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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

is this labour or not, can it really last so long?

44 replies

bez · 21/12/2003 20:56

I had some bleeding on tuesday and wasnt at all concerned about it but mentioned to my midwife who i had a routine appointment with that day. She said it was a show and i was probably in early labour especially as I had had some cramping and at the time I felt the cramping she could feel my womb contract.

I was really surprised, first baby, not due til just over a weeks time and i didnt think the bleeding would be a show as i thought that that would be jelly like.

However, cramping got worse and then went off a few hours later and started again the following day. Seem too close together to be BH, every 5 - 6 minutes to start with, then get every 2 - 3 minutes and last about 90 seconds long. Was examined that night, told I was very slightly dilated. Again pain eased off but started again the next day.

Has been like this ever since. I dont think waters have broken, keep feeling a trickle but I think it is just discharge.

I know established labour isnt until you are three cm dilated but as pain is really hard to cope with, I am wondering if it is real labour pain, even tho I dont believe my mw that I am in labour. Also feel such a wuss for making this much fuss if its just BH.

Surely if mw was right that i labour had started surely I would not still be in labour now or would have at least had other signs by now?

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mears · 17/01/2004 00:23

Bez - it will come to an end soon. Visualise your cervix opening like a flower. Get stuck into some sex This baby will come out.

ponygirl · 16/01/2004 21:53

Oh Bez, I do feel for you. I can't believe you're still waiting! I don't suppose you can either. I know how awful those last days are - every day lasts a week and every twinge makes you stop and wonder. Your whole life is on hold. And I know how tired and fed up you must be. It really can't be long now. Honest!

Good luck!

pupuce · 16/01/2004 21:41

Hi Bez.... talk to your babe....., tell him you are so keen to see him now...... believe me it can help
Good luck!

Original poster
bez · 16/01/2004 21:00

Hi everyone, still here and still having regular strong contractions, over 2 weeks late now. When am I going to have this baby? Meant to be having a home birth, but surely will be induced soon and now I'm even wishing I could just go to hospital and get it over with. I'm so tired and uncomfortable.

Sorry to moan!

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Linnet · 08/01/2004 22:50

Good luck Bez, I'm sure things will start moving along for you soon.

I had a sweep when I went overdue with my dd and I would never have one again. The dr told me that I was 2 cms dialated and that he would just sweep the membranes and I would more than likely start within 24 hours, he was so wrong, I had niggly pains for the next 5 days before going into labour properly. However I have heard other people say how labour started the same day as having a sweep though so just shows you everyone is different.

I know you're bored of waiting but trust me you'll have more than enough to do soon enough, so enjoy your last few days of freedom.

Original poster
bez · 08/01/2004 22:19

been looking up induction on the internet, seems a sweep is the first step, so hopefully i will be able to have that done as that can be done at home. dont know how effective it is though and if you already have to be dilated a certain amount first

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mears · 08/01/2004 19:21

It is normal to go 2 weeks over your date. After that you may well be advised to have a scan to see how much water is still around the baby and perhaps a CTG - monitoring of the baby. No-one can 'make' you go into hospital for delivery. I am sure your midwife will advise you accordingly. 'When the apple is ripe it will drop' my old dad used to say

dinosaur · 08/01/2004 12:52

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster
bez · 08/01/2004 12:49

hi, im still here, 8 days late now.

does anyone have any idea about what will happen if i dont deliver soon as i have an independent midwife.

how long would you normally be allowed to go with private care and if i do need induction, how is it likely to be done, does it rule out home birth?

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Original poster
bez · 02/01/2004 19:07

no, no news really altho having strong contractions again today but theyre not very painful

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mistletoes · 02/01/2004 18:53

Thanks, Mears and hulababy. I'm still here! Just waiting. No more nausea, must have just been hungry or something. Feeling lots of baby movement, but not much else.

melsy · 02/01/2004 13:32

Any news Bez , as u havent posted for a few days, can we expect to hear of mini bez???

I had the same thing for about 7-8 days , & was in and out of hostpital because of the bleeding & leaking fluids, they werent to worried just wanted to monitor me, on the 7th dayI went in and they wouldnt let me home as had gone about 3cm's. Was given induction the next night as it all water finally popped early hours , but contractions knever got going.

Wishing you lots of luck xxxxxxxxx

mears · 02/01/2004 13:16

Should have said probably that nausea isn't often something women complain of before labour starts however some women can be very sick during labour. That is often pain relief related though. However, a woman approaching second stage is often sick as a once off.

The raspberry leaf tea thread is here

Hulababy · 02/01/2004 13:10

I had a very nauseous labour. It isn't uncommon according to my MW.

mears · 02/01/2004 13:07

Nausea isn't a usual sign of labour but could be for some women. Many get diarrhoea before labour starts though. I personally don't recommend raspberry leaf tea - started a thread on it once

mistletoes · 31/12/2003 14:36

Thanks, Mears. One last question - the only odd thing that has happened in the past few days is that I have been feeling waves of nausea, which I haven't felt since my first trimester when I was sick the entire time. Is this a sign? How much raspberry tea do you recommend, if any? Had 3 cups yesterday and 1 today

mears · 31/12/2003 14:22

And yes is the answer to the raspberry question- same thing.

mears · 31/12/2003 14:22

Those are Braxton Hicks contractions mistletoes which could go on for a while yet. You do not always get a lot of warning when labour is going to start - it just does

mistletoes · 31/12/2003 14:20

Hi all, sorry to invade thread Bez, I am now at 40+6. Having hard belly - not painful - contractions (is that what they are?) every hour while I'm awake for the last 2 days. I don't feel them at night and have been able to sleep ok. Does it sound like this could go on for a while? Getting impatient, but don't really feel like I'm going into labour. Have been having raspberry tea - is that the same thing as raspberry leaf tea? No discharge and waters not broken - other than mucus about 1 week ago. TIA.

mears · 31/12/2003 14:15

Marsup - that is a recognised problem with raspberry leaf tea. It can cause the uterus to be irritable and tightenings that are painful. If you haven't done so already I would stop it.

mears · 31/12/2003 14:13

Bez, put on a sanitary towel if you aren't wearing one already. If you continue to pass watery blood then I think you should be checked out at the hospital. Your waters may be leaking now - best to get it checked out.

willow2 · 31/12/2003 13:50

bez - can't remember how pregnant you are but call your midwives and they should be able to advise. You shouldn't worry about seeming stupid - nobody gets a degree in being pregnant!

Original poster
bez · 30/12/2003 16:22

still pregnant but had lots of watery bleeding today. dont know if this means anything or not

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marsup · 24/12/2003 20:44

I have been taking raspberry leaf tea, Bekki, but I thought that 'toned' the uterus. Maybe mine is too 'toned' and that is why it's giving me problems? one of the midwives I saw at the hosp today said I had an 'irritable uterus'... I'll think twice about it next time.

Bekki · 24/12/2003 18:32

I can't help you with the waters question because my waters NOT breaking was the problem in both my labours and I had to have them both broken manually.
But my second labour stared after a fall which began with constant cramping and then it slowed down over 24 hours. Once it picked back up the contractions were every 5 minutes although they weren't that painful. After being in that state for 48 hours I didn't know what to do so I went to the midwifery unit just to be sent straight back home again. But the stress of the hour long journey kicked started everything and the pain became accute but because of problem with waters I didn't deliver until 17 hours later.
Mears has instructed people to test whether waters have broken by wearing a amount of time. Mears!?!?
Quick question just to compare notes - have you been drinking raspberry leaf tea or had a fall which could be hurrying labour?