Birth Predictions

[2+twins]

I saw this on the March DDC and thought it was a cute idea. We make predictions for what we think our labor/birth will be like. I'll go first:

Birthdate: 4/8
Length of labor: 12 minutes for the first baby, 23 minutes (from the start) for the 2nd baby
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): a girl born first then a boy
Baby's weight: 8 lb 3 oz & 8 lb 4 oz
Baby's length: 20 inches long (each)

I think my labor will go so quick that I'll either be entirely alone, or home alone with just my kids. I feel that my dh will miss it, as will the mw's. I *hope* for a waterbirth but I can envision myself on my knees in sort of a squat on the floor in my bathroom giving birth (but that might be b/c I've seen that UC twin homebirth video too many times :lol).

[aprilushka]

Since I ended up with an unwanted c/s the first time around I have to admit I'm really scared to predict anything. I predict I will be able to make decisions for myself better this time and that's about it.

[JefsJen]

OOH fun idea!

Okay, my prediction that I have had for a while was for:

Day~ Either the 19th or the 21st, but I am hoping for alot sooner. I have to be in this wedding Saturday and wanted to have her the day before so I could bow out...but now I'm not really wanting to.
Length of labor~ about 3 hrs from water breaking.
Gender~ girl YIPPEE!
Length~ 20 inches
Weight~ prob 7 lbs 3 oz. Hoping for smaller. hehehe

[FreeSpiritMama]

Fun idea :D

Birthdate: 16th April (I have 14 & 22 in my head aswell :lol )
Length of labor: 6hrs from first contraction
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): I have girl vibes :wink
Baby's weight: 8 lb 10oz
Baby's length: 21inches

I think I will labour and birth at night, we have a skylight in the 'birth room' where the pool will be.

[aweynsayl]

Oooh, ok..... basing this entirely on "gut"....

~March 26th in the evening... I think I'll go into labor while DH is at his church job that morning, but I'll not tell him til he gets home.....
~I think I'll make it to the Center as I hit transition, and birth will be fairly soon after that (this bugs me, cause I kinda wanna be there longer, but oh, well)
~I have NO sense of boy or girl.... I've only dreamed girl, but everyone started calling Babe a boy a while back..... I guess gut says Boy, which makes me think Girl.
~9 lbs 3 oz, 21 inches
:love

[duckat]

Date: I have March 22 in my head b/c that's the gestation point at which ds arrived. Sometimes I think April 2. (actuall EDD is 4/8)
Length of Labor: 6 hrs
Gender: u/s said boy. DH still thinks it's a girl.
Weight: 8lb 2oz
Length: 21 inches

[hairpin]

First time mom here so I really have no clue how it's going to go. I'm thinking:

Birthdate: 4/10
Length of labor: 10 hours or more
Baby's weight: 7 lb 4 oz
Baby's length: 18 inches long

How I picture the birth:

I picture myself sweating A LOT, most likely puking and dizzy, making my husband tell me jokes and then being nasty to him for it. I picture sitting in a tub, getting out cause I don't feel well, and then realizing it's better in the tub and getting back in. I imagine not remembering a lot about the actual end of the labor process, about the pushing, but I imagine looking into the baby's big eyes just after he is born. I think the baby will have big eyes and lips.

This was fun! :D We need more fun, with all the uncomfortableness of the last month. :D

[celestialdreamer]

Date: Right now I'm thinking labor will start on March 14th (next tuesday) which is the day I'm 37 weeks and also a full moon. DH kept accidently telling people my due date was April 7th, so I think that is what he is thinking. MIL is "absolutely sure" the baby will be born 3/19 in the middle of the night :lol
Length of Labor: 6 hrs- last 2 hours more intense and midwife only there for the last hour.
Gender: boy (what the u/s said)
Weight: if next week I think: 6lbs 4oz, if born on 4/7 I think 7lbs 12oz
Length: 21 inches

I was actually just thinking about this all last night! I really wouldn't mind if he came early....:wink :lol

[hannahi]

Here's mine:
Birthdate: 4/11
Length of labor: 8 hours
Baby's gender: boy (which we are pretty sure about from the u/s)
Baby's weight: 7 lbs 5 oz
Length: I don't know, how long are they usually? I'll say 20 inches.

[clynnr]

Oooh, I love this! Just in case anyone is interested, I went back and found my prediction for DD that I made in the November 2004 DDC:

Here are my predictions: I will go into labor on a beautiful fall day! It will happen during the day, maybe mid-morning, somewhere between October 20th-25th (I'm due November 2nd.) I'm basing this on the fact that my mom had all her children a month early, but hopefully mine won't be a month! It will be a longer labor than most of you are predicting, maybe 12-15 hours, slow in the beginning, since I am a first-timer. It will start with contractions, not with spontaneous water breakage. DH and I will make it to the hospital just in time for transition (no transitioning during the 45 minute car ride please!) and babe will be here a few hours later, weighing in around 8-9 pounds! I cannot bring myself to predict the baby's gender, because I honestly have no idea, and I'm looking forward to a wonderful surprise!!And the actual stats: October 27th, went into labor at 2:30am, arrived at the hosptial at 7am (transition lasted about thirty seconds--I felt one wave of naseau while walking into the hosptial), and after about eight hours of active labor, baby girl born at 10:24am, 22" and 9 pounds, 1.6 ounces. Not bad for a prediction! :)


And now my prediction for this time:
Actual Due Date: April 12th
Date of birth: April 20th, 6:30am
Length of labor: 4-5 hours active labor
Gender of baby: BOY! (Just a guess!)
Weight of baby: 9 pounds, 6 ounces
Length of baby: 22.5"

We'll make it to the hospital to meet the midwife around 5am, and I'll hop straight into the tub!! Baby will arrive among murmurs and dim lights, and will nurse as Daddy tells me the gender. Ahhhh...I love predictions! :)

[aweynsayl]

Date: Right now I'm thinking labor will start on March 14th (next tuesday) which is the day I'm 37 weeks and also a full moon.


I wondered if you were thinking the full moon! I will sooo be thinking of you that night..... :love

[lmonter]

Birthdate: 4/29 or 5/2 if boy, 5/1 or 5/3 if girl
Length of labor: 2.5-3 hours
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): I'm thinking girl, but still not sure - a few weeks ago ds kept saying I had a boy in there, lately he's been saying girl. We figured he'd be as accurate as anybody. :wink
Baby's weight: 8 lb 8 oz
Baby's length: 21 inches long

I'm kinda hoping for a waterbirth because it sounds like a neat experience, but am concerned I might not be in labor long enough for it to be ready. And the reason for my different dates - my bday is May 5, aunt's is May 7, grandma's was May 9 (and just for kicks - we all got married in May, and were/still all happily married). So if it's a girl, it'll be May 1 or 3. :)

Lanna

[pique]

Oh, oh, me too!!

Actual Due Date: April 24th
Date of birth: April 24th, 3:30am - It simply will be the 24th. I'm born on the 24th of the month, so is DS#1, and so is DS #2! DH thinks I'm crazy to be so confident about it :)

Length of labor: I'll be happy with 2-3 hours active labor
Gender of baby: Girl (Just a guess!)
Weight of baby: 7 pounds, 8 ounces
Length of baby: 20.5"

I'm picturing a calmer, slower birth than last time (2.5 hours) laboring at home, deep in the night in the bath & shower with awesome support and quiet strength of my DH.

[hairpin]

Wow. Everybody is predicting their labor as pretty short. Am I crazy to think my labor will take 10 hours? What's the typical?

[KKmama]

Birthdate: I'm getting a feel for either 4/30 or 5/3
Length of labor: If it could be 20 hrs or under, I'd be very pleased.
Length of pushing: If it could be under an hour, I'd be very pleased.
I'm expecting a girl.
Weight: I'm thinking between 9 even and 9 lbs, 3 oz.
Length: Probably ~21 1/2".

The baby's edd is 4/23. My 1st was born at 42 wks 4 days (emergency C). 9lbs 5 oz, 22 1/2". My 2nd was born at 41 wks 5 days, VBAC, 40 hr labor (with some "nudging" so I could avoid an automatic repeat C at 42 wks). 9 lbs, 4 oz, 22".

(I might have a better idea than most, since this is my 3rd... but I'm prepared to be surprised!)

[aweynsayl]

Wow. Everybody is predicting their labor as pretty short. Am I crazy to think my labor will take 10 hours? What's the typical?

I think our birth class teacher said 7 hours for the first time mom.....

[lmonter]

Wow. Everybody is predicting their labor as pretty short. Am I crazy to think my labor will take 10 hours? What's the typical?
Well, I had ds (my first) in 3.75 hours. First contraction at 4am, he was born at 7:46am. I really had no idea what to expect, but I was hoping I wouldn't have a 3 day labor. Since this time I won't be strapped down to a hospital bed and will be able to labor and eat whatever/whenever, I'm thinking it won't take as long this time.
On top of that, my mom had my sister and I in 3 hours each, my grandma had my mom in 45 minutes and first uncle in 20-30 minutes (the subsequent 4 were induced because she lived 2 hours away from her doctor - each popped out in less than an hour). So I just think the girls in our family were built really well for childbirth. ;)

Lanna

[KittyKat]

Wow, what fun!

OK mine might be kinda rambly... sorry.
EDD 4/8
Actual date: I have this weird funny feeling like it might be earlier, but it would be cool if this one comes on 4/8 because we have 2 kids with 30th b-days, 2 with 1st of the month b-days, and one with an 8th b-day, so this would make two of each date LOL! Silly, yes, but fun.
Labor: all my NATURAL labors have been fairly quick from "active" labor until birth. I do the prodromal labor for WEEKS ahead of time though. Once I am *sure* I am in labor I predict 5 hours or less. My water won't break until I am pushing spontaneously, if it breaks at all. I'd love to have one born "in the caul."
Gender: This is a girl, she has dark hair, and dark eyes (based on a "birth dream" I had a while back, and on gut feelings about gender)
Weight: IF the "early" thing happens, probably around 5-6 pounds, but if she waits until the EDD or past, 7 pound-ish. This baby feels about the same size as my others did at this stage, and they were all 7 pound range. The MW actually told me last time that the mom's guess of the size once she's had several babies is WAY more accurate than either the MW's guess by feel or ultrasound weight estimates!
Length: 20"

She will FINALLY settle down and stop flipping, coming out headfirst. I will push her our easily and gently, lifting her up to my chest. I will look down into her wide dark eyes, and she will be pink and warm and amazing. After a few moments of pure bliss, I will look down to see if my guess about her gender was right. She will be feisty and spirited, very active and bursting with life. She will live up to her name, which is a secret for now, sorry. It came to me in the middle of the night before she was even conceived and took very firm root. If this baby is not a girl I will be shocked, and I will end up hoping someday we have another girl so I can use that name LOL!

Kathryn

[2+twins]

Wow. Everybody is predicting their labor as pretty short. Am I crazy to think my labor will take 10 hours? What's the typical?

Textbook "typical" for a first time mom is 14-16 hours. Of course, I think you have to consider that a lot of places practice active management (more or less) which follows the rule that the mom must dilate a cm per hour and push for no more than 2 hours which would give you a 12 hour labor total. However, that's no fun b/c your labor would then be forced to fit that mold. But I think it's realistic to expect a first labor to be in the 14-16 hour range minimum. My first was just short of 10 hours, but then my 2nd was 90 minutes so I think I'm an exception to the rule. And then there's lots of 20 hour+ moms out there too. So there ya go. No way to know til you do it.

[ktkb]

I think our birth class teacher said 7 hours for the first time mom.....

This seems SO short to me. Isn't 12-24 hours expected for a first-time mother? With the second labor generally about half the time of the first? (If there were any such rules to be followed, LOL.)

Anyway, if my 2nd labor is only 24 hours it will be a picnic. (First was 3.5 days.)

I know this is going to sound weird (and negative), but along with my whole "I have a feeling this is a boy baby" sense (which seems to be correct--confirmed twice) I also had the feeling that my VBAC was going to go up in smoke. Not anything bad or dangerous, just that something was going to prevent it (not dialating at all, breech baby, etc) and I would wind up with another c/s. Which is not a tragedy, just a huge PITA. If tandem nursing doesn't work out, though, that would upset me infinitely more. That's just me.

I have no idea when this baby is coming. For some reason I've had April 4 in my head, but that's probably because I love the U2 song "Pride (In the Name of Love)." But if I am already dropped and dialated by 37-38 weeks (still March), I am going to do my best to put myself in a situation where I can VBAC this critter, who is already measuring big.

But really I'm just prepared to be surprised. (Although I fully do NOT expect to be caught at home with just my husband and my doula, have an easy labor, etc. Would solve the problem of what to do with dd, though. :wink )

[Mel38]

Birthdate: I'll guess about April 10th.
Length of labor: from when it turns "serious" to when the baby is born, no more than 6 hours.
Length of pushing: 10 minutes, tops!
Gender: Wild guess... I'll say a boy!
Weight: At least 8 lbs, probably closer to 9...
Length: I don't know this measurement for any of my children! :blush

This is my 3rd, so I figure it will go a little faster, but I kept it the same as the last, as far as length of labor, just to be on the safe side. My girls have both been late, so that's why I think I'll go a week past my due date. As far as weight goes, I think this one is bigger and I'm kind of hoping for a boy (although I don't *really* care either way!) and so I'll go with a little heavier, too.

As far as pushing goes, I plan on waiting until I feel the "urge" to push, if I can. I have never felt that before! In the hospital, I was always told to hop up on the bed and start pushing as soon as I was fully dilated, so this time, I hope to just rest and wait for that "uncontrollable urge" to push that some people describe.

We'll see how it turns out - I hope it is as easy as I am envisioning!!

[nighten]

Date: March 27 (based upon quickening chart -- actual edd 4/12)
Length of Labor: 6 hrs at least
Gender: Positively a girl :)
Weight: 6lbs 13 oz
Length: 19-1/2 inches
Either red or blonde hair and blue eyes.

Everyone keeps telling me that first time moms always go past their due date, but she dropped over a month ago and I've been having nonstop contractions for nearly a week....My bag's packed already. ;)

[pfamilygal]

Birthdate: March 10, sometime in the evening
Length of labor: 26 hrs from water breaking (mine are all long)
Length of pushing: 3 ctx worth
Gender: We know it's a boy
Weight: 5 lb 15 oz
Length: 18 1/2 inches.

I feel like he's coming soon. I think my water will break tomorrow. Maybe because I've had it stuck in my head that I need to make it to 34 wks and tomorrow is 34 wks.

[celestialdreamer]

I feel like he's coming soon. I think my water will break tomorrow. Maybe because I've had it stuck in my head that I need to make it to 34 wks and tomorrow is 34 wks.

I hope you can keep baking that baby awhile longer! Sending you lots of good luck vibes if something does happen soon. Are you having any signs of impending labor?

[celestialdreamer]

I wondered if you were thinking the full moon! I will sooo be thinking of you that night..... :love

Awww thanks! I'll be thinking of you too! Maybe we'll both have our babies then :D

[AdinaL]

:laugh: You all have feelings about this????

Maybe cause it is my first, and my best bet is always to take it as it comes...I just don't. :lol

The only thing is I don't think I will be late, more like around the 11th. But no clue how long labor will be...no clue how big baby will be...pretty sure it's a girl (per the u/s) :lol...

Just sort of waiting and seeing. :)

[mikeandtoribaby]

This is my first pregnancy so I do not know what to think. However, in the back of my mind, I am going to either be at work or driving and my water is going to break. My husband is not going to answer is phone immediately, so I am going to drive myself to the hospital and he will meet me there. I think it is going to happen on March 28th, which is the day that he has something major going on at work. I think I am going to labor for 12 hours. I think my husband will not know what to do, but what he does during the labor will be just what I need. Then our baby boy is going to come out, I won't tear and he will latch on immediately. I guess this is more of what I hope will happen then what I predict. I do think that I am not going to be home when my water breaks. As long as I am not in school, then I am fine.

[Citykid]

Mike&Toribaby, you know only a few women begin labor with their water breaking. For most it starts with contractions with membranes intact, and the membranes don't break until well into active labor. Let's hope this happens for you (and me) - a lot less painful that way!

And to add my contribution to this thread - I guess I'm either too superstitious or too science-minded to make predictions. All I can do is a fantasy scenario:

I feel fine throughout my last 7 weeks and work up until the very end. I labor like my mom did with me - nothing stronger than a strong menstrual cramp and getting to 7 cm in 7 hours. All my Bradley prep pays off and I feel fine and it's fun and exciting, although hard work. I go to the hospital after transition ends to avoid the triage (hospital is 5 blocks away and I get a half hour break after transition to make this possible). Baby slides out and is healthy and beautiful. I have no tears. I dance to the recovery room with baby in my arms and all the epi ladies see me and think they will try natural next time. I luck into a private room and dh can stay with us. We hang around adoring the baby for 12 hours and then we walk home with db in a sling.

[eilonwy]

Mike&Toribaby, you know only a few women begin labor with their water breaking. For most it starts with contractions with membranes intact, and the membranes don't break until well into active labor. Let's hope this happens for you (and me) - a lot less painful that way!

I was sure that labor wouldn't begin with my water breaking with BeanBean. Turns out I was wrong. :shake

My predictions:

My water will break sometime in the early evening on the 30th of March. I'll have no signs of labor at all before that, but afterwards I'll have contractions which will eventually work their way into being labor. Baby will be born in the bathtub on the 4th of April, 7 lbs 14 oz, 21". Labor will be long and agonizingly painful, but I will be stubborn and refuse to tell Mike that I even suspect labor until I'm in the bathtub. :lol

Although I have this recurring dream that I'm talking to my mom and she says, "You're in labor," and I keep telling her that I can't be in labor becuase it doesn't hurt. Then I feel sick, run to the bathroom thinking that I have to poop, sit down on the toilet and out slides the baby. :lol Ah, that'd be nice... no pain...:innocent

[KerriAZ]

First off -

Everyone keeps telling me that first time moms always go past their due date, but she dropped over a month ago and I've been having nonstop contractions for nearly a week....My bag's packed already. ;)

My DD (my first baby) was two weeks early, so no, first timers don't *always* go over their due dates! :lol

As for me...

Birthdate: April 14th around noon-ish (EDD May 2nd but have had strong feelings of April 14th and even a couple of 4/14 dreams...)
Length of labor: 7 hours (hopefully! LOL)
Length of pushing: 30 minutes?
Gender: Not sure. Keep wavering back and forth on my vibes... At THIS moment, I am thinking boy...
Weight: 5 lb 10 oz
Length: 18 1/2 inches.

This is how I envision it - whether it happens this way or not, I don't know, but I have been visualizing it in hopes! LOL I wake up in the early morning hours of the 14th having contractions. I get out of bed and take a shower and labor quietly alone until my DH's alarm goes off for work. I tell him when he gets up that I am pretty sure I am in labor. He goes to take his shower. When he gets out I let him know that this is for sure it. He calls his boss while I call our friend who will be watching our DD for us. DH gets DD out to the car and we head off. We drop DD off at our friend's house and head to the hospital, me calling my mom on the way. We get to the hospital and I labor a little while longer and then my healthy baby is born...

I hope my visualizing works! :lol

Kerri

[pfamilygal]

I hope you can keep baking that baby awhile longer! Sending you lots of good luck vibes if something does happen soon. Are you having any signs of impending labor?

Yup, diarrhea, ctx that hurt in my back (in my experience bh don't hurt in back), and spotting. So I think it's soon. All mine have been early - my latest was 36 wks. And my last two started with spontaneous rupture of membranes.

[txgal]

I saw this on the March DDC and thought it was a cute idea. We make predictions for what we think our labor/birth will be like. I'll go first:

Birthdate: 4/11
Length of labor: 13 hours from first noticeable contraction
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): a girl, I think.
Baby's weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Baby's length: 20 inches

I will start early labor while at work. Will head home early around 1:30 pm, thinking that something may be happening and wanting to get some rest. Will rest and labor alone for a few hours, before convincing myself that this is the real thing. Around 6 pm will call doula, midwife and Dh to be on their way. Everyone will arrive around 9 pm and baby will be born at 3:30 in the morning after an hour of pushing. The birth will be witnessed by Dh, Ds, midwife and doula.

[eilonwy]

My first was born at 37w3days, and that's only because nobody was listening to me; if they had been, he'd have been born around 36w5d.

[nighten]

My first was born at 37w3days, and that's only because nobody was listening to me; if they had been, he'd have been born around 36w5d.

???

Splain please. Did you have pre-eclampsia or something at 36w5? :lurk:

[eilonwy]

My blood pressure had changed enough to qualify me as having preecclampsia at that point, and I was in agonizing pain after my water broke, but nobody believed me and the doctor was sick of seeing me by then and told me not to come in. "You'd *know* if your water had broken, there's always a gush." LIE!!

Because she wouldn't listen to me, I spent an extra week at home. During that time I got sick and so did BeanBean (he passed meconium just before I actually went to the hospital). He ended up spending a week in NICU because this woman was mean and didn't like me. :cuss Meanwhile, if I'd gone in earlier I probably would have ended up with a c-section, but no NICU time and a shorter, much much easier recovery for both of us. :nut

[nighten]

:Hug

That sucked!

[FarmerCathy]

Hmmm....... Didn't want to do this at first, but now having feelings about when the baby will come.

Due Date: 4/16
Birthdate: First week of April ~ around the 4th
Length of labor: 8 hours
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): boy we think
Baby's weight: between 7 and 8 lbs
Baby's length: 20 inches

I'm measuring ahead and I really feel this baby will come early and not stay in until my due date. My mom says my water probably won't break because neither her nor my sister had thier water break before going into labor. Even though this is my first baby nobody has labored very long in my family with thier babies. I think I will go into labor in early morning or the middle of the night and have the baby by noon.

We'll see how on or off I am on this. Good luck ladies!

[Mom2-4Gs]

Birthdate:due 4/26 I'll say 4/29
Length of labor: 7 hours
Length of pushing: 35-45 minutes
Gender: girl
Weight: 8lbs
Length: 20 inches


Allison
Mom to 4 daughters and ? due end of April

[aprilushka]

I still am averse to predicting (other than to say I don't really think it'll be soon-- but again, I could be wrong), but just had to get this off my chest. My boss (or one of my bosses, this being the government there are endless layers of authority) comes up to me today and asks me when I'm scheduled to go on leave-- I said the 14th (2 days before EDD by LMP) unless something happens before then. She said, oh, so does your doctor have any predictions, what does he say?

I had to pause and scratch my nose since this is a squirmy moment for me-- only one person at work really knows my home birth plans and I've asked her to keep it quiet, which she will I think and I've kept stuff about her birth quiet too. One other knows I'm seeing a midwife but I think she doesn't know about home birth. I have a strong instinct that keeping it mum is best for now anyway so I can GIP. The other squirm is from the "prediction" question-- when will people figure out that the only way a doctor can predict when a birth will happen is by induction or scheduling a c/s-- she wasn't implying that, but obviously she thinks they can voodoo an actual date or something. I just said "no" but that I personally didn't think it would be early (avoiding my temptation to launch into a lecture about doctors and their lack of metaphysical powers), and I'm still not going to mention mw unless I'm asked point blank if I'm seeing one, which no one is likely to ask. I was waiting for something like this b/c she asked my friend at work during her last weeks about how many cm she was dialated and whether things were "happening". I still haven't decided what I'm going to tell her if she asks me-- first choice is 1) That's kind of a personal question I'd rather not answer, it makes me uncomfortable (probably the best) or 2) I don't know b/c I'm not having any VAGINAL exams until active labor (stress on the word "vaginal" which often makes people shut up). Of course, with option 2, she might ask me why and so on b/c she might just be one of those people whom the word vaginal does not shut up.

Sigh. She's never had kids and won't so I know some of it just is strange and interesting to her, and b/c she's my boss I can't be snarky but I do find the meddling tiresome and am just waiting for it to get worse, not just from her, although I've already told another woman here who asked where I'm delivering that I decided not to discuss my birth plans and she seemed to take it okay.

[newbie_mary]

First timer here, too, with no clue...but my sister had a dream that my labor was 45 minutes, so I'll take that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:lol

I guess baby will be around 7 lbs, born sometime during the week after my due date (4/19). Possibly the 23rd, which is my sister's birthday and a scary lot of people in my family have birthdays ending in 3 (including me). I suppose it could be the 13th, as well, since it's a full moon...

Mary

[sept04mama]

I guessed the date and time (20 min. off) and weight/height/hair color of DS, so we'll see if I am right this time!


Birthdate: Easter Sunday, April 16th at 6:55pm
Length of labor: 12 hours
Length of pushing: 45 minutes
Gender: boy
Weight: 9 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 21 inches

I think my labour will begin in the early morning and build gradually. I hope to arrive at the hospital a little before transition so my midwife can help me through it and I think the end will be intense. I am hoping there is no meconium this time so I can nurse right away.

[azzuranotte]

My guess is either April 12th, early afternoon or late April 16. My sister swore dd was going to be born on her birthday and she was... almost to the minute. But she doesn't have any predictions on this one.

[burke-a-bee]

Birthdate: 3/24
Length of labor: One hour.
Baby's gender: ultrasound said girl..if we are going by the Shettles method then definately girl.
Baby's weight: 8lbs 10oz
Baby's length: 20 inches long

[Black Orchid]

I TOTALLY missed out on this thread! I'll add mine. I have :love reading everyones'!

Birthdate: April 18, 24, 27 or May 9 in the early evening
Length of labor: 9 hours
Length of pushing: no pushing here, we're Hypnobirthing, second stage will last about 90 minutes.
Gender: boy
Weight: 7 lbs 2 oz
Length: 19 inches

I'm feeling a lot of 9s with this baby... the date and time will somehow be related to 9s (at nine or add up to 9 or be divisible, KWIM?) I am DEFINATELY feeling boy and I'm hoping for the later dates as I want this pregnancy to last forever!

I'm thinking that I will see my acupuncturist in the morning on one of those dates and she will do treatments that will send me slowly into labor. By noon, I will realize what is going on and head to the birth center and just a few hours later our baby will be born!

[Eli's_mommy]

This is my very first mothering post! I have been reading the boards for months now, and I am finally ready to post. Here goes:

Birthdate: Due on April 20th or April 28th depending on who you ask-
I think he'll get here April 27th. My guess is I'll wake up with contractions in the very early hours of the morning on the 27th.

Length of labor: Since it is my first, I assume that from the time I wake up and realize I'm having painful-ish contractions, it'll be about 12 hours. DP seems to think that I'll have a really fast and furious labor. I suppose we'll see- he's pretty insightful sometimes.

Length of pushing: I think I'll get a break between being complete and pushing, and the whole thing will probably take an hour or less.

Gender: Boy- confirmed multiple times by ultrasound, and I have seen it for myself :innocent

Weight: 9 lbs 3 oz

Length: 22.5- 23 inches

[Tracyn]

Birthdate: EDD - 17 April (DH's Bday!), my prediction... 25 April
Length of labor: Hmm... assuming long. I am going for a VBAC, and never went into labor at all with DS, who was born via semi-emergency Csec - 2 weeks late and after 4 days of various induction techniques with CNW
Length of pushing: No clue. In many ways I am a first time birthing MOM to be!
Gender: we didn't find out, but I think I might have (not on purpose) seen "female" on my 20 week u/s screen, but that may have been referring to me?? But, how many "males" have prenatal u/s screenings??? It'll still be a surprise, and unlike with DS, I have had ZERO dreams or inklings about Babe #2's gender. DS is convinced it's a BOY that I'm carrying, so that's what I have to go on at the momen!?
Weight: 9 pounds
Length: 20 inches

Hoping the body goes into labor on its own this time, or another Csection is on the horizon, SIGH, as they will not (thankfully!) try to induce.

We will all know fairly soon. How crazy is that?!
Cheers,

[hairpin]

Bump for comparisons to actual birth dates. I'm still thinking (hoping) for April 10th. :)

[eilonwy]

I My water will break sometime in the early evening on the 30th of March. I'll have no signs of labor at all before that, but afterwards I'll have contractions which will eventually work their way into being labor. Baby will be born in the bathtub on the 4th of April, 7 lbs 14 oz, 21". Labor will be long and agonizingly painful, but I will be stubborn and refuse to tell Mike that I even suspect labor until I'm in the bathtub. :lol

Well, I was way off. My labor did not begin with my water breaking, but with most spectacular vomiting and diarrhea. :blush Bella was born by c-section, so no bathtub (though I did labor in the bathtub at home for several hours), and on the 29th of March. She was 6 lbs, 1 oz, 18". Labor wasn't terribly painful before I wussed out, but I did get very, very tired.... :o

[2+twins]

Birthdate: 4/8
Length of labor: 12 minutes for the first baby, 23 minutes (from the start) for the 2nd baby
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): a girl born first then a boy
Baby's weight: 8 lb 3 oz & 8 lb 4 oz
Baby's length: 20 inches long (each)

I think my labor will go so quick that I'll either be entirely alone, or home alone with just my kids. I feel that my dh will miss it, as will the mw's. I *hope* for a waterbirth but I can envision myself on my knees in sort of a squat on the floor in my bathroom giving birth (but that might be b/c I've seen that UC twin homebirth video too many times :lol).

Actual Stats:

Birthdate: 3/26
Length of labor: 45 min for the first baby, 3 hours 14 minutes (from the start) for the 2nd baby
Baby's gender: 2 boys
Baby's weight: 6lb14oz & 7lb13oz
Baby's length: 20" & 21"

Labor *was* very quick but everyone made it on time (although dh got home only about 10 minutes before the first birth). First baby was born in the water and 2nd was born on my bed with me sitting upright on my knees.

I think had I gone to 39 weeks like I thought then my weights would have been a lot closer.

[PinkPixie]

Birth Prediction:

Either Monday April 10th/ Tuesday the 11th, or Monday April17th/ Tuesday April 18th. edd is April 14th, but I have always given birth on a monday or tuesday.

Water breaking (I hope) so that I'll know for sure that this is it. 45 mins of hard labor and 5 minutes of pushing (maybe I'll stay in the bathtub this time). Born early morning around 3am. Homebirth. Dh and midwives are all there on time.

Healthy baby boy, my smallest baby to date at 7lbs. 12 oz. and 21.5" long.

Now I just have to wait and see...:D

[celestialdreamer]

Date: Right now I'm thinking labor will start on March 14th (next tuesday) which is the day I'm 37 weeks and also a full moon. DH kept accidently telling people my due date was April 7th, so I think that is what he is thinking. MIL is "absolutely sure" the baby will be born 3/19 in the middle of the night :lol
Length of Labor: 6 hrs- last 2 hours more intense and midwife only there for the last hour.
Gender: boy (what the u/s said)
Weight: if next week I think: 6lbs 4oz, if born on 4/7 I think 7lbs 12oz
Length: 21 inches

I was actually just thinking about this all last night! I really wouldn't mind if he came early....:wink :lol

HAHAHA yeah right :lol This baby will probably end being born in April of 2010 the way I'm going :irked: Okay, sorry I'm kinda a bit crabby :o :lol My new guess is April 12th and that he will be around 8lbs+

[nighten]

Date: March 27 (based upon quickening chart -- actual edd 4/12)
Length of Labor: 6 hrs at least
Gender: Positively a girl :)
Weight: 6lbs 13 oz
Length: 19-1/2 inches
Either red or blonde hair and blue eyes.

Everyone keeps telling me that first time moms always go past their due date, but she dropped over a month ago and I've been having nonstop contractions for nearly a week....My bag's packed already. ;)

Actual stats:

Date: April 5
Length of labor: 21 hours
Gender: A girl! :)
Weight: 6lbs 6oz
Length: 19-1/2 inches
Blonde hair and blue eyes

[adtake]

OK..

Date: April 14th (what I would like, my others boys bdays have a pattern and this date follows it)
Time: Before sunrise
Weight: 7lbs
Length: 20 ish "
Labor time: from deciding ok this is it lets go...3-5 hours
Push time: 10-15 minutes
Hair and eyes: what i would love...brown and brown....what I will get....blonde and blue...

We shall see...

My 4 year old has guess the 14th and the 11th (one)(one) as he says it..and Dh says he belives one of those...

s

[PinkPixie]

:bump: to compare actual births with birth predictions.

[PinkPixie]

Birth Prediction:

Either Monday April 10th/ Tuesday the 11th, or Monday April17th/ Tuesday April 18th. edd is April 14th, but I have always given birth on a monday or tuesday.

Water breaking (I hope) so that I'll know for sure that this is it. 45 mins of hard labor and 5 minutes of pushing (maybe I'll stay in the bathtub this time). Born early morning around 3am. Homebirth. Dh and midwives are all there on time.

Healthy baby boy, my smallest baby to date at 7lbs. 12 oz. and 21.5" long.

Now I just have to wait and see...:D

ACTUAL BIRTH:

Date: started on Tuesday April 11th (as predicted) born at 1:25am Wednesday April 12th.
Labour: Water broke as predicted, 2h25 minutes in all, 2 minutes of pushing. Did not stay in the bath, gave birth on my knees.
Time of birth: 1:25am
Type of birth: Homebirth, midwives were not all there on time, midwife #2 arrived after the birth LOL!!
Baby: BOY, blond with blue eyes like the rest of the family.
Weight/length: 8lbs 1oz (so not my smallest baby) and 22" long (tall like ds#2):boybaby:

[txgal]

I
Birthdate: 4/11
Length of labor: 13 hours from first noticeable contraction
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): a girl, I think.
Baby's weight: 9 lbs. 2 oz.
Baby's length: 20 inches

I will start early labor while at work. Will head home early around 1:30 pm, thinking that something may be happening and wanting to get some rest. Will rest and labor alone for a few hours, before convincing myself that this is the real thing. Around 6 pm will call doula, midwife and Dh to be on their way. Everyone will arrive around 9 pm and baby will be born at 3:30 in the morning after an hour of pushing. The birth will be witnessed by Dh, Ds, midwife and doula.

Boy was I wrong, the only thing I guessed right was the sex.

Actual Stats:

Birthdate: 4/05
Length of labor: 60 hours from first noticeable contraction
Baby's gender : a girl
Baby's weight: 8 lbs. 52 oz.
Baby's length: 20.5 inches

Labor started on sunday night at 10pm, baby arrived 10:20 wednesday morning. Pushed for 3 hours.

[pique]

Actual Due Date: April 24th
Date of birth: April 24th, 3:30am - It simply will be the 24th. I'm born on the 24th of the month, so is DS#1, and so is DS #2! DH thinks I'm crazy to be so confident about it :)

Length of labor: I'll be happy with 2-3 hours active labor
Gender of baby: Girl (Just a guess!)
Weight of baby: 7 pounds, 8 ounces
Length of baby: 20.5"

I'm picturing a calmer, slower birth than last time (2.5 hours) laboring at home, deep in the night in the bath & shower with awesome support and quiet strength of my DH.

Well, I got the calmer, nightime birth I was hoping for (and my husband was fabulous) but everything else was wrong!

Actual date of birth: April 11th, 1:59am
Length of labor: 1 hour, 59 minutes (from first contraction)
Gender of baby: Boy
Weight of baby: 7 pounds
Length of baby: 18.5"

[KittyKat]

EDD 4/8
Actual date: I have this weird funny feeling like it might be earlier, but it would be cool if this one comes on 4/8 because we have 2 kids with 30th b-days, 2 with 1st of the month b-days, and one with an 8th b-day, so this would make two of each date LOL! Silly, yes, but fun.
Labor: Once I am *sure* I am in labor I predict 5 hours or less. My water won't break until I am pushing spontaneously, if it breaks at all. I'd love to have one born "in the caul."
Gender: This is a girl, she has dark hair, and dark eyes (based on a "birth dream" I had a while back, and on gut feelings about gender)
Weight: IF the "early" thing happens, probably around 5-6 pounds, but if she waits until the EDD or past, 7 pound-ish.
Length: 20"

She will FINALLY settle down and stop flipping, coming out headfirst. I will push her out easily and gently, lifting her up to my chest. I will look down into her wide dark eyes, and she will be pink and warm and amazing. After a few moments of pure bliss, I will look down to see if my guess about her gender was right.
Kathryn

Well, except for the part about the date, I was pretty close LOL!
Birth day: April 20th, 41 weeks 5 days!
Labor: 5 hours from first contraction to birth. 3 hours from being 100% sure "this is it" until birth! Forewaters broke spotaneously as pushing started, and she WAS born in the caul!!!
Gender: All girl, lots of dark hair, gorgeous dark sparkly eyes.:love
Weight: 6 pounds 2.4 oz. even being "late"
Length: 20.5"

She did settle down and stopped flipping around 40 weeks. She was born in two or three irresistible force of nature pushes, in the tub. I was on hands and knees and the midwife passed her to me through my legs. She was a bit blue for a minute, but started crying and turned pink quickly. I did get to look and find out her gender for myself. :thumb

Kathryn

[sept04mama]

Birthdate: Easter Sunday, April 16th at 6:55pm
Length of labor: 12 hours
Length of pushing: 45 minutes
Gender: boy
Weight: 9 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 21 inches

I think my labour will begin in the early morning and build gradually. I hope to arrive at the hospital a little before transition so my midwife can help me through it and I think the end will be intense. I am hoping there is no meconium this time so I can nurse right away.

Actual: (I was off this time!)

Birthdate: April 13th at 4:54pm
Length of Labor: 6 hours
Length of pushing: about 20 minutes
Gender: boy
Weight: 8 lbs. 10 oz.
Length: 20 inches

Labor was begun by my midwife breaking water (low fluid levels) and did build gradually. I am kind of glad I was already at the hospital, because if I was at home I wouldn't have gone in on time, it was really not that bad until transition. There was no meconium and he was a super nurser from the start. All in all a very quick and satisfying birth.

[KKmama]

Birthdate: I'm getting a feel for either 4/30 or 5/3
Length of labor: If it could be 20 hrs or under, I'd be very pleased.
Length of pushing: If it could be under an hour, I'd be very pleased.
I'm expecting a girl.
Weight: I'm thinking between 9 even and 9 lbs, 3 oz.
Length: Probably ~21 1/2".

The baby's edd is 4/23. My 1st was born at 42 wks 4 days (emergency C). 9lbs 5 oz, 22 1/2". My 2nd was born at 41 wks 5 days, VBAC, 40 hr labor (with some "nudging" so I could avoid an automatic repeat C at 42 wks). 9 lbs, 4 oz, 22".

(I might have a better idea than most, since this is my 3rd... but I'm prepared to be surprised!)

I had low expectations, and let's just say I was very pleased with the outcome. ;)

The labor was ~12 hours. I wasn't really in the "having to manage the pain" stage for more than ~6-7 hrs, though. No drugs, one tiny tear, and dh caught her. I think I pushed for ~20 minutes.

She was 9 lbs, 2 oz. 21". I think her head was ~13 3/4" (I probably would have guessed 13 1/2").

She arrived on the 29th.

[lmonter]

Birthdate: 4/29 or 5/2 if boy, 5/1 or 5/3 if girl
Length of labor: 2.5-3 hours
Baby's gender (if you don't already know!): I'm thinking girl, but still not sure - a few weeks ago ds kept saying I had a boy in there, lately he's been saying girl. We figured he'd be as accurate as anybody. :wink
Baby's weight: 8 lb 8 oz
Baby's length: 21 inches long
Actual stats...

Birthdate: May 1, 2006, 7:03am
Labor: 5 1/3 hours
Sex: Boy!
Weight: 9lb 11oz (didn't really see that coming - ds was 7lb15oz)
Length: 22 inches

[adtake]

OK..

Date: April 14th (what I would like, my others boys bdays have a pattern and this date follows it)
Time: Before sunrise
Weight: 7lbs
Length: 20 ish "
Labor time: from deciding ok this is it lets go...3-5 hours
Push time: 10-15 minutes
Hair and eyes: what i would love...brown and brown....what I will get....blonde and blue...


s

Actual:
Date: April 29
Time: 925 pm
Weight: 7lb 1 oz
Length: 20.75"
Labor time: from deciding ok this us it lets go...2 hours! 2 mins (4) pushes!!
Hair and eyes: looks dark eyes...dark lots of hair!!

[clynnr]

And now my prediction for this time:
Actual Due Date: April 12th
Date of birth: April 20th, 6:30am
Length of labor: 4-5 hours active labor
Gender of baby: BOY! (Just a guess!)
Weight of baby: 9 pounds, 6 ounces
Length of baby: 22.5"

We'll make it to the hospital to meet the midwife around 5am, and I'll hop straight into the tub!! Baby will arrive among murmurs and dim lights, and will nurse as Daddy tells me the gender. Ahhhh...I love predictions! :)Actual stats:
Date of birth: April 25th, 10:53am
Length of labor: about 8.5 hours active labor
Gender of baby: GIRL!
Weight of baby: 9 pounds, 9 ounces (I was pretty close!)
Length of baby: 21"

We fought rush hour into the hospital from 7:30-8:30am, and after we got there I *did* hop right into the tub, LOL! But I was only there for about five minutes, as I dilated FAST after I got in. Baby was born in a quiet room, and Daddy told me the gender, but had to go to the warmer for suctioning due to thick meconium (NICU was called, but left right away). I also hemmoraged, so didn't get to nurse right away. Within the hour though! :)