What does early/prodromal labour feel like?

[flightattendant]

I posted on the preggers board a while ago but nobody's around

Since then been having back pain/cramps and also at the front, plus the usual BH's...

Nothing separate or 'timeable'...just hurts.
I've been really bad tempered all day as well, which feels like PMT, like it's because of the cramps.

Last time my water broke before anything really kicked off, so I don't know how you would tell if it means something's happening...I'm 37 weeks today.

What is 'prodromal labour' anyway, can anyone tell me? Keep hearing the word and haven't a clue...

(and impatient! )

[flightattendant]

Sorry meant impatient for the baby to come!! Not for someone to answer my silly question I added a new sentence in the middle there.

[megandsoph]

Prodromal Labour theres and explaination of it down the page.

[megandsoph]

Sorry ment to say hope you are ok. Am 39 weeks tomorrow and feeling crampy also .

[mrsmalumbas]

Just sounds like normal early/pre-labour warm ups, a bit frustrating but nothing is wrong. Distract yourself with nice soothing things if you can (a nice bath, a swim, meet a friend for lunch) and get plenty of rest, eat good nourishing food and stay well hydrated. Don't feel you have to go rushing around to get things moving, your body will go into labour when it's ready. Hang in there and take care! Prodromal just means really long and drawn out, can happen when the baby is not in the optimal position to be born - doesn't sound like you're having a prodromal labour, it's just warming up. This is fairly common in second or subsequent labours, but the good thing is that when you do get into active labour (4cm or more dilated) you will usually fly!

[flightattendant]

Thankyou feel better now but it still really hurts!

Baby is OP which is what made me think things will be different this time...

Going to go and read links and try to distract myself!

[mrsmalumbas]

If baby is OP then he/she will probably rotate round in a clockwise direction to OA - they very rarely go round the front. So if you are having on/off contractions and it's getting a bit frustrating, try lying down on your left side. Use pillows to get yourself comfy and stay there for a good long time. If your left hip starts to ache/looks a bit bulgy that's a good sign as bub is rotating round past your hip. Then and only then go onto all fours to encourage the last bit of rotation round to the front. This only works with actual contractions though so if it's still just on and off cramping then you really just need to focus on resting until things pick up. If you are having back ache get someone to press firmly on your lower back/tailbone (actually just above the tailbone, the sacrum) during the contraction. A heat pack can also really help - or do you have access to a TENS machine at all? If you feel like beinbg active, some midwives think that walking up and down stairs (big steps!) helps to "jiggle" the pelvis a bit which in turn helps the baby to get into a better position. But I'd say the main thing at this stage is to take it easy, rest, and don't worry. Could still be a while...Good luck and keep us posted!

[lulumama]

cannot really add to what MrsM has said!

try and rest , have a bath and relax

[flightattendant]

Thanks MrsM, that's really good advice. I can definitely feel more pain on my left back/side than the right. It seems to be settling into a bout of bad pain every ten minutes or so, which lasts about 1-2 minutes and is really uncomfortable. (you know the kind of period pain where you can't touch it, however much you shift around on your bottom or move around? It's like that)
Will try what you suggest and see what happens!
2 minutes is too long for a real contraction, right?

[lulumama]

have you spoken to your doula?

[flightattendant]

Yup, met her on Thursday and she was a sweetheart! But no I can't get her this weekend as she's in Scotland. She told me I mustn't 'do' anything until she gets back!

[lulumama]

ok!!! how are you feeling now?

[flightattendant]

Hiya!

Sorry, went off to watch Dr Who
Had to keep shifting around and it still feels like something's happening...will see if I can get any sleep tonight...

I don't think infant has turned. He's still kicking in the same place. Will lie on left in case he decides to later

Will update if anything kicks off

xx

[lulumama]

okey doke...take it easy and don;t be disheartend if this isn;t it!! won;t be too much longer and all the contractions are doing something !!

[flightattendant]

I expect everyone's asleep, oh this is really horrible...been awake since half two and it's a constant ache, not really separate Cx but just bad backache.
Can't sleep at all and trying to rock through the pain.
For some reason I don't want to take paracetamol - too het up, and want to keep track of what's going on iyswim...
Labour ward reckons it's pre-labour, but from what I've read it might go on for days/weeks - anyone Btdt?


Zzzzzzzzzz............

[beckmo]

Did you get some sleep? How are you doing this morning?

[lulumama]

nothing wrong with two paracetomal and a bath....try on all fours , swaying, or just stood swinging your hips......rest when you can today,don;t want to be going into labour exhausted

[flightattendant]

Hi, well I've been up since 2.30 so have a feeling I am going to be irritable today!!

The pain seems to have eased off a bit but still there...perhaps this is going to be one of those '3 weeks of pre-labour' type of thing. Is it usual with an OP baby to not really feel it as separate contractions? Seems more like a neverending backache, occasionally I can feel my tummy is hard but the pain isn't there so much as at the back.

Thanks for the suggestions - you're so helpful!
I'm glad it's got to 37 wks as that means I can go to the birth unit if need be, or stop here for as long as necessary.

Going to zoo with parents and DS for his birthday so could end up giving birth in the gorilla enclosure

At least they'll have a vet I expect.

[Lilliput]

Try not to overdo things today at the zoo, make sure everyone knows you have been up since 2.30. Enjoy yourself .

[Lilliput]

I had three days of pre-labour before ds was born.

[mrsmalumbas]

Hey there, sorry you had a bad night, yes what you are describing sounds very normal for an OP bub. He needs time and space to turn himself, that's all. The main thing is to rest, rest, rest - zoo sounds good for distraction and a change of scene but be careful not to get overtired. Have you tried a nice hot bath or shower? Is there anyone who could give you a nice massage to ease that lower back (where are you? If in Gloucestershire I could pop round!). Or could you treat yourself to something relaxing like a pedicure or just a nice sleep? My suggestion would be to hang out at home as long as you feel okay and feel that is where you are happiest and most comfortable. Remember with second labours that things can be on/off for a long time but once they get going then it can be very quick. I had a night just like you've described with DD2, I got up and had a long easy swim, then a long nap, then got up and things got going - baby was born that afternoon and it was all fine (direct OP by the way!). Stay cool, take it easy and it will all be fine. When is your doula back? Do you think you might be hanging onto anything emotionally - worries about the birth? worries about your older child - anything at all? Sometimes a good old cry and throwing your toys out of the pram can be helpful when you are feeling frustrated and tired. If your doula is not around, maybe an understanding friend? Good luck - will check in later to see how you are doing.

[flightattendant]

Hi Ladies, Oh how nice to be home!! Thankyou very much for all your help and support.

Was feeling pretty good when we set out but walking round the zoo for about an hour and I was having quite strong Ctx...realised we were still only half way round and still had to get back! Managed it slowly and decided to pop into birth unit on the way home, as I wanted some reassurance as to what, if anything, might be happening.

I was left for about 20 minutes while midwife went somewhere, told to do a sample, was rocking on the floor when she eventually returned. Then I was given a lecture about my blood count, and how I didn't want syntometrine, and if she examined me it might set things off. And she didn't think there was a good reason to examine me, and I might end up in the high risk unit if she did.
Well I said, Ok, that's alright, if I have to I will go there. She didn't expect that and didn't offer any other excuses, just waffled, lectured, apologised for not 'saying what I wanted to hear' - I just wanted to be examined!! I was the least feisty person to her that you can imagine - just wanted to get out of there and take my son and parents home.
Anyway I could see she had no intention of doing it so I said I'd leave, she then took my notes for a further 15 minutes while I waited, I think she read the whole lot while I just stood in the corridor in pain and in tears.
I walked away furious and in a way I'm glad I went there...if that's what it's like, I feel suddenly very much more confident that I can do it at home!
I may be wrong but had a feeling she saw the words 'home birth' and thought, 'I'm not touching this one with a bargepole'.
Why else would she be so evasive?

yes I know, I'm tired, but even so....

[lulumama]

oh honey


((back rubbing emoticon))

you know what, a VE could set you off....she is right..and VEs are not always necessary..and if you are booked for a homebirth, she might have been trying to kick start anything, to make sure you get it

at least your doula is back today (?) maybe she can come and give you some support. and real back rubbing

try not to be angry, just chill, lean over the birth ball, watch eastenders omnibus or something and breathe!

[flightattendant]

Thanks Lulu - you're a star! Sorry to go off on one. I suppose if there was no need, she'd have been taking the risk of setting things off more.
I just wanted to know for my own peace of mind, as I keep thinking I must be imagining it - I can't really believe I'm going to actually give birth again!

Will try to calm down and watch some telly ...Doula should be around from tomorrow, also a very good friend has offered to be here (very pro home birth) which is all so comforting.

The thing that got me most was the insistence that I had to agree to a managed third stage before she would even consider anything. I asked if they had Syntocinon as an alternative but she just said no, the midwives wouldn't carry it for a home birth, it isn't as good as syntometrine apparently - also said I'm more likely to bleed if anaemic.
On the Gentlebirth archive it says 9.5 is 'optimal' especially if your MCV and MCH are both Ok - mine are both perfectly normal.
I just got looked at like I was a rebel as soon as I arrived, so didn't even dare say any of that.

Anyone on here a non-NHS midwife and want to deliver this baby??!

[lulumama]

just take it in your stride..forget about what happened just now, relax, and wait....think happy thoughts !!