Latent Labour since Thursday - HELP

[GavisconGirl]

I've had intermittent contractions since Thursday (when I was due) - some really intense pains where I'm bent over double but mostly period pains of varying intensity. My husband's gone to work today, my MIL is round the corner but I don't really want to see anyone except my husband and am just losing the will to live. Things seem to be gradually ramping up, the pains are getting more intense overall but I'm still having long periods of nothing happening. I've had loose stools (TMI sorry) the last two mornings but no sign of proper labour beginning. How do I maintain my sanity through all this????????? I'm feeling really emotional in the morning and sobbing my heart out. Then walking for miles in the afternoons to try and get things going. I can't stand much more of this! I don't want to organise to meet people because I feel so miserable and I don't want to go out and about on my own in case I get the really intense pains. At the moment I genuinely feel like the baby will never come and I can't stand hearing about other people's babies arriving. Any ideas or stories that might help me get through this?

no advice sorry. you sound so strssed though. i went through similar with ds. pains started on the sunday and he was born on the tues. not much fun.

why don't you book an appointment to have your hair or nails done? guaranteed to kick start labour properly!

hope it all goes quick for you when it finally starts.

Thanks - I might get my nails done (although they have been immaculate since maternity leave started)... I was thinking I would just end up messing them up if I had a bad pain while they were being done.

I'm actually feeling a little better since writing all that down. I think that hormones aren't helping my emotional state (although hopefully they will make labour start properly eventually)....

I just think you need to take it easy.
Have naps, watch films that make you laugh out loud (really, Zoolander helps me labour!), eat nice food, get someone who does massage/manicures in your own home to come and look after you, long baths wallowing in bubbles etc.

Your baby will come out eventually. Just try to do lovely things and ignore the pains as much as you can in the meantime. And do not worry, these pains will be doing something so hopefully when you go into labour proper it won't take so long, especially if you are well rested.

I had latent labour for 4 days before I gave birth. Find something to distract you, have a warm bath, make a cake, go and meet someone for lunch. See if you can get a midwife to give you a sweep. It really kicked things off properly for me, had him 12 hours later.

any news??

hey my friend had latent labour, and she had the best time of all of us! by the time it got painful she was about 8cm

good luck!

Hi, still waiting!! Quite strong contractions last night every 5 mins, went into hospital, 1 cm dilated so sent home after a sweep. This morning- back to mild pains... So frustrating and exhausting. I think the endorphin crash when the labour stops is what is making it so difficult emotionally. Some Nct buddies coming over for tea this morn to cheer me up.

I feel for you.

I've been having contractions on and off for a week, sometimes a single one that lasts for ages (I thought they were supposed to start out short and infrequent ) and sometimes a series of 3/4 over a couple of hours. I had a couple last night that were strong enough to make me get the TENS out because I was really having to focus to manage them, but then it passed.

I had a touch of diarrhoea at the weekend, but that's it, no sign of a show or anything. Saw the MW for my 40 week appt today and he is still 2/5 palp. Grrrr.

It's miserable isn't it? Have my prolonged pregnancy app today so will get a sweep and date booked for induction so at least will get a definite end in sight. Good luck!!

Hi GavisconGirl, how are things now?

I am 40+3 today and becoming very unsociable! I was sure i was in early labour on tuesday, but when i went for my consultant app and sweep my cervix was so far back she couldn't do it. It has been on/off since. Mornings are ok, but by the afternoons i have period cramps and irregular cx.

My DD was born a day late after a 30hr labour by emcs, so going for a vbac this time, but worried i will be too knackered by then to cope. I have a cs booked for next thursday.