Last week or two of pregnancy

[squidkid]

Just a place for advice/suggestions or a place to chat for those of us in the last couple weeks of pregnancy. I am on a brilliant antenatal thread but my due date is the first there and I don't want to bore them all with nonsense about braxton hicks and how to fill my days when lots of them are still at work... and I think they would prefer their babies to stay inside for now! I'm not quite at the "get it out of me" stage yet... but I'm definitely at the "if you came now you'd be very welcome" stage.... :)

I am 38+5 today and this is first baby. I know most first babies come late, so I've been trying to tell myself I'll be late throughout the pregnancy, but now I'm term it's hard not to be excited. In the last three or four days I've had long periods of continuous mild period-like pain, and some painful tightenings (sometimes very close together, but then they stop). Are these imminent signs, do these mean nothing... I don't really know. I haven't had a show.

Baby has been engaged since 34 weeks (uncomfortable!) I'm pretty sure his/her back is on the left side at the front (all the kicks are upper right hand side) which I think is ideal. I'm a little obsessive about keeping baby in a good position - I spend time on all fours, make sure I get plenty of walking/standing, sit on a gym ball when I'm on the computer, sleep on my side, I don't lie back on the sofa. I'm probably overthinking this.

I am doing pretty ok for late pregnancy - still walking at least a few miles a day, or swimming, or walking into town every day. I actually did a charity night hike last night! (Boyfriend carried maternity notes in his backpack through the woods - it was a bit stupid really!) I am slow, but I thought I'd be a lot heavier and more immobile by this stage to be honest. I stopped work a while back - a very busy, stressful, physically and emotionally demanding job - so I've had a lot of time to relax, nest, exercise, see almost all my friends, sort my flat out. Everything is neat and sorted and stocked and ready.

I'm grateful that I've had a troublefree pregnancy and hoping the birth will go fine too. Feeling positive and relaxed about it, just impatient!

How are other people doing? Staying busy, getting anxious, waiting, over-analysing every tiny sign!? Any suggestions for good things to do in the last week or two? Please no one tell me to 'get lots of sleep' as this is the one thing I am completely incapable of at the moment - up every 30-60 mins through the night...

I finally officially changed hospital at 40 +5!! Cant believe i left it this late and too many people will think im crazy, but i just could not go ahead eith my original choice! Visited the new hospital today for a "booking" appointment and also had a routine MW session. Feeling so much more confident and comfortable now. Im really pleased! On the other hand, my baby is not engaged yet!!! What is he doing? Seems he is doing everything except for the one most important thing, which is to come out :))

Next MW appointment booked for next tue, and if things have not progressed by then, induction will commence on Wednesday at 40 +13! I hope so much something will happen by then though! I really am not keen on being induced. In the mean time, i have refused sweeps, onthe basis that thy hurt and there is no guarantee they will work!

On the more practicle side of things, i have a badly trapped nerve which is massively effecting my mobility and generally my well being. I can hardly walk cause it is so painful!! I just feel soooo lazy now! The only positive thing is that i have stayed active throughout my pregnancy, and whilst it is not great that i am not able to be so active now, all the walking etc i have done, will still come handy.

Regardinv sleep, i am really struggling with turning and changing sides! The other night i had to literally sit up, turn my top half of my body to the other side and then lie down again!

I wish all of you who are in labor or about to go into labor the very best oc luck!!!

If that is what you feel is right, then totally sensible and not crazy at all ST82!

Having said all along I didn't want a waterbirth, last night I bought a birth pool. Also felt a bit ridiculous seeing as will be 41 weeks tomorrow with zero signs of labour being imminent, but am trying to stay positive!

Sorry to hear about your trapped nerve. That sounds horrible. Is it pregnancy related? Hope you aren't in too much pain.

Will we have any babies today I wonder....

trapped nerve is horrible and totally pregnancy related..... It started hurting around 20-22 werks but it has got worse ad thd baby has got bigger.. Now it is so painful and effecting my mobility.. :(

Good luck with the birthing pool.. I live with the hope that it is possible not to have imminent signs of labor but still go into labor eventually... 41 weeks tomorrow for me as well and here is to staying positive.

Btw my bump gets really really hard at times!!! I cant help but feel sorry for the little one sometimes as i feel he is realy struggling for any space in there whatsoever... On the hand, we had a relatively good sleep last night...

Hi all,

Variously 39+5, 38+5 or 37+5 today depending on which due date I choose to believe, and so over being pregnant!

ST82, I have known people, both in RL and online who have gone from zero signs of labour to holding their baby in the space of a day, so it does happen. Sorry to hear about your pain from trapped nerve, not what you need on top of all other pregnancy discomforts but I guess at least you know it should disappear as soon as the baby is born? And well done for changing hospital, sounds like a good move.

Pollyindia, I went to a prenatal exercise class at my gym on Monday and when we did walking lunges, I couldn't lunge very far down on the left hand side as baby's head was in the way! Really weird! But like you, nothing else since than, although I'm not quite overdue yet. Another vote for birthing pools here, hoping for a homebirth in the pool, have visions of serene labour and birth in our living room with low lights, warm water and hippy music - ha ha ha, reckon I have an almighty wake up call coming pretty soon! You could always sit in the pool for a bit with some clary sage oil in the water - apparently can help kick off contractions.

No news from Milk yet!

I only just ordered the pool yompingjo so it isn't here yet. But I have the same vision now I have ordered it!

I am not actually over being pregnant, but I definitely want to meet my baby now. And I don't especially want to get to 42 weeks. If I knew it would all start of its own accord in the next week, I would be perfectly happy. And I guess there is every chance of that. I must think positive! That has to be my mantra.

ST82 could the bump being hard be braxtons? That is a sign of something at least! I agree, the trapped nerve makes everything much harder. Well, neither of us have long at all. And I know it could happen at any time.

No news from any of the people being induced. I hope they all have lovely snuggly babies now.

I am off for a walk in the forest - make the most of the sunshine!

Milk is still waiting to be induced :(

If this baby is half as lazy stubborn as his mother then this could take a while

Hello, can I join? 39+4 today and getting desperate (and I know a lot of you have waited much longer)

I could describe how I feel but WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! somehow covers it better

DH not helping with his own desperation for DD to arrive and ringing me from work to see if anything is happening at least twice a day (Does he not think I would contact him if it was??)

Felt both heartened and like crying my eyes out reading this thread. So immobile now and fed up but I know I'll have her in 2 weeks ish I suppose.

Ihopeyousteponalegopiece, jeez, poor Milk. Send her our best.

Hello Spice17!! Yes, not long for any of us, however much it might feel like we will be pregnant forever! All our babies will be here soon - these are the last days of freedom (well, as free a you can be when you are extremely pregnant!).

Did a 3.5 mile stomp round the forest. Next up, I am going to meet my friend for lunch at Nandos. Extra hot chicken and the XXX hot sauce. I know none of this stuff really works but sod it.

Spice and ST82 (and whenhenshaveteeth - are you still waiting?), I just read this article on being 'overdue'. Interesting I thought.

m.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/oct/01/pregnant-for-10-months?cat=lifeandstyle&type=article

pollyindia and ST82 I was due the same day as you. My last baby was 16 days late and I agree with much of that Guardian article. The change in how you feel after your due date has passed is always surprising, especially if you have friends who don't do long gestations! Good for you in sticking to your guns about your hospital and water birth. I am declining induction and waiting it out, but happy for sweeps to get things as primed as possible since I'm a VB2AC and really need to avoid any excuse for intervention/syntocinon. This baby will engage 1/5th if I walk for a while and it happens to be in the right place at the time. The rest of the time it is suiting itself all over the place, despite the lack of room. Hard not to get frustrated, especially as I know my cervix is soft and ready to go. Positive vibes.

Interesting article, thanks. I've been getting strong, sharp, shooting pains on and off since Sunday, worse when Im moving around. Pretty sure its not contractions but is anyone else getting it or had it?i also had it few weeks back and posted. But pains are sharper now, so wondering if its am indication of labour starting? Here's hoping!

Spice, I've always put sharp pains down to the baby stretching ligaments that haven't been stretched yet, like when it is moving down. Labour pains are much more like period cramps which start at the back and then crawl round and up your bump, much like a wave of nausea (but sore!).

They've started milks induction!!

Mini milk is on his way!!

Hi
I'm 40 + 7 & saw midwife today, baby's head engaged but midwife was unable to do sweep as cervix too far back.

I'm booked for induction on Monday which I want to avoid as this took 3 attempts with DC1 & I really don't want to be stuck in hospital that long. DC1 was never engaged so I know this baby is in a more favourable position.

Anyone else had this & any tips would be welcome.
I'm trying to walk but very uncomfortable & I've been rocking on ball.

Yay for Milk!
Poppy, you can choose not to be induced if you think that things are going to go naturally for you. I cleared it through speaking to the consultant midwife. They will meet with you and go over the relative risks of choosing induction or delaying induction/expectant management and you can make your choice based on what you hear. You can't be asked to undergo any procedure that you aren't happy with!

Having baby's head engaged is definitely a positive start. Could you ask MW to try another sweep before Monday? Other than that, the usual things fabled to bring on contractions such as going up and down the stairs, ball bouncing, raspberry leaf tea, clary sage oil, curry/bowel stimulation etc. can make you feel better by trying.

Thanks blooblles. I've already had induction delayed to latest date that my consultant will agree due to my age, high blood pressure & needing bloods checked regularly so I know it has to happen Monday. My midwife has been great & I'll try to see her Friday for another try at sweep but my cervix was same in last pregnancy & she thinks it's just the way I am unfortunately.

I've just booked a reflexology session for tomorrow, not sure if it will work but if anything it will help to relax me a bit.

I've been drinking raspberry leaf tea so I'll keep having that & I've got chilli for tea tonight, will get a curry tomorrow. Sent my DH to get pineapple on his way home so fingers crossed I'll get things going before Monday.

Cheers Blooblies, 'productive' ligament stretching it is then - have to keep positive!

Every nihgt I go to bed and think, 'could be tonight' and then wake up in a foul mood!

Good luck to all the overdue ladies xxxxx

Spice17 I keep going to bed thinking the same. It's so frustrating. I'm sick of all the texts & phone calls now - people keep asking if baby has arrived yet, I know they're just excited but surely they realise I will let them know when baby is here. I wish I had a good sarcastic reply but I've taken to just ignoring anyone who asks.

Good news Milk!

Blooblies, that is it, I have been really surprised at how passing the due date has affected me. I always thought I would be more than a week past that date, yet still wake up every day thinking oh, is this the day. I've been having a nice time, walks, yoga, gym, meeting friends and having lots of little snoozes - but still, there is this underlying sense of just waiting for something. Sending you loads of positive vibes :)

PoppyT I am sorry, I know nothing so no tips, but surely baby's head being engaged is promising? Fingers crossed it starts before Monday.

Spice17 I've not had pains like that I don't think - maybe the odd sharp pain - ligaments makes sense.

I am definitely feeling more crampy tonight, but it could have been all the XXX hot sauce I had at nandos at lunchtime on top of 5 miles of walking. We shall see!

Just spoke to milk they broke her waters at 625 and are monitoring her

So its all heading in the right direction!

PollyIndia i am jealous of your 5 miles of walking and really disappointed with myself and the bloody trapped nerve... however, i did have an amazing day out with my mum today, i drove to see our friends and their new baby girl, which was amazing, and i have been feeling full of energy and high spirits...

around 3pm until about 7pm i have almost hourly period like cramps and lower back pains; i got really excited and i suddently felt a lot more energetic and so ready to do this now... but things have slowed down since then... which is ashame.. it is unbelievable how much much my mood has changed over the last week that i have been overdue. Agree on the calls/txt from friends and relatives, i thought it was great the first couple of days after my DD but now it is getting a bit annoying, specially as there is NO news... anyway, i have decided to take every day as it comes and just enjoy these very last few days of being pregnant...

41 weeks tomorrow!!!

best of luck to all.... much

Sounds like a lovely day st82. And very promising re the cramps. Any update overnight?

Totally agree with you re trying to take every day as it comes and enjoy the last bit of being pregnant :)

Lazy day today as got to wait in for birth pool and the you view installation man. Got a friend coming up for coffee though. If they all come early enough I might treat myself to one of those gel manicures. I never have manicures and my nails are dreadful. Might be a nice thing to do in the last days of pregnancy.

Any news from milk?

Morning and hello to everyone new - sorry can't be more specific due to my stupid phone...

Any news from milk? Any more twinges anyone?

Had a sweep yesterday, I'm OS ie my cervix is 1cm open but only bcs I had a child before and that it never quite closed since (charming!). My cervix was still "pretty thick" so it's not looking good. Had no show or twinges since... Off to literally walk myself into labour after I've typed this - I don't want be be induced!!!!!!!

Btw, I also tried caullophylum, clary sage, Jasmine, lavender, acupressure and bouncing on my ball...

It is a beautiful day for a walk whenhenshaveteeth. Fingers crossed it kicks things into gear.

Autumn is my favourite season