First baby bit unsure!

[terri]

hey im due to have my baby boy nov27 though all this week iv been gettin really bad back pain and tummy cramps that make me feel as if im going to throw up the food dats in my belly coz theres no room for it and sharp stabbing pains down below! :confused:

also wondering wat a show looks like as i had a clear jelly like discharge type thing about a week ago no blood tinges though... i almost constantly have a heat pack on my back or am some how finding away to ease the pressure/back pain!

had a apt at the hosp today but they sed as bubbys heads not engaged not to worry to much but fook (soory for da language but DAMN) this hurts i havent had a decent nites sleep all week due to the pain in my back and the only way that seems comfortable is half on my belly but this causes my breasts to leak clear stuff (i know that probly just the colustrum stuff but yeah)

just wondering if there was anyone who could tell me wats happning as the doc seems to be brushing me off no matter how much i pester him this pain is rather uncomfortable and he just says yeah theres some tightening of your uterus come back if its to unbearable...

really not sure on what to do being my first baby and all but yeah!!

[draught]

Hey Terri - sounds like your body is getting ready to deliver.

Okay - to answer some of your questions - the tightening and pain might be braxton hicks contractions which are like practice ones, or they might be early labour pains. That doesn't meant that you should rush off to the hospital though - they can go on for days before you are in what they call "active" labour - it is all about your body getting ready. It is okay to take panadol if you need to take the edge off (just stay well away from nurofen - that is a bad one for the last trimester of pregnancy)

As for the show - it does, to my knowledge, normally have some pinkish tinges. The clear jelly stuff could just be the excessive mucus that most of us produce in the last stages of pregnancy (not sure why - just know that there is a LOT of it!)

Back pain - the heat pack is the way to go. Another option is to rest on your hands and knees with your belly hanging down - this gives baby some room to move into a more comfortable position for baby, and for you - and a chance to get into a good position for giving birth. Also - spending time in a bath or a swimming pool is great as it takes all the weight off your back with the water supporting your belly - not to mention it cools you down when you are getting hot and flustered!

I hope things go well for you. Don't stop asking the doctor questions - you need to understand what is going on with you body so that you know what is happening next. If you want a good book that is easy to read and really funny but has good info on the whole thing look for "Up the Duff" by Kaz Cooke - your local library should have a copy if you don't want to buy one. It answered lots of questions for me (and made me wet myself laughing sometimes which is a good thing when you are sick of being pregnant!)

You are near the end of the waiting now and then the fun really starts!

[Crazy Monkey]

Wow you are not to far away from meetin gyour bubs for the first time.. Its the most exciting thing you will ever do..

Yeah a show does have a pinkish tinge to it... for me it was like the first sign of getting your period...

Good Luck

[DoulaFelicity]

Hi terri :) ,

Those last few weeks of pregnancy can really seem to go on forever, can't they? Sending calming vibes your way (if you're feeling bothered by the sensations in your body, and a bit impatient for things to get underway, as well as a bit stressed out by the whole experience or fearful, you might like to try a few drops of Rescue Remedy on your tongue. It's perfectly safe for you and your babe, and it really does work wonders). :)

draught has given you some wonderful information on easing that back pain; it could be due to the position your babe is sitting in, which might be putting extra pressure on your back. Getting down on all fours regularly, as well as ensuring that you sit with your knees bent at a 90 degree angle and your feet raised from the floor, your back supported straight and leaning slightly forward (it can be slightly uncomfortable but it's best for helping babe into the right possie), will help, and will encourage your babe to turn into the optimal position for birthing. You might like to check out a little book called "Understanding and Teaching Optimal Foetal Positioning" by Jean Sutton (available from Capers Bookstore), which has some fantastic information on positioning yourself and looking after your body the best way to prepare babe for labour.

Regular pregnancy massage and perhaps some cranio-sacral therapy, or osteopathy, may also help a lot with those niggling aches and pains.

The belly pains are more than likely Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) or early labour. As draught said, these can go on for days or even weeks - and not only are they normal, they are wonderful! They mean your body is exercising and preparing itself beautifully for the real job ahead of it. It's the warmup before the marathon. :) What a beautiful body you have, to be finetuning itself so wonderfully. The sharp pains could be babe's head engaging (babe can engage and disengage repeatedly, so even though your doc said it wasn't engaged, it may be engaging partly sometimes) - this can cause sharp, electric shock-like pains in your pelvic area. You may also be suffering a little Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction, which is pain caused by your pelvic area softening and separating for birth (whilst the pain can be annoying, this is wonderful in it's own way too - your pelvis is making way for your babe to be born - beautiful!).

Heat packs (you can easily make one yourself by putting some rice in a sock - add some essential oil if you'd like a beautifully scented one) can be warmed in the microwave and held firmly against painful areas like your back and belly. The warmth really does wonders; it's also beautiful during established labour. You may also find pressure point massage (and/or acupressure) helpful in releasing some of that tension and energy. For sleeping, surrounding yourself with cushions/pillows may help (ie: under your belly, in between your legs, behind your back), to counterbalance and support the weight your body is carrying by housing your babe.

You will lose a lot of mucous in the weeks leading up to your birth. A show is usually easily recognisable when it happens - there may be (not always) some pinkish blood, or even quite a bit of blood, in it. There will usually be a very large amount of mucous and it will keep on sporadically coming, even after the first show.

Don't worry - when you are in true labour, you will know it. It's unmistakeable. And you're in the best place for early labour right now, anyway - your home, with all it's comforts and security. :)

Best wishes for a beautiful birth. If there is anything I can help with, please feel free to PM me, and I'm happy to offer more information or support.

[TwoBlue]

The belly pains are more than likely Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) or early labour. As draught said, these can go on for days or even weeks - and not only are they normal, they are wonderful! They mean your body is exercising and preparing itself beautifully for the real job ahead of it. It's the warmup before the marathon.
The sharp pains could be babe's head engaging (babe can engage and disengage repeatedly, so even though your doc said it wasn't engaged, it may be engaging partly sometimes) - this can cause sharp, electric shock-like pains in your pelvic area.
You may also be suffering a little Symphisis Pubis Dysfunction, which is pain caused by your pelvic area softening and separating for birth (whilst the pain can be annoying, this is wonderful in it's own way too - your pelvis is making way for your babe to be born - beautiful!).
You will lose a lot of mucous in the weeks leading up to your birth. A show is usually easily recognisable when it happens - there may be (not always) some pinkish blood, or even quite a bit of blood, in it. There will usually be a very large amount of mucous and it will keep on sporadically coming, even after the first show..

I love the way you explain all these "horrible" late pregnancy symptoms so beautifully Felicity :)
but i really do feel for Terri (as i am sure you do also) as with a first pregnancy it can be so scary and "unknown" but i agree with all that you and Draught have said also :)

I am suffering from all the same things as you Terri and have been now for several weeks, it can be so frustrating as you really just want to have your bubba in your arms and feel comfortable again :o
i believe that calmness is the key, the more relaxed and calm you are about how you are feeling and your impending labour and birth, the better you will feel.
Embrace the last few days/weeks of your pregnancy because believe it or not you may miss it when its gone !! (seems impossible now i know!!)
I am sending big hugs your way and hope to hear of your bubbas safe arrival really soon :D

[terri]

thanx heaps for your info!
it sorta made it make sense lol!
but still hoping its gettin close to the end coz im just feeling so wats the word...
blech dunno if that how u spell it but its how i say it lol
oh man i feel like bubs got the hiccups these little jolty movements that arent big enuf to be kiks! lol

oh man another day i spent in the first hour or so of in the shower!

oh and its so so hot!!!!

is there a button or something i can press to make it labour lol

sorry gtg gettin more pains

[Bella-Archie]

:eek: Ouch !!!

I really feel for you ..... I had my second baby 2months ago and know exactly how you are feeling !!!!

I was so uncomfortable at the end that I stormed into my doctors office and demanded that he put me out of my misery ....... (I had a 11mth old baby just starting to walk, I cut my finger on a knife and had to get 4 stiches and I couldn't sleep, eat, walk etc etc) He induced me the next day and I had an 11lbs baby :eek:

[Crazy Monkey]

Bella-Archie - Ouch... 11lbs, thats one big baby...

[Mummy-2-2]

YOOOWWW!! 11 pounds! I thought 7 pounds was bad!!

Terri, I had SEVERELY painful Braxton Hicks with my first pregnancy in the last 8 weeks, and am starting to get them again (am only 30 weeks now) so I know exactly what you are going through. I as well had the Doctors brush me off, most were men, saying that Braxton Hicks dont hurt. well luvee, they do hurt, and as for me, I am off to try the hands and knees exercise from Draught :D

[terri]

well im pretty sure theyr not braxton hicks!
my book sez they shldnt appear to get stronger and if i move around they should subside! theyr slightly stronger today and they get really painfull wen i try and walk em off!

that and my guts tell me sunday arvo he'll arrive!!!
hoping so this is getting EXTREMMELY UNCOMFY AND SORE!!!

[Mother Duck]

Hi there Terri you baby making machine you!

It sounds to me as though you are in early early labour (if that makes sense) - from what I understand this can happen for several weeks before bubba comes, even a month.

It is a good thing (although it feels **** I'm sure) as it means your body is beautifully tuned and preparing really well for the birth (which is AMAZING)

So while this sounds like I'm suggesting bub is still miles away (and who knows) - just to reassure you, I had a very similar sounding backache and lost mucus too etc - Mickayla came 7days early.

Doula Felicity - Please feel free to correct if anything I have said sounds misplaced, I have read quite a few of your posts and I'm tippin' you are rather knowledgable on the whole birthing thing!

Terri
Good luck my love X O X O Can't wait to read your birth story!

[terri]

hey
still hanging in here though yesterday n today i really thawt it may have started but they were regular pains!
starting at 6am i woke up wit tite cramping and pains 8am the same thing 10am again 12pm, 2pm,4pm then they started hourly 5pm, 6pm,7pm, 8pm, continuein all thru the nite and in2 this morning and then chek up with gp he says all fine keep an eye on it... that was at 10am i was booked for an antenatel wit da midwives at the hosp this arvo at 415 pm so i went to that and as the pains had seemed to closen again i asked for an internal just for my sake! (god they'r so uncomfortable!!) and nothings happened except for my cervix softening!!! :mad: i mean this hurts like the pains iv been gettin bring tears to my eyes!! :( and i really wanted a drug free natural as can be birth! and with these pains hurting and nothing even happening yet!!! i really dont think im going to be able to maintain that drug free thing! like i thought id been coping so well! thinkin it was the beginning of labour and i actually havent coped wit anything!!! :( god i seriously dont think i will hold up to my drug free ideal!! :( and i feel so bad bout it

[Mother Duck]

Hi Terri

Don't feel bad - firstly the pains that you are getting now and the way you are reacting to them is not necessarily an indication of how you will handle the actual birth. Try really hard to just be calm and relaxed.

Use this as an opportunity to breath through - by saying that I mean focus on deep breathing when you are getting these pains, try really hard not to hold your breath.

Secondly - whatever happens and however it happens the most important and special thing is that you are about to meet your baby! Very special

While you are aiming for a natural birth - which is great - don't become too fixated on it. If for some reason you do end up with different circumstances just trust what is happening and that you are in good care.

You sound frightened - I totally understand - just try your best to do some calming things - breathing is the key.

Sending lots of hugs of support your way - Good luck Terrie

"you can do it!" :)

[DoulaFelicity]

Hi Terri,

Early labour, especially the first time around, can be scary and tiresome, can't it? Sending positive vibes and ~*hugs*~ your way. :)

Jessie has given you some good advice. Your body is preparing itself beautifully. The sensations you are experiencing now in no way represent what your entire labour and birth will feel like. It is, by definition, a restless, changeable experience. It's ok for you to feel scared, impatient, angry, and tired right now. Let those feelings in (as you are already doing). Acknowledge them. Then let them go. Labour and birth is all about acceptance, surrender and letting go. Your body can certainly "do it" - look at the strong, wonderful work it's already doing to soften your cervix - whether you want it to or not! Softening of the cervix is often the longest part of labour - it's already happening to you! Wonderful! Well done to your amazing body that is doing exactly what it needs to, all on it's own! And well done to you, for hanging in there, and being stronger than you even realise you are. :D

As Jessie said, really try to use this time to focus. It's your practice run. Do some breathing. Do some guided relaxations, meditations, and affirmations. Have a deep, soothing bath with some Clary Sage oil in it (stimulates labour), and be with your strong body that has begun it's birthing, and your unborn babe. Have a shower, and see how the hot water feels on your belly and/or lower back. Have someone massage you in different ways - see what feels good. Do some swaying, rocking and bouncing on a birth ball. Have your partner or a good friend or loved one support your body, lean into them, experiment with what relieves the sensations for you. Try some acupressure or acupuncture, or some aromatherapy. There are so many wonderful ways of integrating these sensations, and you've got the ideal chance now.

Don't focus on the work ahead, and thoughts of "can" or "can't" or "should" or "shouldn't". Take it one moment at a time, one sensation at a time. Every feeling that you get is your uterus softening and opening. Really feel that, really see it in your mind's eye. Every ache that lessens and is gone, is gone for good, and has done some work that you don't have to do again. Your labour could go very quickly once it kicks into the heavy stage; it could be slow and gentle. These early feelings can't tell you which it will be. They're not supposed to. They're doing their work without needing you to worry about it. Try to step back and let it be.

Animals don't think about whether they can, can't, will, won't, whether there will be drugs, whether there won't...they just birth. And we are animals. During true labour and birth (you're in early labour at the moment), your primal, animal brain will kick in. It will do it for you. Give yourself permission not to punish yourself with thoughts or feelings of weakness or fear (although it is alright to let that fear in and feel it). Allow yourself to be gentle on yourself, and try to just surrender.

Blessings for the powerful experience you are embarking on right now. :)

[JanetF]

Blessings for the powerful experience you are embarking on right now.
Hear hear to this! I hope you have a beautiful birth *hugs* You were made to do this! :D