Waters gone, waiting for everything else to catch up...

[MakesCakesWhenStressed]

Yes, another live labour thread. I'm bored and DH is napping (made sense whilst he can and there's not much he can do for me atm).

Waters started trickling at about 5.30 this morning, MW confirmed, sent me home, told me I needed good regular contractions by 7.30am tomorrow or it's off to the hospital to be induced instead of my hippy-dippy natural birth at the MWLU like I had hoped for...

I've been for a walk, done housework, got DH to do light touch massage and have bought some clary sage which will be used this afternoon...

I'm getting some tight squeezy feelings, but not enough for me to confidently call them up and say - yup, got contractions...

So. Anyone want to entertain me whilst DH sleeps? Or discuss the pros/cons of nipple stimulation etc...?

How exciting! It brings back memories My contractions took a good ten hours to get going after waters broke. I resorted to sitting forward on the bed with a book and just rocking back and forth. I let dh sleep too as I felt the weight of expectation was heavier if he looked at me.

Try to eat, it should help with the acid x

bollocks just lost post - my cx totally threw me as they weren't anything I was expecting, didn't believe i was in labour for lots of it.
I found watching The Hangover of all things v useful as so outside the situation of labour it allowed me to turn my analytical brain off and relax. I'm trying to think of the equivalent of a warm bath for you and failing...

Am so tired and my back aches, but I don't want to lie down in case that slows everything up.

You're doing brilliantly.
Can you prop yourself up with a warm hot water bottle on the small of your back - lots of pillows, try to doze?
Maybe get dh up for a quick back rub?

Actually - I could try a nap face down over the beanbag, I've had lots of naps like that during the pregnancy and I'd be mostly upright and leaning forwards still - thanks for getting me thinking! Am so away with the fairies atm. If that doesn't work I'll wake DH for some massage.

I love MN - it would be so gruesome doing this on my own and the way things are going I really DH to rest now as much as possible.
xxx

That's the thing, you don't really know if it's the real thing when it's your first time. I only have ds, but I was at home, cleaning and tidying thinking it was like period pain for the most part, bad period pain mind you. It wasn't until one cx left me gasping that I felt maybe time to go in. Turns out I was 8cm!

So all the niggly little ones were real contractions. Think positive. You are doing brilliantly.

Excellent thinking - try the bean bag nap, hope you manage to doze, also hope when you wake up it'll be time to go to hospital for a quick delicate sneeze and a beautiful baby!

keep focusing on your amazing baby on her/his way to meet you.X

Hi cakes, just checking in, sounds like there's real progress with good contractions now, and I hope you're getting a good nap by now! Am sending positive MWLU vibes to you, but I'm certain you won't give two hoots where you give birth once the baby arrives, so don't think about it too much!

Good luck!

cx getting stronger and more regular, well, they were, but now I've had a longer gap of about 15 minutes so it comes and goes a bit. Feels like baby may have dropped a bit more though - was a bit uncomfortable when I sat on the ball again. Think I might wake DH soon and see what he thinks.

Bean bags are amazing.

Oooh good luck cakes! How exciting.
Sounds like I need to buy a beanbag ...

It's not odd to have a longer gap (or so i hear) but they will gradually fade away, so sounds like you're definitely on the right track!

Don't get cold again!

Fantastic news, sounds super promising - You have spurred me on to keep going on the essay for another 15mins!
Am keeping everything crossed for you that babycakes is fast approaching.
Think OPEN
and see if you can manage to eat something - you'll need the energy.xx

Kohl I'd like to send you some late night essay love - it's been a long time since my last turbo-coffee fuelled essay all nighter but I remember them well! The Gladiator soundtrack was always what kept me awake and firing on all cylinders!

Thanks Ghost! I knew I was missing something...

keep breathing cakes.x

Had some sugary cereal, fruit juice, cuddle with dh... I quite enjoy the cx, odd though that sounds - I go all deep inside myself and it's a satisying sort of sensation.

How come you're posting at this hour ghost?

You are doing wonderfully, sounds as though it's going beautifully (making me almost a bit misty eyed). Am off to bed now as am writing rubbish and fully expect to hear about your lovely new baby in the morning. Good luck!X

fx... :) Sleep well and thanks for the support.

Hey ghost - saw your other post - sounds like you may need to join me on here soon. How funny if we shared a birth day as well as a due day? :D

It would be nice but I can't quite bring myself to believe it's happening! Though the timing and intensity is definitely not just wishful thinking. Anyway I don't want to hijack your thread - is your DH sleeping or up with you now?

Thinking squeezy thoughts for you! Xx

You're not hijacking, you're sharing. It's nice, actually.

I left him to go back to sleep again. It kind of takes the pressure off to be doing this on my own a bit. Might need him if they get stronger. Some of the bigger ones have had me using my hypno breathing more and a bit of support would be good if they all start getting like that.

Is your DH asleep?

Sounds good! Yes, haven't woken him, doesn't seem fair if it's a false alarm.

Right, you, get contracting! I'm going to try sleeping and if I can't I'll try the TENS machine and start tracking timings again. Good luck!!!

Hi I'm back.
Glad to see things have progressed a bit
With dd1 I was so convinced it wasn't the real thing that I went swimming! Managed one length..

I'm going face down on the bean bag again - hopefully check in later xx
Good luck to you, too

Hi Cakes I'm sending ever increasing contraction vibes to you I did also want to say that I didn't get the MWLU water birth I had so hoped for (DS is 6 weeks, they were full when my labour started and I was panicked when I found out when we called to go in. In the event, my labour and birth experience was really positive even though it wasn't what I'd 'planned' - I suppose I wanted to offer that as sometimes what you focus on as 'must avoid' turns out to not be so bad after all

Good luck with your labour, I hope you are snuggling your newborn ASAP

Keep resting, you will need your energy, if they start hurting remember paracetamol can help. Would say have a bath but I know you can't because your waters went and remember what matters is you and baby get through safe and well.
Ended up with a c-section with my dd, despite my firm intention to labour at home in the birthpool and when it was over and I had my little girl, it all seemed so irrelevant. Good luck!