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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Last week or two of pregnancy

632 replies

squidkid · 16/09/2012 13:44

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...

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SunnyD123 · 16/10/2012 12:39

Tell me about it - I have been off since 35 weeks with holiday and then mat leave from 38! I would have worked longer in hind sight but with my replacement moving in so to speak I would have been in the way! I think what is hard is going from having this busy career person existence to simply not knowing what to do with myself - my mega walk will clearly be the highlight of the day lol! Don't you feel like a time bomb ready to go off at any stage? Unfortunately I have no signs, no twinges, no false alarms or anything. 2 sweeps and nothing! She said I am very inducible whatever that means and have a soft cervix but I lack hope now!

The induction thing is crap, I have been booked in but the way it works is I have to call at 2pm on the day to check they have a bed for me - can you imagine if they don't! the midwife who has to break that news will regret it! All being well I then have to go in for 4pm and they will use a gel to hopefully get things going, if I'm not contracting by 9pm by dp will be sent home :-( and then will call him if anything changes during the night. That fills me with horror. You are lucky to still be allows water birth, the issue for me is that I'm not allowed to go the midwife led (brand new with a pool in every room!) centre to be induced but to the normal delivery unit. I feel this is most unfair Wink

You will be a fab mum I'm sure. My current worse fear is that I will be bored, but I'm sure as soon as she is here my days will be full. Are you worried how your current baby (cat) will cope? My cat is so spoiled and I'm sure her nose will be well out of joint!

Fingers crossed for contractions to begin any second! :-)

Spice17 · 16/10/2012 15:34

Oh my god, are you me? I also went on Mat leave at 35 weeks with leave until I was 38 weeks AND my replacement was brought in fairly early, so I kind of felt like it was time to go and get out of her way!

Also had no signs, no show or anything and I'm also freaking about being induced and then DH being sent home at the end of visiting hours if I'm not 'properly' in labour (how awful is that??)

I've been told I can call at 8.30am on Thurs but that they may tell me to call back later - what a stressful day that will be.

Such a shame you can't use the water pool if you're induced, mind you, I can only use it if it's free - there's one, yes one at the unit I'm going to it's also currently the only one in the whole of Bristol - unbelieveable eh?

My cat seems to be freaking already and he is properly terrified of babies/children. Because I trust him, I'll be happy to let him sniff her etc but I just know he won't go anywhere near her when she cries/moves etc - talk about scaredy cat! Do you think yours will react OK?

I will be keeping everything crossed that we both spontaniously go into labour today or tomorrow apart from my legs!

Orenishii · 16/10/2012 16:41

Awwwww spice and sunny - how far along are you both? Sorry, I could go back and look but am feeling a little wired!

Hahaha sunny I keep saying to DH - but what will happen to Bo?? (My cat, the original PFB). She actually suckles in my hair and buries her face in it so I walk around holding her like a baby. She won't do it with DH, though gets other cuddles from him. I keep thinking - who will cuddle her when I'm holding the baby all the time??

Overdueness...it's rubbish, just from the pressure perspective. Had a MW appt today on my due date, and she said if they go down the induction route, it's straight to the labour ward - no homebirth, no pool, no MLU :(

Spice17 · 16/10/2012 17:00

Orenishii, we're both 10 days over today and being induced Thurs.

It's interesting how many of us have cats too, like we all needed to practice our maternal skills first!

SunnyD123 · 16/10/2012 17:36

Freaky! Cooking up a storm in the kitchen now with super spicy Madras - it's now or never!

Speaking about cats I just caught mine laying happily in the Moses basket! Argh not ideal! I have a new radiator bed on order for her ( pampered cat lol) so fingers crossed she will take to this instead! I'm hoping she will be ok and I can't stress about cat hair etc all the time as its impossible to protect the baby indefinitely and she is my PFB like you Orenishii!

Watching re-runs of one born - not sure if this is wise or not, goodness I want my baby so bad now! Does anyone else go to bed every night with massive expectation of going into labour - I apologise to my dp every morning that he has to go to work and I have let him down again Smile

Nearly another day done - how bad is that, wishing the time away!

weezl74 · 17/10/2012 04:34

Good morning Ladies-in-waiting :)

I am very fed-up and feel doubting of my ability to discern real labour from false labour. This is really unusual for me, as I did completely know with my first 2 DCs. :( I keep having discomfort that feels like it should be the start of something but then it isn't :(

mummy2benji · 17/10/2012 07:46

Morning weezl74 :) Funny you should say that as I have been thinking the exact same thing - been getting lots of aches and tightenings and discomfort the past day or two and keep thinking "is something happening?" Feeling really uncomfortable and struggling to look after ds - had a wobbly moment yesterday and had to retreat to the bathroom to have a cry so he wouldn't see me upset :( Labour was totally obvious for me with ds too - waters went everywhere, then straight in with the strong contractions every 3 min. I don't remember all this discomfort before but maybe that was simply not having ds to pick up and chase round and getting more rest last time? Fed up here too! hugs

Doodlekitty · 17/10/2012 08:36

Ow ow ow ow ow

Woke up feeling great today having had an amazing nights sleep. DH went to work and then the pain started! I don't know if it's tightenings or just baby moving but it's very low down and frequent and agony. I really wanted to get stuff done today :(

weezl74 · 17/10/2012 08:57

mummy2benji thanks :) you too!

i hope all these niggles are getting us somewhere.

Spice17 · 17/10/2012 10:54

Hi ladies, well finally at 11 days overdue something has happened. My waters broke at 7 this am. They had meconium in, so am currently waiting for a room where I'll be induced, as not having any contractions. Am impressed with my body that at least something has happened and am now excited and nervous. Will keep you posted. Many thanks for keeping me sane over past few days xx

mummy2benji · 17/10/2012 11:04

Ooh how exciting Spice17! Hope you get your room soon and everything starts to happen now. Not long till you'll have baby in your arms! :) x

SunnyD123 · 17/10/2012 11:33

Excellent news Spice - glad that one of us finally got progress! I bet you were so excited when they broke Grin

11 days and still no signs here but nevermind I shall enjoy my last day of peace and our last child free night as a couple!

Have a good day everyone Smile

Beeblebear · 17/10/2012 15:30

,well just got up and it seems that contractions have fizzled out again. Hiss boo! Lol. Does anyone have a mantra for me along the lines of patience is a virtue?

weezl74 · 17/10/2012 20:44

Hugs all round. Sounds like we are all a bit fed up!

I decided to book a pregnancy reflexology again to cheer me up and try to savour the time rather than wish it away.

Has anyone got any other ideas for this?

mummy2benji · 17/10/2012 20:50

I've booked to have my hair washed and blow dried tomorrow morning while ds is at nursery! Bit extravagant / lazy not to simply wash my own hair but I am feeling so darn tired and sore it will be such a treat to have it done for me. Also, I am hoping that sod's law will occur - ie I am looking forward to having hair done, therefore maybe I will go into labour beforehand and have to cancel it! Yeah, whatever.... Wink

mummy2benji · 18/10/2012 08:04

Hope all goes well today Spice17 and SunnyD with inductions! Not long now till you'll be cuddling your babies! :)

Where are the rest of you - are you all having your babies?! Envy Not heard from Orenishii for a couple of days - all okay?

Hope everyone is well and those babies decide to come soon :)

SunnyD123 · 18/10/2012 08:44

Thanks :-) enjoy the hair dressers - so lovely for someone else to wash your hair! Fingers crossed labour starts as soon as you are finished! My last experience a few weeks ago was awful as I had a hot flush and couldn't stop sweating as she was blow drying me! Nice!

Nervous and excited here, barely slept a wink - I wonder how long it will take and how I will cope with the pain - so many unknowns! I cant call them to double check there is space until 2pm, if they dont i will be devasted!

Hope we all have our lovely babies very soon and Spice should already have hers Smile

mummy2benji · 18/10/2012 11:40

Waiting for baby news! Hope all is going well for everyone. I had my hair done this morning and it was a nice treat despite not going into labour during it as I'd hoped ;) Then raced to the supermarket to do the shop before fetching ds from nursery but didn't have time to finish it so I have come away with half the shopping! Now waiting at the school gate and it is raining... Typical after having hair done! Can you tell I am bored...? Any baby news yet from anyone?! X

Beeblebear · 18/10/2012 12:45

Nothing to report here todays. Felt very gloomy yesterday after I thought things were taking off but petered out. Staying at in laws closer to the hospital now. Dh came into the city to spend the night. Wanted him to come to bed for a snuggle but seems he slept on the couch. Kept having dreams that we were fighting. Woke up in tears several times last night. Just felt really alone and vulnerable.yesterday he never even asked how I was feeling or how my day was. :-(sorry for the woe is me post. Bloody hormones.

mummy2benji · 18/10/2012 15:26

Ah I know the feeling about the hormones... I had a wobbly moment 2 nights ago and felt alone and neglected - hubby had called to say he was going to be home late and I'd been having a rough day, just exhausted and achey. Ended up having a cry in the bathroom where ds couldn't see me. I've had dreams about dh and I fighting too, along with the dreams about being in labour. Must be something to do with the hormones. I think everyone hits a low point in late pregnancy where it seems so close yet so far, and feels a bit overwhelmed and daunted. Sending you a hug :) Hope you can have a cuppa and piece of cake and feel better soon. X

weezl74 · 18/10/2012 20:58

Just popping on to say I had DS3 here at home, safely this morning. :)

Thanks very much thread members for the company over the past few days, it has been lovely :)

Mummy2Benji please don't hate me because I didn't get to have my reflexology Grin and I am glad you had a pampering hairdo.

Hugs to all those in the horrid waiting unsure bit. It really is worth it guys, hang in there!

mummy2benji · 18/10/2012 21:12

Yay congratulations weezl74 and so glad you got the homebirth you wanted! :) Hope everything worked out okay with the 2 older dc's too. Thanks for letting us know your lovely news! Thanks

seabuckthorn · 18/10/2012 23:39

Oh brilliant news weezl congratulations!

Beeblebear · 18/10/2012 23:39

Congrats weezl!!!

I'm planning a dinner out tomorrow for chinese food. Surely that means that the sweep i had today will work... yes?

SunnyD123 · 19/10/2012 06:24

Congratulations!

This induction thing is not pleasant - pessary late yesterday afternoon and still only small tighten pains! Dp sent home around 10 last night. On a ward with 5 other women - 1 who has been talking to the midwife since 5.30am about god knows what (general chat not anything important!) with no regard for the rest of us so may be going slowly mad! Hearing the babies cry makes it seem so very close though Smile

Good luck to all those waiting, plan summer clothes for hospital - bloody sauna's! Grin

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