Early labour! What can I do to speed things up?

[TheVeryHungryPreggo]

At least, I think so. 40+4, second pregnancy, resigned to being overdue and thought it was never going to happen, then yesterday afternoon I got very dizzy for a few hours, and last night at 11:30pm I started having some mild contractions that went from every 10 minutes to every 8 minutes over a couple of hours. I called the hospital, they said come in when contractions are every 2-3 mins or they get too much and you can't talk.

So I thought, better get some rest, it's going to be a long night! Took 2 paracetamol and went to bed, they were still mild so I could get some rest. Aaaaaand this morning they have slowed/stopped. I still have backache, tightening and periody-type cramps. DS is gone to nursery now, I'm going to head out for a long brisk walk and see if that helps.

Is there anything else I can do? Don't have a bouncy ball.

This is different to my first labour - I haven't had a show with either but with DS I got to 39+1 and when I got up to go to the loo in the morning my waters broke and my feet got wet! So it was easy enough to know when it started (sploosh!) and when to go in (24 hours later), and it all went fairly automatically from there.

[formerlyofLadysmith]

How exciting! How are you now?

[TheVeryHungryPreggo]

Sigh... No further forward. Just stopping and starting all day. Went for a long walk and contractions were mild but coming regularly while I was moving. Then I had to rest... and nothing. Or at least very mild.

Feel a bit guilty as DH took the day working from home as I thought this might be it. He's been fielding "How's it going?!" emails from his team all day. I'd say if tomorrow is more of the same he will go in, sheepishly...

[CuppaSarah]

Don't midwives recommend going IP the stairs sideways to help dilation? I'm sure I heard that. Also if you have a gym ball could you bounce a bit on that? Hope it gets going properly really soon. Good luck!

[MrsDumbledore]

I think the main advice is staying active and upright as much as possible (within reason- you won't want to start labour exhausted! ). I also kept the phrase 'rotate to dilate' in my head -rotate your pelvis, either standing, sitting on a ball or kneeling leaning on a bed /chair.

[MrsDumbledore]

Oh, and I found lying down, especially on my back, slowed contractions down a lot, and am told having a bath can as well.

[TheEmpressofBlandings]

I'd say nothing actually. It'll happen when your body is ready for it to happen. Relax, have a nap, rest as much as possible, then you will have maximum energy for when things do start moving.

[ovumahead]

Don't take paracetamol in this early stage of labour as it interferes with the hormones that ramp labour up, and can cause prolonged early labour. Plus they are useless at managing pain! I'll try to find the link to the article that summarises this research if you like. Otherwise, just potter around, relax ,walk, eat and drink and baby will arrive soon !

[TheVeryHungryPreggo]

Thanks, that's really helpful! Will stay upright and steer clear of paracetamol. Rotate to dilate sounds like it's worth a try too!

Fingers crossed something will happen tonight, but I have a feeling she will come when she's good and ready and not a minute sooner...!

[theywereworthit]

This sounds very like my labour OP. I was also feeling sheepish for shipping my toddler to the in laws for a day that sounded like yours. However contractions kicked in abt 10.30pm, by 1am my DD was here. Good luck! Try and rest where you can (I know!!). Your body is working hard. Nothing false about any labour!!!

[TheVeryHungryPreggo]

Thanks, theywere that makes me feel a lot better! Some signs are better than no signs!

I had a very long labour with DS as it failed to progress, but at least it started unambiguously. DH said to me today "maybe it's just you and you're just destined to have really long labours that don't do much." !!

Oh well. Sweep on Friday, if nothing happens by then...

[theywereworthit]

Haha my DH would not have been popular with that comment ;)

I had a hard first birth. It took so much confidence from me. My reflection of my stop start second labour was I wished I had just ignored all the aches and pains whilst they were possible to be ignored, with a quiet confidence that my body could do it when the time came.

The time will come and all this bit is helping. It will happen OP :)

Hope you get some sleep.