong enough to wake me up but then they go off again - sooooo frustrating!

My ds was born by this stage, and so some how in my mind this one would be too... No logic to that I know, but in my head I'm now 'overdue' even though I'm 'only' 39+5.

Positive labour vibes to us all..........

pirateparty · 27/05/2011 14:26

Ohh and Happy Birthday Thistle - at least you'll both get your own birthdays!

Bogeyface · 27/05/2011 16:41

Its my birthday next week and I dont think I will get a birthday present either!

Happy Birthday Thistle, lets hope we all get to say Happy birthday to our babies soon :o

Original poster

FloralOne · 27/05/2011 18:10

Hello all - I hope your babies do make an appearance soon. Pirateparty you were so right about how things can start happening with little/no warning. On Monday when I posted I had no signs of anything, but then later in the afternoon got period like cramps that got gradually more frequent (esp. after going for a walk) and more intense. By 9pm they were every 6mins a part, went into hosp early hours Tuesday. DD was born that afternoon. Came home today (in Germany they keep you in longer routinely). As everyone keeps saying - it really does happen! Even though whilst you're waiting it doesn't feel like that at all. I never thought Monday morning that that'd be me in labour that night! Good luck to you all and keeping fingers Xed that your little ones arrive very soon :)

OP posts:

pirateparty · 28/05/2011 17:41

FloralOne Congratulations!!! Fantastic news. Well done and I'm so pleased to hear it all went well.

Now enjoy that lovely, lovely bit where you just stare at your baby in amazement!

Nothing happening here yet but I'm not actually due til tomorrow so can't even really moan yet...

cowboylover · 29/05/2011 04:29

Hello everyone! Welcome to all the new babies ?

Very pleased to say that Felicity arrived weighing 8lb 10oz at 1.41 yesterday morning via emergency c-section.
It was a very traumatic experience for both of us but will post more details again when its easier at home.

She is in SCBU in an incubator getting help to breath and some drips to clear up a possible infection and I am bed bound for 48 hours after loosing too much blood and my body going in to shock so I have not seen her yet but fingers crossed after food later and blood pressure stabilized I can go down with DH and see her in a wheelchair.
All the staff here are fantastic so I know we are in safe hands.

pirateparty · 29/05/2011 05:10

Congratulations cowboylover on the arrival of Felicity!

I'm really sorry to hear it was traumatic for you all, and really hope that you get to go and see your DD very, very soon.

Let us know how things are going. Glad to hear you are being well looked after.

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 29/05/2011 09:00

May I join? It's encouraging to hear that babies have actually been born... though Cowboy I'm sorry you had such a traumatic time of it.

I'm only 39+2 but was convinced he'd be here by now, as DD came at 39+1. Seems as though I will be pregnant forever.

pirateparty · 29/05/2011 10:08

Welcome BreastmilkdoesaFabLatte! Iknow exactly what you mean. DS was born at 39+4 and I was convinced this one would be here by now. But due date today and this baby is nowhere to be seen! There is only so much curry and spicy one person with heartburn can eat!

Come on babies - show yourselves

pinkgirlythoughts · 29/05/2011 11:09

Well done Cowboylover and Floralone! My achey crampy feeling did turn out to be the start of labour, and after feeling 'uncomfortable' all day Saturday and Sunday, my contractions kicked off in a big way at 11.30 Sunday night- I literally went from having a bit of an ache every now and then to contractions every three minutes, within a matter of seconds! Freddie was born at 8.15 Monday morning, and he was SO worth waiting around for!

Bogeyface · 29/05/2011 11:28

Congratulations on the babies :) I agree that it is nice to know that babies are being born because I think mine is so comfy she aint going anywhere! I'll know I am in trouble when I start getting letters addressed to my fanjo for Sky installation or something :o:o

So today am 40+5, and SEVERELY pissed off! Up at 2:30 am and contractions every 10 minutes. They were coming regularly enough for me to start timing them and were very crampy but since 7 am, nothing, nadda, not a fecking sausage. Its not the false labour that bothers me so much, been there, done that. Its the fact that it always happens overnight and is so bad I cant sleep. Maybe the solution is staying in bed all day so it happens then instead....

Still, induction booked for friday so the end is in sight even if it does mean an end to my home birth plans! Anniversary today so lets hope that we get a nice present for it and our baby actually deigns to meet us :o

BreastmilkDoesAFabLatte · 29/05/2011 14:48

Hi all, and congratulations to pink on Freddie's arrival!

Still nothing happening here. I was really hoping he'd come today as the brilliant friend on standby to look after DD is going away with work for a week tomorrow...

cowboylover · 29/05/2011 20:57

Hello all, congratulations on more babies!!

It will happen one way or another and as soon as you have your babies its worth it! (And I have only held her once!)

pirateparty · 30/05/2011 22:35

Congratulations pink. Love the name Freddie! Glad it all went well.

cowboylover how are things going? Hope you've had lots more cuddles now.

Fingers crossed for all of us left.

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