I wish I knew what was happenning!

[BigGayDad]

My SIL is due to give birth any moment now!! I spoke to my brother last night on the phone and he said she had started having contractions on Monday, about tem minutes apart, and was still having them ten minutes apart last night. Sounds like a bloody long time to be in labour and have not got any further (2cm dilated). Is there anyone out there who has been through a similarly long experience who can reassure me that everything is alright. I feel helpless being two hours drive away, but I don't want to keep phoning them just to check they are ok.

[huggybear]

sorry hun, no advice but am bumping for you

xx

[rickman]

Message withdrawn

[BigGayDad]

That helps Rickman. Just to know someone else has been in the same situation. Thanks. Oh and thanks huggy.

[Gobbledigook]

BGD - mine dragged on for a few days with ds3 last August. Had contractions on and off for probably 3 days before ds3 appeared.

I was contracting on the Friday and was 4cm but did not give birth until Sunday morning!!!

[BigGayDad]

Thanks. I worry about my brother because he is eight years younger than me and I always had to look out for him when he was little, and still feel that way sometimes now, so feel so helpless with what they are going through.

I feel better now after what you've all said.

[huggybear]

it nice that you care about him

[mears]

BGD - do not worry - sounds as though your SIL is in the prelabour phase. That is when you have regular contractions which may indeed be painful but they are not long enough or strong enough to dilate the cervix. The 'active' stage of labour starts when the cervix has thinned out (effaced) and dilated 3cm or more.Prelabour can stop and start and go on for a number of days. It is best to eat regularly and try and rest through this phase. Women often make the mistake of marching up and down to get things going. They end up knackered before labour truly starts. Hopefully things will start in earnest soon.

[aloha]

How on earth CAN you rest when you are having contractions Mears?? It's like saying, 'we're going to saw your leg off without anaesthetic now dear, try to have a nap"

[BigGayDad]

He said he had two hours sleep in the last three days and she hadn't had any. And the BB live feeds in the middle of the night are not interesting!! She must be absolutely knackered before the seious stuff has even started!

[mears]

You can rest in prelabour if you try hard not to get excited by it. Warm bath, 2 paracetamol. Hot water bottle and into bed. Problem is whn women don't understand what is happening. Anxiety heightens pain intensity. Does she have a TENS machine BGD?

[sparklymieow]

I actually found that sleeping helped get my labours going more, I think its because your body relaxes

[GaylordFocker]

excited by it...arew you a midwife mears btw

[BigGayDad]

Tens is doing a cracking job. Mrs BGDs recomendation to use one has been fully appreciated! She's trying to relax, but I think the problem is at least 50% anxiety. Or in Little Bruvs case its 100% anxiety.

[GaylordFocker]

lol as I was asleep with ds and was nearly dilated, had pains before but kept stopping and starting....sleep is a good option and prepares you for the long haul

[aloha]

Ok, this is clearly very, very different to what happened to me.
That was definitely in the 'sawing your leg off' category of pain. Nothing to do with feeling a bit tense, I promise.
Hope it goes well for your SIL BGD!

[sparklymieow]

I was leeping with DD1, was 5cms when I woke up, with dd2 they wouldn't examise me becuase I was in preterm labour (33 weeks) and when I woke up I was 8cms.

[mears]

I rememebr being really excited first time round. Went to hospital after contracting all night thinking I was doing great things. Was 2cm dilated which was the same as I had been at the clinic 3 days previously. Very embarassing since I was a midwife. Once I was in active labour I certainly realised the difference.

[BigGayDad]

Sleep is a good option for me as well. Thanks to all the help on this thread it is an option I'll now be able to take up without worry.

Thank you all

BGDxxx

[gingernut]

BGD, sounds like my 2nd labour. 3 days of pre-labour contractions during which I had painful contractions every few minutes. Having had a very long first labour too I knew I had to rest as much as poss, so I took paracetamol and tried to take naps whenever the contractions died down a bit (found the contractions impossible to sleep through but they did stop a few times). Active labour finally kicked in and was another 10 hours or so. Boy, was I tired by the end! Hope your SIL gets going soon.

[megi]

BGD -

I have been having regular contractions for nearly 3 weeks! - Am now 40 weeks. I have had to have extra monitoring cos of small baby and every time I go into hospital I am having really strong and often painful contractions. I must admit they are not 100% constant - but they do happen for most of the day. It is very uncomfortable. - When this first happened I was told I was in pre-labour - it is even written in my notes! - However - this can't have been the case cos I am sure pre-labour does not last as long as this! and have now been told it is an irritable uterus! Hopefully your SIL is in pre- labour rather than having an irritable uterus! Good luck.

[BigGayDad]

I can stop worrying now