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...

Congrats on new arrivals!
Squidkid and Polly - I'm now 40 + 7 and I've been so much more up and down emotionally over the past week than at any other point in pregnancy, makes me feel a bit unhinged at times to be honest!
Yesterday was probably the worst yet. Had MW appointment first thing, expecting to have a sweep and make an appointment for another sweep two/three days later, along with the usual checks and chat about what's going on. It was MW I hadn't met before, ran through the usual checks as at every appointment over previous months, then went to make a phone call and came back with a booking for induction on Tuesday! I was completely thrown, managed to stay quite calm while I asked A LOT of questions about induction, but she could see that this wasn't the conversation I was expecting.
I'm seeing MWs in one NHS Trust area but will deliver in another, and I think a lot of the confusion stems from the fact that they follow different procedures. While I was expecting two sweeps before I would be booked for induction approx 40 + 14, the hospital where I am delivering induce at 40 + 10, which for me equals Tuesday. There's a lot about being induced that makes me feel really anxious, so to suddenly have a date sooner than I was expecting made me feel really stressed.
MW had already told me that she felt my previously well positioned baby had turned so that their back was to my side, and while I had been told at last two appointments that the head was mostly engaged, it seems it is now mostly free. Neither of these things would be an issue for induction, but it was suggested that I need to try to turn baby a bit if I'm to go into labour spontaneously, and that now has to happen against a deadline of Tuesday.
When I finally fessed up that I'd been expecting a sweep, the MW was happy to do one, carried out internal exam but couldn't do sweep as my cervix has not done ANY of what it should be doing to get ready for labour. If baby was fully engaged, the head pushing on the cervix might help my body figure out what it should be doing, but otherwise nothing I can do.
On the positive side, I'm well, baby is well and by the end of the appointment I had answers to all my questions and we know more about what is going on.
On the negative side, if nothing happens this weekend, and lets be honest it's looking unlikely, I have to go to the big hospital on Tuesday to be examined and monitored. They will expect to be doing induction, I was told I can be examined to see what's going on and then discuss delaying induction for a couple of days, but think I'll need to be firm if I really want to go against their policy. Lots to think about.
Meantime my OH is really sensibly saying "don't worry about Tuesday yet, just do what you can each day to change baby's position"...so I walked two miles yesterday, swam 25 lengths and have a serious crick in my neck from watching TV on my hands and knees last night!! In low moments I get really blue thinking about Tuesday and can't think about anything else, to the point that I even reversed into a bollard when I was leaving the swimming pool yesterday afternoon!! In the sane moments I can remind myself that when I'm holding my baby this will all be a distant memory, whether I'm induced or not. This is just a few days, being a mum is forever, that is definitely the bigger picture I have to cling to.
funchum I hope your midwife appointment went better than mine?!!

Ah right. Sounds like you have exactly the right strategy then.
And here's hoping it all happens for you tonight
But either way, you will have given it your best shot and if the baby is meant to come out through the sunroof, then that is obviously how it is meant to be. xx

My midwife has just been. I LOVE the homebirth midwives. They are both just the nicest women you could ever meet and I just feel totally confident in their care. Baby's head is defiintely in pelvis and maybe engaging she thought, so that is good.

But she said I am not allowed to go into labour this weekend as she has other births on - it's funny, that's released me from my slightly over-emotional and antsy feelings of wanting to be in labour and I feel happy and calm again.... for now

So I will be 40+4 by Monday and then the baby can come any time he/she wants.

Cross posted CluelessMama. You have hit the nail on the head I think, that this is such a short time of frustration and anxiety - you will be holding your baby in no time at all and none of this will matter. I am so impressed with your superwoman approach to it through.

However the baby comes out is the right way as that is what happened.

And will you all remind me of that in 10 days time when I am in the same boat?!

xx

Polly good hear your homebirth midwives are lovely, sounds all sounds fab.
Laughed out loud when you said I have a 'superwoman approach'...not feeling at all like a 'superwoman' but you're a gem for saying it cos it made me smile!!

Clueless, just wanted to post to say that you DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE TO INDUCTION AT 40+10. It might be hospital policy but it's YOUR body and YOUR baby. You have the right to say no, please don't feel like you are powerless here. If it's a decision you are happy with then by all means go for it but do not feel that you HAVE to go with it. By the sounds of it from your attempted sweep, your body is not ready yet, and this is the problem with induction and the reason it can (as I understand it) lead to longer, more painful labours and ultimately the possibility of more intervention - it is trying to get a process started without the body agreeing to it in the first place.

It's great that you asked lots of questions but it might be worth asking one more: what happens if I refuse to be induced?

If I am sounding over-militant and this is not what you want to hear then please tell me to bog off! It's just personal bugbear that women feel they have to do what they are told by medical professional , when birth is a natural process that has gone on for aeons before hospitals took control of it all.

. OK, rant over. But just do know that you have choices. Sending you for the stress.

Also, AIMS have guidelines that it might be helpful to read and wave at the midwife - I'll see if I can find some online for you.

It is NICE I meant, not AIMS. Guidance here.

Couple of key phrases:

You should be offered a membrane sweep
at your 40 and 41 week antenatal appointments during your first
pregnancy, or your 41 week antenatal appointment if you have had a
baby before. If labour does not start after this, you can ask for additional
membrane sweeps.

You should be given plenty of time to discuss induction with your partner
or family before making a decision, and your healthcare professionals
should support you in whatever decision you make. If you choose not to
go ahead with induction, your midwife or obstetrician will discuss your
care options with you.

I'll leave you in peace now

YompingJo - I don't think you sound militant at all and totally agree with and appreciate what you have said. Very reassured to read your views and feel that I'm not mad!! It's all about the importance of being informed. I asked what if I don't want induction on Tuesday, and was told I still have to go to hospital an hour away and be examined by them, and discuss the issue with them (couldn't just make appointment to be examined with local MW again). If I say no to induction, MW thought they would want to monitor me in the days that follow. She said local MWs would happily do that, but hospital might want me to keep going back there to be checked.
As you say, if body isn't ready on Tuesday it would seem to me that induction will be a longer and more unpleasant process as they try to bring every aspect of labour on artificially, so I'd be inclined to say no. On the other hand, if an internal exam on Tuesday shows progress from yesterday, then things are heading the right direction and I'd be inclined to say no to induction as I'd have evidence of things happening naturally.
Given how keen I have been for baby to appear it seems entirely crackers to be contemplating choosing to delay things!! I feel, though, that all NHS information suggests that there are potentially issues if pregnancy goes beyond 42 weeks, and this is the date other Trust areas work with, so asking at 40 +10 to be given 2/3/4 more days shouldn't be a problem, and if we get to 42 weeks we discuss induction again.
Also have to be open to the fact that if there are health concerns for me or baby I'll say yes to induction. And if I get totally fed up maybe at some point I'll completely change my mind and just want baby in my arms! And maybe something will happen before Tuesday?!!

Pollyindia homebirth midwives are lovely! I went to check out our local MLU as a sorta "if I end wanting to go in" kind of thing. In front of about 30 other women at the talk, I sorta mentioned an HB was my actual choice - I got two very enthusiastic "Good girl! Is it your first baby? GOOD GIRL!!" from the MW giving the talk.

Aside from the girl bit, I felt very proud and it really validated my choice, and gave me a lot of confidence.

Hi Ladies,
I've been popping back often to see how you are all doing and just wanted to say I think you are all wonderful and have fantastic attitudes! It is hard going over that annoying due-date.....seems to have a huge emotional effect for most people (me included) but just hang on in there!

I felt like I was nowhere near giving birth until my waters went which just goes to show you can feel like it's never gonna happen one minute, then suddenly be in the middle of giving birth the next. Whenever and however it happens you will have your snuggly bundles soon. Although my home waterbirth was incredible, my first birth which was long, and ended up in hospital at the end was also incredible and both experiences special in their own way....

We decided on the name Annie in the end for our little girl....she is now 5 days old and extremely chilled....she barely lost any of her birth weight and is now busy getting porky :-)

Sending you lots of positive thoughts.....keep smiling, you're doing fab!
Look forward to all the birth stories soon xxx

Hey everyone.

Had my second sweep this morning and the mw was very positive the labour will start before the weekend is over. She said he's now engaged and my cervix is lovely and soft 'like a blamange'. :)

So fingers crossed now, and if it doesnt happen, then i'm off to be induced monday morning anyway.

Good luck Mikyahrose - sending many going into labour vibes your way :)

I'm 39+4 today, and had my first sweep :) It was uncomfortable, but not screaming painful which was nice :)

Waves

Had my second sweep Thursday and no change here at all apart from having the cold which is making me even more miserable. Booked in for Monday afternoon anyhooo.

I agree milk was uncomfortable but nothing more than that thankfully

Congratulations paperclips and turquoise! How lovely!

Milkahorse I'm crossing my fingers that the second sweep will work, go for a long walk and imagine your baby coming.

I'm 40+1 today and have had a few tightenings but nothing more. I've got a sweep booked for wednesday and I have a feeling I will still be pregnant on wednesday. I'm supposed to be the first of my friends to give birth but have the feeling I'll be the last. I'm ok about it for the moment but will get nervous when they start talking induction, I was induced last time and really don't want to happen again.

Got to rush, DS is being a little monkey! Sending lots of labour vibes your way ladies - don't forget to have a curry tonight!

Not about babies, but whenhens your addaption of my name really made me and dp chuckle.

Ooo and a little about babies (and because i just spotted the perfect smiley) the midwife instructed me to have a glass of wine and chill out this evening. Yey!! :)

No news here yet. I had an hour of pains at around 3.45am but nowt since. I went to a sling library meet and have had instruction on how to use a wrap sling I have rented so at least it's been a productive day.

I think I am looking at induction on Tuesday now but have made my peace with that.

The MW I saw ten days ago said induction had to be on the labour ward, but the one yesterday said they may agree to move me to the MW led unit if induction leads to good regular contractions first time. I forgot to ask whether I can labour in water if induced though. Weird how you can never get a straight answer!

Thanks everyone for all the congratulations messages and I hope you get to meet your babies soon.

We got home last night, very happy to be back.

I think it was a good brisk walk on Wednesday that worked for me! The tightenings I'd been having all week got much stronger and by midnight I knew it was the start- although I kept it to myself- didn't tell dh I'd been up all night until 5am. I didn't get a wink of sleep, contractions were every 5 minutes from about 4am when I posted on here, but not very painful.

Rand the maternity unit at about 7.30am for advice because I had been told to try and go in earlier because I needed antibiotics at least 4 hours before birth, for the group b strep. "But your first labour will take much longer then 4 hours" .....so they all told me...

Rang again later as much stronger, and was told to get community midwife to assess me. So I managed to see the communicty midwife at midday by which time I was in lots of pain and quite tearful. She confirmed I was 3cm dilated and range the labour ward, and sent me down so I jumped straight in a taxi. DH found time to make himself a sandwich!

I had planned for a water birth but as I arrived at the MLU at about 12.30 my waters broke and had meconium in. So I was transferred down the corridor chugging on my gas and air, to the consultant led unit for monitoring. At this point I started really hammering the gas and air and it is all a blur after that. I was kneeling on a mat. I was examined and was 5cm. Around that time I started begging for an epidural, as there was no let up between contractions, they were constant! Really soon afterwards, I was told I was 8cm! I was still waiting for my epidural. I believe the anaesthetist was there but then I was fully dilated and everyone was asking if I was ready to push. I wasn't quite ready. But I remember realising I could probably do it without, and wanted to as, I had always intended to be on all fours or upright as possible. However....just then the baby's heart rate dropped, emergency alarm was pulled, and the next thing I knew it was "we've got to get this baby out" and a registrar appeared to get him out with forceps. I don't remember her at all but DH tells me she was totally brilliant. Within half an hour little Noah had been delivered safely onto my tummy at 3.30pm and he was absolutely fine, and super doctor was stitching me up. Had to stay for 24 hours to keep an eye on him. But the post-natal ward was great.

So from being at home 3cm, to baby in arms with epesiotomy and forceps, in 3 and half hours with just gas and air...blimey I'm hardcore!

It was all a blur like I'd been out on the vodka and dh had to fill in a lot of bits that I didn't remember!

A thing I would say to any first time mums who are anxious about having to stay in hospital rather than going straight home. I found it brilliant and I'm really glad I did. The midwives were so helpful, but never in your face, they were really approachable and if baby was screaming in the night they'd ask if you were alright without making you feel judged. It was great for getting to grips with feeding, as you could just buzz for them if you wanted to check baby was latched on alright. It was just good to have them there to ask "is this normal".

OK sorry to fill up the "I'm still pregnant" thread with my birth story....I know what its like. Just happy thoughts to you all... it will happen, you'll have your beautiful baby before you know it. And don't worry about not getting the birth experience you wanted, plans are made to be changed and when your little one is safely in your arms it doesn't matter how they got there.

cluelessmama I feel exactly as you do about induction. I am also booked for Tuesday (will be 40+12) and was thinking of postponing til 14 days over. However now I have had that date in my mind for a while, and have been reassured that I can delay if I want to, and am really uncomfortable, I think I am going to go ahead on Tuesday. However if I feel things may be starting naturally (eg more tightenings etc) I do feel confident enough to argue for waiting.

Forgot to say, had my first sweep yesterday which was uncomfortable but not really painful BUT delayed by the fire alarm going off just as the MW was putting on her glove! I ended up in the car park, with no knickers on, for ten minutes!!!

Ha cluelessmama! Glad to be of service :) It does sound like an impressive level of activitY!

Mikyahrose (I agree milkahorse is a good adapation!), sounds very promising. Fingers crossed.

I had my mw appointment today at 40+2 but she didn't offer me a sweep nor did I want one. I might take one in 8 days to avoid induction but with the homebirth midwives, they don't offer you an induction appointment until 42 weeks then it's up t you if you take it as they are totally happy to discuss expectant management, and happy to do homebirth if you go into spontaneous labour, even late. I was really pleased when she told me that as makes me feel like my options are open in a way that I don't think I would be here if I was still under hospital care. As a few of you have said, I may well be desperate to get the baby out by that stage so grateful of the appointment but it's nice to know it wouldn't be a battle if that weren't the case. Anyway, hopefully baby comes before but if not Funchum8am, at least you will have your baby within days. I have read loads of positive induction stories.

Orenishii sounds like you've had good experience with the homebirth team too. My mw said today that most of the mums she sees round here are first timers. People say I am brave, but I've looked into it all and I am 5 mins from the hospital so I feel happy with my decision.

Paperclips, congrats again. Fast labour! Sounds like the midwives etc were all lovely for you. As you say, it's all about a healthy baby, however he or she gets here.

Love the name Annie JessTT.

The mw appointment this am really calmed me. I had a lovely day playing in the park with my niece, having lunch with friends and wandering round the william morris gallery and the park and now got curry coming and xfactor with the parents. Then we are going for a huge roast 6 + 2 babies tomorrow and I am going to attempt the gym. I love this autumnal weather :)

Have a nice evening all of you. Hoping all of you ready for labour finally get going tonight.

xx

Mikyahrose, sorry to have got your name wrong! I'm not the brightest at the moment... Having said that, I think you should consider a name change, milkahorse would suit you I reckon!

Paperclips your birth story sounds stressful but it also sound like you coped very well, well done.

Funchum I reckon you're going to be next and that you won't need the induction, just walk and visualise your baby. I know I keep saying that and it might be a lot of rubbish but I think it's worth trying. I do hypnobirthing and they recommend visualising a budding rose flowering to ripen your cervix - again could be a lot of gobbledyggok but it doesn't cost anything trying.
Also, meant to say, your kinky session in the car park made me laugh (a shiver a bit!)

milk any progress?

Polly several of my friends had homebirths for their first time and it was fine. I think one of the most important things in labour is to be comfortable with your environment and the people there so if for you it's at home, it's the right decision. Plus, as you said, you're 5 min from hospital so if you need to be transferred it'll be easy.

Literally nothing from me. I slept really well - I do that al the time: I have a bad night and then sleep really well. I can't see this baby coming out any time soon tbh. In my head it'll be wednesday or thursday after the sweep. I'm planning on doing my cleaning, going for a long walk and going swimming after. I often feel like he's prodding me down there and have some tightenings but nothing that really hurt.

Right, need to think of something to do with DS today bearing in mind it's raining - aaargh!

Feel a bit periody painy this morning - so hopefully thats a good sign, off to a car boot in a bit, then food shopping - which is a difficult one this week, trying to think how much to buy and what food will keep better than others, and trying to to think of quick easy meals and snacks. We're thinking we deffo wont be home for tea Monday night, but could be back home tuesday. Or if it gets dragged out, might not even be back till the weekend. Who knows eh!

What we do know though is that this time tomorrow, we'll deffo be at the hospital and hopefully in labour!

Oh my goodness looks like there will be lots of obstinate, didn't want to come out little ones making an appearance tomorrow and Tuesday.

I agree paperclips with not worrying if things don't go to plan, all that matters is your own and baby's safety. All my options, except following a medicalised route, went out the window last time which is why I kind of laugh when faced with writing a birth plan, and then don't bother other than vit k, skin to skin and breast feeding. I think you sound like you have a really positive attitude regarding your birth that didn't exactly go how you anticipated it. Well done!

How are you today funchum and milk ?

I'm not bothering with a food shop Mikyah . My freezer and cupboards are fully stocked and I can do an internet shop when I get back or send other people out to skivvy for me. Not sure when I'll be home myself. It's normally three days they keep you in after cs but I know my friend got home earlier than that after her second. Saying that I'm in no rush. I've never breast fed before, expressed and then bottle fed ebm to ds as he couldn't latch, so like the idea of mastering that before I get home.

With regards to induction I know my friend has turned hers down so far and is just doing sweeps with daily monitoring.

Amyway may get back to the housework as it won't do itself.

Just to let you all know I delivered a gorgeous baby girl at 5.30 this morning at home, after a tough and lengthy labour. Waters broke midnight friday. I was hoping so much for a home birth that I feel a bit bad saying I found it incredibly tough!!

truthfully I feel a bit shellshocked (and haven't slept since thursday now!) but am here with baby Jess in my arms and that makes it all ok. lots of love.

Congratulations squidkid!! Well done you. You must be so pleased. Sounds long and tough though. Eek!

But brilliant news.

Mikyahrose and Ballroomblitz, good luck for your inductions.

My family all just left after staying the weekend and I had a little glass of wine at lunchtime and now feel a bit meh.... Just realising that this will be tough, waiting for the baby to come and then doing it on my own when he/she is here.

Whenhenshaveteeth, hope you had a nice day with your ds. Homebirth is appealing but will have to see how it all plays out!

Congrats squidkid. :)

Think things may be starting here. Had period pains all day, which now seem to be getting stronger. Think i've just wiped away a bit more plug too.

Just cooking tea, then gonna have a bath.

The car is already packed up ready for the morning, so we're ready to whenever really.

Ooooooo!!!