Anybody deliver first baby before due date?

[chelle85]

I'm a FTM currently 32 weeks and thoroughly fed up. The thought of another 8 weeks is really getting me down and the prospect of going beyond this is unthinkable as the last few weeks have been like time is going in reverse! All I keep getting from people is that first babies are always late.

Please can some of you reassure me that he may get here before his due date (praying for labour around 37-38 weeks!)

[harleysmammy]

I was EXACTLY the same as you. At 32 weeks, I was in and out of hospital every other day and I was so ready for my baby to make an appearance. I did nearly everything from about 36 weeks to make sure he came reasonably early and to make sure I definitely didn't go past my due date. I walked at least 4 miles every day from 36 weeks and just as I had given up hope because he wasn't budging, I booked my induction for my due date (down to medical reasons as well) and he arrived 7 weeks ago, 4 days early:) when I booked my induction the doctor did say most babies come late when it's the mothers first BUT it's surprising how many mams on here have had early first babies. Hang in there:) x

[MyOtherProfile]

4% of babies are born on their due date so that means lots must be born early and lots late shhh

[marmitecrumpets]

My DS (first born) came a week early

[butteredbarmbrack]

10 days ahead of due date here, for both DDs...

[MommaGee]

35 weeks here with 13 weeks in hospital so not exactly what you want

From our NOT group there was a mix of early and late. The one who went over the most also had dc2 late so I think her body just doesnt like to give away the baby.

It must be miserable in this heat but try and make the most of it. Fan on. Box sets on telly. Are all your baby's clothes washed and folded? Nursery all set up? Batch cooking for once he's here. Coffee with friends without a screamy thing attached to you?
Good luck

[DoubleR]

Yes, first was 38 weeks, walking to the supermarket and doing a two trolley shop did it for me on the first day of maternity leave, so I started mat leave early with number 2, BUT he came 2 days before the mat leave kicked in after Christmas hols at 36 weeks, that time it was taking the Xmas decs down that set it off!

[Mummyh2016]

Yep waters went at 37+6 and gave birth at 38 weeks. I was convinced I was going to go over.

[chelle85]

Thats ok. My friend had her little girl at 33wks at a tiny 3lb 12 and I certainly don't want him to come so early as I appreciate how hard that must be. Its just thinking of a possible 10 weeks to go makes it feel like nearly a full trimester potentially still ahead and that just fills me with dread as I feel like I have been pregnant for at least 18mths already!

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Sorry didn't mean to be narky! Just saw your request for labour at 38 weeks.

[Igottastartthinkingbee]

Yes DS born at 31 weeks, 5 weeks in hospital with a tiny baby was traumatic. I appreciate you're hot and miserable but I'd have given anything to get to full term. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

[YokoReturns]

Ah show that'll explain why DS2 popped out after 2 pushes...

[CremeDeSudo]

Yes I hated every minute too! It wasn't bad enough that I haven't gone and got myself pregnant again - on purpose!

Agree you should enjoy the peace/freedom while you have it. You won't though, no one ever does

Have you looked into all the things you can do to help speed things up? I did the lot! I have vivid memories of Evening Primrose Oil up my foof at the end! Softens the cervix I think?

You're on the home stretch now anyway, not much longer!

[yolorolo]

Ds was born at 36+5 and I heard the same, first baby always late. Not started maternity leave as I was booked for induction at 39 weeks due to gd so when my waters went I was clueless never thought I may have a baby before that. Contractions started 14 hours later and he arrived within 60 minutes. Dd was early at 37+3 another quick Labour of 4 hours. Currently 34+3 with dc3 and hoping will be before due date as I have had enough. Drank raspberry leaf tea with both previous pregnancies as I like it and feel it helped me post birth, did yoga, swam and walked alot.

[chelle85]

Anything that shortens labour sounds good to me ShowofHands!

I do think I have some degree of pre-natal depression Creme. I have had what by all accounts on here seems to be a pretty easy pregnancy but have hated every minute of it and have been sooo emotional. My poor DH has no idea what to do when I just burst into tears at random. I obviously want baby to stay in there long enough to be fit and healthy but I just need to get back to being me rather than being viewed as an incubator by everyone I speak to.

[ShowOfHands]

Raspberry leaf tea is a uterine tonic, recommended to shorten and make more efficient the pushing stage. It is nothing to do with inducing labour. Tastes nice though and won't do any harm.

[CremeDeSudo]

Mine was 5 days early. Waters went 7 days before due date, booked in tp be induced but happened naturally.

Same story with my sister - hers was 2 days early, waters went 5 days before due date, induced and arrived 2 days early.

I'm sure I suffered pre-natal depression, and had PGP so I can understand how you're feeling. It'll be worth it in the end I promise

[EpoxyResin]

Waters went at 37+0 - wasn't expecting that!

I hadn't even started maternity leave and my dp had to phone my boss on Monday morning to say I wouldn't be coming in because I'd just had a c section

[YokoReturns]

Oh, I second Raspberry Leaf Tea. It probably does nothing but I drank it had had both DC pre-40 weeks...

[YokoReturns]

Yes, DS1 waters broke 12 days early and he was born a few hours later (DS2 1 day early).

I have no idea what I did either time but I was doing a lot of walking.

[sauceyorange]

Also helps getting milk established, should you be planning to breastfeed

[sauceyorange]

Try hand expressing colostrum every day. Takes a while and is a faff but you can freeze it- more importantly evidence shows that it tends to prevent babies going overdue.

[mistermagpie]

I did. DS was born at 38+3 spontaneous labour, water broke about 8:15pm, got to hospital at 9:15pm and he was born at 10:30.

DS2 was born at exactly 39 weeks following a sweep (I was due to be induced but went into labour myself).

[LorelaiVictoriaGilmore]

I think the key thing is to have as much as possible ready from as early as possible. You don't want to end up like me... no clothes, no blanket, no nappies, no hat... I sent my dh home for 'essentials' and he brought me a bikini...

[UnalliterativeGeorge]

DC1 at 37+2, DC2 at 37 on the dot. I have impatient children.

[BlueKarou]

Mine was born the day before his due date, nice and simple birth, quick labour (only 2 1/2 hours to get from 3cm to fully dilated, then active labour was about 6 minutes, and half of that was them pushing me down the corridor from the early labour room to the delivery room).