Pain management at home

I’m currently 39 weeks and 2 days pregnant and have been having pretty painful contractions since around 1:45 AM this morning. I went to the hospital and had a cervical check, but I was only 1 cm dilated, so they told me I’m not in active labor yet.

After I got home, I noticed a small amount of bloody discharge, which worried me, so I went back to the hospital. My contractions are now quite painful and coming about every 6 minutes, but I was sent home again because I’m still not considered to be in active labor.

The contractions are honestly horrible, and Tylenol isn’t helping much with the pain. Has anyone else experienced this during early labor? If so, what helped you manage the pain at home while waiting for active labor to begin?

in our community

Grief/bereavement during pregnancy

I am 27 weeks pregnant, first time mum to be. I lost my mum in June this year to cancer when I was around 17 weeks pregnant. It was unexpected.

I’m looking for advice for any Mums who have lost their own mum at any time, and how you have coped. Obviously, losing my mum whilst pregnant is one of the hardest things I’ve had to do and I mourn all the things she won’t get to experience with me.

Any advice is welcome and I’m sorry if any of you are part of this horrible club along with me 🤍

Vintage Girl Names 🎠

I'm due a baby girl in December 🎄
I would really like some help on some vintage/oldie but sweet girl names please.
We do really like names like Clementine, Elowyn...
Thank you!! 🥰

Growth Scan Measuring Larger at 34 Weeks!😫

hey my babes, i’m shook honestly🤣.. so i’m 34weeks and 4 days and i had a growth scan yesterday. I was told he’s 7lb already.. and that i have a lot of fluid surrounding me. i was told i had GD then i don’t, then i had to do then i done the finger pricking for 2 weeks passed that. now after the scan there saying i do.. but my partner was 10lb when he was born so i generally think it’s genetics on his side😭.. they are talking about inducing me which i DONT want to do and also a C section in which they get paid to do. I just want everything to be as natural as possible. Anyone else having/had a similar experience? x

Failed hearing test

Hi guys, my baby is just over 2 weeks and before we left the hospital when he was born he failed his hearing test in the left ear, right was fine so they booked us another appointment, the left ear failed again and since has failed one more test so we’ve been told he likely has permanent hearing loss in the left ear but they want us to come back again next week for the same test (this will be the 4th) and if they get the same results he’ll he referred to paediatrics.. has anyone else had any experience in this and was baby okay? Any stories or advice would be appreciated ❤️We are so worried and feel so bad for our little boy. It’s very unexpected as there’s no history of hearing loss in our families. I’m now worrying about everything 😩

PLEASE tell me labour is coming 😅😅

Yesterday I did the mile circuit, hypnobirthing, on the ball, went for a walk, ate a whole pineapple, ate 6 dates, drank my raspberry leaf tea, had electrolytes, sweated my entire body out eating extra hot spicy dinner, had a long chill shower in the dark, belly laughed watching Michael McIntyre, had sex, used clary sage in the aromatherapy machine yet other than waking up to the odd tightening nothing concrete happened.

This morning I've been trying to deep clean the house but so far only just finished the bathroom because I keep getting diarrhea and my back is killing me! Mucus plug has been slowly coming out for the past week but have lost a bit more this morning, no blood or anything though...

Once I've finished cleaning I was thinking I'll have an aromatherapy bath and then might use my breast pump after...

Determined to get her out before Sunday cause I have to go to the hospital to talk about the plan to get her out then and I just don't want to do that 😬😬

Fundal Height Measurement

I first had my bump measured at 28 weeks and measured 25cm, sent for a growth scan and baby was plotted on the 97th percentile. I’ve just moved up north and had my first meeting with my new midwife at 32 weeks - she measured my bump and it was 27cm, she didn’t seem worried and instead said I carried quite neatly. She said she’ll review again at my 34 week appointment and go from there. I had a scan a week ago due to reduced movements and everything came back normal - baby on 80th percentile and good amount of fluid etc. Should I be concerned? I know my midwife isn’t worried, so I shouldn’t be, but it’s stuck in my mind!