The wait for labour

[Applesandpears23]

Anyone up for a support thread for those of us waiting to go into labour? I am 37 +2 today. My first baby was born at 39 + 6 but I was in prelabour from 38 + 6. I am on maternity leave and I have lots of things I would like to do but nothing I really need to do. The bags are packed. Just waiting now. Anyone else?

Eeew saysage that sounds horrid. Not a nice way to wake up
I was awake between 3/7 this morning, it's crazy isnt it, luckily I got back to sleep then for a bit. Hope rest of afternoon goes better

I have been eating pineapple my whole pregnancy (obsessed with fruit) and it has done nothing!
Had curry twice in the last week and sex 3 times!!!
Nothing else to report

I think I've lost my pessary...

I have had a lovely afternoon sitting in the garden. I think I am getting used to the idea of sitting around for a few weeks now.

I've had a very rare and unexpected child-free day, totally alone. I've been bored

I had planned garden time this afternoon but instead spent it at hospital coz of static growth flagged up at my mw appointment. CTG all fine and growth scan tomoz. Think she's fine in there.... maybe a little small.... we'll see!

Oh and whoever it was (cel?) that was saying about mw checking cervix at appointments.... no check or mention of it today at 39+3. No talk of sweep either.

jon what does that mean then? Will induction still work or do they need to put another in?

They've put another one in but nothing has happened. It's my own fault I had high expectations because it worked fairly quickly last time I was induced, but was 40 weeks then. I can now see myself being one of those people who are in hospital for days on end before it happens

Keep us posted, Jon! Hopefully you'll get some sleep overnight at least.

I think I have just lost my mucus plug.
Went to the loo and had a long disgusting string of snot like stuff come out.
It was clear/milky and about 5cm long.
Normal for it not to be pink tinged or bloody?

I don't understand what kind of barbaric hospital only gives you gas & air once you're on the labour ward! I've never had that happen before, both times I've had it on the anti natal wards & now I'm sitting here in pain & a crying wreck because I can't fucking have any

I'm sorry Jon that sounds really rubbish. Hope you've managed to get some relief and hopefully some sleep.

Miss my show with dc1 was bloodied so I'm not sure...could definitely be the start of the plug? Wishing you luck!

Badger I had to specifically ask about a sweep at my last MW appt, which was at 38+4. I'm getting one at my next appt when I'm 40+4.

Ended up in labour ward yesterday morning because I had such bad cramping all weekend. Definitely not labour but even given the pain and that I'm overdue, they refused to check my cervix!

Thinking of you JonSnow! Hope you're on your way (and have some bloody Gas & air - and the rest!)

More plug came out this morning.
Big blob of yellow with pink streaks, so hoping this is it!!!

Aah It was sleepy who was saying about them checking cervix.

unusual I was ok with no sweep, wasn't planning on one then just answering someone's question really. Hang on, so you had a sweep, been to hospital with cramping but they not checking you? Hope you feel better soon

miss that sounds promising!!

Hope all going to plan jon and you got some pain relief!

Sounds very promising missmoo

Contractions all night so hardly slept, then this morning they're dying off 😫 I'm terrified of them starting off again because of the gas & air thing, im sure I sound completely useless to everyone else but I cope really badly in labour & never expected to not be allowed the gas & air... I probably would have picked a different hospital had I known!

JonSnow that sounds horrible!!!
I have 2 friends now that have been refused gas and air at 2 different hospitals.
Both of them were in labour with first baby and both had very fast labour and delivery eh within an hour of arriving at hospital.
Midwife told them they couldnt be in proper labour yet and to just wait!!! Really hope you get some relief soon.

And thinking of you too Moo, hope this is it! All sounds promising!

Been having lots of mild contractions & pains around my back the last 24 hours but we live in Manchester so I am now actually hoping to hold off at least for a few days as the hospitals don't need me pitching up right now 💔 So, utterly heartbreaking.

Good luck moo and jonsnow! I thought I was having contractions this morning but it turned out that I'd had a bowl of cereal with gone off milk!

giddy - that is too funny!!! Although, I'm sure it doesn't feel funny :(

MissMoo - very promising! Sounds like baby is ready to make an appearance!

Jon - no pain, no gain? Oh, gawd... Sounds cruel! What's the point in being in hospital if they won't give you pain relief?! With an induction no less!

Sunshine - truly awful. Was sobbing this morning watching the news. In fairness, the maternity department will be separate from where the victims are being treated I would have thought. Although, you might not get an anesthetist if you were planning an epidural and they are busy with surgeries.

Sunshine feeling very sad for Manchester today.
giddy poor you! That sounds horrible

Everytime I go to the toilet more comes out.
I have made a huge to do list now and slowly ticking things off. If labour is just around the corner I really want to have a nice clean/tidy/organised space to labour in at home,and to come home to!

JonSnow that is awful. I have just been reading Ina May Gaskin's book and it says that fear can slow down or stop labour. Have you tried asking to speak to the supervisor of midwives?

Oh god if that's true about fear stopping labour I'll be pregnant forever!

New pessary due to be put in at 3.15 so will see how that one goes, if they find things have changed down there when they put it in then they might do another sweep which is what they think gave me the pains all last night.

Have sent my OH for coffee to try & wake me up? Never been so tired in my life!

Jon you need to keep hammering on for pain relief. It's unacceptable for you to be in hospital, in pain. When you get tired of asking, your partner needs to ask for you.

I'm having a sweep from my community midwife next Tuesday, so that's my deadline for getting this baby out myself.

I'm so emotional today. Playing in the park with my 2yo, just us, and I want to cry because life will never be the same for him again.

Ok now I am crying. In public. Fucking pregnancy.

Oh peace I am so with you. I keep bursting into tears thinking about my lovely little boy (also 2) & how his whole world is about to be turned upside down - and we chose to do it to him! 😢 Bloody hormones!

I have also booked my sweep - hopefully it won't get to that stage..?!

6 medjool dates per day (interestingly, my midwife just today recommended this -but refused to recommend raspberry leaf tea!). I have some in the fridge but they are just so sweet I can barely eat two!