thread: not sure what to expect...

  1. #1
    DoubleK Guest

    not sure what to expect...

    I'm kinda getting a bit nervous about 'going into labour'! im not sure what to expect!

    i was induced at 42 weeks with DD, so obviously i was laying in the hospital bed when my contractions started!

    i keep thinking im going to get a big pain in my tummy and race to the hospital during teh middle of the night!
    but.. that doesn't always happen though does it?!

    we live 35 mins from the hospital... if dp is at work, it will take him 30 mins to get home first...

    argh!! i think my nerves are kicking in! im so prepared for the actual labour part. i was very naieve (sp) at my first birth, this time i feel a lot more educated, i have a birth plan... but its just the 'going into' labour part im scared about!

    anyone else feel like this?

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Dec 2008
    Melbourne
    214

    I am exactly the same. This is my first and I am sh** myself about labour, I have no idea what to expect and I am really nervous about the pain and the duration it may take.

    I guess it is perfectly normal for us to feel this way, however, it doesn't make it any easier.

    Good Luck, all the best with your birth!

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Apr 2008
    116

    i feel you lol this is my second bub but first labor(hopefully)

    my son was breech and i never got to feel labor, i keep getting these pains and thinking omg is it starting!!!
    its sooooo nerve racking but exciting at the same time, i just cant believe how close i am to having my baby girl!!!

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Feb 2009
    2,031

    Never know what to expect with your first Spontaneous. I remember when I was going through pre-labour with Harry, my sister who was due around the same time popped up and asked me how she would know she was in labour. At this point in time I had no idea her first was induced and kind of asked her how she wouldnt know! LMAO. The majority of women get plenty of warning so your DP should make it home and get you to the hospital in time, but dont head off too soon. Wait until you are totally sure and it comes hard and fast when you are not moving as well as moving around. If you are bent over in pain and find king kong grip - time to go have a baby!

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Perth, Western Australia
    4

    So tired of waiting!!!

    AGGHHHHHHH!

    I am so tired of not knowing if its time! I get all these little cramp like pains and back aches that last all day. I started sleeping properly again a bit over a week ago but the last two nights i have been restless and tossing and turning >

    This evening i thought i had a contraction but its been around 5 hours since then and nothing! i've been keeping an eye out for a 'bloody show', but i have since realised after reading other forums that i had mine between 1-2 weeks ago - i mistook it for semen resulting from sex i had with my partner the day previously... there was no blood but i now know that it was definately my mucous plug.

    I am just so excited but nervous! I am due on the 29th June - is anyone else out there waiting like me!!??

    Also, does anyone know of any 'not so common' signs I may be close to going into labour? I cant take it anymore... I want this baby out!

    Elise xox

  6. #6
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Somewhere between asleep and awake
    1,194

    Hi there!
    I was the same as you with my second, as with my first, my waters broke and there was no mistaking that I was in labour as the contractions came hard and fast. My sign in the week leading up to labour was I felt like I had morning sickness again. I felt so lethargic that I could barely move and threw up once. Two days before I went into labour I felt on top of the world again. On the day of labour I had one sharp pain but I thought I'd pulled a muscle cos I'd run after my DD just before it happened. But the pains then started to get more intense. Within two hours I was in established labour. I just knew too.....for some reason I just had the urge to get all my stuff in my bag even though the pains weren't too bad. I had plenty of time to get to the hospital. Sounds like you will too. Good luck with it all ladies!!

  7. #7
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    U.S.A
    1,459

    I am getting extremely tired of being pregnant. I got excited because I was at 1 cm and 50% effaced. The next week I went back to 0 cm and 0% effaced. I was just so mad.

    My body is playing tricks on me. I will have pre labour signs one week and the next.... nothing!

    I have no idea what to expect.

  8. #8
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    43

    Not sure what to expect either....
    Im a first time mum to be and waiting patiently for my little one to come and meet us both.
    Last night i tried a natural induction... Thats right you guessed it i DTD with hubby. When i woke up this morning i had blood on my panty liner. I have changed it a couple of times this morning just to monitor it, and i still have some blood.
    Not sure whther it had anything to do with last nights episode or it is total coincendence that i finally have the 'bloody show'.
    I called my ob, who of course happens to have this weekend off and spoke to an obstetrician he works with. She said to me she is not overly concerned at all, as i dont have any other labour symptoms... But she did say what about the baby and movements, and whether i have felt anything this morning. NOW... that is what go me freaking. I think i have, but not a whole heap of movement. She said if i have not felt any movement that i need to go in to get a CTG scan done... Im not sure what to do.. i suppose i have felt movement, and now its my mind playing games. Fingers crossed the 'show' is the beginning of labour.....

    Confused

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    Melbourne
    2,008

    Deetor I have read that it isn't unusual to have a little bit of blood after having sex late in preg... but then it could be your show as well... Maybe lie down for an hour or so and see if bubs moves much, if they don't then definitely go in for monitoring...

    I'm in the same boat at as you ladies today. I woke up at 1am this morning with period type pains that gradually got stronger and stronger. At around 3am I started timing them and they were coming every 12/13 minutes and when I had the pain my stomach was also tightened, so I woke DH up. We got up for a while, and they became a little less intense so at 5am I decided to take a panadol and see if I could get some sleep. Have gotten up this morning and still have the pain on and off and the tightening, but not as often or as regularly, so am now thinking it might be BH... who knows... I guess you just know when it is actually happening...

  10. #10
    Registered User

    Feb 2009
    2,031

    Other symptoms? I am going through the pre-labour purge and I am HATING IT! I was taking Maxolon because I couldn't handle being sick anymore and its not even working with this.

    I get cramps - the full bladder like ones - and my whole stomach goes tight during it.. so DTD, hoping to move things along.. Wake up sick as a dog with no cure, no show, no cramps. *sigh* I wouldnt mind the nausea if it were accompanied by signs that were telling me it wont be hanging around for much longer.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Oct 2008
    43

    Ok, the 'blood show' has definatelty slowed down. I was wondering, how much do i need to expect and is it like when u are menstruating that it is non stop. Definately had lower back pain and period type crampings earlier today. Was lying on the couch watching foxtel and dosing on and off.
    The pain has now seemed to have settled. Bubs is moving so i am not stressed about that anymore either. Lets see what the next couple of hours may bring...
    Lets hope little bub will stop being stubborn...

    Miss Excited- Hopefully your little bub is not as stubborn as mine and you get to meet them soon.

    Inertia- Yuk we all hate nausea... Hopefully you feel better soon....

    Take care ladies

  12. #12
    Registered User

    Nov 2006
    111

    In the last week and a half I've had everything. Bh which radiated down my groin every night for an hour or so and then they stopped. nesting madly a couple of times. heaps of energy followed by no energy. nasuesa, bum pressure. everything but a bloody show. ihave been losing plug for about 4 weeks and now there is none left. Forgot ive had period like cramps and diareera as well

    I've had a bit of a feel down there it's soft and probably 2 fingers dialated but def have no more plug left there. when i checked before i'd get some on my fingers.

    It doesn't seem to be happening and feels like it never will. I was feeling so depressed. after a preterm birth at 35wks i cant believe i am now 39 wks preg!!! Now i've accepted that it will eventually happen and nothing is going to hurry it.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Mar 2008
    Nth West Melbourne
    997

    I so feel for all of you! I was 10 days overdue and I just about went crazy waiting for labour to begin. Every single little twinge and I was sure it was beginning, but it wasn't.

    All I can say is, you will know you're in labour because it doesn't go away, it just gets more intense! Everyone's journey through labour is different- some have long first stages and others not- but the thing in common is that it keeps going rather than stopping.

    For me, I had contractions on the Sunday night, but they went away after about an hour. Then I went into labour on the Tuesday night. Cramps started like the previous night- they felt just like period pains. I thought it was nothing (again), but it just kept going and getting stronger.

    But because I had so many 'false starts' I didn't actually believe I was in labour until my waters broke and my contractions went to 2-3 minutes apart and I called the hospital and they said "uh, yeah, you're in labour". I was like "oh, really? Great!!".

    I was super nervous too and didn't know what to expect. Most people (myself included) say the pain is like period pain. Then like really, really bad period pain. Then like period pain on crack.

    But seriously, you really do go into a 'zone' when in labour that seems to take away all your nerves and just make you focus. I tend to worry over everything and way over-think things and get really anxious. But I wasn't like this in labour, not at all. I had this whole centre of focus/calm thing going on- and if I can get that, anyone can.

    You can do it!!!

  14. #14
    mybabylove Guest

    I think its normal to be a little anxious no matter if this is your first pregnancy or your forth! We are only human & every pregnancy/labor is different. No two people experience the same labor they are all unique!
    Hope this helps

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Nov 2008
    U.S.A
    1,459

    I agree! I have never been so impatient in my whole life. I thought that once I hit 38 weeks I would start getting anxious but as soon as I hit 33 weeks all I thought about was labor. If I do end up being one of those 42 weekers I might go a little bit insane. Hoenestly.

  16. #16
    Registered User

    Jun 2009
    Perth, Western Australia
    4

    oh i hear ya! i finished work alot earlier than first planned, so i have been at home for the last 7 weeks of my pregnancy - just...waiting... haha i am on due on monday and am dreading having to wait any longer for my little bundle. But the midwife has booked me in for an induction on Tuesday! (woohoo) so hopefully I wont have to wait much longer! I am not sure why she's planning to induce after only one day - i was under the impression they usually wait around ten days overdue before they induce - hmmmm?? i've had some swelling and excessive weight gain in the last two weeks, do you think it would have something to do with that? i didnt actually ask as i did not think she meant an induction while we were chatting, i only realised afterwards

  17. #17
    DoubleK Guest

    its nice to know im not alone!!!

    i cant help but think that i will end up having to be induced again though which i really really dont want to happen. i want it to happen naturally, when she is well and ready! i want to be able to use the birthing centre... the thought of going into a regular birth room scares me. im trying not to think about it, but its so hard!

    ahh well.. my next countdown is my next birth centre appointment on monday @ 4.15. so i guess ill focus on that for now! (..and hopefully actually go into labour in the meantime )

    goodluck everyone!!!!

  18. #18
    DoubleK Guest

    elise i missed your post. i also finished up work early (around 28 weeks i think!) i had terrible terrible pain in my pelvis, i could barely stand! now, at 40 weeks, i am able to run up and down steps.. wheres the logic? lol

    i was induced @ 14 days over with DD1.. my doctor was happy to leave it for as long as possible, so perhaps your OB does have other concerns? not sure if you've had bub or not by now though!