Stop start labour nearly breaking me

[sunshineandshowers]

39w today. Dc3.

Was up from 2.30 lasted till 8.30am. Pooed loads, proper proper contractions. Stopped.

Same thing happened all last Saturday, and a week before that in the Thursday evening.

I feel wretched. Am so fed up. With previous 2 just went into labour and that was that (first one after a sweep). Midwife has offered me a sweep this Friday. It literally feels like an eternity away.

Baby is in good position. Swings between having his back down my right and my left. Every time I'm in the labour bit he is on the left.

Hellllpppp!!!!

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Typical third baby. Sorry. When you do get in to established labour you'll probably be quick after all of these warm up sessions. Try having sex regularly to get some prostaglandins helping things along.

[sunshineandshowers]

Something's started again. Period pains and tightening.

Thanks for reply. Why is typical of 3rd babies? Sex! I just really don't feel like it.

[Goodbetterbest]

I had this for a while before DC4 came - it's not great is it? A few tears were shed. BUT, and I hope this helps lift your mood, her birth was easy! Quick and gentle (born in the bag). She was a slow burner but it was a fantastic birth, so fingers crossed the same for you. Good luck

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

I don't know why third babies often muck around but all the midwives seem to talk about it. It doesn't tend to get better with subsequent babies either. I wonder if it's because everything is so roomy and a bit lax by number 3 that the baby doesn't consistently put pressure on the right point to stimulate labour. The head does tend to bob about a bit in the pelvis.

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

And I know what you mean about sex but it may just tip you over the edge. Especially while you're having period pains. Surely it's worth a try?

[sunshineandshowers]

Thanks. Maybe I'll try some sex. Gosh how attractive do I sound!

Is it safe to do it. If I have opened a bit, don't want to damage anything.

Fingers crossed for quick and painless birth x

[Quitelikely]

A tip could be not to bath. I've heard water can slow or stop contractions. Not sure if it's true though'

Anyone else?

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Your waters haven't gone, have they? It's fine. But you don't HAVE to have sex if you really don't want to. Be prepared for those period pains to intensify if you do have sex...

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Oh and lie on your left side afterwards. A midwife told me that it can intensify contractions in mums who have given birth before. I lasted two early labour contractions on my left side before I was climbing the back of the bed!

[sunshineandshowers]

No waters havnt gone. In previous two births they went right at end.

I'll lie on my left. And not have sex.

Can I really effect labour? I think that either it's going to happen or not? Am I wrong? I won't get in the bath just in case.

[Zsazsabinks]

Yes! YES YES YES! I am in EXACTLY the same boat and it is actually driving me fuckingnuts. Been going on since Wednesday. Third babies are little monsters. Good luck sunshineandflowers, see you on the other side!

(I'm 40+3 so this is also the first time that I've ever going overdue too, on top of the stupid stop/start that you're describing.)

[Zsazsabinks]

The worst thing about it is that it goes on all night then you have two other children to look after the whole of the next day. Not on. I suppose when you're the third you have to make your presence felt somehow!

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Oh, yes, it is a total PITA when you have other children to look after. I had forgotten how awful it was until I read this thread. I'm expecting DC5 and am not looking forward to being 35 weeks+. I'm due to be induced (for the first time ever) at 38 weeks though. I think that's cheating!

[sunshineandshowers]

Jealous of induction at the moment noroom.

So for the last hour they are every 3 to 5 mins, lasting for 1 minute. BUT they are totally manageable. They don't require any management.

Hello zsazsa! Sorry you are in the same place.

It's so confusing knowing when to escalate? Do I ring mil now etc. with dc2 contractions were fine till I got to hospital at 7cm. Does that mean I could be quite far gone. Headfuck.

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

I'd probably head in when they are all 3 mins apart and increasing in intensity. At this stage it could all just stop again.

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Unless, of course, your instinct is telling you to go in...

[sunshineandshowers]

Stopped. Argh.

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

I remember the frustration well. Go and rest. You must be exhausted.

[Goodbetterbest]

You may well be dilating all the same. I had 5 sweeps, and on the last MW says 'oh. You're 4 cms'. I'd stopped off on my way to school sports day. She told me to carry on with my day regardless. So there's me doing The Chicken Walk inbetween The DCs egg n spoon/three legged race. Got home. Nada, nothing, zilch. All stopped. I cried.

6pm came and niggles started. 6.07 I called the MW and said to come (HB). 6.10 I called and said 'NOW!' Got in the bath to slow it all down and DH and I now shitting ourselves he is going to have to deliver her. MW got there, DH put kettle on. She was born just after 7pm. The MWs tea was still hot. No tearing, and her entrance to the world was smooth, calm and gentle. Although the lead up was frustrating, it really was "a piece of piss" as I told the MW.

Good luck!!

[sunshineandshowers]

Nice story goodbetterbest. Have had nothing since Saturday. My baby only likes the weekends. Sweep on Friday so I'll be fascinated to see what's what.

Also....what is the difference between irritable uterus and contractions? Does anyone know?

[NoRoomForALittleOne]

Irritable uterus doesn't have much, if any, obvious effect on the cervix. Proper contractions do. I also think that when I have had irritable uterus the 'contractions' pull inwards very tightly and they can be increasingly regular and painful, but they don't have the same downwards movement that proper contractions do and never build up to the same intensity (plus you don't produce a baby with them). They are a bit like Braxton hicks on hypermode!

[Zsazsabinks]

So, don't lose faith sunshineandflowers. My DD3 (we just called her Valentina Biba Gray [surname]) was born at about 5:23am yesterday morning. Nobody knows the exact time because my DH the absolute hero delivered her himself, on the bathroom floor!!!

Woke up at 4:20am and thought I'd see if a cup of tea and a bath would either stop the silly stop/start contractions or they would stay so I'd know (yet again) if this was it. So, got in the bath contraction at 3mins, 3mins, 2mins, 1min.....OMFG I'm pushing! Then a head, baby out!!! Couldn't believe it! Less than one hour!

Had to go in to the hospital as my placenta refused to budge but we were home by yesterday evening again.

All of those annoying and awful contractions ARE doing something so try not to worry. I'm thinking of you.

[Sapat]

Wow, well done Zsazsabinks!

I had the same with my 3rd, born last May. 2 weeks before my due date almost every night I would have on/off contractions, usually with me up at 4 am just checking my bags thinking I would keep track for another 30 minutes before going to hospital then it just petered out. It was exhausting because I had to do the school run the next morning. Midwives kept saying once that baby decides to go, it will shoot out. Well it didn't quite, though once they broke my waters I went from 2 cm to baby out in 9 minutes.

Good luck!

[cleoteacher]

Stil in same boat as you sunshine. Now 41+2 so feel on deadline now. Have had stomach cramps irregularly, dull ache in stomach and regular braxton hicks and feeling sick since Sunday and all the previous week. Yesterday it was all day and didn't stop when changed position like previously but then just petered out come the evening. Went for hour walk, had sex, spent two hours on hands and knees and took EPO yesterday for it to come to nothing!

So frustrating I have told myself it will be another induction now so I am mentally prepared for it as was not all prepared for it with ds. Just feel like moping and really down/ teary today. Trying to have a positive attitude but it's difficult. Especially when Nct friends keep sending emails about their birth stories!

Have sweep today and mucus plug discharge was clear rather than white this morning ( been having that all week too) if that means anything. Not bloody though. Husband said it felt swallon and different after sex last night-sorry TMI so think going in right direction but don't think it's doing it quick enough.

Have sweep today and tomorrow if I am allowed and guess that's my final chance of anything happening. Not holding my breath though as feel maybe my body just doesn't know how to go into labour! Had last one 8 days ago and was 1cm and central.

Mw said if induced they would go straight to breaking water as dilated. Is this right? Worried about waters being broken and going straight to severe pain with no time to get used to it. Also worried about drip as read go on that if don't progress quickly enough.

Felt gas and air didn't work that well during last labour. Would prefere pessary again as know what to expect with that and feel would manage better. Is that an option?

[StandoutMop]

My dc3 was same - stopping and starting, usually in middle of night - was tired and grouchy and overdue.

Had previously had two very straightforward labours but all midwives said no. 3s are awkward.

Anyway, eventually went in to MLU to escape mil who was our emergency childcare (& had been there 12 days at this point). They said I could stay for an hour and be monitored. Then they'd either break waters if seemed likely to help or I could go home and wait some more. As an after thought, midwife gave me a jug of water and said to try drinking as dehydration can slow labour down. Drank litre of water in about 30mins, contractions went into over drive, dc3 arrived about 1.5 hours later.

Good luck. I know it doesn't feel like it but baby will arrive eventually.