Eep! He's trying to escape!

[eilonwy]

Loads of regular contractions, pain all the way down the netherregions, and this evening it was topped (or should I say bottomed?) off with a hint of bloody show. I'll be 34 weeks on Saturday, and Seamonkey needs to stay in until at least 21 Jan, ideally 1 Feb. I actually found myself yelling at my uterus today, and wishing I could reach up there and pinch my cervix together, like it was the end of a balloon.

I did finally get the contractions to stop, and I didn't leak any fluid today, but knowing that my cervix must be a little bit open and knowing how low Seamonkey is hanging. . . well, like I said, I've been reduced to yelling at my uterus and even at Seamonkey, informing him that he has no choice, he must stay *in* for several more weeks. Anyone else have a kid trying to escape, or suggestions for keeping Seamonkey IN, where he belongs?

[Jezzy]

I have been having a ton of contractions too. And because I check my cp I know that it isn't tilted back anymore and that it is slightly open. tomorrow I will be 35 weeks. She needs to stay in for a few more days too. I am sure that she will though. I had this with the other two and they were both a week late!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

[True Blue]

Yikes! All I can think of is to somehow take it easy with 3 other kids running around...I know...an oxymoron. I'd try to spend more time horizontal if possible and try to keep his weight off your cervix. Other than that, talk to your care provider and look into meds.

Oh wait! When I had ptl with DD I took some herbs...unicorn root or something? And something else. Hmmmm. Maybe someone else knows what to take? I did find this one site, it might be helpful. http://www.naturalchildbirth.org/nat...prebirth05.htm

[flapjack]

Don't panic about the bloody show- it could be effacement, rather than dilation. Bloody show can happen weeks before birth, depressingly enough.
The best things you can do are rest. Pulsatilla will stop false labour contractions, but if you think it's real labour, I'd call your doctor. ALSO, if you're not happy with how low he is, why leave him there? Get yourrself on the ironing board upside down and try a spot of inversion to get him back out of your pelvis. This whole fetal positioning thing is a two way street. Baby has the right to be comfortable, but so do you.

[sarahn4639]

This happened to me yesterday minus the bloody show and plus mentral crampy back ache. It was enough to scare me a little. I had a mw appt anyway so talked with her about it and we decided to just do the group B a little early and have her check me so I could have peace of mind or know if I needed to worry a little. I am posterior and closed so that definately made me feel better! I had white cells in my urine, so she's also checking for a possible yeast or bacterial infection that could cause some contractions. It is definately scary though, I fully plan on going a full 40 weeks and am not mentally prepared for that plan to change!! I hope you are feeling better Rynna. Drink water like crazy and take it as easy as possible but I hope it's gone today!

[Nature]

I always get bloody show weeks and weeks before labor, and usually by the time my due date comes I'm already at least 4-5 cm's dialated. So I'm used to the contracting.

drink more water

[Writerbird]

After reading the induction thread, with its perils of early arrivals, I have a much better sense of WHY I'm hoping you can keep your little one from applying for early release. Good luck (she says fervently while knocking wood).

[flapjack]

FWIW, I had a rummage earlier and my cervix is anterior and very soft. And this is probably normal for me, and two of my kids were born seriously post-dates So you can either worry about both of us having babies in 2007, or stop worrying :

[justmama]

Drink drink drink until you are floating and then drink some more!!!! I was on bedrest with Sara for ptl and pih at 21weeks and my water was broken and I was on hospital bedrest by 32weeks. She was born at 34weeks. So the only thing that kept me pregnant that long was bedrest and drinking water. I've heard wonderful things since then about protein and vitamin c for strengthening your bag of waters to prevent pprom. That's something you might look into. otherwise, I think your only line of defense is water and bedrest as much as possible with 3 older kids destroying the place. Will Mike take on more responsibility around the house to keep you laying down and on pelvic rest??? He's been pretty good lately about taking the kids to the park right? Worth a shot!s STAY IN SEAMONKEY!!!!! Take a hint from Big Bird. She's comfortably bouncing on my poor abused bladder right now with an anterior cervix and minimal contractions(that is until I decided I HAD to clean out the entire basement and pull up the changing table and the diaper stash to rummage through!)

[loraxc]

We almost took a trip to L&D on Christmas, Rynna--of course, I had a wicked stomach bug that day and surely that was why I was contracting regularly and getting major cervix ouches, but it wigged me out. I had a rummage myself, as Flpajack says , and I could tell I was less posterior and soft, but that was all. Of course, I was just comparing to a few weeks ago. I never fooled with my cervix last pregnancy and don't really know what I'm doing.

Did you go early with your others? I'm thinking yes, but not this early?

Stay in, Seamonkey!

[eilonwy]

All of my kids have been early, though I'm still fairly certain that BooBah would have stayed put for a heck of a lot longer if my water hadn't broken.

I've been drinking all the water I can stand, and chowing down on vitamin c tablets, and I don't feel like I'm in actual labor. . . I just feel *irritated* and irritable. I'm so not ready to give birth right now, so even the most remote thought of it has me horrified. Interestingly, my cervix (even in the third pregnancy) was long, thick, and tight until I went into labor. Really long, like 5.5 cm, and not even a fingertip of dilation-- just the tight circle and the dent. I did lose my mucous plug in it's entirity before Bella was born, but only about a week I think. Even then, I could find my cervix (a feat in and of itself) and it was still pretty tight. These days I can't find it at all, but I *can* feel a baby head up there. (Doesn't mean anything, as my cervix tends to be very high and Seamonkey is pressing down from the front.)

I can't imagine hanging upside down-- even being flat on my back causes heartburn. I have spent as much time as possible on my side, kind of urging the boy upward, but I still have to do a lot of walking/running/chasing, so that's not a constant thing. Yesterday I was up and walking around all day, so of course he settled way the heck down in my pelvis. :

Thanks for the positive thoughts. I'm just seriously not eager for anything remotely resembling labor right now. Not even close.

[Carlito's_wife]

I am having some issues too. The other day I thought I was seriously in labor but turned out to be a stomach bug. Today however I know it is not a bug. I have noticed a ton more BH than usual and I think the pain was coming from the baby dropping and not me being in preterm labor. I thought I had dropped sometime earlier but I am posotive now. I felt her head dig down in there and strangly enough I can't close my legs now. I have heard that term before but couldn't really relate to it. I have no doubt she has dropped. That being said as soon as I think she got comfortable in there is when the lower abdomen and lower back cramping slowed to a stop. I had a strong feeling I might be in labor so I got some bags together just in case for me and the boys but then it stopped so I think it may have just been the body getting ready for what is supposed to happen in the next month.

[flapjack]

Carlito's wife, that sounds like positioning contractions to me: before labour gets established, the uterus normally nudges baby into a good position. Sometimes this happens in early labour, sometimes when you're especially lucky then you get a month or two of regular ctx that just freak you out : If it kicks off again, drink lots and try homoeopathic pulsatilla

[Carlito's_wife]

Originally Posted by flapjack

Carlito's wife, that sounds like positioning contractions to me: before labour gets established, the uterus normally nudges baby into a good position. Sometimes this happens in early labour, sometimes when you're especially lucky then you get a month or two of regular ctx that just freak you out : If it kicks off again, drink lots and try homoeopathic pulsatilla

But I am only 35 weeks. Not to sound nieve but IMO I think it is just too early and next to impossible. I think I will be going through weird things like this clear up until the day they induce me. Lol. I haven't had much luck going into labor on my own. But what is homeopathic pulastilla? I have never heard of that before.

[True Blue]

Not impossible. Things can get ready early or last minute, and each pregnancy will work differently. Just because you had to be induced last time means nothing for this time!

[ScarletBegonias]

with dd i felt her distinctly drop and nestle head down at 28 weeks. i had a ton more bh with her as well. she was born 17 days after her edd.

eilonwy, are you taking omegas? this could help you greatly. i recently read a midwifery today article about women in senegal usually having strong amniotic sacs, as they eat so much fish (one of their main sources of protein). so for a strong bag of waters, omega & protein it up!

Here is the quote from the article:

"Conversely, the amniotic sacs were incredibly strong. I link that to the fresh ocean fish they eat on a daily basis. The fish is good quality protein and high in zinc. In many of the births, the water bag did not break until the head was born or even after the head was born. Not one of the 20 or so births I attended did a woman present to the clinic with ruptured membranes. Fascinating."

http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articl...&e=1&q=senegal

[nausicaamom]

Rynna - No advice, but Seamonkey, you need to stay put!

[lovetobemama]

Nothing super helpful to add here, just wanted to send hugs your way! Stay in, crazy sea monkey!!!! Even if it's just one day, I'm so happy for each next day that you are still pregnant!!! Hang in there!
I'm only 33 weeks, but it's an interesting place to be. With ds, I was in preterm labor this week, and then had 2 weeks of bedrest and terb. to hold things up. This time, I still can't believe that the 3rd trimester is here, and I feel like my BH have actually started lessening lately, and babe has seemed higher rather than lower suddenly. I know 33 weeks is still early, but I'm kind of getting REALLY ready to start feeling her head downward and to have her hang out a little lower. I haven't checked my cervix (and won't, just never got to where I thought I could really firgure anything out), but I feel light years away from delivery rather than just heading into the homestretch.
But I bet if this was babe # 4 rather than 2, things would be different here.

[eilonwy]

Originally Posted by ScarletBegonias

eilonwy, are you taking omegas? this could help you greatly. i recently read a midwifery today article about women in senegal usually having strong amniotic sacs, as they eat so much fish (one of their main sources of protein). so for a strong bag of waters, omega & protein it up!

I am indeed. No fish, though; I haven't been able to tolerate seafood this pregnancy much at all. So weird, though, I ate tons of fish with the other three and with the first two my waters broke first, and didn't seal up at all. I never had any leakage with Bella, but with Seamonkey I've leaked a fair bit and each time, the sac has sealed.

[flapjack]

Carlito'swife, the bouts of regular ctx had already started for me at 32 weeks with Skye (my 42 weeker). Some babies just take longer to line themselves up. This one, bless his little cotton socks, is behaving himself.
Actually, I did have a thought that my contractions this pregnancy feel very different. My normal pg ctx feel like they're centred in the top of my uterus, on the baby. These ones are infrequent- maybe 2 or 3 a day, but are definitely low and centred on my cervix (and feel amazingly good.)