Anyone else here around 38 weeks?

[MayimBialik]

I know there is a last week or two of pregnancy thread but it's got to the super long stage making it hard to get into hence me starting this thread.

Currently 38+1 weeks pregnant with my first DC and DESPERATE to meet my baby now. Actually I'm probably not desperate - I think I will truly understand the meaning of that word if I go overdue. But I really don't want that to happen!

Trying to keep active and walking loads plus swimming when I get the opportunity. Bouncing on my ball occasionally and taking raspberry leaf capsules to limber up the old uterus. These seem to be giving me Braxton Hicks though as I've noticed them a lot in the last couple of days since I've been taking the capsules.

Struggling to sleep, feeling very achey in pelvis and getting period like pains (have been for a week or so now, but very mild!)

How's everyone else at this stage doing?

Hi ladies! Been lurking a little, 38 wks today :) reading and watching with interest and congratulations to those already had their little ones! - congrats glenda!

Moonlighting a little from dec antenatal thread and sometimes popped on nov thread, due 26th nov but been freaking self a little with cramps and fact that i was born at 38 wks - . MB34, ive been having exactly what you describe but also feels similar to what mw said were fixing pains at 36 wks when he was fully engaged so not sure.

I think i saw a good website somewhere here called www.haveyouhadthatbabyyet.com - worth directing people there .... :)

Oh that's lovely Glenda, congratulations! Lovely name and 7lb 2 is a nice size!

I've been having the same aches MB, and nothing so far, but fingers crossed. My boobs are rock hard and sore at the moment, hoping that's a sign!

Clarella - welcome! Don't be worrying too much about baby coming early - have you spoken to your midwife about it? 38 weeks should be fine though, if it were to happen. And that website is fab, I've just posted the link as my facebook status

Hi All,

I've also been reading and waiting to qualify; I'm 38 +1 and due on 25th November. I went for an internal today as baby is thought to be big and I might be induced. I'm not dilated but cervix is quite favourable so I'm guessing the effacing is what has been causing all the braxton hicks and general niggles.

This will be my second DC. I've been thinking it strange that I'm relatively lucky in that I can sleep when I want during the day (DC at nursery), am on maternity leave and can generally take it easy. As this isn't my first I'm aware of what I'm in for sleep deprivation wise and early days chaos, I'm scared of the birth and yet it can't come soon enough. What's that all about?!

Congrats to all who have given birth so far

Hi frantan! Can i ask - how would you/ they know the cervix is favourable? Is there anyway i could tell myself?

Thanks freddie, seeing mw tomorrow so will chat- shes generally very non plussed about everything though!

Hi Clarella

I actually had to ask someone on Mumsnet to interpret my notes earlier as I didn't have a clue. Basically, my cervix is only about 1cm long (as opposed to approx 4cms) and it is anterior rather than posterior in position. Your cervix needs to become thinner and shorter in order to give birth, in addition to dilating. I would defo ask your midwife to examine you you as I wouldn't have a clue what to look for myself.

Ok thanks fran - dont think she'll be too impressed but i'll ask!

I'm in the same boat Fran - want baby to come but not looking forward to labour. My first was too long and not nice at all, DS was big, back to back and needed ventouse to help him out. My midwife today was lovely though, she said I had a typical first labour and shouldn't need ventouse this time round...hopefully:)

Sounds good for you though, hopefully you will go early and not be stuck waiting!

Yes, Freddie, I'm with you on the first birth - DS was back to back, big, poorly positioned, resulting in episiotomy, foreceps and a PPH. Not nice and I want to do everything I can to avoid a repeat. My consultant is quite dismissive, however, laughing it off as a first birth. Let's hope we're both luckier this time round!

Can I join, but I'm now 40+3 and so ready to meet baby!
Had a sweep on Friday which hasn't worked however I lost my plug over the weekend. Midwife is coming this morning to try another sweep. fingers crossed for this one, had lost of pressure pains but nothing significant and what can only be described as a clear out this morning.... Really hoping things start today

Ooo hi twotums, hope it gets going today :) keep us posted!

Grr midwife has called in sick so sat waiting for relief to come instead. My dh was supposed to be at work but he's had to have the day off now as when I had my sweep on Friday baby didn't likebitband heart rate dipped so we spent Friday at the hospital being monitored.

Congrats Glenda ! Lovely news.

Well Im 40+9 and thoroughly fed up :-( I had a sweep yesterday, pretty sure I lost my mucus plug a few hours later and then was experiencing uncomfortable contractions every 5-8 minutes for a few hours last night. Managed to fall asleep, woke up and they had stopped!!! And now no sign of anything

Hope everyone else is doing better than me

Aw Mayim....I read your thread on childbirth last night and was really hopeful for you.

Congratulations to Glenda, I love the name.

Welcome to the newbies.

Mayim, I'm 40 plus 9 too and totally fed up. I had my third sweep today, cervix mid position and soft, 1cm dilated. not really any change since Sunday. I have also lost my mucus plug. Midwife thinks it is unlikely I am about to go into labour and therefore fairly resigned to induction on Thursday pm which for me means syntoncin straight away as vac......... Keeping everything crossed for you.

Congrats Glenda hope you're home and happy x

freddie and fran i was v worried about labour too as DS was long labour, big baby and needed ventouse and episiotomy to get him out. when i was in labour this time the mw told me to forget about last time as each delivery is different and she was right!. labour this time was v short and i pushed her out in 10 mins with no intervention.

you never know how things will go but try to have hope and don't be scared. You can do it

Sorry to hear of everyones frustrations and worries . good advice corona; every second birth i know of has been super fast and completely different.

Im reeling a little from being booked today for a sweep at 40+1 (which is in 2 weeks, just diddnt expect it) and something about induction at 41wks cos im over 35?? might have wrong end of stick there :/

Thanks Corona, it's easy to get carried away with the worry and the "inevitability" of one birth being like another - must remind myself this is not the case.

However, at my MW appointment today I was informed that baby is back-to-back, like last time. Have subsequently spent all my time leaning forwards. That will explain all the kicks to the front and pain in the back.

Clarella - is there a reason you don't want a sweep in 2 weeks? You want things to take their natural course? Must say I've not heard of induction for being over 35??

Sorry to hear everyone's so blue about being overdue, if it's any consolation, apparently in France (any French people, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong) but they see pregnancy as being 41 weeks!

It's my due day today, but no movement which I have to say I'm a little pleased about as I want to see the last Twilight film, which is out Friday and Hollyoaks is getting really good this week lol!! (You wouldn't think I'm 35 would you!)

Clarella - Sounds as if you don't want a sweep or to be induced? As I said, I'm 35 too - I've told my midwife that I don't want a sweep or to be induced and that I will only look at these options once I get to 42 weeks and she was ok with this. I've been doing hypnobirthing and my instructor (who used to be a midwife) said you shouldn't be pushed into anything you don't want as long as you and baby are doing well.
Loving that website you mentioned too :-D

Hi, no no, i think i do actually, was reeling as much as oh shit this is really happening as in im having a baby (doh!) I think i thought that sort of thing got organised nearer 40 weeks, and then met the nct gang and 2 docs said our health authority had a policy of sweeps at 41 but as the nice guidelines now state to offer after / at (?) 40 some mws are offering. Id heard different experiences locally so was confused! The actual sweep makes me shudder a little but i would love it to work!

Oh dear frantan - could you manage a swim? Might get lo round? Or scrub the floor!

Glad to know I'm not the only one Fran - and that your cons thinks that forceps are hilarous . We will have lovely second births, I'm sure:)

Corona- Thanks for the reassurance, hopefully it will be better this time round!

Clarella - I'm booked in for induction on the 21st, I'll be 41+3 if that goes ahead, cons said it's policy here to not let people go more than 10 days over. Although DS was born at 42+1 3 years ago, so things must have changed since then. And nothing to do with my age either, I'm 28.

Was hoping that was you gone last night Mayim, here's hoping things pick up again soon! Maybe this will mean you'l have a shorter, easier labour:)

MB, congrats on reaching due date!

Well hopefully things don't come to that, been having very slight contractions all day, they stopped when I had a bath but have been going since 9 this morning. Nothing unmanagable though, and a lot less sore than what I had with DS, although they were all in my back. Going to try and sleep now, hopefully things will get moving soon! (Although I'd like at least 3 hours sleep first...:))

I am still fucking pregnant. That is all.

Oh Freddie - baby brain, is it due date today? I cant do maths anymore.

No, it was SUnday:(

I could never do maths in the first place

Oh pants - Still getting contractions or have they stopped? (I am a total novice mind!)

They've stopped now, haven't had any since yesterday morning. Wasn't like this at all with DS, gah! Oh well maybe it will be an easier labour:)