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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

37 wks - is this labour starting?

22 replies

xenabelly · 07/01/2007 20:09

Am 37.3 weeks pregnant but HUGE! I was up all last night having very strong Braxton Hicks (every 10mins for 1 hr) but then they stopped. The baby was kicking loads and was having period type pains as well as a 'pushing' feeling, kept sitting on toilet pushing like i was constipated but nothing happening.

Have been v uncomfortable all day, feel like I've got a baby's head in my fanny (which i have i suppose!) and in the last hour have started have constant period pains and Braxton Hicks (but not with any regularity).

As I am booked in for a csection, the midwife and doctors have said if I think I am in labour then go straight to hospital and don't 'mess about at home wondering' - BUT, am bothered that this is just all normal stuff for 37 weeks and that they'll just say 'are you 'eck in labour' and send me home again and I'll be dead embarassed.

Haven't had any show or water leakage but am having loads of discharge and have a feeling of constantly wanting the toilet ( a poo!)

What do you all think? Shall i just ring up the ward and ask, I don't know what to do....

OP posts:

LaylaandSethsmum · 07/01/2007 20:11

It difficult to say it could be or it could just some grumblings that will settle down. ring the ward and they will advise you. they may want to monitor you for a bit

Good luck!!

Skyler · 07/01/2007 20:12

Ring them. You sound very uncomfortable and better to be safe than sorry esp if you are booked for a section. Good Luck.

paulaplumpbottom · 07/01/2007 20:12

If they said don't stay at home messing about wondering then don't

UCM · 07/01/2007 20:15

I am 37+5 and have had this a few times. When the babys head pushes down on your pelvis it's bloody painful isn't it. I too am wondering at every pain, bump, kick, braxton.

Earlier on I was on the loo and felt the urge to poo, have been for a few days but nothing happens, then I get some stabbing pains right down below as well.......

Aaaaaaah, off to bed now to try & sleep some, on my sides gives me period type pains as well.

UCM · 07/01/2007 20:16

Sorry should have added ring the hosp, thats what they are there for really .

Why the C/s if you don't mind me asking?

lulumama · 07/01/2007 20:18

ring them

pressure down below and backache can be a sign
and if you are to have a section , then call them

especially if it is dangerous for you to labour....

are you sure the discharge is not waters leaking...

if you wear a pad and then sniff, is it sweet smelling?

also , a show doesn;lt need to be a big lump of mucous, can be stringy.....

nikkie · 07/01/2007 20:24

Phone hospital (or go) they are used to peole just 'checking'.

UCM · 07/01/2007 20:33

AaaaaH LM, glad you are here still don't be going anywhere.

On lighter note, DH saw me sniffing my loo roll earlier and gave me a disgusted look and shot off downstairs.

lulumama · 07/01/2007 20:36

i'm not leaving until you have had your babie!! then i am going to sleep for a week!

wish a mumsnetter slightly nearer me was having a baby, then i could do this for real !!!!!!!

hey ho! will have persuade all my friends they want lots more babies!!

MKG · 07/01/2007 20:51

Hey! I'm here for the night shift.

We should name all labor threads "Pad Sniffers of the World Unite" I think that will be my title when I go into labor.

paulaplumpbottom · 07/01/2007 20:59

I have never heard of pad sniffing. What does it mean if it smells sweet?

lulumama · 07/01/2007 22:43

amniotic fluid smells sweet...so if there is a question as to whether the waters are leaking or it is wee or discharge, tehn wear a pad and sniff! sorry if TMI

MarsLady · 07/01/2007 22:52

Don't worry about embarrassment. They've seen much much worse.

Now they said no messing about, so no messing about. RING!

lulumama · 07/01/2007 22:53

yeah,..you don;t want to make mars angry !!

Harry2007 · 07/01/2007 23:07

I'd definitely ring the hospital Xena. I'm 37 weeks today and have been having period type pains for 2 days. Midwife came yesterday and the head was 1/5 engaged. She came back today and the head was 2/5 engaged. But I'm booked for a CS the same as you! Let me know how you get on.

MarsLady · 08/01/2007 13:34

Xenabelly???????

Original poster

xenabelly · 08/01/2007 14:07

hi all

thanks for you replies. Decided I would go into hospital last night but would have a shower first and during shower all the pains and stuff stopped!! Typical!

They've started up again now but i've got an appointment this afternoon anyway to see consultant to arrange an elective section so will see what he says.

Will keep you posted!

OP posts:

UCM · 08/01/2007 14:09

thought you'd gone in for real there for a minute Xena. LOL. Good luck with consultant.

themildmanneredjanitor · 08/01/2007 14:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

xenabelly · 08/01/2007 16:34

Basically, I was induced for my first baby, had a syntocin (sp) drip and was tied up to machines and wires for 12 hours in agony with only gas and air. Had an epidural twice (neither worked) and eventually ended up with an emergency c section after hours of pushing and nothing happening. I hadn't slept for days before the labour (due to being induced during the night and constantly being monitored) so my recovery and pain relief after the section were horrific.
Put a complaint into the hospital because I left 2.5 wks later feeling violated, embarassed and humiliated by whole ordeal.

Am going to a diff hospital this time and consultant said that the previous hospital have not done a good job stitching up my wound and they would probably only let me labour naturally for 3/4 hours and i would have to lie in one position and be wired up again so they could keep an eye on my scar. He said there is a 'reasonable chance' that I would end up labouring and have an emergency section again this time.

My reasons for elective section are:

can't imagine i'm gonna get baby out in 3/4 hours
do not want to be tied up to bed again during labour (was horrible and hardly a 'natural' birth)
will feel more in control of what's happening with an elective section
have already got nasty scar and c section overhang belly so decided it wasn't worth ripping my fanny to bits aswell! No point in having 2 areas of my body ruined!

Hope some of those reasons make sense!

OP posts:

lulumama · 09/01/2007 10:30

only just caught up with this , xenabelly..all those reasons to make sense.....happy birthing....if you need, mars has some fantastic info about making a casearean birth more personal...i'm sure she woulnd;t mind giving it to you !

lulumama · 09/01/2007 10:30

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