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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Is this labour?

70 replies

Egypt · 25/05/2004 08:22

Can anyone give me advice please? I don't want to go bothering the delivery suite until i am sure really. Since about midnight last night, I started having more intense braxton hicks than usual. they were accompanied by the baby really grinding down in my groin each time. they came q regularly at about every 7-8 minutes, but apart from the grinding weren't really painful. I managed to eventually get to sleep at 2am but was aware all night of a period cramp, coming and going. had fitful sleep and dreams, and woke properly at 6.30am. since then i have had tightenings every 4-6 minutes and they are making my back really ache each time. but they dont hurt at the front, just tight and uncomfortable. they dont last more than 20 seconds either, but are certainly q regular.
I have no idea what is happening, its been over 8 hours now, and dont know whether to let DH go to work or not!!
Would appreciate your advice, as to whether anyone started like this.........or will i know when its for real?

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gingernut · 25/05/2004 09:39

Egypt, I had the grinding in my groin, with regular contractions lasting 1 min and about 5 mins apart but they eventually stopped again and labour didn't start for a week after that (sorry, not what you wanted to hear). It may be labour and then again it may not be. Hope it is for your sake! Good luck.

Twinkie · 25/05/2004 09:45

SOunds like it although I bet they stop if you go to the hospital now - hold out for as long as you can (mine were 3 minutes apart which made for a fun ride!!) - have a bath, try and open your bowels - stock up on carbs for the long journey ahead of you and get someone to paint your toe nails so you don;t have to look at chipped ones (if yours are) whilst in labour - it is my biggest fear!!

Good Luck You XXX

Original poster
Egypt · 25/05/2004 10:47

hee hee! been on walk. tightenings coming bit more often for a while, then go away completely. still in back most of time. really think that this is all nothing. no one would know i was having them to look at me, dh is still wondering whether to go to work or not! dont want him wasting his paternity days when i wont go into labour for another 2 or 3.....but than again. arrrrrrggggghhhhh.

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Original poster
Egypt · 25/05/2004 10:49

the hairy monster between my legs is my biggest fear twinkie!! sorry!

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Twinkie · 25/05/2004 10:53

Get DP or someone to give to a going over with some Immac or even go for a wax - not being funny but a bit of ripping out of the old bikini hair is nothing compared to what you got coming girl and you will be the neatest person on the ward!!

Have warned DP that will have him down there with the razor or Immac as I go into labour!!

Try and go tot he poo though - that way you won't worry about doing it when in labour and eat lots so you have lots of energy for all that pushing - and walk about lots too and try and stay upright (I have been watching Discovery Health a lot lately!!)

Good Luck XXX

Original poster
Egypt · 25/05/2004 10:56

ok twinkie! have regularly been trying to keep up with the ol' hairs, but obviously can't see or reach properly! never mind. i shall cope. to short to wax, immac gives me a rash and so does shaving. anyway, its the least of my worries really. want some mega contractions

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bbensley · 25/05/2004 10:56

Send him to work with his mobile then even if u have to call him back in 30 mins he might not lose the day of paternity leave?

Another piece of advice is eat, I was starving at the hospital and it was night so snack machines were empty and no restaurant. Then during next day was the full labour so wasn't hungry. By the time I was ready it was night again and no food grrrrrrr. Luckily I had biccies in my bedside locker

Twinkie · 25/05/2004 11:01

Ooohhhh and take a pack lunch and some nice drinks - that way you can nibble when you want and don't have to have yucky hospital food and also take some paracetamol or other painkillers just in case for afterwards - they looked at me like I was mad not having my own - I cried and said but this is a hospital for crist sake and you can't even give me a paracetamol - this time I am going in with enough to dispense to the whole of the ward!!

And some deoderant wipes and baby top to toe wipes for if you get a bit yucky.

Am all excited now!!

mothernature · 25/05/2004 11:11

Egypt, how exciting for you, I remember my first, like you I was unsure if it was 'time' things started happening around 4.30am I was back and forward to the toilet, hubby was due to go to work on a 6 - 2 shift he was very nervous, told him to go to work and not worry...I belived my midwife when she told me it would take most of the day if I started early in the morning, he constantly phoned me to check I was ok, he came home at 2.30 I made him eat some lunch, his mum and my eldest sister was with me during the morning, I sat on an easy chair timing myself, when they got to under 2 mins apart we called for a taxi and went to the hospital, around 3.45pm, they took me into a side ward checked me out, told me not long now love...ds1 was born at 9.30pm...not too long then.... I too was starving as I couldn't face eating anything, so do try to eat yourself or take something with you as others have suggested, it was a long long night after he was born, straight up onto the ward, everyone esles baby seemed to keep me awake, I couldn't wait to get home, I hope everything goes well for you...love and hugs have a wonderful experience and let us know how you get on..

Pidge · 25/05/2004 11:22

Egypt ... how exciting ... sounds like things are definitely happening for you. I don't want to horrify you but I had 48 hours of regular contractions every 5-10 minutes, strong enough to keep me awake, because I had to leap out of bed each time! To me great indignance at the end of this I wasn't even 3 cm dilated and was told I wasn't in "proper labour" ... pah! Anyway, when the 'real contractions' did start I really knew about it, they were in a different league, so I think you will get an instinctive feeling for when is the right time to go to the hospital. Probably a lot sooner than it was for me - I consider myself a champion of the 'pre-labour labour'.

Do you have a friend who could come round and keep you company?

My top advice - which I totally failed to follow myself - is get as much sleep and rest as possible.

Looking forward to hearing how things go.

twiglett · 25/05/2004 11:24

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prufrock · 25/05/2004 12:24

Egypt I do hope this is it - good luck

woodpops · 25/05/2004 15:12

Good luck Egypt. Sounds like the start of it all. So excited for you. I had 2 horrendiously quick labours. 1st was 1hr 26min from 1st contraction, 2nd 1hr 24min from 1st contraction. All the best.

Original poster
Egypt · 25/05/2004 15:22

hello girls
well have had a sleep this afternoon and they have eased off now. much to my disappointment and annoyance. dh stayed home, which was nice, poor thing. shall now make something 'hearty and filling' for tea and see what occurs!!
keep you posted - aaaaaa, actually having another one now. oh good. now why has that happened now I've woken up?!
i hope this baby is as laid back as this when it is born but not as awkward

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Fio2 · 25/05/2004 15:24

hope things go well for you egypt, will be thinking of you

Pidge · 25/05/2004 15:34

Egypt - don't get disheartened ... that sounds exactly like what happened to me after about a day and a half, the contractions sort of went away a bit for a couple of hours, then they came back very regularly again, and in fact it was after I'd dropped off to sleep for 20 minutes in complete exhaustion that all hell broke loose and I suddenly had contractions coming every minute.

So I reckon you're really close.

And well done on getting a bit of rest.

All the best - keep snacking and resting ...

Original poster
Egypt · 26/05/2004 08:16

well thats another night of fierce contractions every 2-3 minutes then nothing for a while, then mild for a bit,...........
at midnight last night they were coming really quickly and hurt so much more than ever. my back was killing me with each one and my stomach was so tight. rang labour ward in a bit of a panic because there was little let up in between, and this really scared me.
midwife said that i sounded like what i was experiencing was the early stages, and guess what, whilst talking to her they eased. typical. i put on my tens machine, had some paracetamol and tried to sleep. i did get q a few more intense ones but eventually either they stopped or the tens or paracetamol worked, or i was just too knackered to stay awake, but i went to sleep. had a couple of milder cramps this morning, 30 mins apart, but nothing now for 45 mins. v v v v v confused and fed up! this baby is never ever going to come!

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StripyMouse · 26/05/2004 08:34

Good luck Egypt - I had a long long first labour and know how frustrating and exhausting the "on off" days of pain can be. Do try to sleep when you get a break - rather than seeing it as yet another slow down, see the break as a chance for your body to rest for a while as it prepares itself. Once rested try to eat small high energy food like bananas and drink plenty of fluids. Other thing to do to help it along is to get on your feet and get walking.
In my second labour I could see it all going the same slow way after a day of on off irregular contractions so went for a slow walk round the village in the middle of the night -( boy did it hurt and looked a bit mad going round in DH?s T shirt and his PJ bottoms with no underwear (thank God it was under cover of darkness) and a fleecy jacket - it was November!!) It got things going a treat and kick started the full on proper every couple of minutes ones and within half an hour of returning had the midwife out. Good Luck, hope you will be holding your baby really really soon xx

LucyJones · 26/05/2004 08:36

Good luck Egypt - it will happen Just try and rest as much as possible (boring advice but you need to!)

Original poster
Egypt · 26/05/2004 08:36

thankyou stripy mouse. i shall try a walk now. i did try this yesterday, but shall perservere

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Original poster
Egypt · 26/05/2004 08:37

oh hello lucy, posts crossed. will do my best

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Hulababy · 26/05/2004 08:38

Good luck Egypt

Original poster
Egypt · 26/05/2004 08:38

stripymouse - at what point did your waters go or ou have a show. am a bit concerned that havent had even the slightest show. there must be SOME cervical action going on?!

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pupuce · 26/05/2004 09:10

Egypt - I had BOTH my shows in labour... so no worries.... try to forget you are in early labour and get on with your day. I fyou didn't sleep well... HAVE A NAP!.... clearly it will happen soon so the better rested anmd positive you are.,..... the easier the whole thing. Watch a funny movie/video?
The work that is going on there is helpful so don't think you are wasting your time.
Try some relaxing (deep) breath in between contractions to relax as much as possible.... GOOD LUCK

Pidge · 26/05/2004 09:11

Egypt - it's so frustrating isn't it, you keep getting all excited because stuff seems to be happening and then it all slows down or goes away again. I think the hardest thing with this kind of labour is not getting utterly worn out during the early stages. I was exhausted after 48 hours of this, no sleep, hardly any food as I'd thrown up three times. Boy oh boy! I wish in retrospect I'd tried to sleep a bit more.

I'm sure you're nearly there - as stripeymouse says - try to see any lulls in contractions as an excellent chance to get some rest. Even if you can't sleep, just relax, listen to some nice music, chat with someone on the phone if you like. And I definitely recommend the walk. That baby will come in its own good time!