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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

latent phase going on FOREVER please give me hope!

21 replies

allchik · 09/01/2013 12:12

As above really.
Am 40+3 and have been having contractions on and off for two n a half days. At first I didnt mind as the contractions were v mild,every 30 mins n totally manageable. Then night before last they wnt through the night,but every 25mins or so,stronger than before enough to wake me but I could get straight bk to sleep IYSWIM. But last nite took the piss,started at 10pm every 20mins apart lasting a min,strong,had to breathe through them. Then from about 2am-10am thdmy were coming every 9/10mins,lasting 80secs n very painful.
Now nothing :(
Phoned hospital who said its often the bodies way of having a break before it all starts again.

So many birth stories sound quick e.g waters broke,contractions started at 6mins apart,baby born 7hrs later etc...feeling a bit of a freak!

Have lost plug,had bloody show but not broke waters.

Any similar stories to share? Please tell me this baby is coming out soon! Could cry!x

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Shellywelly1973 · 09/01/2013 12:24

You've just described all my labours!

The good point in my experience, once things really kicked in, the labour really speeded up...5cm to delivery in bout hour half/2hours.

Rest, eat & keep occupied-it will end!

Best of luck.

Original poster

allchik · 09/01/2013 12:56

Aw thanku so much,Ive heard a few people say that a slow first phase can signal a quicker 2nd phase,heres hoping!
Just had a carby dinner (beans,didnt think that one through!) and am going to try n sleep a little...x

OP posts:

StiffyByng · 09/01/2013 13:03

I had contractions every 5-10 minutes for four days, on and off for the first two days and then without a break for the third and fourth. DD was born after a four hour 'active' labour on the fifth day without any problems. (It felt no different to the latent bit, in fact, better as I got hold of the gas and air for that bit!)

In my case, I was having a homebirth, and we ended up calling a midwife out at least once a day, convinced that was it. They decided the baby wasn't pushing on the cervix enough and suggested some positions to try to move her. It all clearly succeeded for me, if that was what did it, but afterwards I was told I'd have been advised to have a C section if I'd been in hospital. So don't lose heart!

Try as hard as you can to sleep too, as that will bring your adrenaline levels down, which could be inhibiting the start of labour.

Original poster

allchik · 09/01/2013 13:09

Thanku,so u think its norm to find the latent bit painful?on a lot of websites it describes this part as being mild,it was on the first couple of days but last nite was a killer!
X

OP posts:

StiffyByng · 09/01/2013 13:33

It will vary wildly between women. I have seen a LOT of posts on here over the years from women suffering from protracted, painful latent labour though.

Tinselandchocolates · 09/01/2013 14:06

I had a 48 hour stop/start prelabour. Uncomfortable and couldn't sleep through but period pain type level, nothing close to contractions.
Then had 5 hour break with nothing and got v upset as due for induction next day. Contractions proper started with gusto at lunchtime and baby born at 6pm, was fully by 4.30. So the prelabour was exhausting but it was doing a lot of good!
Very best of luck. Baby is on the way....

Shellywelly1973 · 09/01/2013 14:13

Yes latent stage can be very uncomfortable. Try&keep occupied without tiring yourself out!

babraham · 09/01/2013 14:24

I had a very similar experience with DS...3 full days of on/off contractions which got closer and longer so we'd get all excited that 'this is it' and then NOTHING for hours.
By the third day they were bloody painful and I was curled up in a ball, to be honest they were on a par with full-on contractions.

Like stiffy says it's actually better once you get to hospital as you have access to the lovely drugs! It really does sound like your body is doing all the right things and it won't be long before you're snuggling little one.

Good luck!

babraham · 09/01/2013 14:26

PS Get all the power naps you can in now! You'll need energy for labour and you won't catch up once baby is here because you'll spend you first night wide awake staring at them!

joby21 · 09/01/2013 16:35

I had my DS 9 days ago. I was induced and had 30hr latent phase before they broke my waters and labour cranked up.

I was contracting every 5-10 mins, lasting about 30 secs but they were painful and meant i could not sleep.

My waters were broken at 7am at 4cm. By 10.30 I was pushing. He wasn't born for another 3 and a half hours but once labour got going it was pretty speedy! I do believe that a rubbish long latent phase means you get a short active phase as compensation!

Original poster

allchik · 09/01/2013 17:14

Thanks ladies,its just good to hear from the other side! Felt such a failure before!(know thats stupid but couldnt help it!)
Contractions started up again in last 3hrs,me n DH went for a 30min walk round the park n had a good 3 strong ones n then ive had some more since...not going to put pressure on myself,but really hope I get to hospital tonight!x

OP posts:

gwenniebee · 09/01/2013 17:16

Mine went on for a good ten days exactly as you describe. But when my waters went dd was here within twelve hours :)

Original poster

allchik · 09/01/2013 17:37

10 days!!:(

OP posts:

mrsbugsywugsy · 09/01/2013 21:31

Hi Allchik

My labour started with my waters breaking, which was followed by two days of on-off contractions before I officially went into labour. Due to only being 35 weeks pregnant I had to stay in hospital until I delivered. It wasn't a lot of fun, especially as I only had contractions at night, then spent the days trying and failing to sleep on a loud, bright ward.

I stayed at 2cm for two and a half days, then suddenly jumped to 8cm and delivered a few hours later.

My advice would be to try to eat and sleep (if you can), as you will need your energy soon.

Good luck!

ticklebug74 · 09/01/2013 21:33

I had a long latent phase with dd3 going on for 3 days and midwives thought I was still in latent phase when I turned up at hospital. Went from 5cm to giving birth in 15 mins!!! Hope active labour is quick for you.

ImKateandsoismywife · 09/01/2013 23:11

I'm hoping the silence is a good sign! I was in latent labour for a week with dc2 but it wasn't too bad - niggly rather than painful and I thought it was just lots of braxton hicks until I had a sweep which showed I was 3cm dilated. I stayed at 3cm for 6 days before ctx suddenly started 2 mins apart then it was all over in just under 2 1/2 hours

Tinselandchocolates · 10/01/2013 07:08

Good luck allchick. Hope it's all happening today (or last night!).
If things stop again try going up and down the stairs a few times if you can bear it. Tends to get things going! Rest when you can.

BuntyCollocks · 10/01/2013 11:01

With 12 day old dd, I had contractions every ten minutes, then every 4-5, lasting over a minutes, for 27 hours. I managed 30m sleep. Was 2 1/2 cm at that point. When I woke up, I called my midwife, who then assessed me 3 hours later. I had went to 5cm. Up to hospital, was then 8cm, and from admission to my dd in my arms it was 2 hours. So, it all went quickly in the end!

ticklebug74 · 11/01/2013 13:02

Come back and tell us the news allchick! Hope it all went well.

Maiziemonkey · 15/01/2013 01:56

I went in to hosp one saturday midnight with ctx 4 mins apart- only 1 cm grrr but had cs scar so stayed overnight. every 3 mins all night but still 1cm in the am. put round on ante natal where they went further apart sometimrs back to 3 mins again until they finally kicked off on the monday night at 1am! up to 3 cm, round to labour and got g&a :) until about 6am when 5cm, got epidural and baby born at 3pm (was 10cm at about 1.30) so active phase was about 8 hours even though latent was over 50 hours. i had tens machine stuck on from 9pm sat to 6am tuesday! be open to epi if prolonged start then can sleep to garner energy for pushing- I only needed 30 mins . good luck :)

newyearsday · 15/01/2013 13:55

I had the on/off pre-labour for 2wks before labour started properly. Regular times every evening, middle of the night and early morning for hours on end. I got so fed-up with the pain (and the is it? isn't it?) I put the TENS on so I could rest through it! When labour actually started it was quite different, much more intense and yes (hate to say it but) I just knew 'this is it'. Looking back I think baby was just trying to get into a good birthing position. Rest, eat, drink, take a little walk if you feel like it but try and be patient, things are happening in there. Good luck!

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