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?

(shouting up the stairs) STEP AWAY FROM THE BATH AND PHONE SOMEBODY!

Don't get in the bath!!!!!

You're in labour and on your own

I think she's in the bath.

Exquisite all ok?

hope her dh has his key.

I am actually biting my nails here!
Hope you're ok Exquisite xx

Hope her toddler stays sleeping.

Omg, You. Are. In. Labour.

Fwiw, I've never had a show with any of my 4 labours and the only one that didn't start with my waters breaking first - baby was born less than 5 minutes later.

Get your DH home and MW round NOW!

Good luck, you're going to have a squishy newborn very soon :) Do you know the sex or is it a surprise?

I bet it's not a surprise any more :o

While I don't want to distract from the thread, why is it so unwise to get into the bath? Does it speed things up? I am clearly alarmingly unprepared for the arrival of DC1...

This is all too much!

OP get someone over. Is your DS home with you? At the least ring someone in case he needs looking after.

Might be more of a surprise than she bargained for if she got in that bath...

Christ exquisite you're killing us here! Really hope all okay

love yes in established labour, it can speed things up.

Love I'm not sure entirely, I would just hate for her to be in the bath and then want to get out and be unable, due to pain, baby hanging out of fanjo or whatever. I think it actually slows it down but it is jeffing amazing great for pain relief!

lia66 I stand corrected!

It slows down early labour but can really help get things going if labour well established

Gosh this is riveting. Hope everything's ok!! I'm due on Saturday and I hope I'm as nonchalant as Exquisite when I go into labour

I'm seriously worried about the OP, I know how fast it all went when I was where she is now, I was just lucky that we decided to get checked out or my daughter would have been born down the leg of my jeans on the school run. She should know to call the midwife, she got to 10 with no pain with her last one, she is seriously in denial if she thinks she's not about to pop that baby out within the next hour, I wouldn't be suprised if it's here already!

Thanks, lia and ICan.

Good luck OP! I have to go to sleep but look forward to reading the updates in the morning when you have your baby!

Right that's it, I can't stand the stress, I'm opening the wine...White anyone?

10 minutes till her dh is home, hope he makes it

Sending you lots and lots of luck, OP. xxxxx

tap tap tap......

yes i got in my birthing pool far too early, grrr - MW told me afterwards - helpful!

mum got a drop of a nice red? am bf so just a little one.

I'm staying up now :)