Longest I've been pregnant (baby 4) and absolutely miserable

[Hfarm1]

As it says, I turned 39 weeks with baby 4 today. All my others came in the 38th week spontaneously and I can't tell you how miserable I am. I just keep crying, full on ugly sobbing. I thought I lost some mucus plug 4 days ago, and up until 2 nights ago I was getting strong braxton hicks and tightenings in my back in the early am but I've had nothing since. My stomach is rock solid, baby surely cannot grow anymore and has been in the perfect position for weeks. So why won't they come out?! Tried everything and I'm so done. I have home births but its 4am and I just woke my husband up crying my eyes out saying I'm going to ask to go in for induction today because I can't take this anymore. Everything about me just feels off, I'm just done. I can't face the pitying looks on the school run, I literally come home and mope and cry with my almost 2 year old because theres nothing else to do until its school pick up time. I can't even go out and enjoy getting a bite to eat, or bake something I love because of having to follow the gestational diabetic diet. I've lost all excitement about actually getting to meet this baby because I feel like I'm going to be pregnant forever. I fall straight to sleep every night and when I wake for a wee and realise nothing is happening yet again, I just start crying in bed and thats me done for the night/day. Hence sitting here writing this at almost 5am. What did you do to get through this? How will my body ever go into labour when I'm this miserable?

Is your baby moving normally?

I had No4 at 42...I knew it would be my last pregnancy, so just enjoyed every moment, even the shit times, I knew would pass never to be repeated. I'm sorry you feel so down, I went 41 weeks and had a home birth, it really was the most special moment out of all my births - maybe because I knew I would never do this again. Is it lack of sleep or depression? Can you try and change your mindset, enjoy those last few days without sleep deprivation, time with your other children before you are fully overwhelmed with caring for a new born. One thing I did was get a giant ball and sat on it for hours, bouncing, it opens up your hips and gravity works. Any day now you will be welcoming your new baby ❤️

My #4 liked it in there too. I assure you OP, your baby will come. All of mine were roughly on time except baby 4 who stayed put till just over 42 weeks. I hope your baby comes soon. It seems likely since your others were early.

I doubt you would be able to just ‘go in’ and ask for an induction at 39 weeks tbf. You’ve not even reached your due date!

Also being miserable won’t stop you going into labour 🙄

Try and concentrate on your 2yo, their little life is going to change once baby is here

I wonder if there is something about your last pregnancy staying put as long as possible! I have three DC, first two came early, #3 waited full 42 weeks.

The last few weeks are tough, but I think perhaps a touch dramatic (and aren’t we all when heavily pregnant!) to be losing excitement etc - you’ve not even reached your due date yet. I appreciate that must be annoying when you’ve had the other 3 slightly earlier but you’re still well within the realms of normal. You can’t just go and ask for an induction early because you’re a bit fed up - and in my experience an induction when baby isn’t ready yet is unlikely to be as calm as the home birth you’d like!

hang on in there - he or she will be here soon :)

It's your body so go in and ask.
Have a check up.

Water can be theraputic. Float about while some one watches the others.

I'm 38 weeks today with my 4th, also been awake since about 4am uncomfortable. My first 2 children came at 39 weeks, so when my 3rd went to 40 weeks I was raging for that entire week, I think it was because in my head I had decided 39 weeks I'd be done and that was my due date, not 40 weeks, so I just wasn't prepared for a whole extra week of it. Unfortunately it doesn't necessarily work like that and your baby comes as and when they are ready. Getting stressed and worked up about it though doesn't help the hormones flow to kick labour off, I'd try to relax best you can (I know it's hard!) and your body will do it's thing when it is ready, 3 spontaneous labours before you know your body can go into labour without a nudge. I wouldn't be asking for an induction personally (unless there is medical need), you will likely just end up with an unnecessary cascade of interventions.

The last week of pregnancy is awful and feels like a month for most women, you are at the "I'm done" stage, hang on in there your baby will soon be here!

This level of despair is worth talking to your midwife about. I know the end of pregnancy is tough going but you're "only" 39 weeks: coming home and crying with your toddler is not normal and probably quite confusing/distressing for them. And their life is about to change hugely.

Support is available. How are you going to healthily manage the arrival of a newborn in your and your kids' lives if you are starting out this low? It's really not your fault and I sympathise deeply, but you need to get help for this for your own sake and your family's. It might all go away when baby's born or it might lead into post partum depression: you need to do what you can to create a situation here that's safe, happy, and supported as far as possible. This is your last baby so it's extra worth doing things properly and ending on a high.

Wishing you all the best of luck.

I had ds1 at 37 weeks and was convinced, totally convinced, I'd have ds2 at the 37 weeks, and he stayed put. So felt like I was over due, so I get that feeling, I really do! He came at 38 weeks in the end, so still 2 weeks early- but in my head over due.

I get that it's miserable. See it as time to spend that last few days with your youngest, as that will be the last time he/she will be the youngest. They'll be a big brother/sister from the time the baby arrives.

Wishing you lots of luck!

I remember this with my first, I got to 41 weeks and I remember trying to put on my maternity jeans and they wouldn’t fit over my thighs and bursting into tears! It’s miserable those last few weeks so you have my sympathies. I think it’s just a case of taking each day as it comes, trying to accept you’re going to be tired and exhausted and just find some distraction if you can.

in the end I decided to smoke my first out by ticking off every old wives tale in the book for starting labour and it worked, I went into labour that night.
with my second I overdid the raspberry leaf by mistake and he came at 37.3 weeks but probably wouldn’t recommend that!
Good luck!