help ignoring contractions

[PassionateWriter]

argh!!!!! i KNOW these contrax are doing great things for my uterus, and my baby...i KNOW that. My head tells me that. But I am so tired of paying attention to them..they are not leading toward labor at this point and this could go on for another 2 weeks (im 40 weeks, 3 days now).

I just need support ignoring them. I am doing all the things around the house I need to do (w/ the energy i have..which is pretty high right now compared to the last few months, at least! lol!). I'm trying to keep myself out of the house during the day but its a bit difficult b/c i have a very very low engaged baby (my MW told me she has never seen a baby so low w/o being in labor...great!!! lol). THis means, for me, right now, I have a hard time going anywhere (even close) for very long b/c im in the bathroom ALOT!!!!! Last night i was in a food store and well....things didnt turn out so well in that 30 minute trip.

so.....suggestions? anyone else want to join me in trying to just ignore contrax??? lol!

[Marcimama]

I am right there with you! It is so annoying...the anticipation...the wondering. I have stopped watching the clock, even if they are really strong. I figure I will know when "it" really happens. Also, I am no longer drinking RRL it has just made things worse and my mw told me to take cal/mag. at night. It has helped a bit.
It is nice to know others are going through these crazy symptoms too.

[leurMaman]

Well, let me tell you first that I once called my mw to complain the same way you just did in your post. It was a thursday morning, I was 8 days over my due date, and I was sick of all the bh cntx with no real "labor". I got emotional and told her that I was sick of it all and couldn't put up with it anymore. She laughed and said that she wouldn't be surprised if I had the baby later that day. That irked me even more! I hung up and walked outside only to be side-railed by a REAL contraction. I was in early labor - that is why I had such tense emotions. I had my son 15 hours later.

I am in the same boat with bh cntx. I'm not saying we're having our babies tonight, but when they get distracting I try to actually ENJOY them. They don't cause me too much pain, and I feel them and wish they would just get stronger and stronger. When that doesn't work I go for a walk, lie down, take a bath, or just get on the phone and gripe to my sister. Hang in there!

[PassionateWriter]

im trying not to complain. just need support from those who are going through the same thing.

EVERYONE is calling me asking me if ive had the baby. uh!!!!!!

[NDFanatik]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

EVERYONE is calling me asking me if ive had the baby. uh!!!!!!

You could do what I did when I was pregnant with my son. I was getting royally pissed at everyone calling asking the same thing... So I turned the ringer off on my phone and put this on the answering machine:

"Hi you've reached Amy & Tony (last name). We can't get to the phone right now so please leave your name, number, and a brief message and we'll get back to you as soon as possible. If anyone is calling to ask about the pregnancy, NO we have not had the baby yet, NO nothing important is going on, and if we feel that something merits us notifying the family, such as an emergency or the birth, we will call you. Have a nice day."

Of course it made my nosy family crazy, but it saved my sanity... especially after I went overdue

[janasmama]

I'm getting the same thing. People asking if I'd had the baby or when I'm going to.

I get a bunch of ctx too. I actually left the house today to go an hours drive away to do grocery shopping so I could take my mind off hoping they would get stronger.

I don't know what to say about ignoring them...I'm just trying to appreciate and love my youngest one as my little baby right now for these last few days, weeks.

[lasciate]

I've had numerous people ask me if I would let them know when the baby is born. It makes me want to not call anyone but then they'd just call on a daily basis until I ripped the phone out of the wall.

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by janasmama

I don't know what to say about ignoring them...I'm just trying to appreciate and love my youngest one as my little baby right now for these last few days, weeks.

i am so trying to do that too. i should focus on that today more than anything b/c yesterday i dont think i was a good mommy. I am trying to keep everything clean "just in case". i know we cant live like this for another 2 weeks (no messes) and i know that me being crazy about keeping everythign organized is going to drive everyone out of the house! lol!

[Faerieshadow]

Sending some relaxing vibes your way... I hope you have a better day today.

[skolbut]

Make a bunch of big plans...

When I started getting lots of cx I decided not to make any committments 'just in case' but then I didn't go into labor AND I was bored. A friend of mine suggested that perhaps if I filled up my calendar Murphy's law might kick in and I could go into labor. Sure enough, I started a scrapbooking project and signed up for a 5K with my family and the morning of the 5K I went into labor!!

I know you can't go too far... but you could: plan to meet up with a friend for breakfast/coffee, start a knitting/sewing/crafty project, schedule someone to work on your house (ie carpet cleaning), schedule your car for maintenance.

[Turtlemum]

Hey PW, why not try this distraction technique?

Make a list of all who have called to ask if you've had the baby. Then spend your day calling them at home, at work...and say "hey ____, just wanted to call and let you know I haven't had the baby yet. I'm feeling pretty crampy. Just trying to keep things around here clean. What's that? You need to get back to work? Okay, I'll let you go but I"ll call back in about an hour if the baby hasn't come by then. Then you'll be as up to date as I am. I know how in the loop you want to be. Talk soon."

Not funny? Sorry. It'll happen. Hugs until then!

[Skrimpy]

I was similar to Mandi in my last pg... was at 40 weeks, had been having regular bhs for a couple of weeks. A poor gal at an appt. asked me when I was due to which I grumpily replied that I'd been due already! She said "maybe you'll have your baby tonight!" and I just grumbled more. Well, he came that night

But things that helped me were to go window shopping a few times when I felt stir crazy. I also did a lot of walking along our local nature trail. I'd even walk around the yard a few times. Tried to enjoy the children and focus on what I was thankful for. I found that I felt a lot better when I made a concious effort to be thankful rather than complaining inwardly. I read a lot of the birth stories in Spiritual Midwifery where the moms focus on being thankful. I found it really helped me

[Tygrrkttn]

All the "Did ya have her yet??" calls drove me to distraction with DD!! I went almost exactly 2 weeks over, and had been getting those calls from 2 weeks before, that makes for a long, grumpy month. I swore never again.

With this one 3 people know the "due date". Me, DP and the midwife, period. Has it peeved friends and family, yup! But, all they have been told is Oct sometime. And, "If you want a call when he gets here I don't want a single, solitary call from you even mentioning the pregnancy in the last month or I swear I won't tell you he's here till you get a graduation announcement for him!".

It hasn't been too popular but it Has been effective, and, I've been saner wich is better for both me and babe! And, knowing I'm the one being the initiator has made me more inclined to pick up the phone and keep everybody up to date and not feel resentful or obligated.

TK

[TaraRae82]

Originally Posted by PassionateWriter

im trying not to complain. just need support from those who are going through the same thing.

EVERYONE is calling me asking me if ive had the baby. uh!!!!!!

How annoying. I'd just turn off the phone or ignore it from here on out.

[TaraRae82]

Originally Posted by Turtlemum

Hey PW, why not try this distraction technique?

Make a list of all who have called to ask if you've had the baby. Then spend your day calling them at home, at work...and say "hey ____, just wanted to call and let you know I haven't had the baby yet. I'm feeling pretty crampy. Just trying to keep things around here clean. What's that? You need to get back to work? Okay, I'll let you go but I"ll call back in about an hour if the baby hasn't come by then. Then you'll be as up to date as I am. I know how in the loop you want to be. Talk soon."

Not funny? Sorry. It'll happen. Hugs until then!

: You're quite the smart@$$, aren't you?

[CallMeMommy]

Barging in from the July '08 DDC and agreeing with some of the PP that when I was at the point you are, birth was just a few hours away. I was in labor at work and bitching to all my friends that I kept having contractions that weren't doing anything and I was so sick of it, and he was born at 10 that night.

[yummama]

I'm 40w2d, so I know just what you are going through. I got really excited when I had my first "real" contractions the other day. Then they stopped. And I've had some every day since--so I just keep telling myself not to get excited when they happen. Of course, that is impossible. I wanted to go to the grocery store today (which is relatively far away--30 or 40 minutes), but my DH called from work and told me not to go because "what if I go into labor"? Ha! Right! I am totally going--maybe it will work. If not, I can distract myself by trying out all of the organic beauty product samples or something like that. I am also trying the "make plans" approach, but we live in such a rural area, there aren't really any restaurants I am dying to go or anything like that. My family is calling a lot, but not to ask if I've had the baby. My mom, who is out of the country on business a lot calls to ask me to hold it in until she gets back from Eur. or China or wherever she is. My dad tells me to be patient with the process when I tell him my midwife suggested castor oil. My inlaws sent a really nice little note just telling me to relax and call when the baby is here (ever heard of such laid back in-laws? Not even calling their son to ask if I am in labor?). I have to say, it's actually kind of annoying to have them all expecting me to go longer--because it makes me feel like I WILL go longer! Of course, I'd be pissed off it they were all badgering me, too. Basically, nothing is going to make me happy right now, except for a baby. Sorry for the novel, just want you to know you're not the only one!

[maizy]

You might try some hypnotherapy/ relaxation. hypnobabies.com I bet has something you could down load that would help now and in birthing too.

[Panthira]

Have you had the baby yet? You haven't posted to this thread in a little while, so I thought I'd ask if that's what you were doing. You know, having a baby.

[maizy]

Originally Posted by Panthira

Have you had the baby yet? You haven't posted to this thread in a little while, so I thought I'd ask if that's what you were doing. You know, having a baby.

No baby yet. My MW told me two weeks ago, "any day". My last day of work was Tuesday. I'm just lounging around, folding baby clothes, sewing wipes, napping shamelessly, baking.

Technically I'm overdue but that is just a date on the calendar. This baby will come when they need to. My guess is early next week.

How about you? Any baby yet?