Is It Time Yet? No, Well How About Now?
May 9, 2009 at 4:07 pm 1 comment
I’m 38 weeks + 2 days and the signs are there that Liam is ready to say hi, but labour just….doesn’t happen. Its been doing my head in all week and I think I’m at the point where I’m about to explode with frustration. I’ve had a show, crampiness, pressure in my pelvis and random aches and pains all week, but they never eventuate into anything.
I woke up at 6.30am this morning when my husband left for work with some killer tightenings. They’re not insanely painful or anything, but I feel them and that for me is a huge thing (When I went into hospital with threatened pre-term labour I couldn’t feel the contractions, but the CTG showed I was definitely having them!). They’ve been coming on all day, are about 20 minutes apart and last from 30-60 seconds. Now I have a lovely back ache to compliment them.
Instead of running around screaming, “Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmyGOD!” and scrambling to cram the last few things into my suitcase and hospital bag, I’ve been calm, level headed and, well, skeptical. My husband and my mum know whats going on, but I’ve told them both not to get too excited. These puppies don’t seem to be getting any stronger or closer so I haven’t even bothered calling the midwives. I’ve already categorised these “things” as another false alarm even though they haven’t gone away after my afternoon nap. I won’t even pick up the phone and query the hospital as to whether I should cruise in or not until I can’t talk through the pain because I just find it so unlikely that anything less than that is labour.
Earlier in the week I think I tried every possible old wives tale to get this labour rolling. I’ve eaten thousands of curries, enjoyed a few romps under the sheets, soaked myself in baths, drank gallons of raspberry leaf tea and have been for long drives on bumpy roads. Nothing. He just isn’t ready to come out yet and its really getting to me! (Before anyone mentions it, yes I know I’m not overdue, or even full term yet..but thanks to diabetes I’ve been fighting an uphill battle to be allowed to go this far, let alone be allowed to go into spontaneous labour!) Add all that effort to the signs that labour is close but is yet to eventuate and you get one cranky, disappointed and agitated pregnant lady.
I’m running out of coping mechanisms and I need your help! If you’ve given birth, please share with me how you made it through the last few weeks! You can leave your stories in the comments, or email me at geraldtonblog@gmail.com. I look forward to your responses 
Entry filed under: Diet and Pregnancy. Tags: birth stories, diabetes, false labour, frustration, induction, labour, natural induction, pregnancy.
1.
Paula | May 9, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Ahhh I remember this stage well and unfortunately what I have to say is totally not what you want to hear.
You just have to ride it out, wait it out, and go slowly insane until you know for sure that you’re in labour!
All the signs you have aren’t nothing – try to remember that. They’re all leading to that inevitable thing we like to call childbirth!
Keep doing what you’re doing and as dumb as it will be to write this, it’s kinda all you can do – wait it out and try to keep your mind off things!
Towards the end of my pregnancy I remember feeling the same way as you and I’d get by just by telling myself not to dwell on every niggle and pain – if it was the ‘real thing’ my body would let me know and I definately wouldn’t miss it!!
You’ve endured so much already that such a drawn out pregnancy that I can only imagine how much this is playing on your mind. And just wanting it over? Well that’s the point we all get to.
Stay strong and remember – it will happen eventually. You aren’t destined to feel this way forever, and most of all…..he will be well worth the wait!