loooong latent phase....

[CharmingChampignon]

Please remind me it can't go on forever (can it?!)

Am now 40+5 dc3 and had a sweep last Fri that led to a show and have had contractions on and off ever since. At the weekend I had hours where they become regular and closer together but they never really felt strong enough to call the mw. Since yesterday I've had fewer but much more painful contractions with a lot of dragging pressure. Still no baby!

Please tell me how this led to imminent easy labour!!

It's truly crap isn't it?!

I had this with dc4 contractions for a week on and off. I was so fed up so I totally feel your pain. I haven't really got any words of advice except you are nearly there now and hopefully when labour establishes it will be nice and quick.

Sorry in answer to the last bit of your post, my birth was fine quite quick but I refused to have him until they gave me and epidural. (Was fixated on it!) I stayed at 4cms for ages while I waited for one. When they put it in I went to 10cms in 20 mins (I'm very stubborn!!) I think if I had just got on with it instead of obsessing about having an epidural he would have come a lot quicker!

I had this. After 8 days of the on/off but regular contractions, we had sex. The following evening I had my bloody show and the following evening DS arrived, swiftly.

Thank you for the success stories! It's odd how the inconsistency actually makes the reality if a baby seem further away at the moment!

MW thinks my cervix has thinned etc so fingers crossed it's all doing something.

Diddley - I don't know how we would even begin

Buttwing - are you glad you had the epidural?

charming I don't blame you, it was the worst ever. But I was rather insistent that we give it a go after 8 bleeding days on labour tease.

I can imagine getting to that point but the logistics baffle me!!

I had this, also with ds3, apparently it's quite common for third babies. However once labour actually got going it was quick, under three hours and very easy.

The MW referred to this being v typical for a 3rd 5mad. I'm holding in for it being easy as I'm really tired now!

Yep I was exhausted, I actually got so I was 4cm dilated and yet stil not in proper labour. The annoying thing was it was mainly at night and the most comfortable place to sit was on the toilet! Not good for sleeping. But his labour was quick and easy, born at 5am I was home by 9am discharged straight from labour and delivery floor.

Yes I am really glad I had it otherwise I think he would still be in there now!!

It feels like my baby may be there forever

Had my gorgeous boy only a few hours after I wrote that Thank you for the encouragement

Congratulations!

Congrats charming!

My turn nxt please

Yay congratulations! hope it was nice and quick for you!

They've documented it as 54 mins total - 4 mins pushing! It was a really fab experience!

Good luck for all of you!