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Original poster

How did you feel in the last couple of days before labour?

27 replies

aerokitkat · 28/03/2010 19:22

I'm curious to know if any of you had any warning that labour was coming?
I'm not due for a few weeks but baby's been giving us reason to think she may come early for a few weeks now.
I had a show last Saturday, and for the last couple of days I've not needed much sleep. Yesterday I got up with more energy than I've had in months and started tidying up manically! I also felt the need to have a really good scrub down and wash my hair, trim my nails, make sure my bag was sorted out for hospital etc.
I felt nauseous yesterday evening and had a lot of pressure on my bladder and bowel throughout the day.
Things have settled today but I've been tired and tearful all day.
Does any of this mean anything??
Karen x

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digitalgirl · 28/03/2010 20:53

I felt nauseous in the last few days before I gave birth (at 36+5). I also remember wanting to tidy the Tupperware cupboard that night. It was 12:30, DH told me to go to bed. An hour and a half later my waters broke.

Well done on scrubbing up. I'd booked a wax for my first week off on maternity leave. But ds decided to come the day after I finished work. Didn't care in the end!

Original poster
aerokitkat · 28/03/2010 20:58

Thanks for replying
I'm feeling sick again this evening. And particularly moody & tearful!
I don't know. Maybe I'm just overtired. I don't want to be obsessing about this but it's hard not to!

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lisbey · 28/03/2010 21:02

The cleaning thing...I was scrubbing the conservatory floor when I started with DS1. It's usually lucky to get a quick mop every few weeks!

Original poster
aerokitkat · 28/03/2010 21:03

lol yes exactly! That's why I was surprised to feel so productive yesterday.
Didn't last though. I'm just shattered today.

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addictedtofrazzles · 28/03/2010 21:05

I remember feeling very tearful and overwhelmed by the tiniest little thing. However I went into labour naturally at 42 weeks so it had been a long haul and was very 'over' pregnancy...bags had been packed, house had been tidy for weeks!

Good luck with it all

notjustapuppymum · 29/03/2010 08:47

I did the whole manic cleaning and tidying thing a week before I went into labour. I suddenly felt the need to get everything done even though I was only 37 weeks. Made last minute appts to get my toenails painted, waxing done etc. and then 2 days before I cancelled everything I had on as I just didn't 'feel' like going anywhere, even to visit my Mum ten miles down the road!
The day I actually went into labour and had my baby, I didn't even want to go out for a walk with my dogs so I definitely think in hindsight these were feelings that were telling me the baby was on its way.
Good luck

Original poster
aerokitkat · 29/03/2010 20:33

Thanks for the replies & good wishes
Well I went back to work today for the first time in 3 weeks and it was a pretty normal day! At least having something else to focus on took my mind off the baby for a a while, which was quite a relief after over a week of obsessing 24/7!
I'm still having mood swings and feeling a bit tearful again this evening. I'm cooking a Thai curry from scratch tonight, it's the first time I've felt like cooking in ages!
I'm also still getting a lot of low abdo pressure, tightening, some discomfort, but I'm going to just try and ignore it unless anything significant happens!

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SirBoobAlot · 29/03/2010 21:38

I was full of energy (and for someone with ME and who had SPD that's quite a statement!!) - I was doing my Christmas shopping the day before my waters broke. Was in good spirits and chatted away to lots of people in town. Then came home, had a full English and my waters went in the night (not that I noticed till the morning ).

Original poster
aerokitkat · 30/03/2010 12:25

Unfortunately my burst of energy seems to be well and truly over! I'm back to feeling tired and emotional again
I'm feeling very tearful again this morning. That's four days running. I wish I could cheer up a bit!! I feel a bit sore down below as well, kind of a mild 'stinging' sensation which isn't particularly pleasant!
We have to move within the next few weeks so I might try and get some packing done today. Hopefully keep my mind off things some more.

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ohnelly · 30/03/2010 17:06

Watching this thread with interest. Am 49+4 so could be any day now & I cant think of anything else. Have been cleaning & cooking more than usual but that has been for few weeks now since I finished work

ohnelly · 30/03/2010 17:07

Ooops that should be 39+4 lol!!

AntoinetteOuradi · 30/03/2010 17:10

I felt unspeakably fed up - big, heavy, immobile and generally foul. But nothing else of note, other than a desire to sit around in Laura Ashley furnishing department.

del1 · 31/03/2010 20:24

I had a burst of energy, and strangley wanted to go for a run?
But I ended up with bad diarrea for two days and was sick. I had a really discusting taste in my mouth also, and couldn't face food.
Except a few hours before my waters broke, I craved a mcdonalds mcflurry, and my fella promised to bring one, on his way home from work . .. but he was late, and I really sulked and wouldn't speak to him!
I've never acted like that before.
3 hrs later, my waters broke!
Midwife told me after the baby was born, that the sickness was my bodys way of cleaning it out ready for labour?! ( even though I still pooed on the bed) LOL x

Original poster
aerokitkat · 01/04/2010 11:34

Thank you so much! I'm loving these replies. It's so nice to know that we're all going through (or have been through) the same stuff (Antoinette, I loved your Laura Ashley comment )
We had a scan yesterday. Baby's spot on for dates and they estimate weight at 5lb 7oz.
We're off to see the anaesthetist this afternoon.
I'm doing ok I guess. Still getting a lot of discomfort, especially in the evenings. That I can cope with. What I'm having trouble with is the constant crying and irritability! It's been days now.
Trouble is, all anyone says is 'what do you expect? You're pregnant!' But I'm sure this isn't normal. I expect to get a bit emotional from time to time, but I'm feeling downright depressed at the moment!
My other half must be so fed up with me (although he'd never let on). I'd like to be able to carry on at least relatively normally for the next few weeks, but this really isn't helping

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AllieW · 01/04/2010 12:01

All I remember is that I just didn't want to leave the house.

Original poster
aerokitkat · 02/04/2010 10:34

Well I'm very relieved to say I'm feeling a lot brighter this morning! Quite sore down low, and very tired, but I can cope with that I'm just so pleased not to be feeling grumpy and tearful!!
Let's hope it lasts.... ;)

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notcitrus · 02/04/2010 10:41

Incredibly tired and didn't get out of bed much (couldn't walk anyway thanks to SPD).

I remember in antenatal class they mentioned women sometimes get a huge urge to clean the entire house and do DIY etc. "Don't get your hopes up," I told MrNC who looked very excited by the prospect!

PacificDogwood · 02/04/2010 10:46

Well, I did not know anything was going to happen when I went to bed @ 10.30pm on DS4's due date.... 1 hour later my waters broke - and he appeared a mere 3 hours after that !

With DS3 I awoke at 5 am with painful contractions, was 8cm dilated by the time we made it to hospital 2 hours later...

DSs1 and 2 were induced/emCS for PP so no 'warnings' either.

What do we learn: absolutely anything can happen in the lead up to labour - or nothing at all

Good luck to you, OP, I hope you have the labour and delivery you hope for.

Original poster
aerokitkat · 02/04/2010 20:15

Thanks guys
I have a feeling she's going to hang on in there 'til the end now! I reckon she just wanted to get me running around, start as she means to go on ;) lol
I have a consultant appointment next week so I'm hoping he may give me a date, or at least a rough idea when the caesarian will be.
Happy Easter everyone
xxxx

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nickytwotimes · 02/04/2010 20:19

I had no idea it was coming, apart from having a stitch walking home from the shops which was so bloody sore that I had to sit on the ground! After it faded, I was fine and just pottered about the rest of that day. Waters went in spectacular fashion that night at midnight just as I was nodding off to sleep. Ds arrived 9 hrs later.
I had no nesting/energy surges, etc.
Hoping for one this time as I am 31 weeks and knackered!
GOod luck!

NonnoMum · 02/04/2010 20:22

With all three of my labours I woke on the morning and had a right old grumpy argument with my (lovely) DH.

It seems a more reliable sign than a show - a good ol' barney!

Original poster
aerokitkat · 02/04/2010 20:24

I had a stitch yesterday!
I keep getting so many possible 'signs' but they've been going on for two weeks now so I'm inclined to think they don't mean anything.
I totally sympathise with knackered! And I've realised I am having to kind of turn sideways to get up off the bed or chair & I am now actually walking like a duck! It's so not a good look...
Thank god for a lovely partner who's still telling me I'm gorgeous lol
xxxxx

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DinahRod · 02/04/2010 20:25

Felt exactly the same as I had the previous 4 or 5 weeks. Occasional bursts of energy which meant painting the garage door and fences, matched with tiredness and general pelvic achiness.

Original poster
aerokitkat · 04/04/2010 13:22

I think I overdid it yesterday Spent all morning cooking a roast for 6 and tidying up.
Today I feel really sore. Kind of like period pain, but not so crampy. Stomach is upset too, feel a bit nauseous and a little diarrhoea (although that's a relief after the constipation!)
I'm under orders from my other half to take it easy ;)
On a happier note, my cousin gave birth to an 8lb 2oz baby girl this morning :D Lovely Easter present xxx

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Original poster
aerokitkat · 19/04/2010 14:12

Still no sign of the little one! But she still keeps trying to trick me into thinking she's coming!!
Yesterday I was ridiculously tearful and low, with some upper abdo cramping (different to the braxton hicks I've been getting.
The BH are getting stronger though, and sometimes painful.
Today I have period-like pain.
I'm starting to think she just wants to make me REALLY pleased when she finally arrives! lol
At least Im almost 37 weeks now, so if she does come I won't be worried In fact.... I'll be ecstatic!
xxxxxxx

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