Agonising slow labour

[Roxybumpydog]

Hi I'm hoping some of you could share your thoughts or experiences on slow labour. I'm 40+5 pregnant. Sun night I lost my plug. Monday morning I had a sweep and was only just 1cm dialated. Later on Monday evening I started getting slight pains on and off, I started timing and they were getting closer and closer to the point of 4 mins apart. Stayed up til late thinking I'd be phoning the hospital to go in when they started to Spread apart, went to bed and slept. Tuesday morning I got up with pains, sporadically between 8-4 mins apart. And had what I thought were leaking waters, by the afternoon the pains were still constant but only 4-8 mins apart phoned the labour ward to ask about potential water leakage went in to be assessed and she didn't think it was. She also checked and I was still only 1cm dilated. Since then day and night I have had agonising full blown contractions day and night 4-8 mins apart. I'm in agony and exhausted. I lost my bloody show yesterday so hoping it means cervix is dilating. How much longer can this go on for?! The pains are now unbearable and consistently coming but not getting any closer together. I can't sleep as they're waking me every few mins but no sign of baby. Any suggestions....or anyone been through the same type of thing? I had no idea labour could last this long!! I'm a first time mum by the way. Thanks and sorry for such a long post :)

[Tricerasaurus]

You poor thing. My first labour was like this. It's not uncommon.

Try to keep upright when awake, go for a walk, bounce on a birthing ball, climb stairs. Anything to drop the baby down. Drinks lots and ear tony bites often to keep your strength up.

Take paracetamol and have a bath, if the pains ease at all then grab the chance to sleep.

Try and remember each pain is bringing you closer to birth even if it doesn't feel like it.

[Tricerasaurus]

Ear tony! That should say eat tiny!

[TheresALight]

Hi, your labour so far sounds similar to mine 3 weeks ago! I went into hospital after a night of contractions but was sent home as was only 1cm. I rang back into hospital that afternoon saying I couldn't cope with the pain and hadn't slept for 2 nights, the midwife let me sit in the birthing pool for an hour to see if that helped (not really) and then gave me a pethedine injection so that I could have a nap in the hospital. She sent me home again after that as was still only 1cm, but at least I got a half decent nap.

[SewSlapdash]

Sympathies, my first labour was very similar. Keep upright as pp say but only if contractions are continuing, otherwise rest, rest, rest.

In my case baby wasn't quite in the right position. I had one almighty contraction when he clearly moved, then we were away.

Good luck x

[Roxybumpydog]

Thanks for replying, I feel like I'm going mad! I just had no idea you could get constant pain like this without getting anywhere. I keep think that when I eventually get contractions consistently close together I won't believe it and end up having the baby at home . It's just so disheartening and tiring. I imagined getting pains timing them, heading to hospital and coming home with a baby! Not 5 days of awful contractions day and night!

[Roxybumpydog]

TheresALight How long after did you end up having the baby? And congratulations by the way! I feel like I'm never going to get there!

[LizzieMacQueen]

Have they said if your baby is back to back?

From memory that was why I had a long first labour and sounds very like yours.

[Roxybumpydog]

Been checked by two different midwives, baby is lying around to one side no mention of back to back.

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Go for a walk not too far from home as that often ramps contractions up. My first labour was exactly the same and so was my second but I knew what to do the second time. I would then after a decent walk go home take paracetamol and get in the bath. Just keep topping the bath up. With my second I found the bath a great pain relief in fact so much so that I hadn't realised how strong my contractions had gotten until I got out of the bath. When I got to hospital I was 5 cm. I knew I was in for a long labour so asked for an epidural straight away. Didn't feel the epidural go in as the pain of contractions was worse. Labour from then on was bliss as I couldn't feel a thing. I watched to and slept.

[Tricerasaurus]

Yes, don't be scared of an epidural after a long pre labour. It saved my sanity and allowed me to get my strength back up for pushing.

[SewSlapdash]

Roxy that's exactly what DS was doing - his nose was at 3pm/9pm, not 12pm/6pm. Once he moved round I was fine. Hang in there. Tbh I'm not sure that walking etc is going to do much other than tiring you out. Staying upright is probably more effective. Can you drape yourself over the back of a sofa or a ball?

[Roxybumpydog]

I've been trying to stay upright as much as I can and gently dusting round this morning. Pains are coming and going but not as close together. Been lying across ball during contractions as it helps with the pain. It's just so frustrating. I'm dreading sweep on Monday if I haven't dilated anymore I'll be so upset!!

[pinkiponk]

Mine was very similar, 44 hours of painful contractions, but it turned out he was back to back. I couldn't sleep because of the pain between contractions (which is common with back to back!).
I'm glad to see others have experienced it, I meet so many people who say 'my labour was so long- 9 whole hours'

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

I would definitely try a walk to ramp up the contractions it is what has got my labour going every time. Midwifes will always advise you to get mobile during labour. I know it's painful but lying on a ball won't do anything. Let that baby know it's eviction time. Good luck

[Jodie1982]

If your pains continue you could always pop along to Maternity Triage, they won't turn you away. They should examine you, and possibly give you a sweep, that'll probably get your labour going. This is what I've always done. Good luck.

[TheresALight]

Hi Roxy, sorry I haven't replied sooner. Fingers crossed you've had your baby now, or at least managed to get some rest?
I had small contractions on and off for 2 nights, then more painful contractions the following night which I was just about able to cope with by breathing and hot showers! The next day I had a sweep and the pain got more intense which I when I had the pethedine induced nap in the afternoon, and then a 4th night of contractions which got a stronger and stronger until my waters broke that morning and they were more or less back to back.
That's when I went into hospital again and ended up a c-section 22 hours later after still only getting to 6cm! But I was given something to slow down the contractions not long after I was admitted so that might have caused a longer delay. Hopefully your baby wants to arrive quicker than mine did!

[Roxybumpydog]

Hi thanks for everyone's responses. I had a brief period of relief yesterday morning and stayed on my feet then rested for a while. Pains started coming again sporadically, at 6pm they were coming every four mins but managageable until they fizzled to 8-15 mins apart. By bed time I was in Agony with pains coming every 4-6 minutes for 2 hours, worst pain yet more so in my back and bottom. Went for a shower and they slowed again, back to bed and they've just been coming and going all night long waking me. I'm in so much pain I really don't what to do with myself and totally exhausted. I usually don't get a period of rest between them for the last 6 days it's been constant pain from 4-15 mins apart. I don't know whether to phone hospital, what they could do or whether to wait it out! X

[LimesMum]

Sounds similar to my first labour - I was persistent with the hospital and eventually insisted I went in, although the contractions were very sporadic - some 1 min apart and lasting 2 mins then 15 mins apart - which is why they had said I wasn't ready to go in.

When I got there I was 3cms and they let me stay in the birthing centre.

Baby was back to back and think that was the issue. Problem was I was also absolutely exhausted as I'm sure you are.

I found a tens machine helpful at home but the best thing was the gas and air once I got there!

Just be persistent - say you can no longer bear the pain.

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Phone hospital and tell them you are coming in. Just say you can't manage the pain at home. With ds1 I went in for the second time still at only 2cm. I refused to go home and said I'll just labour in your waiting area. When I was offered paracetamol I laughed at the midwife. They let me stay in a room. I had gas & air then some pethidine. When I eventually got to the pushing stage he got stuck and I was prepped for a c section so had a spinal block. In the end they got him out with forceps but oh my the relief when that spinal block went in. That's why I had an epidural at the first opportunity the second time.

Have you tried a bath? Please don't suffer lovely. It's your body you know your pain threshold just call them.

[Jodie1982]

Definitely call and tell them your coming in, or just turn up, you need some pain relief, and that your exhausted. Would be a good idea for them to monitor baby for a bit too just to make sure he/she is happy.

[Jodie1982]

How are you doing Roxybumpydog?

[Roxybumpydog]

I'm currently having contractions between 4-4.5 mins apart for the past hour and a half. I hoping this might be it as they're getting unbearable if the continue for the next hour I'll phone the labour ward. Problem is I feel like I've been here before ready to go and then they've just disappeared! So frustrating! X

[LikeSilver]

Another one here with a very long first labour (I opted for an ELCS the second time ). DD was eventually born via c section but I just wanted to say I'm feeling for you, I found this stage unbearable and exhausting too. You sound like you're doing amazingly, well done. Fingers crossed for you that this is it.

[SinkyMalinks]

I had this too with my back to back labour - I've never heard of anyone else going through this so its nice to hear I wasn't just useless at labouring!

Hope you're doing ok roxy - I remember it being 4 days of hell - I got very dehydrated as I didn't eat, drink or sleep. Not advised. And I remember the midwives sending me away 4 times because I was only 1cm dilated.

All my sympathy. Hope baby is here/on their way. Xx

[Jodie1982]

Roxybumpydog how are you?