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Childbirth

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

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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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musica · 21/12/2003 21:06

A show can happen up to two weeks before you go into 'proper' labour. I've had some friends who had labour like this - it just took a while for things to get going. Good luck anyway - it sounds like it won't be long till the baby comes!

Original poster

bez · 21/12/2003 21:08

i just wouldnt have thought the pain would be so painful and so frequent before labour was established

OP posts:

SantaBaby34 · 21/12/2003 21:12

Message withdrawn

bloss · 21/12/2003 21:21

Message withdrawn

ponygirl · 21/12/2003 22:13

Hi Bez, I had exactly this with my first. And my second actually, but first was most extreme. I didn't have the show but I had painful contractions on and off for several days before I dilated enough that the hospital stopped sending me home. And having had 3 labours I have a bit of a yardstick to measure by: those contractions really were painful, they were not BH and you are certainly not being a wuss. I hope this speeds up for you as I found these erratic contractions quite draining, particularly as they didn't seem to be going anywhere. Several days of this can be quite debilitating.

The 3cm thing is a statistic for the medics' convenience and IMO doesn't relate to the experience of a woman in labour. Do you have a TENS machine? I found it v. good in early stages. Try to rest as much as you can (stupid thing to say, I know), keep your strength up with a (little) food and drink, if you can. Don't do too much movement: save it for later.

It might be worth getting your mw to check the discharge. Unless you know you're having a discharge it could be a hindwater leak (ie waters have broken but the baby's head has blocked the exit stopping all the fluid come out so you just get a trickle). Your mw should have a test stick to be sure. Or it could just be extra discharge.

The pain is tough, I know, but remember there is always pain relief later if you need it.

Good luck and keep us posted!

SnowFlakeyZebra · 22/12/2003 05:22

I think it is 'real' labour pain. Drink a glass of wine if you like it, or take paracetamol -- they may help you relax and wait it all out. I had contractions for over 3 days with DD before I reached 3cm... and my waters didn't break until about 1/2 hour before she was born.

I agree with Ponygirl you ought to check the trickle isn't hind waters, but remember you should be granted at least 4 days after the waters started trickling before they talk induction to speed things up (that's the NICE guidelines!).

Original poster

bez · 22/12/2003 12:39

Thanks for all your messages, still the same, in quite a lot of pain at the moment, yet want to run round and do all the house from top to bottom. Probably nesting instinct but Im trying to refrain from doing too much so I dont get exhausted. Have had lots of discharge all the way through pregnancy so dont think it is waters

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lazyeye · 22/12/2003 12:46

Bez and Ponygirl - me as well. Slow labour lasted for a week with DS1 - contractions every few mins, couldn't sleep but not dilating enough for hossie to let me stay. Eventually got to 2cm and they let me in - I was crying by this stage & they did admit the contractions were powerful. I was completely exhausted by time labour really did kick in (put me on drip) and got quite ill after baby born.

It will come - make sure they monitor your baby from time to time.

katierocket · 22/12/2003 13:00

bez - I had contractions like this for about 5 days before finally was induced because I was so tired from it all. It does sound like real labour - I really feel for you because it's so tiring. It'll happen soon.

katierocket · 22/12/2003 13:06

just realised that you probably didn't need to hear that (about 5 days) sorry! just wanted to reassure you that it sounds like real labour not BH.

bluebear · 22/12/2003 13:14

I had painful contractions for 10 days before I had second baby.. I was admitted to labour ward on day 2, at 2cm dilated.. I discharged myself on day 3 (midwife said I'd be back in half an hour), didn't return till day 11... 4cm dilated.. things did speed up then and dd born that night.
Take paracetamol, REST, have a bath, eat, drink and save your energy.. you will need it soon!
(Hot water bottle on back works too.. and TENS if you have one)

marsup · 23/12/2003 21:20

This thread is really getting me down... I've been having painful contractions on and off for most of today - they're sort of like my normal Braxton Hicks but hurt my back as well - and now you're telling me this could go on for 10 days!!

Any news now, Bez?

Lisa78 · 23/12/2003 21:24

Bez, me too - take bluebears advice, especially the rest part
Chin up girl, you'll soon be holding your baby

Original poster

bez · 24/12/2003 17:27

Not really any news, except today really feels like my waters are trickling, doesnt seem to be the normal discharge as this seems clear rather than whitish and seems to happen much more often than the discharge does

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marsup · 24/12/2003 17:32

Bez, are your contractions still painful? Mine have got pretty bad now and I've had some (very bloody) show but I'm only 1cm dilated! Christmas looks like being pretty awful this year...

RoscoeReindeer · 24/12/2003 17:35

Good luck to you both. xxx

Original poster

bez · 24/12/2003 17:37

no marsup, they stopped for a long time, now i am just having bh. I wish I knew whether my waters have broken or not but I feel so thick for not knowing so am embarassed to ask

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mistletoes · 24/12/2003 17:48

Bez, I was told that you will definitely KNOW when your waters have broken because it is either a big gush or it is a constant uncontrollable wetness. I'm also wondering what it will feel like, since the doctor broke my waters last time. Sorry, but did you say when you are due? I'm due tomorrow. . .

ponygirl · 24/12/2003 17:52

Don't feel embarrassed, please ask. I asked my mw last time and she'd seen and heard it all before. I was on my third and still felt a bit stupid, but tbh it really is difficult to tell! They can check quite easily, and with what your going through, one load of your mind might help. If your mw is coming in, get her to check the leak.

Honestly, those books about labour really don't give you the full picture. Nobody every told me that labour could start like this, but once I'd been through it I discovered that it's actually really common. I think there's a conspiracy somewhere...

BEST OF LUCK BEZ AND MARSUP! My first 2 were both around Xmas, so I have extra sympathy. Thinking of you. Keep posting!

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?

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.

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

OP posts:

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!

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.

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.

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