Early Labor Signs.... or a MeanTrick! - Page 11

[yippiehippie]

I think one of the best ways to engage the babe is squatting. Lots of squatting!

[GoddessKristie]

Here I am again. Nice strength contractions, 8 minutes apart for a few hours now. Still don't know if this is it or not! 

[jul511riv]

You'll know. lol. Eventually you'll say "Woah!" after a contraction and you'll know you are in something different. Of course, dont' make the mistake I did and rush to the hospital after the first one. lol. Then labor stopped and a series of interventions began.

Anyway, eventually you will know that you are in your "birthing contractions" and all will be well. :)

As for me...still waiting...

[TeamGR]

OK, so two nights ago I had regular Braxton Hicks for a few hours, 8 minutes apart. Last night, they were more like 5 minutes apart, and starting to get painful.  Doula basically ordered me to go to bed, which I did, expecting to be woken up in the middle of the night.... and nothing.  Slept through the night, now up.  However, this morning I am starving, nauseous, and have a desire to wash everything in the apartment.  And some contractions, som eback pain, and please please please let this be it.  I'm 40 + 3!  

[slimkins]

I am really hopeful and really jealous of you ladies. I hope whatever you're feeling pans out to be something promising.
Today, I just feel defeated. Going to my 41 1/2 week appt. today. I think we have decided to wait and do the biophysical at 42 weeks since baby is constantly moving still, and I have lots of fluid. I cannot believe I made it this far (to this appt.). :(

[TreeRose]

I hope it's it for everyone. I feel a lot more pressure and think the ball has helped a lot but no real strong contractions of course. Sigh.

[GreenRose]

Anyone else feel desperate, and then when things actually happen, feel terrified?! That's me.. I am hoping my mental state is not stopping things too much. Anyway... Started feeling icky last night but petered out this a.m. So I did the castor oil milkshake at 7am before I could think twice. Ugh. It's not fun, and no contractions yet. I'm supposed to have another one in an hour but I'm going to have to really force myself. 41+5 misery.

[Runnerbean]

Hi Greenrose, totally due date crashing here as I am note even pregnant at the mo, but love reading birth stories while ttc :) I did castor oil at 41.5 wks. It took two hours for anything to happen, so don't go rushing to have the second milshake too soon. In total I just had 25-30ml of oil, and from experience it was manageable, but I def wouldn't have wanted to have or needed to take anymore. I took it at 10am, went for a 20min walk (as brisk as possible!) as recommended by midwife and surges started at 12noon with first trip to the toilet (sorry for tmi!). Baby arrived that evening at 8pm :) Best of luck to you & everyone else!

[slimkins]

Originally Posted by GreenRose 

Anyone else feel desperate, and then when things actually happen, feel terrified?! That's me.. I am hoping my mental state is not stopping things too much. Anyway... Started feeling icky last night but petered out this a.m. So I did the castor oil milkshake at 7am before I could think twice. Ugh. It's not fun, and no contractions yet. I'm supposed to have another one in an hour but I'm going to have to really force myself. 41+5 misery.

Finger crossed for you, and I will be watching to see how things pan out. So sorry it went this far, and I see the same in my future. Good luck, and stay hydrated.

[TreeRose]

Originally Posted by GreenRose 

Anyone else feel desperate, and then when things actually happen, feel terrified?! That's me.. I am hoping my mental state is not stopping things too much. Anyway... Started feeling icky last night but petered out this a.m. So I did the castor oil milkshake at 7am before I could think twice. Ugh. It's not fun, and no contractions yet. I'm supposed to have another one in an hour but I'm going to have to really force myself. 41+5 misery.

I'll be anxiously waiting to hear how this goes.

SlimKins, I'm nervous that this could be my future too. What's the cut off for you? I don't know how long I'll wait but I keep hanging on bc baby is healthy.

[TreeRose]

Originally Posted by Runnerbean 

Hi Greenrose, totally due date crashing here as I am note even pregnant at the mo, but love reading birth stories while ttc I did castor oil at 41.5 wks. It took two hours for anything to happen, so don't go rushing to have the second milshake too soon. In total I just had 25-30ml of oil, and from experience it was manageable, but I def wouldn't have wanted to have or needed to take anymore. I took it at 10am, went for a 20min walk (as brisk as possible!) as recommended by midwife and surges started at 12noon with first trip to the toilet (sorry for tmi!). Baby arrived that evening at 8pm Best of luck to you & everyone else!

It's actually nice to hear this worked for you. May I ask how long the diarrhea lasted? And do you feel it was worth it?

[slimkins]

Originally Posted by TreeRose 


I'll be anxiously waiting to hear how this goes.
SlimKins, I'm nervous that this could be my future too. What's the cut off for you? I don't know how long I'll wait but I keep hanging on bc baby is healthy.

I'm really not sure. But I am sure that I won't be able to go much past 42 weeks comfortably. It all depends on how the baby and I are doing of course. I know my midwife will do the cohoshes, so, I need to look into them a little further. And maybe another sweep tomorrow, as long as she doesn't think it would be too much stress on my cervix.

[slimkins]

GreenRose, any news?

[GreenRose]

Diarrhea for a couple hours then another milkshake at 10am as recommended by midwife... More diarrhea since. Some food here and there. Now I have either terrible cramps or the start of contractions... But they are across my abdomen and not in my cervix so I can't tell?! I feel like I knew better the first pregnancy!

[Runnerbean]

Originally Posted by TreeRose 

Originally Posted by Runnerbean 

Hi Greenrose, totally due date crashing here as I am note even pregnant at the mo, but love reading birth stories while ttc I did castor oil at 41.5 wks. It took two hours for anything to happen, so don't go rushing to have the second milshake too soon. In total I just had 25-30ml of oil, and from experience it was manageable, but I def wouldn't have wanted to have or needed to take anymore. I took it at 10am, went for a 20min walk (as brisk as possible!) as recommended by midwife and surges started at 12noon with first trip to the toilet (sorry for tmi!). Baby arrived that evening at 8pm Best of luck to you & everyone else!

It's actually nice to hear this worked for you. May I ask how long the diarrhea lasted? And do you feel it was worth it?

I was actually 40+12 days and I was having a homebirth, so I would have had to transfer to hospital care at 42 wks, so it was definitely worth it for me.My midwife didn't want me to try it until at least 12 days over, as it has a better success rate then, because baby is more likely to be ready than if you take it at just 40 wks. The diarrhea lasted about an hour, with that and the surges starting at same time, it was a bit intense for that hour but I had heard it could last the whole labour so I feel an hour was tolerable. I had to go toilet again (more cramps than anything) about 5pm, and funnily enough this was the same time that active labour really began in for me, and things went pretty fast after that. I had read online that some cocktails involve taking 100ml of castor oil, but I definitely feel that would have been way too much for me. I'm glad my midwife advised the 30ml. I had it with an orange sports drink, it was easier to drink. If I go to that stage again on the next baby I will definitely take it again, hopefully I will have a more punctual babe the next time lol!
 

[GreenRose]

Thanks for info runnerbean! I didn't want to do second milkshake because I was starting to feel good again.. But then I realized that feeling good might mean it wasn't going to work, so took the second hit. We shall see... But I feel stupid not knowing whether I'm experiencing cramping or contracting. Back to my ginger soother drink...

[Runnerbean]

Originally Posted by GreenRose 

Diarrhea for a couple hours then another milkshake at 10am as recommended by midwife... More diarrhea since. Some food here and there. Now I have either terrible cramps or the start of contractions... But they are across my abdomen and not in my cervix so I can't tell?! I feel like I knew better the first pregnancy!

Sounds like the start! My first surges were across the abdomen too, it felt like tummy cramps and surges happening together, I had to lie down with them. That pattern eased after about an hour and surges got into a nice rhythm after that. Sending you positive and calm birthing vibes :) Good luck Mama!!

[GreenRose]

I did a 2oz milkshake then another 1.5oz... So nearly 100ml. Ugh

[GreenRose]

Oooh, that's nice to hear! Even though part of me doesn't want to hear that because I'm still scared of labor. Please let endorphins an hormones take over my brain soon!

[Runnerbean]

Originally Posted by GreenRose 

Oooh, that's nice to hear! Even though part of me doesn't want to hear that because I'm still scared of labor. Please let endorphins an hormones take over my brain soon!

I hear you, but you do know that you really ARE ready :) You can do it!! Let go and enjoy, it's been a long wait to meet your babe, nearly there now :)