Full term tomorrow! Due 12th June, anyone want to wait for their babies with me?

[OneMoreCoffee3]

I’m full term tomorrow with my fourth baby, planning a homebirth. Anyone want to wait for their babies with me? My due date is 12th June. I always found myself in TWW threads when TTC and this feels similar

I’ve finished work and am waiting for the nice weather this weekend to hand-wash and dry all the big items from the loft (car seat, next to me, etc.)

I have a high energy 2 year old who is still breastfed so I have been getting some tightenings but I think it’s just when I’ve been feeding her. She is at nursery today and the bigger two at school so I’m washing some clothes and preparing the house.

It’s so nice to have some time to myself and I’m feeling really quite patient… for now…

Sorry, the above was in reply to you!

@Notmycuppatea my problem is that everything that needs to go in the nursery is piled up around the living room and my bedroom. If I don’t get the nursery sorted I can’t sort the rest of the house. We will get there!

I was told I could have a sweep next week and I will be 40 weeks tomorrow. I read that it was from 39 weeks.

So jealous of the home births, it’s what I really wanted but they discovered potential issues with me and so I can’t even have a water birth in hospital now. I have agreed to everything except for the c-section at this point but that would take me to the complete opposite of what I wanted.

Glad I found you lot!
I'm 39+3, and have reached the point where I'm sick of being pregnant (thought not too physically uncomfortable) and just feel really out of sorts and irritable.

I'm not getting much done despite the extra time, as I keep feeling so tired and half-sleeping. And just have no motivation apart from wanting baby here! This has happened over the last couple of days, I was getting on fine before that.

Feeling heaviness/mild pain when I walk, of baby's head low down. Getting lower back/pelvic pain (v v mild) now and then all week. Also bowel type symptoms. But no definite signs anything is starting!!

Have kept exercising every day in the hope it helps. I've also been trying to get colostrum a few times a day for the past week, but never get more than a drop or two.

It's my first baby so any advice from those with experience is welcome!

(Oh also, I'm single, and feeling a bit sad I don't have someone to share this bit with/to be supportive. I had the loveliest partner before so I know how things could have been.)

Sorry for my massive moan, I guess we are all just uncomfortable and hormonal and waiting!

@Pregnantera
I'm sorry you couldn't have a water birth. I'm hoping for one but due to my age induction has been booked (but still optional!) at 40 weeks which would mean no birthing pool and constant monitoring.
I've tried to focus on making that as pleasant (is that the right word?!) as possible - do you know what the environment looks like, will be like at all? Then you can plan things like nice music/lights etc. I really hope it goes as naturally and comfortably for you as possible.

@IVFbabyanyday welcome to the group! You are only a few days behind me - I’m due tomorrow! This is my first baby too so I am completely clueless with what to expect.

I think we are supposed to be resting at this stage as a way of our bodies preparing for what lies ahead. I have my active days like yesterday and then like today I don’t really achieve a right lot other than reading my book. So really don’t feel bad about resting and moaning about feeling uncomfortable, we all have our days.

It must be so hard for you doing this alone. I hope that you have family nearby that you can turn to for support?

I have seen a video walkthrough of the labour ward and they have said I can take whatever I need to make myself comfortable. Although I am currently at one large hospital bag stuffed full of mine and babies essentials so I am not sure how much more I can take with me. I had all these good intentions but then with all the fear mongering surrounding the birth I just didn’t prepare anything the way I would have liked. I haven’t practiced breathing or anything like that. I am guessing most of that stuff would go out of the window when labour starts anyway. Currently working on a music playlist and have bought some of my favourite snacks to take too.

@OneMoreCoffee3
I feel the same as you re sweeps, not great evidence that they work but the stakes are low so if you’re wanting baby out and already trying everything, why not! Especially if you can tolerate the MW having a good rummage!

Yeah, I do have a few ideas. I had to persuade the reg/cons mw to put it on my notes / plan but they’ll do me an outpatient propess and still go ahead with HB.

They were keen for MLU following propess but I pushed as their rationale didn’t make sense to me, and I’m not daft, I’d transfer in without messing about if needed.

Other than that I guess I just wait for the next scan, see what centile that gives me and go from
there.

A full wet run would be great but I can’t get the actual pool wet and only have one liner! I’d have done it outside, last week, with cold water 😂

Welcome! Will you be having a birth partner(s) and do you have close friends to share these moments with? I’m not sure of your situation but a very close friend of mine had a baby by donor sperm IUI last year and I went to many of her appointments with her and was with her for her induction. I felt honoured to share that journey with her

You’re welcome to share it all here ☺️

I’m still getting the odd twinge - about 3 mildly uncomfortable tightenings in the last 24 hours, definitely nothing useful towards labour 😂

I don't know if things are starting here or if I'm just making it up 😂😂

I've had braxton hicks for a good month I'd say (bar a few days when I had a vomiting bug). But since last night they have been more so in my back than my front. Nothing consistent, but some of them are very much breath-taking. I was in the supermarket stocking up on nappies earlier and text my husband that I was really struggling with my back... I came home hopped in the shower and had a nap. Seemed to stop then for maybe 2 hours and the back pain is back and I can definitely feel that baby has dropped some more. Lots and lots of baby movement after each tightening.

I never had any of this with my last. I actually went for a normal hospital appointment and they checked me for a sweep and I was 4cm dilated with no amniotic fluid left so I had an emergency induction.

ETA my stomach is very very soft when I'm not having tightenings.

@BudgetBuster let us know how you get on! Exciting if it is labour starting. I have no idea what a contraction feels like!

Oh I’ve started tightening too! All in the front still and it may go off again but quite nice to feel like my body is edging towards labour at least

Awake nearly all night but it never escalated 🫠

@OneMoreCoffee3 i’ve been awake all night too, really hoping I don’t have the baby today now. So frustrating for you! Hopefully it’s not far off now for you.

Yep... everything completely eased off overnight. I was literally puffing going to bed and my husband was warning me to give him enough notice that he can sort someone to come for the toddler and get to the hospital but I just fell asleep and woke a few times to pee or with back ache but not even one tightening overnight. I feel like this might go on for a while. Seems to completely ease if I relax and kick start of I am active.

I’m so sorry! Have you got work today?

My DH is on nights all this week and our 2 year old is a terrible sleeper. I’m hoping I either go into labour or feel absolutely nothing because it’s pretty rough being up all night caring for her/ tightening and then having a toddler all day each day as well. At least if I’m not tightening I’ll be able to get some sleep between her wakes 🤞

My older two are absolute gems and can be totally self sufficient getting ready for school if I need them to be.

I’m hoping I can get through the day with a toddler group and a park trip. I’ve made the cooking very simple for myself this week. Feels like a long day ahead!

No, it's actually a bank holiday here in Ireland today. We have an exchange student living with us who is leaving tonight though so I'm spending the day helping her pack and cleanup.

I've done a few washloads this morning and a quick kitchen tidy (was too lazy last night) and now the tightenings have started again 😂 I'm trying to do things to distract myself but relaxing seems to settle it so I'm not sure which way to go haha.

Toddlers are hard work at the best of times. I've found myself very snappy the last week as I have so much pressure (I also have a prolapse) and he's just so full on and had recently entered the terrible 2s. Then I get sad for giving out and not trying to enjoy these last few weeks with him.

How quickly can your DH get home in the night of you need him?

Ah me too. Woke up with extreme back ache but it's gone as soon as I got up out of bed. I googled why it is worse at night and it's because that's when the hormones are produced. Im getting a bit nervous now about going over even though I have 2 weeks to actually be induced as it's from 41 weeks and i really don't want to be induced. I have had so many messages too from people asking "any signs?!" And it's making me nervous.

My partner is on nights this week end too and I wish I would go into labour beforehand as I'm scared about going in labour and him not having any sleep. I'm gonna speak to my midwife about a sweep tomorrow but for the following week or even offer to go to her other clinics as I'll be 39 weeks then but tomorrow when I see her ill be 38+6.

His work is only 10 minutes away max and he will drive instead of cycle but he’s a doctor and will need to do a handover. I’m hoping it will be quick if needed. I do have my big children and my middle daughter is a doting big sister to the toddler if I find myself really stuck and in labour. We don't have any family so childcare is all favours from friends with their own lives and hopes that the children all stay asleep

Oh ok well at least he's relatively close by.
My husbands family are in the UK and mine are 4 hour drive away so we are also relying on family friends. Thankfully they live directly across the road but they have 4 kids of their own so ultimately the less I need them.the better as I don't want to impose. If the teen stepson is here, he'll be fine 😂 He'll probably enjoy the free house for a few hours and he can stay with his best friend within walking distance too.

I'm just struggling to know when to call people for help. With the hospital almost 1.5hrs away I'm not 100% sure on what the contractions timing should be.

That’s such a long drive to the hospital! My threshold would be quite low to go but it really extends the favour if you go too early. No idea how you judge that, I hope it is obvious for you when the time is right

Yes, there is a maternity hospital closer but it's currently at risk of closure and I had a pretty bad birth there last time so we opted to transfer.

My pain tolerance would be quite high and obviously I'd prefer to labour at home as long as possible 😂 But I'm sure I'll just magically know when I need to go. I'm secretly hoping it'll be next weekend as my parents are actually coming to visit and it'll just make life easier with childcare.

@BudgetBusterwow 1.5hrs I'm stressed about 30 minutes drive my anxiety would be through the roof, I definitely agree to leaving earlier rather than later

Yes. Well the old hospital was still 50 minutes. This one is probably 1hr 20mkns but by the time you get to the maternity ward etc I'd estimate 1hr 30.

It's very hars to judge because I was induced last time and my entire labour was 2.24ms

@BudgetBustermake sure you have things in your car like towels, bottles of water etc. So you can be ready incase baby chooses to make their entrance into the world on your journey! What a journey for your partner to make he will need to order a siren 🚨 😅

I pray that my first labour is 2.5hr 😅 my sister's all had 3 day long labours X

Looks like my due date is going to come and go with nothing happening.
Has anyone else noticed a ramp up in hormones? I’m at the end of my tether with my husband after he declared he was tired! I’m the one who hasn’t slept in weeks from all the cramps/heartburn/toilet trips.

@Pregnanterayes definitely I've been way more snappy and less patient with him, especially because I feel I've been at home cleaning and he is messing it up lol!