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Anyone due in April - part 3

334 replies

Debbiethemum · 13/04/2004 13:54

Hope nobody minds me starting a new thread, but the old one was taking forever to load.

Who is still waiting? It's just that the thread has been very quiet of late.

I am having this baby, the day afer tomorrow (c-section), when are the rest of you due. Sorry I can't remember

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emmagee · 29/04/2004 16:31

Lesley - thinking of you, this time last week it was me so it's all very fresh in my mind. If you haven't gone into labour yet I expect it's imminent so eat a really nutritious meal and rest up - you'll need the energy. Good luck! Also being 2cm dilated is a really good thing, even if it does take a few days, it means your cervix is doing something!

Fennel · 29/04/2004 19:31

good luck Lesley, hope it's all happening for you.

hope you have an easy time of it after all this waiting.

Lesley76 · 29/04/2004 19:31

thanks for all your kind messages. I had a show about 9am, then all I've had is cramping pains off and on. Just like period pains really - just when they are getting bad enough that i think I need to take a paracetemol, they stop. Dont know what to make of this - advice please? Is this normal?

Am holding onto the fact that i managed to get 2cm dilated wihout knowing it ( I know.............the next 8cm aren't so easy!!!!). I'm now really desperate to go into labour on my own and not have to be induced on Monday night.

Took your advice Emma and slept for THREE hours thsi afternoon while 4yo in nursery and have eaten dinner. Still feeling tired and crampy but otherwise OK. So what happens now????

hewlettsdaughter · 29/04/2004 19:33

Lesley - period-type pain is EXACTLY how my two labours started....

Metrobaby · 29/04/2004 20:27

lesley - good luck - mine started exactly the same way. Get as much sleep as you can now as the pains will get stronger and more intense as the hours pass.

If you need some support - start a thread like I did about being in labour - honestly it really helped to take my mind of things, and I found the postings very supportive too.

MrsDoolittle · 29/04/2004 21:35

Lesley - I was 2cm dilated 3 weeks before which was discvered when I told the MW I had a show, but from everyones experience they are ALL different so it's difficult to tell.
I was induced when I didn't want to be but to be honest Lesley you will be so pleased to be that close to seeing your babay you won't care. That and the fact you are sick to death of being pregnant and i have to add I couldn't believe the relief!!
Go Lesley - Goodluck

hewlettsdaughter · 29/04/2004 21:39

Here - rather belatedly - is my birth story. Thought I ought to post it before Lesley's baby arrives

Isobel Lucy arrived at 2.21 am on Sunday 18 April 2004. For much of Saturday I had been feeling pressure in my pelvis, which I put down to the baby moving down further (at the last antenatal appointment she had been 3/5 engaged). By the evening I was experiencing some discomfort, but not what I would call pain. We put our son to bed, had something to eat, then sat down to watch a recorded episode of ER (the one where the woman who was 38 weeks pregnant went into labour while her family lay unconscious around her, knocked out by carbon monoxide poisoning?. At about quarter to ten I was seriously wondering whether I was experiencing the start of labour. After an unplanned homebirth first time round, we had planned a homebirth this time. Due to the first labour being so quick, the community midwives had told us to ring as soon as I felt anything. I did intend to do this, but just like the first time, we ended up faffing around for a while, while I tried to work out whether this really was it or not. I tried having a bath but didn?t feel particularly comfortable. At about 12.30 pm I decided I was having definite contractions rather than general discomfort. Leaning over the kitchen countertop helped, as did a wheat and lavender bag we heated up in the microwave and applied to my back. We timed the contractions for a bit, which were coming maybe every 6 or 7 minutes. At about 1 am I rang the 24 h emergency number for the community midwives and was put through to a hospital somewhere. The midwife there took my details and then phoned the local midwife on call. I spoke to her at 1.30 am; she decided to go and fetch what she needed from the local hospital and then come out to the house.
While we were waiting for the midwife to arrive, my husband was trying to persuade me that we should get the plastic sheeting out for the floor ? I think I was in denial at this point though, as I said we had plenty of time for all that. The midwife arrived at 2 am and noted that I was having strong contractions. I?d expected her to examine me and tell us how far on we were but she must have known that things were going to happen very soon? I got my husband to sit on the sofa while I knelt on some old towels in front of him on the floor, holding on to his legs. At 2.16 am my waters broke (quite explosively!) ? the midwife helped me take my soaked pants off, and then I said I wanted to push. The pushing stage lasted only 5 minutes, which was a good job as it bl**dy hurt! I remember trying to blow when the midwife said to, saying that it was burning, and the midwife telling me that I was ?stretching beautifully?. At 2.21 am Isobel was born.
My husband cut the cord once it had stopped pulsating (the scissors were blunt so it took some hacking!). I decided to try for a natural third stage but to have syntometrine on standby if it didn?t work out. The placenta didn?t move, despite Isobel being put to the breast. I had syntometrine at 3.30 am ? this didn?t do anything so we tried breastfeeding again. By this point the midwife was preparing us for transferring to hospital. Luckily the placenta and membranes were delivered by controlled cord traction at 4.30 am (over 2 hours since the birth!).
We all got to bed by about 5.30 am. At 6 am we heard our son outside our bedroom door saying he needed a wee. His dad went out, took him to the bathroom and told him that that the baby had been born in the night ? he was very excited and came in then, to meet his new sister.

Toots · 29/04/2004 21:44

Oh my golly gosh, that's beautiful HD! Particular congratulations on 'stretching beautifully'. How are you now and what is dd like?

hewlettsdaughter · 29/04/2004 21:49

Apart from breastfeeding problems (and piles), I'm fine - thanks! DD is gorgeous

hewlettsdaughter · 29/04/2004 21:50

Did have a small second-degree tear but no stitches.

MrsDoolittle · 29/04/2004 21:57

I had piles too and a 2nd degree vaginal tear but I feel much better now. Wondering when to resume 'intimate' relations with ones dh actually ;0
How do you know?

hewlettsdaughter · 29/04/2004 21:58

It's when you feel ready to try, I guess.

MrsDoolittle · 29/04/2004 22:02

Uhmmmm!

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 10:42

Excuse me!!!!! Aren't you the ones who were sniggering at Fennel and I when we were discussing the efficacy (or otherwise) of rampant sex for inducing labour???!!! And now you are thinking about it a matter of DAYS after giving birth???? With cracked nipples and stiched and torn bits???!!!

In case you haven't guessed I'm not in labour . But am hopeful that the on/off crampy pains are going somewhere......

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 10:44

HD - i am stunned by your bravery in doing all this at home (you too of course Fennel). What a great birth story - well done

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 10:46

And BTW - plase post all your stories now, before my baby comes Like weaning, potty training, going back to work, kids starting school..........

lemonice · 30/04/2004 11:48

Couldn't resist adding my good wishes to Lesley for the impending birth although I am a fraudulent interloper. Have been following everyones progress over the last few weeks.

A lovely story HD and hope the feeding is not so difficult now.

My dgs is doing fine now and also dd. He nearly almost is just about to have a name. Which is the name dd first wanted but rival grandma had said they were not to name him that or she would disown them all!

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 16:47

Thank you Lemonice. What is your DGS's name?

beansprout · 30/04/2004 16:52

How are you today Lesley? Hope you are not going too insane, I really feel for you and just keep lurking to see how you are! I saw your other thread - will you be giving any/all of them a go?

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 17:03

Thanks Beansprout. Am just really fed up that despite the sweep on Wed and show yesterday nothing seems to be happening. I'm just DREADING being induced on moday if I don't go on my own soon.............

lemonice · 30/04/2004 17:07

Well the name may be Dylan. It also (though not at all why dd2 likes it) has quite sentimental attachment to me as I was always a big fan of Dylan Thomas and my family has strong connections to Laugharne where he wrote his poetry.

Have you tried fireworks? for starting labour

Fennel · 30/04/2004 17:51

HD - good birth story, thanks for posting. I'm constantly amazed how different peoples' birth stories are. Why does it all happen so quickly for some?

Lesley, saw your thread on starting labour. nothing works until the baby wants to come out - I should know . but whichever way it can't be long to wait now. Tell the baby it has to come today to be an April baby.....

Lesley76 · 30/04/2004 18:01

I know Fennel. I've spoken to it most severely but i think that time is running out now...........only 6 hours to go. Guess i would be a very lucky first time mum if i managed to start and finish in the next 6 hours. Well in fact it would be only 5 hours as we're just about to have our evening meal.......

So looks like its hello May mums

MrsDoolittle · 30/04/2004 18:02

Hello ladies, Are you still out there?
I am not sure about the rampant bit Lesley, I think very tentative is more likely. I have told dh as he ain't coming near me with a condom first time, which is probably very silly but i thought maybe it would be more comfortable without. The problem is what to do with dd?
Maybe we should be put her next door in her carrycot for an hour or so. What would you do?
I suspect thsi is a really stupid question - I saw the HV today but somehow I couldn't ask her this question, so I thought I would ask you instead!!!

MrsDoolittle · 30/04/2004 18:04

But you'll stay here on this thread until baby decides to make its entrance, won't you?
This is your thread now!