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

Original poster

Anyone else 37/38 weeks pg?

694 replies

DeathMetalMum · 03/03/2013 14:05

I'm 38 weeks today. Just wondering if anyone else is around the same point. Starting to feel a little fed up and I could still be waiting 4 weeks for baby to arrive. I don't have any real symptoms of impending labour at the moment. I am getting quite painfull tightenings with some back ache but saw the mw on friday who said head isn't engaged yet so not expecting much soon. How is everyone else dping?

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Dirtymistress · 12/03/2013 03:59

Congratulations radiator! So happy for you. Pleased you had a good birth. Which doesn't sound dissimilar to mine! Can't believe you're home already you mad woman! Look after yourself. Xx

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/03/2013 04:44

Congratulations Radiator! Hope your new daughter settles and feeds soon.

Thanks
Radiator1234 · 12/03/2013 04:48

I would have liked to have stayed but they seemed keen to get rid!

Dirtymistress · 12/03/2013 04:57

Good lord where did you have her? I am in a midwife led unit at my little market town in Northumberland's hospital and they would happily encourage me to stay for a fortnight! Came in last night at 9pm and asked if they could please look after him while I slept? GrinHave had six hours in a row! Feel like a new person.

Szeli · 12/03/2013 05:38

Aw well done :) hope these straightforward labours are the fashion and we're on track!

x

ZuleikaD · 12/03/2013 06:09

Well done Radiator!

Our MLU kicks you out pretty pronto too - a couple of hours if everything's fine. Though last time I had to stay in for 12 hours because there'd been meconium in DS's waters and they forgot I was there - had to wander the halls trying to find food!

Newmum2013 · 12/03/2013 06:10

Congratulations! Xx

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/03/2013 06:51

Dirtymistress that's awesome! Get as much sleep as you can!

Original poster
DeathMetalMum · 12/03/2013 07:06

Congratulations Radiator!! Flowers

OP posts:
chubbychipmonk · 12/03/2013 07:43

Aww we'll done ladies Thanks

Radiator - Did you actually give birth to DD 'in' the water? I really fancy a water birth this time round.

Dirtymistress · 12/03/2013 07:53

Water births are the way to go chippy. No damage to your bits. Nice clean baby! Grin

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/03/2013 12:26

I'm hoping for a water birth this time too.

Went to mw this morning - she says I'm a cm dilated and about 50% effaced but she couldn't reach to do a sweep. She said from how I'd progressed I'd hopefully give birth in a week or so.... But I'm not getting my hopes up too much.

How's everyone else feeling?

Szeli · 12/03/2013 12:40

Sore! Haha. A water birth does seem the way to go and although the maternity ward I'm on does have pools one of my clients (works in obs and gyny at a different hospitsl) suggested they probably wouldn't let me in it due to being high risk and consultant led... Surely everyone on the consultant ward is high risk so why have the pools if you can't use them? Any of you repeat mummies have a clue?

Aw whip never knew them not being able to reach was possible :( least she's hazarding within the week! xx

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/03/2013 12:54

Yep apparently so Szeli Sad - and my mw has long fingers! (Sorry tmi...)

Sorry you're so sore. Have a Brew and maybe a cheeky Wine

I don't know much about high risk wards but I would think it's definitely worth asking about a water birth. I know you can't have any pain relief other than gas and air if you're in the water, and it depends what sort of monitoring they want to do. Definitely ask though!

There's only one birth pool at my MLU so if someone starts dropping before me and opts for a water birth I won't get one anyway! Plus, I have heard that its a bit of a pita for the mw as they have to keep monitoring the temp of the water, and it takes quite a bit of time to fill up etc... I don't know if I'd feel like I was putting them to too much trouble!

Szeli · 12/03/2013 13:11

I suppose we could always jump in the baths in the en suite haha ours ward only has 2 pools but on the tour they said they're not used very often which suprised me. I just like the idea of actually fitting properly in a bath style thing without my blankets made of towels!

only gas and air? that's a shame, i'm counting down the days to the opiates! xx

Szeli · 12/03/2013 13:14

Oh and having lots of womb juice (affectionate name for rlt) and a duvet day but sadly no wine as maternity payments have still not arrived so had to borrow the rent this month off mother (i feel like a shit) got one lonely tenner left for the taxi when i go into labour! the joys of the self employed lol xx

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/03/2013 13:40

Oh Szeli that's rubbish about your mat payments Sad Hope they get sorted soon. Have you got enough stuff for the baby?

I've been taking the raspberry leaf capsules and started on evening primrose oil. I've heard you can use EPO as a pessary but slightly grossed out by that.....

Szeli · 12/03/2013 13:58

Yeah baby stuff is more than sorted; just bummed out I can't use maternity time to pop for dinner with the OH/see friends etc. They're hoping it'll be the end of the month for everything.

Tried the EPO as a pessary with the help of a grimmed out OH and it was so painful but I did have a show (probably more down to his ferreting than the oil) have been having at least 3000mg a day orally tho and tried it the other night in conjunction with DTD which was much more appealing.

Love the rlt too, drinking about 5 cups a day, don't think il ever stop with that :)

OohShiny · 12/03/2013 14:26

Congratulations Radiator!

I've been having nipple trouble today. Just managed to get rid of a painful what I can only assume was a blood blister or blocked duct from the centre of my left nipple that appeared overnight.

Can't believe I've got problems before the baby! Im not even leaking colostrum, only tiny drops come out whn i squeeze.

My wonderful DH who was home for dinner even tried popping it with a needle for me bless him. I'm now sat with my boob in salt water to cleanse the hole that's left! attractive.

On the plus side (possibly) nipple tweaking seems to have set my Braxton Hicks off again, or hopefully the real thing! delusional

Szeli duvet day sounds perfect (im waiting for payday on friday so also lounging and doing housework) but cannot agree about the raspberry leaf. The tablets taste bad enough I could certainly not stomach the tea!

What's the primrose oil used for? Not heard of that one.

Sorry for the essay!

Szeli · 12/03/2013 14:37

My Grandparents had a raspberry farm; think that's why I'm fine with the tea - used to years of unsweetened fresh raspberries.

EPO is just used to assist with the softening of the cervix (in theory) even if its not done that tho its made my hair and nails nicer than they 'be ever been!

At least with a salt water nipple bath you've got to see the funny side! Pregnancy is mental xx

milkyjo · 12/03/2013 14:47

Congratulations Radiator! I've had a hectic day at groups with DS all day. I am just getting more and more twitchy because I'm booked for homebirth but still no signs of baby - that said I've not even reached my due date yet (Friday). I just want everything to go smoothly, and even if I have to transfer in at least try and spend most of my labour at home. 12 days over and they say a homebirth is not recommended. I am using evening primrose as it's supposed to help your cervix dilate quicker. I take 1000mg orally in the morning and 1000mg as pessary at night when I get into bed. I can't actually reach my cervix but, as I said on another thread, hoping its getting absorbed and if nothing else the oil is helping to soften my perineum!

milkyjo · 12/03/2013 14:48

When I mean it helps to dilate your cervix I mean once you're in labour - it doesn't start you off as far as I'm aware.

Original poster
DeathMetalMum · 12/03/2013 15:32

Well I feel like crap! Didn't sleep all night due to contractions well maybe an hour or so of dozing. They have slowly fizzled out again however every now and then get hit by a wopper and have to breathe it out etc. Dp is off to work in an hour, I'm wondering how long after he leaves it takes for things to start up again if I'm lucky.

OP posts:
Radiator1234 · 12/03/2013 16:26

Hi all Dirty it's a hospital near Manchester I think if you are in the MLU then quick in and out is the norm. The idea is that it's in homely surroundings then you go home. There was no bed in the room just a couch thing. V nice though. It's ok. The MW came round this morning and baby as been feeding well today.

Chubby I did have her in the water yes. I didnt feel strongly about having a water birth or anything (didn't really have a birth plan... it just said "I'm open to all forms of pain relief!)... but they'd run it for me and it looked inviting and indeed it was. It was quite nice to be in the water when youre in such pain.
Bit minging to be sitting in a bath full of blood, poo, mucus etc after you've had the baby but hey ho (they clearly don't promote that when pushing the water birth 'eh).

Szeli last time I had my baby on a normal labour ward and I was low risk. The MLU at that particular hospital was full on the day. It was fine though. There were no pools at that hosp put I think some do have them on the normal labour wards.

Whip... PMA... At least you're a cm dilated :-). Re. The pool and no drugs I agree that was one of my fears. I was all for the drugs to be honest. Because it was so much quicker this time 'round though not much time for drugs and strangely I found the gas and air reasonably effective. It made me feel drunk. Weird as last time I don't remember it having ANY effect. In fact I was pretty sure there was just normal air in there! So (in the event a pool is available) gas and air and pool might not be too bad.

DeathMetal sounds to me like you might be next!

Anyway conscious am high jacking this thread with birth and baby tales so I will stop as this is a much needed overdue moaning thread!! It was nice to wake up each morning and have a mini moan on this thread. Keep it up! Good luck and quick, pain free labours for all soon!

SayCoolNowSayWhip · 12/03/2013 20:38

Aw DeathMetal, hope something had kicked off for you now. All this stopping and starting must be so frustrating!

I went for a long brisk walk today in the hope of kicking something off, have eaten pineapple and curry and will attempt the EPO pessary tonight, possibly accompanied by DTD. Now if I can just fit in some nipple twiddling and gym balling I should be ready to go!

Radiator don't feel you can't update us - we all love a good newborn story. Stay and whinge about sore nipples and tiredness (not that I'm wishing these upon you...!)