As I write this I am having irregular contractions every three-six minutes apart. I’m not getting too excited though — I’ve had similar symptoms almost every night for the past week. But then they stop and I head to bed, wondering if I’m going to be woken up by a sudden gush of waters at 3am.
To say that such a long pre-labour is frustrating is an understatement. But now that I’m due tomorrow, I know that the end is in sight (well, no more than two weeks away). My son was born at 42 weeks so I’m under no illusion that due dates mean anything.
The other benefit of being due this week is that now when random strangers tell me that I look ready to pop, I can actually reply, “yes.. any day now” instead of ”err… I’m actually about two months away”.
The texts and emails have started, and if I don’t update my Facebook status daily you can be sure there’ll be a query on my wall. It’s nice that people are interested, even if I feel like screaming SHE’S NOT HERE YET at the top of my lungs.
Among the advice I’ve been given to bring on labour this week have been the following:
- Bumpy bus ride
- Long walk followed by a curry
- Sex (semen contains prostaglandins which induce labour, apparently)
- Nipple stimulation
- Fresh pineapple
- Fancy restaurant reservation or hair appointment (acts as a jinx)
- Acupuncture/chiropathy/Bowen therapy
- Castor oil (did that last time, disgusting and ineffective)
- Brazilian waxing (ouch!)
But really, unless I’m staring a medical induction in the face I think I’ll stick to my regime of chilling out, nanna naps and life uninterrupted by a three-hourly feeding schedule for as long as I can.
Tell me – how did you bring on your labour?
I reckon the whole sex thing is a myth made up by men who are feeling deprived and looking for any excuse!
I’m in exactly the same boat as you! Lots of light contractions, but no action. And, like you, after several days of this I figure I can’t do anything but go with it and enjoy the last few days of doing things that are harder to do with a newborn around.
I just had my 3rd at 40 weeks, my other 2 arrived at 39+2 and there was 1 thing in common – I kept telling myself and others I was ready, and ready to enter the ‘zombie zone’ – within 12 hours I was in active labour… I was going on the theory that the brain then releases the hormone, the baby then follows with its own hormones… and its all action stations!
btw — I researched pineapples and I read you need to each 7!!!