 The waiting game.. This. Is. Tedious!!! Everyday another message from friends or family, "have you had that baby yet?!" No. You'd know if I had haha! Everyday I'm jumping with excitement at any sort of twinge or cramping sensation. Everyday I wake up thinking, today could be the day! To then go to bed thinking... Ah well!
It is hard not to get jealous of seeing people with their babies already. I do so desperately want to meet my little girl!! I think what has made it even harder is the heat wave we've had in the UK for the past 4/5 days! 30+ degrees when you're VERY heavily pregnant is so so hard! It's made me cry, snap, swell, sweat constantly and just flake out on the sofa with my electric fan constantly on my face!! (Wow I bet I've looked such a state - poor Josh ha!!) Other than venturing out to see the midwife yesterday I have literally stayed indoors, with the curtains firmly shut to keep the sun out and every single window open trying to find any sort of breeze to cool me off! (Again, thank god for my fan!) Speaking of the midwife, yesterday I had the glorious experience of a "Stretch and Sweep". In all honestly, I was expecting it to be a lot worse! I think I'd geared myself up for something a million times more horrifying by reading too much info and forums online that people had written about it! (Note to self: I really should learn not to google so much!) I came away from my appointment completely mixed and torn up emotionally! It was promising, my midwife told me baby girl is fully engaged (as she could feel her head!), my cervix is nice and ripe, but not dilated yet. I've been getting tons of period type cramps on and off throughout the day for maybe the past 4 days now... which is said is a good sign things are 'happening'. So I'm really hoping when I have my next sweep in a few days I'll be further along and it will kick start labour for me - wahoo!! But if not... we do have an induction booked! Personally, I'm not fussed by the idea of induction. If my body needs a little helping hand to get this baby out (seeing as she's all good to go), then I'll take it! I know all the pros and cons, the potential risks etc. I don't think there's any information out there left that I haven't read!! But unfortunately some of us just need that little helping hand in giving our babies their eviction notice!!! I know some women prefer to wait and let their body go into labour naturally, which is totally fine - I applaud your patience and commitment to doing everything as naturally as possible!! However I'm not one of them! I had already decided from the day I knew I was pregnant about what I "ideally" wanted in my birth plan. (And I say "ideally" as it's likely my birth plan may have to change, this baba's gonna come however she needs to and unfortunately that's something out of my control!) I knew from day 1 that I wanted an Epidural. Again, yes I know the pros and cons, but I also know what I'm personally like with pain. I suffer with really bad anxiety and panic at certain situations that are out of my control, so having pain relief to keep me and my baby relaxed and as calm as possible and not distressed, is the way forward for me!! Obviously as said above, I may have a labour that moves fast and there simply isn't time for an anaesthetist to loop me up before I have to push! In which case, gas and air (and whatever painkillers I can have) will have to do!! But "ideally" I know I want an epidural and I have no shame in saying that I need pain relief! I have felt from talking to some people (mainly elder women I might add - Maybe it's a generation thing?), there's a lot of pressure, almost like an expectation, for women to do everything as natural as possible! I don't get why some people have to be so judgemental? Or look down on you like you're a wimp or going to be a bad mother? The same way no women's body is the same, no women's labour experience will be the same?! Everyone copes with situations/pain differently and everyone should be entitled to decide what's best for them and their baby, without the feeling of being pressurised into what another person believes is "best". If someone needs pain relief.. good for you! If someone does it 100% naturally.. good for you! Ladies, I think by now you know your own body so you do whatever is best for YOU! I guess when the day comes, what is meant to be, will be! It might be that my body naturally goes into labour or I need to be induced. The ONLY thing I care about is that my baby is safe and healthy! And I will do whatever is recommended by the professionals to make sure of it! As tedious and frustrating as it is waiting, it's not like it's never going to happen! One way or another this babies coming hehe! (This is what I need to keep reminding myself when I do see other women with their babies already!) I'm coping much better today as the weather is cooler, so it's more comfortable and easier to stay stay relaxed, as well as trying to be as positive as I possibly can be! Oh, and now my "nesting" bug has come back and I can't stop cleaning! But at least I'll be super prepared and the house will be squeaky clean for when she arrives! Better than being caught out being completely unprepared I guess!! As always love to hear your thoughts, any other mums-to-be twiddling their thumbs waiting for baby to arrive? How have you coped with the heat? Any labour experiences anyone wants to share - induced or not? Either comment below or feel free to message me via the social page! Love x
8 Comments
I'm in the waiting game as well! 41 weeks and 4 days today and have been having the same cramps and go to bed every night hoping for a babe to come. Meh. My induction is scheduled for Saturday night as then I'll be 42 weeks. Not looking forward to it at all either, but I'm excited to see baby and I care about his health more than anything as well. Love this and thank you for writing, it's good to know we're not alone ❤️
Krystyn
22/6/2017 20:37:02
You'll Do Great! Its amazing what the human body can do! Baby will come when she is ready, even if she's fashionably late! Girls, eh? Haha
Empi
23/6/2017 23:10:09
I was at the stage you seem to be at when I was induced the day of my due date. Hugh blood pressure and preeclampsia got us in that boat and for 18 hours if induction I did not progress with dilation simply because I guess my body was not entirely engaged. The epidural DID help with the NO immediately and got em and baby out of rust by brining it down, it got me a little sleep and the strength to push for several hours once it wore off a few hours later. All in all I completely agree epidural was the way to go and being in a hospital setting since the start helped me so much with this first baby because I kept yelling my nurses "all I felt" were period cramps. As i got got closer to delivery I realized I had been confusing contractions for cramps!! Now I know. I honestly didn't know then. Best if luck and hope you get to have your baby girl as soon as possible in your arms. Meanwhile enjoyyyy these days :)
Alpana
22/6/2017 21:34:33
And here I am feeling kind if envious of you haha. I had finished work 17 days before my due date, hoping to get everything organised and just rest up really. My bubs decided to show up 15 days early which was good but I never got the chance to just put my feet up and relax. I have been on the go ever since and my son has just turned 2.
Rachael
22/6/2017 23:44:23
I'm 26+3 with my second baby (little girl), my little boy arrived at 39+2 and the thing is I'd geared myself up for him being overdue as I was told and Dr Google basically saying first birth tend to be overdue and long labour. I was adamant I wasn't in labour and it was just braxton hicks but my hubby made us go in to hospital, and established labour (from 4cm) was 4 hours 57 minutes.
Katie
23/6/2017 00:33:48
I am in the same boat as you! My due date was three days ago and every day that passes I get more and more cranky. This is my second baby, which people say usually comes early, but I guess he is taking his sweet old time in there! I too have to remind myself that one way or another pretty soon he will be here and to just enjoy this little bit of calm before the storm of having a newborn. Good luck with this last little bit of pregnancy, the last weeks are definitely the hardest! Also I LOVED having the option of the epidural, once I got it I could sleep and relax and let my body work without being in pain. I would recommend any woman going into labor to get one.
Aanya
23/6/2017 07:22:24
My best piece of advice is to go into the whole labor process with no expectations. Take each moment, each minute and hour as it comes and just learn to roll with the punches because in the end, you get to hold your baby girl! I went into labor thinking, epidural=little to no pain, which wasn't the case at all, I also went in thinking that if I get to 10 centimeters and push for 3 hours, the baby's gotta come out right? Wrong. I didn't anticipate my baby having a 15 inch head at birth. After 24 hours of hard labor, 3 epidurals that failed, pushing for 3 hours, I had to have a C-section, and the recovery wasn't easy. I was basically recovering from 2 birth experiences. Just expect the the unexpected and hope for the best, but also know things that go any direction at any time. I wish you the best of luck and I can't wait to see your precious little girl! Oh my gosh, girly! I feel yeah. 42 1/2 weeks before they induced me and he still didn't want to come out! I tried pumping, acupuncture, pressure points, dates and pineapple multiple times a day... nothing worked!!! Babies are stubborn from the very beginning. Sending love and positive thoughts 🙏🏼 Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
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