Community Posts, Tips & Support on Labor & Birth

Honest, unfiltered, and in real-time: what women like you are talking about. Peanut group chats, support, and posts on Labor & Birth

naturally inducing labour

i’m 39w 5d how do we go into labour lol i’m trying everything and nothings working. determined to have her by tomorrow evening

Vaginal or c-section? Where’s your head at?

So many friends have started asking me what I’m thinking about birthing plan and to be honest I’ve not really thought about it (probably should at some point 🫣) A number of friends didn’t have great birthing experiences and ended up with emergency c-sections which got me researching planned ones despite it never previously being something I had considered.

I’m curious to see where other mums-to-be heads are at with this one & thoughts behind it? No judgement here! 🥰

Blood loss

When did everyone's blood loss stop after your section? I thought it was supposed to last 6 weeks but I. Under 3 weeks PP And its become so much lighter now it seems as though its about to stop any day now

C section

For the women who have had a C-Section, how long did you take pain meds for?

C section mamas - tummy and around the incision still tender?

I had my c section 3.5 weeks ago and generally I’m feeling good but if I touch or put any pressure on my stomach above my c section then it’s still pretty tender.

Do others have this?

3 days until c-section & my anxiety is so bad

Planed cs after emergency cs. I know this will be “different”. I know I won’t have the added trauma/ stressors… yet, I’m still extremely anxious. It hit me yesterday after my last OB apt when they gave me pre-op packets etc. I couldn’t sleep last night, and I’ve been anxious all day. How did you calm yourself before going in?

What if my anxiety is so bad, they say they need to put me to sleep to do it? I don’t know, that’s probably not how they decide to do that, but I’m just freaking out tonight 😞

Staples used for c -section? First time c section… HELP!

Has anyone ever had this done and came out OK at the end? What are your tips on this? How did it heal and look? My OBGYN used staples on me instead of biodegradable items and I’m a bit disappointed and scared about what I am finding online about the staples and all the risks and issues that comes with it? Is it not common? Any tips, advice or comments would help! Thank you

Mirena inserted at C-section

Today I've seen two posts about women who got pregnant shortly after birth and are freaking out. I'm doing a planned c-section and am about 90% certain I want to be one and done with this baby. I've had 3 mirenas and its worked great. The internet says they can put it in right after your c-section and that it is "safe and painless" but has a slightly higher risk of expulsion done then vrs at your 6 week checkup.

Which ladies have done this at which point? I have loved my mirenas but they have always hurt on insertion and for 24-48 hours after. Do they do it with the epidural still going? Do you skip the pain when your uterus is the size of a volley ball instead of a ping pong ball? What were your experiences?

Induction nerves

Im getting induced Monday and im really nervous this is my 3rd kid but I've never had an induction. Has anyone ever had one i been 3 cm dialated and have had contractions for a week but still no labor.

Elective c section

When do you find out about your c section date? I’m 38 + 5 and still haven’t heard yet.

Could this be early labour?

Since 10:00am today I’ve been getting period like pains very low down that last about a minute and are around 6-7 mins apart.. my lower back has been really achey for days and I’m pretty sure I lost my mucus plug last week (although there was no blood)
I’m 37+1 today and with my first I was 10 days early and already dilated 2cm. ( ended in a emergency c-section)I’ve never really had braxton hicks but this could be just that? The pain isn’t strong enough to call it a contraction but it’s there if you know what I mean! What do you think? X

The anticipation of this baby coming is driving me crazy. Help!

I’ve been extremely crampy the last 4 days and just knew something was working up there. I went for a cervix check and I was 1cm dilated, 75% effaced and very thin. The midwife only did a small sweep on me since I wasn’t quite 39 weeks. All that night I was getting pretty intense cramps, I spotted (which I know is normal for cervical checks), and then got what I thought was my bloody show. I was really wondering if I was going into labor that night. Nope, just more cramps. Well the next day I continued to do all the labor inducing things. I ended up loosing my mucus plug that night and was sent into a round of crazy shivers in addition of all the cramps. Again, I thought I was going into labor that night with how I was feeling. Wrong again. I now just feel like I’m going crazy. I’m so worried I’m going to feel like this for the next 2 weeks (my original plan was to induce at 41 weeks if he’s not here) and I just can’t imagine working full time with everything going on. I’m just uncomfortable and I can’t stop thinking about labor. Does anyone have any tips or feeling the same way? My emotions are all over the place

Is it safe to have sex after losing mucus plug?

We were planning on having sex tonight to try and get labour moving, but I've just lost quite a large amount of my mucus plug and maybe had a bloody show although I'm not entirely sure, it wasn't much blood.

Is it generally safe to have unprotected sex or is there a risk of infection?

URGENT😭 TWO PRIOR C SECTIONS

HAS ANYONE HAD A SUCCESSFUL VBAC AFTER TWO C SECTIONS??

I JUST LOOKED UP MY PERCENTAGE AND WAS GIVE A 24%. NOW I'M CONCERNED IM MAKING THE WRONG CHOICE.

C SECTIONS HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZING FOR ME AND I REALLY DON'T WANT ANOTHER ONE

ALL DOCS HAVE TRIED FEAR MONGERING ME OUT OF THIS CHOICE

VBAC AFTER TWO C SECTIONS

Birthing partners

I’m not going to have a birthing partner due to my circumstances, will I be treated any differently during the birth? I know with my last baby we had someone with us all the time but worried they’ll just leave me to it if I have nobody there to speak up for me/with me
Thanks in advance x

Anyone else think the worst piece of advice for a first time mum is ‘you’ll be able to tell when you are in labour’!

Looking back I was in early labour for over a week, and while my hospital records say my labour was 1hr 14 mins it was actually closer to 10 hours. But I didn’t actually realise I was in labour ‘cause there would be no doubt about it’ so I only just made it to the hospital really!

It doesn’t help that I also mistook ‘regular contractions’ to mean they must be coming at regular intervals eg 1 min on 4 mins off, not like mine which were more like 1 min on 5 mins off 40s on 3 mins off ect.

Elective C-section

Guys I'm 13 weeks but I'm already extremely terrified of birth and specially tearing and injuries down there. I'm thinking I'd rather suffer the pain from the c section than going through natural labour. I like the thought of everything being planned and I'd know what's going on. Any of you in a similar situation?

I’m having my baby tomorrow

I have just found out that I am going to be induced tomorrow. After a rough pregnancy this is the best decision for us I will be 39 weeks and 5 days. Anyone got any tips or advice to make the process smoother.

Damp pants.. can your waters go incredibly slowly lol

Or did I pee 😅

I woke up this morning with a damp patch in my undies that I noticed when I pulled my pants up after a wee.. I did smell it and it doesn’t smell like wee and I got my husband to smell (lol) and it didn’t smell like wee to him either but I’m also very hydrated...

I have sat over the toilet and nothing is dripping out of me so I think maybe I just lost a bit of wee over night or just before I noticed?
I’m 39+3 FTM

No other real symptoms of labour just heavily pregnant discomfort