Labour? I’m not quite sure!
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Topic: Labour? I’m not quite sure!
Posted By: emz
Subject: Labour? I’m not quite sure!
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 12:35pm
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Trying to decide if I'm in early labour. I've got the back pains, have been feeling really funny for the last couple of days and now I've got all over stomach pains that seem to peak but they're not really defined enough to time or anything. It's only been going on for an hour or so now, but I really want to know either way as both my and DH's parents have to travel 4 hours to get here and they all want to be at the birth if possible! (They're annoyed I'm not getting induced now because at least they would DEFINITELY be here hehe)
So for those of you who have been there, should I just wait it out and see if it gets worse or call the parents to give them a heads up? I don't want to get my mum too excited because she will rush back straight away and it might be a false alarm. |
Replies:
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 12:42pm
Sorry but there's no definites from here emz. I wouldn't call them yet because honestly you could have that for the next day, or you could have it for a couple of hours and then a repeat next week.  So I wouldn't call them yet. But you are definitely having early labour symptoms. It's just whether it sets in or not.
The tightenings in your tummy are contractions and if they get 30 seconds long x1 or 2 every 10 minutes then you'll wanna call your parents by then. The pains in your back indicate that you may have a posterior baby - that often means a longer first stage of labour (what you've got). What would your parents' plans be if they arrived and things all settled/stopped? I'd be inclined to give your heads up that she may need to come over tomorrow or Sunday but not today. Hope that helps and isn't too depressing! All the best  -------------  |
Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 12:54pm
Exciting emz 
Have you spoken to your mw? Perhaps once she's had a good look at you and you give it another day I'd say you'll be in a better position to know if you should call your folks or not. Not that I've experienced it before.. Just like to throw in my two cents! Good luck  ------------- 
http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 1:03pm
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I had "false labour" 2 nights before going into "real labour". But throughout the day I had tightnings of my tummy but in the night they would become fairly regular but were just uncomfy and went away when I had a bath.
Maybe give your MW a call and see if she can check ya over and give you a better idea of whats going on, and hopefully do an internal to see if its actually doing anything?? Then you could make a better judgement call on whether to give your folks a heads up? |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 1:29pm
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I didn't have false labour until #3 but my first two had long labours (12+ hours and 33 hours) ------------- |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 2:58pm
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I've had the pains over the last 2 nights which have both gone away, this ones nearl 4 hours so far.
Got a call from the hospital m/w about my BP so had to go and get checked (my m/w's out of town today), it's fine. She also strapped me to the CTG which shows I'm in the early stages of labour but they're nowhere near regular yet. She definitely thinks I won't be sleeping much tonight and that I won't need my m/w appt next Wednesday, so hopefully she's right! Busymum - I do have a posterior baby, so I've been told from now on I have to sit straddling a chair to try and get him to spin around. I don't know how much luck I'll have cos I felt where his head is this morning and it's so low I'm surprised I'm not walking more like John Wayne than I am! DH went and got me some Panadeine as well which I'm allowed to take tonight. M/w said its fine so hopefully that might help a little bit if its still going on. Told mum and also told her not to panic just yet. DH's mum might be another story! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 3:06pm
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Fingers crossed for you Emma, hopefully that little boy is here before the new year. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 3:56pm
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Sounds great, you'll have him by the end of the weekend I reckon If you can't get to sleep tonight, try a warm bath - if the contractions are going to set in they will do it there; and if they are just having you on they'll just stop in the bath so you can sleep. ------------- |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 4:25pm
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Yay Emma!!!
Another position that is more comfy than the chair thing is putting a pillow on the floor, kneeling on that and leaning against/into other pillows propped up or a bean bag. I got sooo comfy with that I ended up sitting for ages like it. Far better than a stupid chair thats hard. Another suggestion for sleeping tonight is a wheat bag. They helped ease mine for sleep. The warmth helped a lot. |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 4:32pm
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Oooh, fingers crossed it all gets underway for you soon Emma! Good luck ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 5:21pm
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Oh yay goodluck Emma!!! Im so excited for you! ------------- |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 5:28pm
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Wow!! Good Luck!!! Sounds very promising! ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 5:50pm
| Good luck Emz!!!! |
Posted By: susieq
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 6:58pm
| Good luck |
Posted By: sally belly
Date Posted: 28 December 2007 at 8:02pm
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Best wishes Emz . I really look forward to hearing how it all goes for you.
I too used a wheat bag in the early stages & it worked a treat - especially on my back. I hope you manage to get some rest tonight. -------------    
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Posted By: kezplanet
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 11:00am
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Good luck Emz, no sign of you here maybe thats a good sign ------------- Kerryn, Mum to Ashlyn(29/3/04), Anastasia(1/11/05) & Abigail (24/02/09) |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 11:08am
hmmmmmmm was wondering if there's been any new 'developments' ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 11:39am
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I keep checking in for news too. I hope it's either all underway or that she has her little boy by now. -------------  
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Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 12:39pm
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Ooo Best of luck Emma ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 2:14pm
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No sign of emz this morning, must be a sign things are progressing! I hope she is holding her wee man now ------------- |
Posted By: noodle
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 2:49pm
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oooh i hope so too! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 3:12pm
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I'M STILL HERE! Grr!
27 hours and counting, gradually getting stronger pains but still not regular enough to count for anything. No show or waters breaking or anything, so I'm still very confused as to what's going on. I'm exhausted already from the lack of sleep and not being able to sit down (only kneel) so it doesn't bode well for when I actually have regular contractions! Oh well, I'll just keep chugging along. There's something definitely happening here, but I just wish it would happen a bit faster! |
Posted By: kezplanet
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 3:33pm
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OOOh Emz, I'm guessing that the pain is too much for panadol or panadine, can you relax in a bath or on a chair in the shower maybe, you might get 40 winks in the bath if you have someone watching you to make sure you dont slip under. Is lying on your side an option? Its easy for me to say on this side of the computer and already have my kids here but try not to stress or worry too much as it will tense you up and slow things down. I wasnt relaxed thru my 1st labour & was also long. Even just resting your body if you cant sleep will help in the long run, keep yourself hydrated & have just small things to eat if you feel like it, good luck, hope things progress for you soon ------------- Kerryn, Mum to Ashlyn(29/3/04), Anastasia(1/11/05) & Abigail (24/02/09) |
Posted By: Freesia
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 3:44pm
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At least you know it's not going to be too long now Emz. I'll keep my fingers crossed that things hurry up for you now. -------------
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 3:52pm
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Yeah, the bath is the best, I even got a rest when my contractions were coming one after the other, it definitely relaxed me... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 7:00pm
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Keep on going Emz, my second birth (first VB) took forever too and it was quite discouraging after a while. All the extra time is probably your baby turning into the correct position, so for the best even though it takes forever. Keep your fluids and snacks up to give you energy, is your mum over yet? Won't be much longer now ------------- |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 7:12pm
| Good luck!!!!! |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 7:16pm
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Hopefully not too much longer for you emz. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 9:31pm
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Mum's not coming yet, still no need to. Although she is ringing about 3 times a day!
Rang the m/w, she's going to check in tomorrow night and if its still going on and hasn't progressed she'll check me over on Monday and they'll probably induce to get things moving quicker. My mum's first labour was exactly the same, my sister was posterior too. I'm just hoping my m/w is a bit more experienced than the ones she got - they got disciplinary action for letting my mum labour so long when she should have had a c-sect! I'm feeling a bit better now, got to keep taking the panadeine and rest. I'm so bored! |
Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 10:09pm
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Emz, you and I could be racing each other. My test results are back from the hospital and I have a induction assessment on Monday at 1pm. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 29 December 2007 at 10:12pm
| oooh, if you two have the first babies in the new year perhaps you'll get free stuff! shouldn't jinx you lot for bubs coming that late. |
Posted By: Kels
Date Posted: 30 December 2007 at 1:06am
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Oooo Best of luck girls. My sister is playing the waiting game too. She was due Christmas eve.. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
Busy mum to Miss 15yrs, Miss 10yrs and Master 4yrs |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 30 December 2007 at 10:05am
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*Lurkin for news*.. ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 30 December 2007 at 1:03pm
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Still here, the constant pain has subsided, just getting pain every now and again, had a few that lasted 20 seconds last night but that's as good as they got.
Finally got to sleep at 6am, and slept until 11.30 with only a couple hours of awake time in that, so I'm pretty happy with that. Had some yummy curry last night but it seems to have had the opposite effect - I'm feeling better than I have since boxing day  Hopefully they'll still decide to induce as I'm still in pain and taking panadeine constantly.
DH was talking to bubs last night and told him he needed to hurry up because his mummy was getting stressed. I was getting tearful yesterday because I'm in too much pain to go out and do anything, but not enough to get excited. I'm so bored, I read a whole book yesterday! |
Posted By: mum2matte
Date Posted: 30 December 2007 at 7:54pm
| Hey Emz totally feel for you. Have severe persistent back pain and lots of tightenings think i am in beginning stages too and not sure how long i'll last at this rate. The tightenings and stomach cramps are all good but the back pain is driving me insane. Good luck and i hope things start moving a bit quicker for you. Best of luck and wishes. |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 30 December 2007 at 8:23pm
Good luck all you ladies in early labour - hopefully you all have your bubs this year!  ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 1:35pm
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I've been downgraded after an internal today So they said take panadeine constantly, have warm baths (which makes the pain so much worse so why would I want to?) and take sleeping pills (which they've prescribed me but I don't actually want to take).
How the heck am I supposed to build up my strength for labour when I'm only sleeping about 4 hours a day? I actually wish I was in a small town with no big hospital near so they would just leave me alone and never tell me what they 'think' is happening. Because so far everything I've been told during the pregnancy by so called medical professionals has been untrue or unfounded. I envy people that love being pregnant, I've hated it the whole way through and hate it even more now. |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 3:33pm
Big hugs hun, sounds terrible  ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 4:09pm
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I'm such a whinger! It's just that we've been counting down to 39 weeks because everyone was adamant he would be evicted by then, and now they're talking of letting me go naturally. So that's pretty much 3 more weeks than we were expecting. Not cool At least I can be thankful he's not huge (actually quite little compared to my birth weight) and I'm not carrying large so thank goodness for small victories I guess.
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Posted By: BabyOnBoard
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 4:17pm
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Everyone thought I was going to go early but I had to be induced and Arabella was bron two weeks post due date. It's horrible waiting and waiting! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: emachan
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 4:40pm
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hang in there emz! It'll be all worth it in the end! Make the most of boredom now cos as soon as bubs comes there will be no time to be bored!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  DD#1 Sept 08 DD#2 Oct 09 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 6:51pm
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Awww I'm sorry to see you still around IYGWIM - I thought for sure you'd have your baby in arms by now and even popped in to check for news! Can you go out for coffee with a friend? Something to help ease the waiting? Big hugs ------------- |
Posted By: aimeejoy
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 7:20pm
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Oh Emz, that sux! Hopefully you dont have to wait too much longer and you have a good night sleeps tonight. ------------- Aimee Hannah 22/10/05 Greer 11/02/08 |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 31 December 2007 at 9:16pm
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I guess one upside is that the queue might die down in a few days... when I was in there today I had to go in a pokey little room, and there were 2 ladies sitting outside their pokey little rooms chatting as they'd been bumped back (must've been booked for inductions or c-sects I'm guessing). When we were there last Friday for monitoring (and now that I remember, when we were there on Thursday too) labour ward was packed. Why oh why didn't they build CWH a wee bit bigger?!
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Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 01 January 2008 at 9:31pm
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Emz sounds like you are in a similar predicament as me. Have you had a s & s done to encourage natural labour while you wait? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 5:27pm
| yeah, i was 9 days over and she did a s&s when i was about 5 days over and i went into labour 3 days later, but i dunno if they do them till after your actually over due,still, worth a shot |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 5:30pm
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Hey Tara, so sorry to see you're still here too! I'm not even overdue yet, so you're holding up well! Must be really good at baking babies!
When I had an internal done a couple of days ago m/w couldn't reach the cervix to do a S&S. She thinks that because of bubs position (posterior) the pain has been him getting into the best position he possibly can be before labour. She could feel his head etc, just the opening was too far away and would have hurt me too much. I think I have the same thing as my mum, cos she's always had issues with internals too. Guess we'll wait and see! M/w appt in 15 mins so better get a wriggle on, but we'll be plotting the growth to see if he's growing OK and if not they may make an induction date (I doubt it though, I definitely think he's had a growth spurt). |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 7:13pm
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What happened at your apmt today emz? ------------- |
Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 8:29pm
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*lurking* ------------- formerly known as "Bee" Ethan ~ March 2003 Big 6 year old school boy! Micah ~ Aug 2008 ~ Smiley pants who loves telephones! |
Posted By: bookwyrm
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 8:50pm
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Hope your m/w apointment went well Emz. My bubs is posterior too, I get alot of my pain in my back also. Sorta pulsing waves. Especially since my s&s. Been on the pineapple buzz for the past 3 days, hopefully it is working, though if it doesnt I won't be bummed as it tastes soooo good. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 11:21pm
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I had a posterior baby, and contractions in my back (and legs and tummy) during labour
Just curious, what does pineapple juice do? *sorry to lurk * Hope your bubbas come soon tara and emz |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 02 January 2008 at 11:23pm
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I can't have pineapple or anything that makes you poo more! I have IBS so most of the things they recommend ie. teas, licorice etc I can't have either.
Well the m/w didn't even have the results from the last scan so we couldn't plot them. Because of the time of year, the results places weren't operating etc and they're always useless at sending stuff through to her (usually takes 3 weeks if she doesn't track them down immediately). She still thinks bubs is quite small by feeling him, guess our next scan (Friday) will tell. Fundal height is 38 weeks though, so that's good. So basically will just be playing the waiting game. Went for a brisk walk with DH this evening and now I'm having heaps of BH, pelvic pain and back pain. Might even force myself to have some cuddles tonight Poor DH, he knows he's being used but he really doesn't care!
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Posted By: EmDee
Date Posted: 03 January 2008 at 8:39am
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From memory, pineapple has a hormone similar to semen, which helps softens the cervix.
LOL Emz - yep by that stage DH's are happy to get what they can huh? Best of luck, I hope things get going for you soon.
------------- DS 8 DD 6 DS 4 DD 2 |