Beginnings of labour? Should I feel this bulge down below?!

[ExquisiteChristmasCake]

My due date is today. Already had a ds (20mo). Woke up with chronic back ache and cramps at the top of the thighs, chilled out today with my TENS machine (having a home birth so not much else to do). The pain has subsided to be a bit dull, but I am suddenly acutely aware of a bulge in my fanjo. It feels as though there is a grapefruit pressing against it from the other side...could this be the head and is it normal to feel this? Or could it be my waters?

Ds was an easy labour (woke up 10 cms gone and literally began to push whole ordeal was over in a few hours) so I "missed" the beginnings of labour and have no idea what I should be expecting. I know not to bother my midwife to come out until I have contractions/a show (have rung to let her know I'm feeling a bit weird though).

Is it normal?

I would get a mirror!!

Good luck!!!

I can reach where my clitoral area is, just with the tips of my fingers while sitting up. On the toilet I can reach the "hole" just with my fingers but cannot get inside....don't really think I want to break my own waters...

Buggering hell. I should be prepared for this. There are pine needles all over the bloody floor (we're letting the branches drop) and I now have no where to kneel.

I'm definitely tightening but not contracting as such. I might have some more pineapple.

Good luck!

Ohhh a mirror. Yes. Good idea.

Do you have any idea what it is I'm looking for? (I'm trying so hard not to sound like a complete and utter fool...and failing miserably, this I realise).

I wouldn't be fiddling about until your mw gets there! And don't start hoovering the bloody pine needles!!!

Dates have oxytocin in them apparently.

You could use a Branch of the tree to try and break your waters.

Well... if you can see a baby then you should probably ring the midwife again!

I had almost exactly the same thing and dd2 was born 20 minutes later! I felt no pain till the last 10 or so minutes when dd2's head started to emerge. I had been having contractions for quite a while (in hindsight) but they were so mild that I ignored them

I was 5 weeks early though, so I do have an excuse for missing my own labour

BEST OF LUCK. Hope all goes well. I will be glued to this thread!

Gloria, bloody hell.

I have images of a pipe cleaner and a bottle head, and that doesn't fill me with joy.

O God I was about to go to bed but there's no way I can now!

Good luck OP!!

Sorry, that was utterly useless :)

Ooo Nan don't say that. Mine have been rather mild, last time it was awake, 10cms ring MW who told me to push and bam a baby.

The whole "it could be labour" is scaring me because I'm not too sure what to expect. I'm rather uncomfortable in general though, sitting down getting up and I'm a bit fidgety and restless.

ooh how exciting! Get a mirror quick! My friend had twins first time, then second time went to the loo at home and thought ooh, called hubby in and he was like oh don't move!! Their little girls head was sticking out!!

When the head comes out, don't forget to post!!!!

A live birth thread (albeit unintentional )
Good luck!!
x

Wowza!! Good luck!!

Blimey.
I'd get a plastic sheet/ towels down (just incase)
My contractions weren't painful/uncomfortable with dc2. Just tightenings til my waters broke then pressure +++.
Good luck!!

maxybrown

Yes, posting will be, in fact, the first thing on my list of things to do.

In fact, I'll get a photo to make you feel like you're there

Off to do some bouncing on my ball.

Will report back before bed, and if I'm reporting tomorrow (child free) then I'll be rather pissed off.

Will educate dh how to post if anything exciting is happening that I can't type.

Is your DH on his way home,and I would get your midwife round as I think things are happening quicker than you may anticipate!

At least then you can relax into it, and have some support,of course MN will be glued cheering you on as well!

I am on No4 and each time I am surprised at how different labour starts!

er - should you ring DH?

oh I'd love to be at a birth (without me doing it), guess this will be the nearest

Ok, so let's just make sure you have the important things done

1. Can you reach the keyboard from the birthing pool"..........

MN classic worthy last post OP

Dh will be home at 10 as usual on a Thursday so I shan't bother him with my bulge until then.

MW lives only 3 miles away and is on call tonight, so I've told her I will ring before bed to let her know of how I feel and she said;

"I'll expect a call out around 4am otherwise".

But she did say yesterday when she came to examine me that she didn't think it would be past the weekend. I'm cramping again in the top of my thighs. I just hope symptoms don't become psychological. Might have another bath.