Due July (Thread 6)

[Lianna93]

Thread 5 is about to fill up, here's another one!
Wonder how many more babies we'll meet before we get to July 🥰

Hello & congrats to everyone who has had their baby, so exciting! Definitely a mixed bag of birth stories! I hope everyone is recovering well and settling in ok ❤️

I was due on the 8th and still no signs at all. I’ve got a sweep booked in for Friday, which (if it worked) would put me in Labour smack bang on the hottest days! I’m thinking I should reschedule to Monday…?

Everyone who has given birth, looking back now, what was the first definite sign that you were in Labour?
Anything you think got it going?!
I know every birth is different but nice to read what everyone’s experiences have been 😃

@strawberrysummer19 oh bless you, it's no wonder you're feeling anxious after all that you've been through! I had a straight forward conception and pregnancy so far (touch wood) and I'm still worried. This is my first so I worry about everything - from the fairly rational (what if he doesn't sleep) to the irrational (what if he has an extra arm that they missed on the scan).

Keeping busy is key for me to not overthink, but also making sure I'm not overdoing it which is balancing act. I'm sure you're in the same boat.

You're so close now, anxiety is bound to ramp up at this point. Look after yourself - treat yourself to something nice. Eat something delicious. Focus on the positives - in no time at all your little girl is going to be in your arms

@ChinChilly @NamelessBaby1 It's honestly so frustrating 😂 But at least I know, come Monday, I should definitely have my baby. I've had a couple contractions this morning but nothing note worthy atm.
@NamelessBaby1 my DH is honestly the same 😂 He's tall too & I'm teeny so always walks much faster than me normally. Keep having to ask him to slow down 🙈😂

@JNGO21 I was due on the 5th & have had 2 sweeps so far - still waiting on baby, due to be induced on Sunday however, my labour started on Tuesday last week - currently in the latent phase. DTD started off, unfortunately it's been a lot of starting & stopping with my contractions but mine has been primarily a lot of lower back pain & pressure with some period pains.
At my first sweep which was on Thursday last week, I was 1-2cm dilated with my cervix hard. As of Monday, my cervix had softened but only dilated 2cm, so got another sweep.
Went for a long walk yesterday which dislodged my plug - so hoping that means I've dilated a bit further.
Been getting a couple of contractions today but higher up this time - hoping this is my labour progressing & I'll go naturally to avoid being induced 🤞🏻
Look out for lots of loose bowel movements - that's a telltale sign that your body is going into labour :)

@JNGO21 for me this time it was definitely the bloody show on Monday morning which continued up until established labour really- never had that with my first as she was induced! Every time I went for a wee there was blood stained mucus. And then the pains that ramped up Tuesday night.

@strawberrysummer19 I can also relate to the anxiety, being organised is great but it just leaves so much time for thinking! You and your other half should try going for a little meal out or a date night to get ice cream or something. Just something nice to look forward to! I've heard baking can be quite satisfying and distracting too. Ive got a few distractions Im bouncing between at the moment... Little games on my phone, below deck on TV, walks around my street and endless washing /chores. Quite fine to just bounce between them. And also forcing myself to keep in touch with people, feels like a thought and I can never be bothered socialising (always feel anxious that something is going to happen while out) but always feel better in the moment when I do.

Seems like long walks really are the way to go when trying to get labour started. My fear is not wanting to go a long walk somewhere alone and get stuck in pain / leaking 😂

@JJ1992 I agree with the distracting yourself I was starting to get really frustrated staying in the house, I’ve tried to do something everyday to keep my mind busy even if it’s just walking to the local high street or those crappy house chores I always put off… Long walks haven’t worked for me yet though I’ve been walking my dog every morning throughout for atleast 45 mins 😩 I think the idea to power walk though and that’s quite hard with a 33kg Labrador that wants to sniff everything lol

@ChinChilly omg 45 minute walks! I need to step my game up! Chuffed if I maage a 20 minute waddle at this point 😂 its silly though that fear is the main thing stopping me. You'll be in a good routine for doing that when baby is here too! Your lab must be so happy you're off at the moment 😁 xx

@JJ1992 a 45 min walk gives me peace and quiet for the rest of the day haha I get what you mean about the fear my mom tells me off for still walking him but even if anything happens OH, my parents or friends are only a phone call away. I do want to try get back into it as soon as physically possible once baby has made her exit. I’m not sure he is 😂😂 he’s a funny dog he likes his space so he tends to go off and sleep most of the day in another room and just roll over for a belly rub when he see’s me…rude if you ask me 🤣

@ChinChilly you get away with just one 45 min walk?! I'm clearly doing something wrong... if my lab doesn't get a second 45 min walk of the day I feel so guilty. He's so spoilt. Mind you I've had a few days rest from the walks with this heat. My mum and DH aren't happy about me doing it either, but I like keeping as active as I can.

@JJ1992 my lab is buzzing I'm home with him - although he's going to have a massive shock when this baby comes and it's no longer all about him!

@KizboBaggins omg no way, he gets another 45 mins in the evening! I couldn’t live with him if he didn’t get 2 walks a day… I just do the morning one solo because OH starts work early! Ours is super spoilt aswell so I’m wondering how he’s going to react to baby 🤔 mind you our friends brought their baby around a few weeks ago and he couldn’t of been less interested in him

Seems like the perfect kind of distraction while waiting for baby to pop. Okay you have both inspired me to waddle a bit further next time 😂 and maybe borrow the in-laws dog when its hard to get motivated.

I went for a nap this afternoon and have woke up with lower back pain. Why am I getting excited about this? Liturally no other signs of baby coming (no bloody show, no mucus plug and no contraction feelings) probably just slept twisted 😂 but I still have this feeling babys on the way soon...

@ChinChilly I should wait for DH to get home and do the other walk but I can't stand how the dog looks at my with those eyes when he thinks it's time for his second walk! I'm genuinely feeling guilty that his life is going to be turned upside down by baby, but I'm sure once he's here the guilt will subside a bit. Good that yours wasn't interested in your friends baby!

@JJ1992 fingers crossed it is first signs for you! But I must admit I do this too, all the time. Any little thing I think is the start. I had what I thought were cramps earlier, started getting excited... Turned out I just needed to fart 👍🏼

Been reading through all of the distraction ideas, I’m so bored! EDD was yesterday, and even though I knew she was unlikely to arrive, I can’t help feeling vaguely panicked that I’ve got potentially another two weeks of this 🥴 I’m trying to walk, but it’s just too hot at the moment, and we live quite rurally so I’ve got nowhere to walk to! I woke up with a bad tummy in the night and got quite excited, but I think it might have been something I ate as DH wasn’t feeling great either.

@KizboBaggins and @ChinChilly definitely worth making sure you’ve got a good sling/carrier for dog walks with a newborn, wrestling a pram and a dog is not fun!

@KizboBaggins 😂😂 this really made me laugh, 90% sure its probably wind or indigestion. Hopefully the dog adapts okay to baby. One day soon they will be best buddies getting upto all sorts x

@KizboBaggins I know exactly what you mean about their faces and the guilt trip, mine is exactly the same 😂 they’re so bloody clever aswell they know exactly when it’s time for a walk or dinner. OH gets home from work at about 5:20 and the dog waits in the window for him from about 5:10 😭 i feel guilty about his little world been turned upside down but we’re gonna try keep his routine as normal as possible to try help.

@JJ1992 it could be the start, you never know but I do the same as @KizboBaggins …hilarious 😂

Making me miss my little mutt, she died about 10 months ago and pregnancy hasn't been the same without a little ear on my belly every time I sit on the couch. It was love at first sight for her with DC1, one lick behind the ear and she was like Nana from Peter Pan!! Also the walks were great for my sanity post partum, it's great to have low maintenance company when you need a bit of headspace. I'm thinking of borrowing a dog a few times a week when I'm able to get about again.

@JJ1992 great suggestions there - I've been doing a fair few of them but I think where I've been off work 2 weeks now there's only so much you can do I guess. I loved my first week
But I have no plans for tomorrow right the way though until Wednesday induction day so just trying to do little things each day like you've said

Weekend will be fine as fiancé off and daughter we are getting her secondary school uniform Saturday and then taking her swimming Sunday with a bbq in the afternoon just us 3

Have also been doing things with her alone where I can so she has mummy time and we had a date night Saturday night where we cooked a 3 course meal so that was nice

We've just been on a loooooong walk. I feel so uncomfortable now and on the way back I had two sharp pains down below, I've been getting them on and off but these ones were intense so now sitting down whilst fiancé is cooking dinner 😀x

@MollyRover aww I'm so sorry, must be so tough. I can't imagine losing my boy. I'm one of those who refers to him as my first born (everyone rolls their eyes at me lol). Definitely get yourself a dog to borrow! I wouldn't walk anywhere if I didn't have him. He forces me to stay active and I'm always happier when I do.

@strawberrysummer19 hope that means something is stirring for you (and not just a bodily function like my pains...)

@KizboBaggins thank you to you also for your lovely post earlier. I will certainly try. I just can't wait now and feel like time is going so slow.

I hope so but I've been feeling super uncomfortable for weeks. So much pressure and pelvic pain but I've upped the walking and the birthing ball so anything will help for when I am in labour xx

@MollyRover I was in bits when our last dog passed away, honestly took me about 18 months to get over it and I could still cry thinking about him! I’m the same as @KizboBaggins I refer to my dog as my first born 😂😂 in all honesty he saved my mental health after I had a miscarriage.

@strawberrysummer19 fingers crossed something is happening for you!

I think i might have had a contraction whilst I was cooking dinner, I’m fairly certain I’ve been having BH but this one really hurt, like an intense period pain in my stomach and bottom of my back it kinda peaked and then wound back down…who knows time will tell!

Thanks girls, she was my first born and the love of my life!! We all miss her. Birthday present this year was a painting of a "family" photo with her right in the middle trying to lick DC1s face . My experience is gently does it, they know more than they let on this stage.

My baby boy Malakai was born at 3.32pm today weighing 7 lbs 14 oz. The c section went great. He latched right away for a breastfeed for about an hour now he's milk drunk and asleep for the past 2 and a half hours

@missv556 aww congratulations! What an absolute cutie! He looks so content. So glad your section went well too.

@missv556 congratulations he’s absolutely gorgeous! X

@missv556 Congratulations lovely - so glad everything went well for you 🥰