Playing the waiting game

Although as a rule labour tends to be shorter with second babies than with first babies, there is no statistical evidence that first babies are always late or that early or late, the first baby sets a precedent for subsequent ones. I think you'll just have to grit your teeth and be patient. After all, it will happen sooner or later.

Absentdaughter who has five children used to find it intolerable when well-meaning friends would ask "Have you had the baby yet?" towards the end of pregnancy. As she said, "If I'd had the baby, we would have informed family and friends. What do they think this bump is – wind?"

Babies come when they decide to. Yes I am sure it would be very annoying to have mum quizzing you daily about the number of braxton hicks you'd had. I'd contact her at the same frequency as you usually do and confine yourself to "how are you today?" Self control is an essential part of grandmotherhood I find.

All three of mine were 'late'. My last was due on the 25th of July and my cousins baby was due on the 30th. Guess which arrived on which date? I was sooooo miffed!

I am really excited about my grandson being delivered next Monday. There have been some false alarms, but this is preferable to the very early arrival, at 30 weeks, of my twin grandaughters. They spent 9 weeks in special care and what a scary time that was!

This time next week and he'll be making his apearance

I was incredibly lucky. Both of my sons arrived on their expected date. All but one of my GC have been late and the first one was an elective section.

My DD was ten days late. Longest ten days of my life!

My DiL is now 6 days overdue but was 2 weeks with her first so when you might still have the first grandchild of the year! Will he be born in Manchester too?

Grannylin how exciting! Is yours a Wythensawe or St Mary's baby? My grandson will be born in Whiston, St Helens. Good job the motorway cuts the journey down!

My first GS arrived 5 weeks early but the second one was induced at 38 weeks. We had been ready from 34 weeks for him to make his appearance but DiL would have been very unhappy if we had asked.

I had a teacher in junior school who used to say "Patience is a virtue, posess it if you can, seldom found in woman, never found in man" He was a man!

Unfortunately babies will only come when they're ready. I swear my first was a 10 month pregnancy and then he decided to come on Christmas Day of all the days he could have chosen lol.

I was so bored by the end. I wanted it over more than anyone else. Apart from the usual 'how are you' I really wanted people to talk about anything other than the delay.

when it's a St Mary's and I'm ready to go in my new(ish) car when I'm called!MiL is on toddler duty this time so I'll go when it's convenient.

All my DGSs arrived on the expected date slight false alarms with DGS2 but nothing serious,totally differant with DGD2 she was 12 days late and she was the longest delivery the boys all done and dusted in 2/3 hrs she was 18 hrs and arrived at just before noon on Mothers day what a present she turned out to be after 4 boys.

Baby due on Saturday - we wait and see - all mine were 2 weeks late.

Hope all these new mums manage to get to their hospitals through the snow!

33 years ago this week, my second son was born, five days late. We lived in the hills and everywhere was thick snow, with a snowdrift up against our house, preventing me getting the car out to take my eldest son to school. My kind neighbour offered to take us, so I tottered along the driveway to his waiting car, slipping and sliding along the way, then skidding the last few yards to his car. The horrified look on his face was hilarious! He went white! I was admitted that afternoon and had my son the next day.

Both mine were exactly 12 days late and I was due to go into hospital to be induced on the day they decided to appear. I was glad to avoid that. I had quick births with both - 5 hours with no 1 and 2 hours with no 2. No drugs either!

Lucky lady gagagran - when I had my first I was 2 weeks overdue and in the grip of food poisoning - I was pushing a baby out one end and throwing up at the other!! Definitely not a quick birth - finished up with forceps. There was no way I could puch any more.

It's a wonder I went ahead with having any more!!

she's in the latent stage of labour -spent all day yesterday either in the hospital as she was getting contractions - but very small ones- so they suggested walking or trudging around the shops until her contractions got stronger - then they stopped completely - hospital seem to think it will probably only a few days though rather than weeks .

My son has announced he's visiting next week so it would be nice for him to see a new nephew/niece

Contractions often stop if a woman goes into hospital before labour is properly established. Keep moving is my advice to her. Sounds as though there's not long now.

DIL back in hospital this morning, with yet another 'false' alarm - that's four in a week! They're hoping the consultant will be so fed up with seeing her face that a decision to get the delivery under way will be taken. Watch this space!

I'm watching, when!

Fingers crossed, when. Your DiL must be getting thoroughly fed up with all the false alarms, never mind the consultant.

When what terrible uncertainty. I do hope the next time is the real one and that it all goes well.

When, oh when, oh when will it happen when?
I refer to my earlier advice.

It's not the regular contractions that bother her ga. She's been having them in hospital, but she keeps getting sick and has been vomiting again. They have now found gallstones in a scan, so they will try to settle her down again and say 'maybe a few more days.' Because the flareups have died down, she gets sent home again, still having mild contractions. She's very tired. Only Monday to wait for, fortunately, unless they decide she's taking up a lot of their time so might as well deliver now.