Early labour is lasting forever!

[GuppieK]

I started having contractions on Tuesday night (2 days over my due date), they remained steady but not very intense throughout Wednesday then really ramped up Wednesday night (having one minute contractions every five minutes). Hospital said to come in once I was getting steady strong contractions every 3-4 minutes...

Then Thursday they practically stopped. Thursday (last) night they were back every seven minutes or so and SO painful! Today they're continuing the same. I haven't slept properly for days and am feeling fed up and emotional. Had show couple of days ago but waters haven't broken.

Is anyone going through anything similar? Or can someone who has had this please reassure me this won't go on forever?! The hospital don't want to see/examine me and I've got a MW appointment on Monday which I'm worried I'm going to make it to, despite thinking (probably naively) earlier in the week we'd have a baby by the weekend...

[MrsCouchman]

Mine started like this, go for a walk, drink raspberry leaf tea and get bouncing on your birthing ball. Mine took 3 days altogether to get to 8cm then 7 hours from 8cm to birth, good luck xxx

[Secretsquirrel13]

It's a very exciting time but it's hard to see that when you're frustrated about it not getting going. It is a change from Monday so you are closer to having your baby than you were. No advice to offer apart from just keep going it is imminent and life changing and will be happening soon just nobody can tell you when exactly. Good luck

[ClariceBeanthatsme]

My second labour was like this lots of stop start contractions for 2 days sometimes actually quite intense and painful but they never got regular.
I agree go for a steady walk and get on the birthing ball to help things along a bit.
All of a sudden though the contractions got super strong and that was it 50 mins later ds was here so don't walk too far!
Good luck

[Dovetale]

I had this, it's so frustrating, contractions started in the night on 27th, baby born on 30th. I would just add don't wear yourself out bouncing and walking, if it doesn't ramp things up soon go to bed. Even if you can't sleep, rest, close your eyes between contractions, eat well, stay hydrated, you need to conserve your energy for later on and the first few days post birth. Soon you will be holding your baby. Good luck

[Petal26]

I had this with my first. Pains started on the Sunday and baby finally arrived on Friday morning when I was finally admitted on the Thursday night and they assisted with pain relief/interventions.
My contractions kept speeding up and slowing down and I hardly slept at all.
I went to the hospital on the Tuesday night and they sent me home with aromatherapy oils for the bath (I hate baths, not a way to calm me down!), I rang them crying on the Wednesday night because I was so exhausted and was eventually admitted on the Thursday where they put me on a drip to speed things up. I was 40+13 in the end.
It was all a bit of a blur to me in the end because I was so tired so try to get as much rest as you can. It won't go on forever and you'll soon forget all about the pain and be into your second trimester with number 2 (like me :-)!)

[Roxie85]

Try to keep your energy up if you can. Eat plenty (so you are full of fuel when you need it) drink lots of water, walk as much as you can and grab sleep whenever its possible.
My labour lasted a few days.
The Friday i started getting uncomfortable and things kept ramping up over the next few days. On the sunday i called labour ward as i wasn't sure if i was in labour and they said they weren't sure and to wait it out a bit.
Monday my plug went and the pain got hard overnight keeping me awake but i spent the whole night on my feet rocking and pacing. Still irregular contractions though so not sure if it was labour or not.
9am on the tues waters went and baby arrived at 10:50am!
In a second it can change and be time to go so really hope you aren't waiting too long. You'll forget all about it once baby is here.
Good luck!

[GuppieK]

Thanks so much for everyone's advice. It was so reassuring. Things all quite suddenly got too much for me on Friday afternoon and I rang the delivery suite in tears. They fended me off for another couple of hours saying to have a bath then agreed I could come in but said I would be sent home if labour wasn't established (because contractions were still only coming every 5-6 minutes at that point).

When I got there they examined me and I was only 3cm dilated but the midwife said she had a feeling it wasn't going to be too long from there. So they let me stay and she was right! 5 hours later we had a little baby girl. Labour wasn't as I'd imagined - the long lead up had tired me out emotionally and physically and my birth pool / staying active ideas went out the window. I basically mostly lay on my side moaning and getting high as a kite on gas and air! I have so much respect for every woman who goes through birth right now and realise you just can't plan too much:) Thanks again for your replies. xx

[Petal26]

Glad to hear you didn't have to wait too much longer! Congratulations :-)

[Secretsquirrel13]

Congratulations! Enjoy your little girl and sleep sleep sleep!