Long latent first stage of labour - how long???

[Princesitalinda]

I'd love to hear from other mums about their experience with the first stage of labour.

I am 40+4 days overdue, and this first stage seems to last forever. I think the mucus plug is coming down in stages as I have had thick mucusy discharges for around 8 days by now (is that it? or is just normal discharge?) Sorry to give TMI.

Tightening of tummy, what I would call contractions with period pains like feeling, since about 3 days, when I had a first sweep done by midwife. Although she did not say if I was (and how much) dilated I was, she wrote on my notes that cervix was ripe and soft, and told me I am ready.... but nothing happened.

Yesterday I went to hospital, had appointment with consultant to set date for induction (6th November!! ages to go!! He offered an other sweep and he warned me it was going to be uncomfortable, much more than midwife, as they "do it properly" (that's what he said).

Again, he said I was ready, wrote in my notes I was 3 cm dilated and told me I would probably go into labour in a day or two. Sweep was done at 4 pm, at around 7 contractions started to be strong and quite regular (every 20 minutes or so), going a bit closer by 10 pm. I got ready for hospital, made sure I had everything ready, had a shower and bang! suddenly I had no contractions whatsoever... how frustrating!!!!

I am starting to think I will end up being induced by 6th November and can't bear the thought as my mother is with me only until the 20th. She came all the way from South America to help me with baby, but so far we have spent 10 days waiting, and it looks like an other 10 days will go with no news

Have anybody had such a long first latent stage? how long can it go like this? how can I be 3 cm dilated and not be "in labour"? (I have to mention this is my second baby - does it have anything to do with that?)

Appreciate any comments - experience - advice etc

Very similar sounding story to mine. Having sex really got things going for me . I would be very surprised if you were still pregnant on 6th November!

My pre labour got me to 5cm dilation - I hope it does for you too!

try nipple stimulation - with a breast pump if you have one!!

sex...(sorry!)

sitting on a birth ball

visualise the cervix opening

that can all help get you going...

my sis was in early labour for 3 days !!!!! but gave birth 6 hours after she got to established labour..that was her first.

and yes - that is your show..mine went on for a week too...

things are happening..if i tell you to be patient..baby will come when it';s ready..you'll scream!!

won;t be long , honestly....!!

happy birthing...!

HI all - thanks for sharing! It is reassuring to hear other went same way...

I just worry my contractions are not doing much... with my first baby, I arrived at hospital with really painful contractions, every two minutes, but only 2 cm dilated. I was offered to use their bath, which I did for 5 hours, and when I was checked again, I was 8 cm!! everybody thought birth would happen in a matter of minutes, but after I left the bath, I was stuck on 8 cm for an other 5 hours. I ended up being induced and finally had baby after 7 more hours.... very long (I had an epidural after a while, I could not face any more pain).

I keep having contractions now, very strong, but very irregular, every hour or 30 minutes etc.

I will have to try sex tonight, don't know how I will manage but we'll try . I'll try the birthing ball too.... wish me luck!

well, 48 hrs have gone and no imminent labour as they forecasted.... how dissapointed! Do you reckon it was a mistake when they said 3 cm dilated?? The consultant was so sure I was about to deliver in the next hours....

Anyway, I just don't know what to do now, as I don't have any strong contractions. Just the odd one here and there... but quite mild, nothing that takes my breath away.

It worries me that I now have to seat and wait until the 6th November, nothing I can do. Can I still see a midwife or have some form of monitoring before that date? last time I saw midwife, a week ago, she said I don't need to see her anymore as consultant would give me a date... but I think I need the reassurance that everything is allright. Can I request to be monitored at least every two days or so?

I'm wondering whether the baby's in a favourable position to be born, if not that can slow labour down or stop it from getting established. Have a look at this website for tips on getting baby into a good position. That could have been the problem with your last labour too.

You should still be monitored once a week at this stage - phone your midwife and ask to see her. If not try phoning the fetal assessment unit at the hospital. Being induced does increase the risk of cesarean, so personally I would avoid it if possible even though it seems a long time till 6th November.

thanks daisymoo - last time, baby was back to back (maybe that explained the horribly painful contractions on my back and the lenght of labour). However, this time baby is in the right position (checked several times with midwifes and consultant) so that should not be the problem.

Why I am not having contractions is my biggest question, as I seem to be ready? ....

I guess I will deffinitely asked to be monitored sometime next week... this is such a long waiting game!

princesitalinda - your experience sound a bit like me - straight into good but ultimately 'inadequate' contractions with op baby number one, then baby number two preceded by a period of apparent symptoms. I was admitted to labour ward, apparently in labour and examined to be 2cm dilated - but they turned out to be braxton hicks and only lasted 3/4 hours. Subsequently told that in second/subsequent pregnancies, you are always 'a bit' dilated. Sorry if that's not what you want to hear. Hope that all your symptoms suggest that you are close to the big day - good luck.

That is almost certainly what the problem was last time.

You will go into established labour soon - nobody stays pregnant forever - and if the baby's in a good position, chances are it will be quick once it gets going I would get as much rest as you can now so you have plenty of energy when you need it. Trust your body! I bet you won't need that check later in the week cos your baby will already be here

I really hope so, daisymoo!

jamiesamfredie - I guess that's why they did not keep me in when the consultant checked that I was 3 cm dilated, I guess is quite normal in second and subsequent pregnancies...

what frustrates me is that this consultant was so sure labour would happen anytime as he thought (and wrote so in my notes) that I was sooo ready... but nothing happened! I had strong contractions that night upto having a shower, and then all of the sudden, they completely stopped. I have one now and then, but nothing remarkable...

I am fine with waiting, my main concern is the wellfare of my baby. I wish to be monitored just for his sake, to reassure me he is fine. Obviously I would like to avoid induction, so the last two nights I've been forcing Husband to "perform his duty" hoping that such natural "sweep" will work and our baby will be with us soon... I am a bit esceptical though, as I heard/read that it takes a LOT of prostanglandin to start labour, one only shot per night wouldn't do the trick??

i had my show 2 weeks before my baby, waters broke 9 days before, labour went on for 62 hours, em c/s in the end. go for the sex

jampot - sorry to hear labour was so long

sex

nipple stimulation

homeopathy..gelsemium or caulophyllum from a homeopath

can all help get you going.......

happy birthing...

If you're worried about the baby then keep a really close eye on the movements and if you're worried phone the hospital so they can monitor you for a bit. But it's really unlikely that anything will go wrong at this stage, so try not to worry too much

Princess - just wondered how you got on as am feeling what you describe and wondering how likely it is to build or not?