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?

Congratulations to you both

Ooh. How wonderful! Congrats from all at MNHQ...

Purdicles come and join my live birth thread

Congratulations!

Brilliant, three fantastic births, so delighted for you all!

A fantastic live birth thread ECC, and starring roles for iggy and girlsyearapart.

But can I just check ECC- did you say a 13lbs placenta ! Seriously, they get that big?!? As a naive first timer, I did not realise it could be nearly twice the size of baby. You deserve a double prize for getting that out as well....

[[http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/birth_announcements/1356175-Calling-all-Advent-Babies-Lets-make-an-Advent-calendar-of-all-babies-born-this-month i made a baby advent calendar.
let everyone know if you hear of any more babies being born (i'm not bored enough to trawl all of the threads for births!!)

mucked up the link

woooooooooooooo well done me lovely and welcome baby exquisite. congrats to all.

congratulations !

Well done ladies !

Welcome to the world little babies , your just in time for Xmas !

Well done! 13lb placenta too?! You must feel so much light today! I have been lurking for a while :)

ThefirstNoel my placenta sort of just glopped out, was like pushing a big chunk of jelly out. I am having a physiological 3rd stage this time so it might be more effort but it was easy. So don't worry :)

Cheers purple, thank-you for the reassurance- am actually having a section so will escape having to squeeze it out, ginormous or otherwise!

I am just amazed, as (apols for upcoming TMI) I grew up in a very rural area and am used to seeing placentas all the time following cow/sheep births, and the farm cats tucking in, and therefore thought I had a good idea of general sizes in relation to the 'baby'.

I must just be appalling at judging size (insert joke here)!

Congratulations ECC !! lovely name, enjoy your new baby ! Xxx

So proud for you both. Wishing I could visit but will have to do. Oooo new baby snuggles!
Take heart all pregnant ones. She may have said fuck this hurts but she was still in control enough to type! Good on you girls. Sniff feeling emotional.
I too still want to know who the niece is!
Yes I did indeed find more wine. Tee hee!

Been lurking for 2 days and delighted to see two thread babies
Well done Iggly and ECC.

Oh enorrrrrrmous congratulations! And all in your own home, how perfect.

Wolfiefan - you won the guess the sex and weight - your guess Boy, 8lb 6oz.

Congratulations!! A most memorable thread that has had MNers pressing refresh buttons and logging on fanatically to the rolling eyes of DHs who were left to feed the household!
Fantastic

William idris, 8lb 9oz, born this morning!

what time?
You need to put it in the advent calendar!
here

congratulations!

Ooooh congratulations! What a fab name! How are you both doing? - blimey, that's good going, posting so soon (or are you Mr Pottering??)

Another lurker, been following this and wanted to say a HUGE congrats to ECC and Iggly! xxxx

congratulations to you all !!

Congratulations ECC and Iggly :)

Wolfie well done for guessing right! My TOD was 4.22 am. Pottering well done! Congratulations my gosh I'm sore my poor coccyx

Congratulations Pottering and welcome to William!