We know from the feedback we received as part of our Pregnancy Questionnaire that for many mums the last few weeks leading up to the birth is a time of deep concern both in terms of thinking about coping with labour, worrying about the health of the baby and how they will cope after the baby is born

On this page we share some of your thoughts and experiences.

If you would like to share your own experiences please send your story to: contributions@forparentsbyparents.co.uk

Your Stories

I'm due at the end of November and have group b strep. Im really scared that something might happen to my baby. I really dont want to go overdue as I worry for my baby as he doesn't really move much these days.

laura

I haven't enjoyed being pregnant at all and am now 34 weeks and finding new ways to hate it more and more every day! I have two more weeks of work to go and can't wait to finish - I had no idea how uncomfortable, painful and depressing this can all be. Who are these women who actively enjoy being pregnant? At times I feel like a real drama queen and am worrying about how my frightful moods and general state will impact upon my baby - God help he/she if it ends up like its mother. can't wait to meet them and hope they are OK. Looking forward to pouring myself a very, very large whisky mac! Good luck to everyone else in the same boat.

You do become one thing only: The Baby Carrier. Any comfort - physical or emotional - goes out of the window as you endure sleepless nights and you can only relate to other final-stage-of-pregnancy women. I've given up the fight of trying to encourage my boyfriend to finish the bits in the house he hasn't finished on a realistic time scale given I'm 35 WEEKS PREGNANT!! Given up wanting to cook, eat, move + be nice to anyone (unless they're pregnant too). I suppose not having had any form of maternity leave doesn't help with the all importnant rest factor that I'm supposed to be enjoying at this point, but it has keep the weight off to some degree.

It'll all be worth it in a few weeks ...

Emma

I’m due on January 10th, but because my baby is so big, (I have gestational diabetes) I’m scheduled for a C-section on December, 29th, which is 2 weeks away. I cannot stress enough now grateful I will be when this is over. I just want to meet my baby girls and hold, and kiss her fee. I am so uncomfortable. I don’t sleep at night I get up every half hour, when I walk it hurts vaginally, standing and sitting hurts too. The only way I’m getting through this is by telling myself it’s almost over. - Daisy

"The reality of the situation became more pressing and my thoughts turned to labour and if the baby would be OK. Also increased movement, tiredness and just my increase in size made it much more uncomfortable in the last few weeks."

Towards the end I found the tiredness awful as I had difficulty sleeping because I was so large and waiting for the birth very frustrating as I was overdue. I felt that there was nothing I could do but just get on with it!"

"The most difficult thing was to not being able to do what I was used to do. I also slept little at night as lying down was very uncomfortable. The two last weeks were very stressful as you know your waters can break at any time!"

"I found the last few weeks the hardest - I think it was being so uncomfortable no matter how you lay down or sat you were never comfortable plus the worry of being so close to delivery. How that was going to go? Would the baby be OK? I coped by doing things to make the time pass quickly and lots of long warm baths!"

"I got to the stage when I just wanted the whole pregnancy thing to be over and I just wanted to hold my baby!"

"The third trimester was a very difficult time for me as my first baby was born at 30 weeks and only lived for 4 hours. My 2 subsequent pregnancies were always coloured with is it going to happen again? Despite reasurances from the hospital staff and the consultant extra scans etc I did not over come these difficulties either time. The only time I felt OK was after this danger period had passed."

"This was my worst tine due to my size combined with working full time, having a 2 year old as well as developing pre-eclampsia. My husband was great and took over most of the childcare and household things. I tried to do less work and when the pre-eclampsia got worse - it meant that we had the baby in order for me to get better - which worked within a few days."

"I worried because my baby was back-to-back and I know that this is the reason I had to have an emergency caesarean with my first born. Neither my doctor or midwife seemed overly concerned and it was up to me to research optimum foetal positioning. I have read that you can use a birthing ball to position the baby correctly."