What happens if you're ill/has anyone been ill when they've gone into labour?

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

I have always wondered this - I have never heard of anyone being ill at the time they've gone into labour e.g. flu or something nasty that really drains your energy but always wondered how you'd have the energy if you were.

Now, sods law I have this horrible coughing virus (at least that's what I think it is). My chest has been terrible (hacking phlegmy cough) and now my throat feels like i've swallowed acid. I've had it for a week already and have heard it lasts 2-3 weeks. I have a toddler under 2 as well who also has it and have never felt so drained in my life because I wake up in pain with my throat and coughing as well as the usual wakings due to toilet visits and general discomfort.

I'm 36+2 and so worried that if I went into labour now I physically wouldn't have the energy to do it. Has anyone been ill like this when they went into labour? Or does anyone know how the body copes?

[butternut22]

I have no experience of this but am interested in responses. I also have a really sore throat and nasty cough and am 37 weeks. I am slightly concerned about stitches etc with a cough.

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

Sorry to hear you're ill too butter - have you found anything you can take that eases it?

I am actually a bit worried about prolapses as well, all this coughing can't be good for the pelvic floor! Every time I think I feel a bit better though it comes back, wondering how much longer it can last...

[butternut22]

Hi. No just drinking honey and lemon and have had some paracetamol.

I am Not sleeping at all. My DH is back at work tomorrow after being off for xmas so I am going to struggle to look after my toddler. I will have to put some films on.

I hope you feel better soon.

[TwentyTinyToes]

I had a horrible virus when I was induced with my DD. High temperature, sore throat, pounding head (poss due to my bp) awful hacking cough plus I am asthmatic and I could not breathe very well at all. I was exhausted with a poorly non sleeping toddler. I was very fortunate in that one pessary started labour and once labour was under way my other symptoms sort of disappeared, apart from cough and it really was the last thing on my mind.

Hope that is reassuring, my body took over and did what it needed to do and honestly it was fine.

[hugoagogo]

I had shingles about a month before dd was born, you will find the strength. You have weeks left to recover, just take care of yourself.

[purplemurple1]

I've got this coughing for the last month or so and Dr has given me codamol for night times as he said it's important I get some sleep as I'm due in a couple of weeks.

[Mummybashy3111]

I had the flu the week before I gave birth. Still wasn't fully recovered but somehow managed to get through it. I had pethidine and managed to get some much needed sleep in before the hardest part started. I felt very weak but once in that zone you focus so much you forget about anything else and just want to get your baby safely into the world.

[PourquoiTuGachesTaVie]

I gave birth in November almost two weeks before my due date. I'd spent the week before with a horrible cough that left my stomach muscles in agony. What was left of them anyway! I'm sure all the coughing was what made my waters break. The labour was fine. I stopped coughing until it was all over and then it started again and lasted another two weeks.

[kalidasa]

Not quite the same but I have severe hyperemesis that lasts throughout pregnancy and also severe SPD - with DS1 I was still vomiting at the end and had been on crutches for months; this time I am 35+5, still sick and have been in a wheelchair for months, I can't really walk at all, in a lot of pain and physically I am very weak. I was really surprised last time that despite my state my labour with DS was very straightforward for a first birth. I did throw up all the way through (what a surprise) but I didn't really feel ill during labour, in a weird way it was actually quite enjoyable because despite the pain I didn't feel sick for the first time in 9 months (just threw up with no warning) and I knew the pregnancy was nearly over! Obviously every labour is different but I am less worried this time about the labour itself.

I think if you go into labour ill or weak the biggest impact (in a modern medical environment) is on the aftermath. I took a long time to get my strength back after DS and I also got PND. So I would concentrate more on making sure you have plenty of support so you can rest afterwards.

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

Thanks all so much for sharing your experiences, I feel very reassured and less worried now.

Sounds like your in the exact position I am butter , hope it passes quickly for you.

Thanks hugo I hope I do have weeks but am just aware that technically I am full term in a few days so just want to be prepared.

[GotToBeInItToWinIt]

My mum had a nasty chest infection when she was in labour with me. She said that I had those monitor things attached to my head when she was pushing and every time she coughed they fell off and the emergency alarms went off! I imagine it must be really really tough to be ill in labour, but I imagine the body conserves energy for labour itself. Fingers crossed baby stays put until you're feeling better.

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

Thanks so much gottobe fingers crossed here too! That sounds awful, your poor Mum. I think you're right by the sounds of it and it's really interesting to think the body could even delay labour if needs be, I certainly hope so

[bruffin]

I had a cold and temperature when i went into labour with dd at 37 weeks. It was a very quick labour and only 4 hours from waters breaking until dd was born. Dd came down with the cold 2 days later.

[WaitingForMe]

I had a horrific cough from 39 weeks and was taking codeine. When my contractions started it just stopped. It started again a few hours after giving birth and it was pretty awful (I'd torn and it pulled my stitches). It has always fascinated me how the coughing just got paused for labour.

[Buttercup27]

I had a virus which symptoms were brought on by labour. I was fine until labour started then I couldn't stop shaking. I was given antibiotics through a drip through out labour, then for the following 24 hours. Unfortunately it also caused me to pass out about half hour after I had my ds. I didn't feel ill or anything just couldn't stop shaking!

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

Thanks everyone - just an update for those also following - I went to the doctors this morning as I have just been getting worse rather than better and I asked about labour. He said that the adrenaline would kick in and your symptoms would pretty much disappear which gives the medical reason for everyones experiences and I feel very reassured now! Xx

[YouMaySayImADreamer]

Whoops don't know where the kisses came from oh well!

[mumxof3x]

Yes I was in slow labour for 4 days before going into established for the 5th day, and id been really ill I couldnt speak or anything and was so wiped out, when i got to the pushing stage I tried n tried for 2hrs in the end my temp shot up so they took bloods off me and got a doctor in to assist with my ds's birth and I still kept dropping off lol when they got head out he was also back to back which they hadnt realised. My bloods came back that it was growing a bacteria, later come back as heamophilis influenzea (sorry spelt wrong) and it had gone to my chest. I stayed in a few days on i.v anti biotics and baby had to be closely monitored as its apparantly dangerous to babys. It wasnt nice but at time I was just too tired to care really and you just get through it x

[kbbeanie]

Not quite the same as being ill i suppose but i had horrific food poisoning think it started my labour. I couldnt keep a single thing down was told to drink loads of lucozade by the midwife but as fast as i was drinking it i was projectiling it everywhere again. I think tbh it may well have helped with my labor as it took my mind off the pain lol ! In the end i had a super fast delivery. I was sent home in the afternoon as i was still in early stages not in pain and no progression and wanted to be in my own surroundings to try and get fluids into me. I went back to hospital at 9.15pm was still sick but it was easing off. They checked me and i was 6cm and then tested my urine which was very high in keytones i was very dehydrated with all the vomitting. So the midwife left me in the toilet to go and call an ambulance to transfer me to the hospital so they could put a drip up for rehydration (i was in a midwifery birth centre) except ds didnt want to wait when she came back i was pushing on the toilet and vomitting into a dish and he was born at 9.53 just over 30 mins after arriving and before the ambulance got there to take me to hospital lol so i got to stay in midwife unit after all lol x

[Cheeriosfortotoro]

Kbbeanie same thing happend to me 3 weeks ago! Dd born at 36+3 all fine but iv never been so sick :( very quick delivery of 51 mins!

[ch1134]

I had a terrible cold and ugly cold sore. My mum said my body would wait as not due yet... it didn't! I wasn't allowed to kiss my baby.

[Velvetbee]

My mum had flu when she went into labour, all symptoms vanished until I arrived, then resurfaced a couple of hours later.