3 days overdue and very fed up :(

[babydust2412]

Anyone have any tips on encouraging labour? Had lots of increasing cramping but nothing reliable telling me labour will come any time soon, starting to feel very disheartened by it and just want to meet my baby 😩 also want to avoid an induction due to Covid ☹️
Anyone else gone overdue and went into labour having had no previous signs? Xxx

I went into labour at 40+1. I'd gone out for a meal on my due date (September), went to bed and woke up at 6.30am the next morning to contractions. No signs beforehand at all.

Good luck! Rest as much as you can.

I ate a really spicy chilli & waters went the next morning. 2 sweeps did nothing! By really spices I mean 5 chillis in there 🥵

@Chanel05 Thankyou! That gives me hope x
@strawbmilk I can't hack spicy food 😩 I wish I could

If you can't hack spicy food it's way more likely to work! This is what my midwife told me last week (my due date is tomorrow), but she told us because I have a high spice tolerance eating it frequently its unlikely to effect me. To be effective its got to irritate you apparently!
Maybe try a mild curry with coconut milk in a a jar of hot sauce if you're feeling brave!
I'm drinking raspberry leaf tea and eating dates!

@Dorset555 Thankyou 😊 ive been on raspberry leaf capsules since 36 weeks. We are both on the Feb babies thread! I've just recognised your username 🥰 x

Im always the doom and gloom on these threads. I tried everything, even (reluctantly!) sex. Nothing worked. I was 42 weeks, incredibly miserable and ended up being induced. But that's worse case scenario and everyone comes out with a baby eventually! Good luck OP!

Another feb baby threader here 👋😂 @dorset555 and @babydust2412

8 days over now so I feel your pain wholeheartedly 😩 no advice to offer on the usual old wives tales but just thought I'd pop by for solidarity lol.

I've tried everything, was even doing squats in the kitchen earlier while waiting for my toast! 😂 Was hoping the pressure/gravity/opening my pelvis might do something... Dunno haha, maybe I've finally lost it x

Haha sex and squats both sound too much like hard work to me
Its my due date today and I keep expecting something to happen or at least some kind of fanfare! Are you guys having some pretty crazy dreams? I am having all sorts like baby kicking and punching through my stomach so much I could hold it's hand?! So weird xx

@dorset555 I was having a lot of crazy, really vivid dreams up until recently but they seem to have stopped now, but that could be because I'm hardly sleeping 😂

I'm crazy emotional though at the minute, everything is setting me off lately. Tears yesterday and today I'm angry about nothing lol. Nearly flipped because people hadn't put their shoes away properly 🤦‍♀️

Ah I know what you mean about hardly sleeping..I get up at 4am every day atm. Prettu weird but at the same time I'm sure its preparing me for life with a baby! @ExhaustedMumofsix I assume from your name this isn't your first baby! Can I ask if you have any last min tips to have a positive labour experience as possible? I'm keen to try and stay calm..its my first baby so just so much unknown/all new!

@Dorset555 yeah, as you can probably tell this is my sixth baby, but it's my first with my new partner and 10 years since I had my last 😅
I've been lucky to have pretty straightforward and shortish labours with all so far, I always seem to go into labour at night/early hours so I usually wake with mild pains. Usually pop in a relaxing bath while I time contractions and concentrate on practicing deep breathing (I'm not a screamer, more of an internaliser lol) . Then I'm a pacer, I like to stay mobile while labouring. The gravity apparently helps move things along quicker too so I usually pace until a contraction and stay at home as long as I can manage.

I think once Labour hits you tend to go with your own flow. Deep breathing and focussing on the fact that every contraction is pushing me closer to it being over is what keeps me going and calm.

I think some mums have a tendency to 'fight' against the pains rather than go with it and just end up tiring themselves out.

You'll find your own groove when the time comes and do great I'm sure 😊x

@ExhaustedMumofsix @Dorset555 I've been having all the same, exhausted yet can't sleep, weird vivid dreams, very hormonal and tearful xx
Not a fun time for us ladies 😂 almost cried this morning because I was craving waffles and we didn't have any in 😂 ridiculous the things hormones do to you 😂 xx

@ExhaustedMumofsix that sounds like.great advice...I love how you say you 'usually' do certain things... :-) you sound like a pro! Not fighting against sounds really sensible to me and will try and.take that onboard for sure - thank you!
@babydust2412 wishing you all the best too its such a strange limbo time!
I don't have much sage advice but would strongly recommend NOT trying to help your partner cut his lockdown hair...if you're anything like me it will result in tears and an argument! #disaster

I’ve also popped over from the Feb board... 🙈 @ExhaustedMumofsix sounds like excellent advice that’s what I’m hoping on doing too. I am definitely not a screamer! I woke up again around 5am with stomach pain, and now have cramps again same time as yesterday. So strange.

@babydust2412 weird I’ve been wanting waffles too! Sainsbury had sold out last week but hoping they come on my delivery tomorrow morning! X x x

@Dorset555 haha oh my gosh 😂 xx
@Muriel84 what a coincidence!! All I wanted all morning was waffles and Nutella 😂 x

Yum craving waffles now...had pancakes with lemon and sugar for lunch 😋
Never craved sweet stuff in my life but as soon as the third trimester hit I just need it all! Hope it goes once baby arrives otherwise I'm in trouble

@Dorset555 that sounds delicious 😍 I'm the same, I really never ate sweet stuff before pregnancy and I've craved sweets and all sorts of sweet foods all through pregnancy 😂

I had no twings or even braxton hicks and I went into labour spontaneously both times. Being overdue doesn’t mean you’ll need to be induced 🤞🏻
I was 10 days over with DC1 and 7 days over with DC2.
Keep positive & get bouncing on the ball / nipple stimulation (pump!) / sex or orgasm

@HastingsSpoon Thankyou so much 🥰

@HastingsSpoon oh does nipple stimulation work then? I've bought a breast pump but haven't dared open it yet looks a bit intimidating 😆
Can you express colostrum? I tried to do that manually the other day but nothing really came out I don't know if its meant to before birth or just could do...do you think its worth a go/i should open the box?!?

@Dorset555 well it’s apparently the only thing that there is some scientific proof too who knows, I tried everything. I look at it that a due date is only a guesstimate anyway.

You can express colostrum from 36 weeks, I did it with my 2nd and ended up with loads in the freezer in syringes. I used a pump but some people find they can only use hands and it doesn’t work with a pump. I’d give it a go anyway, can’t harm.

I’m 34 weeks so I’ll be doing all this in 2 weeks time 🤣🤣

Thanks ill give it another go then and might as well confront the breast pump too...there is zero else to.do these days!
Would be really nice to have a stash in the freezer to take the pressure off when baby arrives i guess...I hear its the good stuff! Thanks for the tips :-)

If my experiences help anyone out then I'm glad 😊

I had such good intentions with this pregnancy of eating well and omg, I've eaten nothing but absolute shite the whole way through. Probably why my iron levels are so bloody low! 😂

I take my hat off to anyone who can express milk, I've tried with every baby and I just can't get the hang of it lol. I always set myself a personal goal of breastfeeding exclusively for 3 months then switching slowly over to formula as babies appetite grows and so I don't feel so much like a milk machine 😂 but it's like my boob just knows when it's not baby and the milk just won't flow. I must have stubborn boobs 😂 x

5 days over now and feeling down about it ☹️ x

@babydust2412 I just came across this post in searching for help too ! I was also due on the 3rd Feb ! First baby and expecting a boy and now 5 days over due !! The wait is by far the worst and I've had no signs of it even being near ! How you feeling ?