Signs of labour or just BH?

[Madallie]

Just wondered if anyone has any experience/advise?

I am 39+2 and have been having what I assume are BH this evening since about 8.30pm. They are quite a painful tightening over my bump but the pain is quite concentrated low down - where you would experience period pain. They don't seem to have a pattern to them but some of them have been quite painful where I have had to get up and change positions.

Just wondered if these do sound like BH or if this could be the beginnings of labour? I remember reading that BH can be uncomfortable but not painful and that you don't get many at one time whereas these are quite painful and have been happening for almost hrs.

Anyone any experience of this?

[HopeS01]

Thank you x
We left this afternoon and are doing really well at home (well, Hugo is, I still can't do much with this hematoma)

Any signs for you Yogi? I hope the UTI isn't giving you too many problems. It won't be long now

[Yogibear72]

Congratulations Hope on the arrival of your baby boy!
Wishing you a speedy recovery and hope you are ou of hospital soon x

[HopeS01]

Madallie!!!! You will never believe, I had my little boy at 9.04 on Friday!
We almost gave birth at exactly the same time!!!!!'

He's a whopping 10lbs 3! Had my waters broken at 4.30pm, in established labour by 5.30pm and he was here 3 and a half hours later.

How are things for you? I'm still in hospital at the moment because I've had quite a few stitches as you'd expect with such a big boy, and now I've got quite a painful hematoma (sp?) but everything is wonderful and I couldn't have wished for a more wonderful experience.

Sending all my love and wishes to you all xxx

[Madallie]

Thanks Yogi. Hopefully this gives you hope that it really can happen any time.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you and of course for Hope too. Looking forward to hearing your good news very soon.

[Yogibear72]

Congratulations Madallie so pleased for you. Your small miricle happened! In the nick of time too.

Nothing much happening here. Annoyed because I've managed to get another UTI despite being really careful not to. I almost think it's inevitable with the baby so far engaged.

[Madallie]

Hi all. Just a quick post to say our baby girl was born at 9.05pm last night. Had contractions all day Friday although not always regular, went to hospital at 5pm, established labour 7.30pm, baby born in the pool at 9.05pm.

We are all doing well.

[Madallie]

Hi all, had sweep today. Cervix is now mid post, 1 cm dilated and mw said she could do a fairly good sweep apparently so guess that's some progress.

Still not confident anything will happen in it's own and I'm booked in for induction on sun morning.

Still hoping fir a small miracle thought.

[Yogibear72]

Good luck Hope

Hope things are progressing for you Madallie

Still being woken up by contractions overnight but they don't progress to anything. No show yet so doubt I've dialated.

[HopeS01]

Haha Yogi!!
I've tried everything; raspberry leaf tea, evening primrose oil, nipple stimulation, bouncing on the birthing ball for hours every day, pineapple (only 3, couldn't face 7!) ... And I've been eating hot curries and chilli for lunch and dinner for days on end. Nada!

Tomorrow!!!! Induction is tomorrow!!!!

Can't wait to hear how it's going Kitty

[Yogibear72]

Congratulations Kitty
Well done. It would be good to hear full story.

Scary thought that Hope your last childless day. I said to OH that be warned as I may be in shock after giving birth. It's a big life changer. What about pineapple? Do they have that on Isle of Wight ?

[HopeS01]

Kitty!!!!! Sooooo delighted for you! huge congratulations x

Madallie, I think they'll try induction first. If your cervix is posterior, firm, barely effaced and 0-1cm dilated then I guess they might not want to put you or the baby through the unnecessary stress. I'm sooooo hopeful for you! Sorry I can't help, it's just a guess, first baby too.

Yogi, I'm having my baby on the Isle of Wight because my family live here so there's no chance of finding a good acupuncture practitioner . Fingers crossed it works for you though, let us know!
It's finally sinking in that tomorrow is my last child-less day for the rest of my life. Wow.

[Ilovekittyelise]

hi guys!

i will give full story later as just about to get nap but matthew was born on monday at 652pm. basically was in early early labour when i went in for induction so just had waters broken and was in hard labour pretty quickly. had a beautiful experience xxxxxx

[Yogibear72]

Ooopps didn't mean to post so soon...

He's away on business till tomorrow evening so I'm avoiding doing anything to bring on the baby for now

[Yogibear72]

Pineapple Hope - apparently you need about 7 of them. I have a pregnant friend who's planning to eat one a day between now and her due date.
Bouncing on birthing ball.
I think that acupuncture has been known to work. I'll certainly be giving that a go if I go over. Probably best to go with one that's recommended. I have the details of one if you are interested.

Let me know if you find any that work.

Sorry Madallie, first baby here so no idea what they suggest. Hope the sweep goes well.

My OH is away on business for one night back t

[Madallie]

I have mw app tomorrow. I'll be offered another sweep. As I'll be 41 weeks we will discuss induction but I just don't know what they'll say about it if my cervix is still unfavourable. Anyone know if they're likely to attempt induction or if they will just suggest c section straight away?

[HopeS01]

Still nothing here either; had another sweep yesterday and induction Friday.

Any plans to help things along for either of you?

[Madallie]

How's everyone doing? Still no baby here. Have had a constant mild dull ache in back and tummy since about 3 am but I'm sure that'll probably ease off and come to nothing. Really hope not though.

[Yogibear72]

Nothing much going on here either. Had some contractions and period pain yesterday and the Sainsburys shopping trip was interesting but died down to nothing.

[HopeS01]

Glad everything went well Madallie, when is your next sweep booked?

I had a sweep this afternoon and I'm going for a review at 9am tomorrow. I'm in the diary for a induction (yey!) but hopefully the sweep will work before then! I'm very hopeful that things get going overnight, I'd like to avoid induction if possible.
The midwife said I was 2cm but easily stretched to 3 because my cervix has thinned so all favourable.
Fingers crossed for everyone else!
Xxx

[Madallie]

Sorry to hear there are no babies yet. None here either.

Monitoring and scan all went well. Doctor has no concerns he said, which is a relief. While I was there I was so tempted to say, "can't you just induce me while I'm here? I am 4 days overdue!" Somehow don't think they would have gone for it. Also, I'm aware that induction will work best if cervix us favourable which last thurs mine wasn't so I guess the longer I leave it the more chance I have of a successful induction. Although still hoping to go into labour naturally of course.

Achey again thus afternoon/evening but it all seems to die down when I go to bed. Find it hard to sleep, even more so since I heard most people go into labour at night. It's ridiculous, but I kind of lie there 'waiting' for it to all kick off. Not a very clever idea. I'm shattered.

[HopeS01]

Hi all,

Still absolutely nothing for me. Days of slightly painful/very uncomfortable contractions (often regular), lots of back and stomach aches and terrible stabbing pains!! But it always turns out to be nothing.
I'm fed up of hearing that he will come in his own time, I'm really low and just want to fall asleep and not wake up until I'm in labour
I'm going to beg the midwife for an induction when I see her on Wednesday.

How is everyone else doing?

[Fedup1992]

Hey I'm 40 weeks today! Ha a show yesterday an more of one today! Few contractions then nothing. Teaser!!! How was ur monitoring over this weekend???

I'm booked in for a sweep Thursday so fingers crossed for a valentines baby xxx

[Madallie]

Thanks Yogi, monitoring has all been fine. Baby is moving well so hopefully scan will be fine.

Not that I'm thinking this is in any way a sign of labour (I've given up with that now) but been having ongoing backache and period type pains on mind off since late afternoon. I know this could last for days yet but at least I t's making me think (hope) that things are moving in the right direction.

Sending good labour inducing vibes to you all.

[Yogibear72]

How's it going Hope anymore progress? Sounds like you are on your way.

I hope all is well Madallie and the growth scan goes ok tomorrow and the monitoring has gone well. It's hard not too worry. I measured 33cm last week at nearly 37 weeks and seem to have lost a cm somewhere as it was supposed to be 34cm at 34 weeks but then bump has dropped. At the scan last week and the baby is average size.

Ilove hope all is well

[HopeS01]

You're right, I know I'm making a big deal out of nothing. He will come eventually!
Apologies for the essay but I'm excited this morning

I noticed I was having a lot of "BH" last night and they were quite uncomfortable so I started timing them at around 11pm. They were 6 minutes apart and very regular, lasting just over a minute every time. I say they were regular, they were between 6.00 and 6.30 intervals. Is that regular?
I called the ward just to see if it was getting my hopes up about nothing and the MW said it was likely to be the beginning but it could last for days. She told me to get some sleep. It took a while because of the discomfort and excitement but I slept for 4 hours. This morning the BH have slowed right down BUT I feel like I'm carrying a bowling ball now! TMI alert: when I went for a wee and wiped it actually felt like a bulge. Is that normal?! So sorry.
I'm on the ball now and I've been pacing around for about an hour. Hopefully this is the beginning (even if it does take a few days!)