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?

How long will they just leave you(as in anyone) once your waters have gone? I mean, they wouldn't just leave you for days to sit it out after your waters have gone? Do they?

Ok am back in the bath. Contractions are around every 4 minutes. Have put an app on my phone to time them once they get quicker I'll ring the midwife she said just to call when I feel I need her and the gas and air . The contractions are making me grit my teeth now to be honest but the pushing is yet to come and the gas and air will hopefully take the edge of that. My inner thighs are on fire with ache come on Iggly get some pineapple in you!

1 day if you don't argue
2 days if you argue (I did 40 hours)
3 days if you have a complete strop

After than you need intervention.

Ooh hurrah !!!

I am now guessing 11.05pm, girl, 8lbs 10oz.

maxybrown - Advice varies from trust to trust, some advise induction after 24 hours, others up to 96 hours providing no sign of infection and monitoring of baby shows no problems.

On the other hand, they can't make you be induced after your waters have gone either if you'd rather sit it out.

Exquisite Glad to see there's progress Enjoy the bath, don't worry too much about the app on your phone - you may find that faffing about timing contractions actually hinders your labour :)

8.07pm 8lb 3oz girl

Thank you always wondered about that.

Oh Exquisite, reckon it should def be a 2nd Dec arrival then

You are posting from IN the bath?

11.03pm 8lb 6oz baby girl

Ooh I wanted to know about the waters thing too. I was thinking of just "not telling them" (unless there was meconium/etc) initially so they don't start the pressure - but is there monitoring I should be asking for instead?

New guess: 11.40pm, I'm sticking with my original weight!
Good luck, baby cakes (well done whoever came up with that!) will soon be here. I am very jealous of your new baby shnuggles! X

Yes was on my iphone! Oh bollocking hell it hurts.

The pressure is right in my bum and it's horrid. Dh is cooking chilli and generally just irritating the fuck out of me for no reason whatsoever.

I'm all of a sudden so very tired. Dh just said;

"You can't sleep, what about the baby?"

As if I wouldn't notice it coming out. Jesus.

Fucking hell. My fanjo is defo bulging and hurting :(

Phone midwife. I'm pretending I know a thing or two and suggesting the sudden tiredness is transition.

You need the midwife now .

Good luck , within the hour I reckon your baby boy will be here 7.10

New guess...8lb 4oz boy 7.42pm

Phone midwife. Now! If its a while since 7cm god knows where you are now. If you are worried about her being there too early and you don't want her she doesn't have to be in your room or anything but far better she is there!!!

God I don't remember the pressure. DOn't feel the need to bear down yet but it's heading that way just to relieve the bloody pressure. Fucking hell it's really uncomfortable. My Christmas tree looks rather lovely though.

exquisite my client was 7cms lat thursday when examined, next 2 ctx brought her baby

Please call mw now pressure is very telling.

Oh I'm happy for her to come but I only get 12 hours before she has to hand me over to the hospital...and I don't want to waste any precious hours of being transferred just in case.

I haven't had a show yet

Did you get the pine needles hoovered up (trying to take your mind off it...)

mucous is show

Surely you're not going to wait until you are actually pushing before you call the midwife?

Yes, I hoovered this morning while practically on my knees. I'd post a bloody photo but I'm not too sure how using my phone and not a camera (which is packed in case of an emergency).