12 minute long contractions? Am I timing completely wrongly?

[DuelingFanjo]

I am 2 cm dilated and spent 2 days in hospital but came home yesterday as I am so frustrated with the lack of progress.

Just started getting really bad pain in my bottom again (had this on and off at hospital and a bit through the night) and am now trying to time them. Last one was 12 minutes from first getting the pain in my bum to feeling like I could sit down again. Waters have still not broken. Am loathe to go to hospital again but a bit worried as I don't know what I am doing!

I have a urine infection making it hard to pee, could this be part of the problem?

Sorry for the probably stupid questions, we went into hospital previously because contractions were less than 4 minutes apart and lasting about 3 minutes.

you poor love. sounds like it's slowed down? how long between the epic contractions?

about 15 - 20 minutes between, sometimes more. I think it is just going to be a slow labour and it's really tiring me out. Last night I could only sleep for 10 - 15 minutes at a time (if that) before being woken up by contractions which made me want to run away from myself but I was unable to :(

I lost my plug 2 days ago but have had lots of mucus show since then. The pressure is just awful and it's making me anxious which I guess could slow it down more?

Not stupid and I can understand your frustrations. The pain in your bum doesn't sound like a contraction to me, sorry. :(

does the pain in the bum feel like one of those terrible stabbing pains you get when you are having a period? I have had them a few times, when it seems like the whole area around the bum, perineum is cramped?

How are you coping with being indoors? do you have anyone there, do you have other dc's?

my due date was 11th Dec. I also have pressure under my bump. They think the baby is 'a bit back to back'.

No other children, DH is with me. It's our first - and only at this rate!

Duelling - first ones tend to take much longer than subsequent labours. I know that's not what you need to here but it sounds like it's all about to kick off. Lots of walking, bouncing, jumping etc..., maybe avoid a warm bath at this early stage. GL

Pirate - didn't know you could get contractions down there!

If the baby is back to back are you spending lots of time on all fours / leaning forward over something? Especially during contractions. I know you must be shattered but it's worth doing, should make the contractions more productive if the baby is in a better position.
12 minutes is a long time :(
Well done for getting through them so far! It really won't last forever!

supernoodles, no i meant do they feel like the ones you get in a period, because pain round there is often caused by tension spasms, when you are stressed.

op, i had a stop star labour, bloody thing started on my due date, then went away for a week.

You are now 9 days overdue, what did the hosp say about this?

Sounds like a back to back labour to me. Apparently if your DH rubs your back furiously during contractions it can help. Unless him touching during a contraction makes you want to kill him. Otherwise, no sofas, sit on backwards facing dining chairs tilted, drape over birthing balls and hands and knees. A babies spine is its heaviest bit so it should help it turn OA... really hope it goes better for you soon.

df hope thing get moving for you soon. suprised that you didn't think much of the mlu. i have heard such good things about it. makes me feel a bit better about not being allowed in!

fingers crossed your already cwtching your new born soon.

all the best

I had a precipitous labour with my first (I was most indignant even throughout it - the midwife at my antenatal class said it never happens like it does on EastEnders and she was wrong!) and those first few contractions were constant - no break at all and a ridiculously intense pain. I was 7cm after just half an hour of this. However I think that is a different thing to what you are experiencing.. yours sounds like it could be a latent labour which is a royal pain in the backside literally.

Wishing you a speedy delivery and best wishes for it all!!

mumatron every single midwife I saw (and we saw loads) was lovely and sympathetic but they are so so busy and quite a few hadn't been able to get into work because of the snow so they were short staffed specially as lots of other people had turned up worried aboutthe weather. I think because we weren't in established labour we might not have been at the top of their list which is fair enough. It's vey noisy there and they don't provide blankets or anything so we were cold and uncomfortable and bored but then again we didn't ask for anything. :( I felt guilty for taking up a room for so long.

I am still assuming I am in latent labour. I can't get comfortable, my knees are red raw from kneeling to alleviate the pressure I feel in my bum. Still no sign of waters breaking and I just want to be sure that I am not going to be making another wasted trip in the snow to the hospital :( Contractions not lasting as long but they are happening more frequesntly. Still doesn't seem like I am in active labour though.

I am so tired and just want to sleep. Part of me is thinking of just insisting on being induced. piratecatClaus I talked to the midwives yesterday about booking an induction date, they seemed reluctant to do it on Christmas eve and asked me to ring them today which I have completely forgotten to do. I will call them tomorrow.

Have you thought about using water to help you with the pain and also to take some of the weight off your legs when you are kneeling over?

This could be either in a bath or using the birthing pool when you are in established labour.

Birthing pools are the most effective form of pain relief during labour 2nd only to epidurals and they work so well because they help you to conserve your energy and change position easily as well as increasing the amount of oxytocin your body is producing so that you labour more effectively.

Good luck. I had a back to back labour and the pain in your back is horrible so I feel for you, but I 2nd what anothep oster says about giving your baby a chance to turn during early labour by keeping your back parallell to the floor during contractions.

Avoid bouncing on a birthing ball at all costs with a back to back though as this will only make the baby sink deeper into your pelvis in a less than favourable position.

Poor poor you. Sounds like back to back labour to me. All the pain's in your bum, and you don't dilate as quickly and the baby's head isn't over your cervix to dilate you, it's pressing against your bum, the base if your spine or somewhere particular to you. In my case I felt it in my lower back, bum and the front of my thighs. And contractons all over the shop for days.

My advice would be to try and pace yourself , you're running a marathon. The baby will eventually find it's way through you, each contraction will help, but it's a slow game do you need to conserve as much energy as possible. Try to forget normal day/night ideas, and sleep every 3 minutes, or atleast completely rest your body. Keep eating and drinking, keep your energy up. Because at the end of the marathon you might need a final sprint.

Good luck.

Maybe drink some wine in the bath to try and get some rest?

bump - any update?

Oooh, duelling, have read your posts for a while and just wanted to wish you lots of luck. hope things are happening now and you're doing okay. please let us know what's happening when you can

Hey there. Thanks for asking after me. Just thought I would update you on what's been happening

Wow! Huge congratulations and sending you and little Bob lots of positive happy thoughts for a lovely christmas!

massive congrats df hope bob is home with you asap.

you have been missed

woo hoo

Huge Llongyfarchiadau DF. Hope Bob bach will be home soon.

Congratulations duelling! Sorry you have had such a tough time. Hope you are both snuggled up at home together very soon.