In labour and struggling!

[codenameduchess]

I've been in labour (via induction) for around 5 hours now, still early and waters haven't gone yet but good god I'm in so much pain already!! Contractions 3/4 every 10 minutes but not as long as they should be. Haven't been checked in hours.

I've had this lovely idea of hypnobirthing, totally calm and serene, no drugs... I'm only just holding off buzzing for meds. Trying my best to hold off a bit longer as I know it gets worse once they've broken the waters.

Any night owls or early risers around for moral support?

Why don’t you ask to be checked and then make a decision re pain relief.
Once your baby is here you won’t care what you’ve had, it really matters a lot less post labour than before to you!
You wouldn’t have surgery without pain relief, so don’t feel you have too this.

I hope everything goes well,
& enjoy that beautiful baby once they arrive

Have a check on how far along you are.

Waters breaking isn't a sign of how far along you are, they might not break at all or break when you start pushing.

Oh my dear, I’ve been where you are and it’s so so tough. I think you have to just accept that the ‘plan’ gets thrown in the bin now. By induction do you mean prostin, or are you on a drip? If the latter I’d seriously consider epidural. I battled with that drip for hours and hours before relenting, epidural was the best choice I made that day. I went from climbing the walls to peaceful and relaxed, and went from 2cm to baby here in 3-4 hours. Good luck, it won’t be long now, you’ve waited all this time...

Good luck, you will be holding your precious baby soon hope it starts to move along for you!

Let them know your in pain? They can offer you Gas and Air for now. Sending Hugs

Ah best of luck! But yes, ask to get checked. I was 7cm and my waters hadn’t gone with DS1 (the MW broke them accidentally when examining me). With DS2 they went went I was actively pushing

Your breathing really really is so important for your pain control, deep hard and long measured breaths through each contraction. I know it's hard but try to concentrate on relaxing your body muscles when the pain peaks as tensing makes them feel so much worse

It will be worth it so keep
thinking of that
Are you able to keep mobile?
Good luck.

The gas and air mouthpiece really zones your focus into breathing too, and its bloody great stuff!

I had baby 20 minutes after waters went (granted it was DC3 but still)

Let them check you over.

Best of luck!

DC3 was an induction via pessary.

Good idea to keep mobile if you can and I second using breathing to help with the pain. If it hurts too much ask for pain relief . All plans go out of the window when labour starts! Just hold onto the fact you will soon meet your baby. Wishing you a speedy delivery x

Yes prostin, has it around 9 last night then didn't get the 2nd lot as the tightenings were there.

Currently bouncing on a birthing ball with the TENS on, surge breathing through contractions (or trying to, they're a lot stronger than I remember!)

Get them to check and to check the monitoring is accurate. I get hypersensitivity to the induction drugs which means incredibly strong contractions every minute for hours with little result and it's been missed as the monitoring wasn't accurate.

Have you been induced? As I have heard that makes the contractions a lot more intense / the body isn’t as effective at producing its natural pain relief ( not that induction is a bad thing for baby but perhaps more painful for you )

Your doing really well though op 5 hours in!! And 10 mins apart isn’t bad going fingers crossed they get speeding up

I remember mine lasted about 50 seconds each 3 mins with my baby ( only had the one so far ) I was still In Full labour but didn’t think I was as wasn’t 60 seconds ... so don’t be too disheartened about the time

A bath may help at this stage or if at hospital do they have the birth pools ... never made it into a birth pool but the bath helped more than I realised when I was in it.

If you need pain relief though don’t feel bad, Each birth is so different

I’ve had 3 babies and my waters never broke spontaneously, so that might not mean anything.

Get checked, and remember that every minute that passes is one minute closer to meeting your baby.

Have pain relief if you want it. Go for the epidural if you need to. Good luck!

Good luck! If you feel like pain relief would help then have some. Honestly, I was the same about hypnobirthing, unfortunately my insistence at no intervention meant that I ended up dangerously close to being in a very bad way; the spinal was honestly the greatest thing in the entire world. I actually enjoyed the rest of the experience. You can do this

In your position I would ask to be examined and then make a decision about pain relief. I was induced with DD and also told my contractions, whilst frequent and very intense “weren’t long enough”. I think they were lasting about 30-45 seconds. In fact, I was examined and was about 7cm. I took the G&A, had one or two absolutely massive contractions and immediately needed to push. DD shot out about ten minutes later!

Good luck for however long you have left, take whatever pain relief you need, and enjoy the newborn cuddles!

I thought I had a high pain threshold until I went into (back to back) labour. Gone was my dream of being tough and having a lovely water birth with lavender oil. I found it a pain that's hard to cope with because it's not like any other pain, you can't really pinpoint it and it's annoying and weird! Echo what the others have said, ask the professionals to review you, they will be glad you did rather than lay there in pain (most of them, not one of my nurses who ate my chocolate while telling me how tired she was)! Good luck - it's so worth it xx

Waters have gone, 4-5cm at last check.... doesn't seem much considering the time that's passed!

You'll be surprised OP!

I was in hideous amounts of pain (and this wasn't even my worst labour!) and was examined to be 4/5cm but with bulging waters. Baby was here 20 minutes after water went (about an hour from that examination!)

I reckon your baby is here already !

If only it was that quick @Crunchymum 😂 9 1/2 Cm now so 🤞🤞 nearly there!
I was so tired opted for an epidural that might have been the best thing I ever did!

Oh bless you!!!

You are so nearly there now. Keep going and best of luck!

Hope baby is with you very soon!

Just keep picturing your squishy baby.