Does anyone else have swollen lymph nodes? My submandibular lymph nodes have been huge for weeks but I feel like they're still getting bigger. Anyone else on the verge of chipmunking (new word)?
Im on the verge of chipmunking due to a double chin in all my recent photos (including my drivers license that I had to renew yesterday)...
Definitely something to call your midwife about if you think it's lymph nodes.
Moms who have had back labor: is it low back? I've had a ton of BH (I think?) tonight, a little bit of cramping and lots of mid to upper back achiness. I'm thinking I just overdid it with the cleaning and laundry today? Any other experiences with back labor?
My uterine irritability is in my low back. It's also not unilateral like a pulled muscle might be. BH are the whole belly, or go up higher, and are painless but make my belly tight. My mini contractions are sharp and lower. Hope that helps! Drink water and prop your feet up for a minute @ShadeofGreen816. Hang in there!
@ShadeofGreen816 when I had back labor with DS, it was a lot of pressure in my lower back and felt different than achiness. That being said, it could feel achy in the beginning stages? That's probably completely unhelpful, but labor is so weird.
Thanks guys! I think I just kind of wanted it to be contractions? Not many more but still aching in my upper back this morning. One of these days this baby will come out!
Pregnant with my third and I'm shocked that I've had zero labor symptoms so far. With my first, contractions stared around 37 weeks. I'm 38 weeks tomorrow and nada. I have an appt first thing in the morning and I'm going to ask for a sweep. What's a bitch gotta do to lose her mucus plug or get some contractions going?!
@shadeofgreen816 I had back labor after my water broke with DD (with no contractions prior). It's like a strong wave of achiness in your lower back instead of the front that you can feel come and go. I feel more confused this time though because sometimes I get some tightness then I feel sore back there for a good few minutes instead of in waves. Labor signs are hard!
when your water breaks you don't stop leaking... its like non stop slow drip after the initial gush. It is confusing how do know when the pains you feel are something or just normal pregnancy stuff. Last time I was lucky I lost my mucus plug and then a couple hours later my water broke and contractions started right away.. this time I'll probably end up at the hospital when I'm not even in labor because I'm so paranoid!
When my water broke with DS, he was so low that his head was like a cork. I didn't know my water broke until I was in L&D and the nurse asked me about what time my water broke. I was able to figure it out, but my experience was no constant leaking.
So TMI ahead...I was cramping and having low back ache all night. I actually was work up a few times from it. Well I got up when H was up for work and went to the bathroom. More plug found but was pinkish this time. Some pinkish discharge with bright red pieces. So I emailed my dr and was waiting to hear from them because I was like these aren't contractions it's probably nothing. So I fall back asleep and get a message back that said they could see me early so ok cool. Getting ready go pee again and now it's bright red surcharge more what I thought "bloody show" would be like. So we are headed to my dr to see what's going on. Baby? Go home? Monitored?
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@BabyMC517 Hopefully it's baby! It's such a mind game right now. What you described was kind of my night two nights ago...I was having cramping/contractions coupled with lower back pain all through the night, but it never increased in frequency or anything (and no mucus plus). Last night, I had one very strong contraction...it was quite painful. But again, nothing else yet. I don't know what to make of all of it, other than assume my body is getting ready and hope I'll figure out when it's the real deal.
I didn't have any symptoms with DS1 and was a week late, but with this one, I have had all the other pregnancy symptoms leading up to now (38 weeks and 3 days), so I'm going to assume I might have some sort of labor indicator other than just contractions... maybe. Right now my stomach is a bit upset and my lower back/hips are sore (normal, been like this for a while). My next appointment is Thursday so I may ask for a sweep then.
DS Born 1/12/13 - Molar Pregnancy 3/2014/D&C 3/2015 - EDD with Baby #2 May 26th, 2017
Last pregnancy I had a membrane sweep and went into labor that night. This pregnancy I got one on Friday morning and so far nothing... anyone else have one that didn't produce any results?
@BabyMC517 Hopefully it's go time! Fingers crossed. @pshaortao TMI I get a little leakage all day long. Not enough that wets my bra, but it just turns crusty on my nipple. I have tons of cramping and a handful of contractions throughout the day, so I don't know if that's when it's coming or not.
Last pregnancy I had a membrane sweep and went into labor that night. This pregnancy I got one on Friday morning and so far nothing... anyone else have one that didn't produce any results?
I think they only have like a 20% chance of kickstarting labor? I am hoping for a sweep on Wednesday and husband was telling me not to get too excited. I plan on telling the midwife to really get in there and go for it, no need to be gentle and half ass it!
I was sort of thinking like you @wombthereitis my sweep seemed to be faster this time and it didn't start my labor so I'm wondering if she half assed it....
@lrwardrop Maybe you were more dilated this time so it wasn't as uncomfortable?
I have a friend who had a baby about a month ago who had two sweeps and the one she described as "a fisting" got things going the same day so it gives me a small bit of anecdotal hope that maybe there is a difference in effort?
Update: Went to the dr and she said it was all normal. Still 2 cm and 60% effaced. Go back Friday morning. My BP was on the high end of normal again so she said to check at the stores if we go or if we have a cuff at home I can monitor it then. Watch for other signs like headache that won't go away and spots. So no baby yet lol boo
i truly hate the guessing game! I like to know stuff!
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
Me too @jayandaplus I know I'm not overdue or anything, but just ready to meet the little guy and stop with the guessing. It probably doesn't help that my mom and others kept saying I'd have him over the weekend and now its "any day" and blah blah blah H wanted to get a BP monitor so we ended getting one yesterday. The couple of times I've checked (last night and this morning) I was about the same as I was a the dr. So still on the high end of normal. Its weird having a "high" BP as I'm typically right on the 120/80 mark or close to. Hopefully all will be okay!
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
I am having intermittent contractions but nothing consistent. Can they either become consistent or go away? I have to work uterus . Make it baby time or wait until I get home please.
I'm unreasonably excited to be "1+" cm dilated and soft! With my son, I didn't dilate at all until induction started. While I know this means next to nothing, it's given me hope that I can avoid induction this go round! I've also had diarrhea all morning and now have back aches, so hopefully things are gearing up!
Fur daughter: 02/2011 Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017 *formerly kayemjay*
@rkstro2 I'm wondering the same thing. I've been having BH all day but this past hour they've been coming every 3-6 minutes. It just doesn't feel painful other than some lower back pain which I've had all day- not just when my uterus tightens.
@chocolatelemons everyone is different so obviously this is with a grain of salt but I was talking with my doc today about this. She goes "if you wonder if you're in labor, you're not in labor. If you have contractions at bedtime, don't stay up and time them. They will eventually wake you up." Basically when it's go time, it'll become obvious. Hopefully? I know we've had a few moms with fast easy labors so who knows! What a mindf*@! This whole process is.
I'm right there with ya ladies! I've got the back aches and cramps like I'm on my period which then (TMI) make me have to go to the bathroom. Quite lovely! I told H the other day that I feel like I'm on my period but nothing is coming out.
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
I've been feeling like I'm on my period these last few days too. I just haven't experienced any back aches yet. I think im feeling tightness at the top of my belly, but it's not painful and I'm not sure if it's just the baby moving around.
The nurse practitioner at my appointment today told me that you really don't need to worry about coming in until the contractions are intense enough that you lose your train of thought and can't focus during them. During my labor with DS, I found this to be true. I was kind of a special snowflake in that my labor started with my water breaking and contractions were immediately consistently about three minutes apart, lasting 45 seconds to a minute each time. However, although they were painful, for the first 5 or 6 hours they weren't that horrible. By the time we decided to go into the hospital I had had to switch from watching Law and Order to watching HGTV because I couldn't focus on the plot of Law and Order (true story) and I couldn't talk through them. Even then I was only 3 cm dilated when we got there.
Obviously this doesn't help distinguish between if you're in labor or not for you ladies who are having some feelings of "maybe this is it" but hopefully it puts your minds at ease that you most likely should know when it is time to actually go to the hospital.
@RainyDays86 Thanks for this- I was going back and forth about calling my doctor last night but what your midwife said makes sense. I'm still not sure what's going on with me but I've been up most of the night. Thankfully I have an appointment in 4 hours so hopefully she can tell me what's going on.
Has anyone ever heard of having the baby drop a good 4+ weeks prior to delivery? My baby dropped a whole month ago and I'm still pregnant! DS dropped about 3 weeks ahead of delivery so when this happened I was concerned I'd go early of course, but I also figured "when DS dropped it was 3 weeks before delivery so that would be right on time." DD never dropped prior to delivery. But now it's been literally 4.5 weeks, just after Easter weekend. I've had lightening and a bowling ball between my legs for that long, and yet my cervix is still way posterior.
Second question -- anyone else feel like they lost their mucus plug multiple times? I never even lost it (or didn't notice) with my first two kids. This time I lost little chunks pretty much daily for the last week. Then when I was about 1-2 days overdue I lost a big clump that looked just a bit smaller than the pictures when you google plugs (non-bloody, though). Then just today I lost an even bigger clump that looks full-sized again. I guess these things are huge? I know they can regenerate, too, but it seems like a fast time period to do so. I'm hoping this is progress. But probably not, haha, because I've been hoping that kind of thing for a week now!
... Has anyone ever heard of having the baby drop a good 4+ weeks prior to delivery? My baby dropped a whole month ago and I'm still pregnant! DS dropped about 3 weeks ahead of delivery so when this happened I was concerned I'd go early of course, but I also figured "when DS dropped it was 3 weeks before delivery so that would be right on time." DD never dropped prior to delivery. But now it's been literally 4.5 weeks, just after Easter weekend. I've had lightening and a bowling ball between my legs for that long, and yet my cervix is still way posterior. ...
@kat81 Mine dropped pretty much exactly at the 34 week mark. I'll be 39 tomorrow, so I'm going on 5 weeks. I think it's pretty normal for the baby to drop anytime. Sure makes for some painful symptoms, though.
@kat81 you're living my life. I dropped like 3 weeks ago and still no baby and I am so beyond tired of seeing my mucus plug. I have lost most or all of it 3 or 4 times since 26 weeks.
@kat81 Yes, I think baby dropped around 34, then again around 36 weeks, and I'll be 39 Friday. I also feel like I've lost my mucus plug 20 times at this point.
@kat81 I feel like this kid has been soooooo low forever now. It hurts so bad to walk it's like I am carrying a bowling ball between my legs. Yesterday my OB was like "do lots of walking." Umm I can barely move dude. I haven't lost my mucus plug at all though.
I am so gassy, it's so uncomfortable! Between burping and farting I feel like a super gross man. What is happening to me!
I have been as well. My problem this past week has been that every poop is like that first postpartum poop -- totally horrible! When it comes out it is not particularly big/hard like being quite constipated. It is pretty normal poop. My working theory is that there is NO room in there for it to flow out. So it feels like I'm extremely constipated. I need to start taking my stool softener!!
Re: Symptoms, symptoms, and more symptoms!
Definitely something to call your midwife about if you think it's lymph nodes.
Andddd not only that but my mom is all aboit trying acupressure points now because why not
So TMI ahead...I was cramping and having low back ache all night. I actually was work up a few times from it. Well I got up when H was up for work and went to the bathroom. More plug found but was pinkish this time. Some pinkish discharge with bright red pieces. So I emailed my dr and was waiting to hear from them because I was like these aren't contractions it's probably nothing. So I fall back asleep and get a message back that said they could see me early so ok cool. Getting ready go pee again and now it's bright red surcharge more what I thought "bloody show" would be like. So we are headed to my dr to see what's going on. Baby? Go home? Monitored?
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
@pshaortao TMI I get a little leakage all day long. Not enough that wets my bra, but it just turns crusty on my nipple. I have tons of cramping and a handful of contractions throughout the day, so I don't know if that's when it's coming or not.
May '17 labor memes
If I don't crank this kid out by the 25th its another cesarean for me which will hurt a lot more than an aggressive sweep!
May '17 labor memes
I was sort of thinking like you @wombthereitis my sweep seemed to be faster this time and it didn't start my labor so I'm wondering if she half assed it....
I have a friend who had a baby about a month ago who had two sweeps and the one she described as "a fisting" got things going the same day so it gives me a small bit of anecdotal hope that maybe there is a difference in effort?
May '17 labor memes
i truly hate the guessing game! I like to know stuff!
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
I am having intermittent contractions but nothing consistent. Can they either become consistent or go away? I have to work uterus
Human sons: 11/2015 & 05/2017
*formerly kayemjay*
"A day without laughter is a day wasted." ~Charlie Chaplin
Obviously this doesn't help distinguish between if you're in labor or not for you ladies who are having some feelings of "maybe this is it" but hopefully it puts your minds at ease that you most likely should know when it is time to actually go to the hospital.
Has anyone ever heard of having the baby drop a good 4+ weeks prior to delivery? My baby dropped a whole month ago and I'm still pregnant! DS dropped about 3 weeks ahead of delivery so when this happened I was concerned I'd go early of course, but I also figured "when DS dropped it was 3 weeks before delivery so that would be right on time." DD never dropped prior to delivery. But now it's been literally 4.5 weeks, just after Easter weekend. I've had lightening and a bowling ball between my legs for that long, and yet my cervix is still way posterior.
Second question -- anyone else feel like they lost their mucus plug multiple times? I never even lost it (or didn't notice) with my first two kids. This time I lost little chunks pretty much daily for the last week. Then when I was about 1-2 days overdue I lost a big clump that looked just a bit smaller than the pictures when you google plugs (non-bloody, though). Then just today I lost an even bigger clump that looks full-sized again. I guess these things are huge? I know they can regenerate, too, but it seems like a fast time period to do so. I'm hoping this is progress. But probably not, haha, because I've been hoping that kind of thing for a week now!
May '17 labor memes