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Childbirth

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

Original poster

How long did your stop/start labour last before the 'real thing' started?

27 replies

Peanutbutternutter419 · 26/03/2016 21:12

So I have been having back ache, period type pains and intense BH on and off for the past week and am starting to get a little fed up of it tbh!

I know it's a positive thing as it is my body getting ready and hopefully preparing for a quicker and easier 2nd labour but I just don't know if I'm coming or going. Poor DH leaves for work everyday wondering if today will be the day and then nothing progresses!

So...if you had a similar start to labour, how long did yours go on for?

OP posts:
zannyminxoxox · 26/03/2016 21:19

Im having the same myns been going on since about 36 weeks im 39+2 now. Ive had sweep on thursday was 2 cms and lost some more mucus plug its really annoying but things are moving just slowly hoping it will lead to a quick active labour. Hopefully will be the same for you 😊

5madthings · 26/03/2016 21:22

I am almost 39wks with Dc6 and having this. I had it with no 3 as well and hate to say it but still went to 42wks!

This time I have my induction booked so I have an end date.

But it Def helped and when I finally did go into labour it was shirt,under three hours for two of them and one hour for one.

Good luck :)

Sunshine87 · 26/03/2016 21:33

I'm in the same position. I'm so sick of the stopping and starting I just want to progress. I'm killing myself by going on walks and my birthing ball. This is DC3 , DC 2 was 4 days late. Due date was yesterday day. I don't get a sweep till Friday 😒 I can't go on another 11 days the pelvic pain (have severe pgp and chronic back pain).

Original poster
Peanutbutternutter419 · 26/03/2016 21:38

I was really hoping you all came back and said a week tops!!
I am 39+4 and DS came at 40+3 on his own accord but I had no signs of labour until it started so this is all new to me!

Oh sunshine, sorry to hear you are in severe pain! Although I am getting pains and my back is bad, it hasn't warranted any pain relief yet. The BH really do ramp up sometimes though!

OP posts:
artisanroast · 26/03/2016 21:40

I went into labour at 35+5.

It started with a very classic waters breaking (full on movie/comedy style waters breaking) followed by onset of contractions and active labour.

It was 6 hours in total from my waters breaking to baby being in my arms.

She is now a thriving 6 month old bundle of laughs and smiles.

ThisWasCrownjewel · 26/03/2016 21:41

Sunshine87 I was in the same position as you at 40weeks - felt I simply couldn't manage another single day of pain - stop/start labour had been going on for about 5 weeks and severe PGP/back pain (midwife hadn't referred me for physio at 36wk check, as she was convinced I'd give birth before the appointment came through - how wrong she was, as DD stayed firmly put until 40+4). I finally broke down in tears at a meeting with the consultant and begged her to "get this baby out NOW!!" and she referred me to be induced the following day. This seemed to spur DD into action and she was born that morning without being induced I'd recommend asking for an appointment with the consultant and begging/crying/whatever - mine was lovely and sympathetic and was happy to not make me wait another week.

confusedlilly · 26/03/2016 21:41

39+5 with dc2! I have been like this for a week. Loosing bits of my plug.. Hoping to get a sweep next Thursday due to my SPD! I just want a baby here now lol!

5madthings · 26/03/2016 21:47

I have had a sweep and have an induction date booked due to pelvic pain after falling at 36wks and hurting my pelvis.

Have had spd in previous pregnancies and it's beyond awful. This pregnancy had been plain sailing until I fell and hurt my pelvis and obviously given previous spd it's a weak point.

Things to help get labour going, bouncing on birth ball, going sideways up and down stairs and making sure baby is in a good position will help. Look at optimal fetal positioning and spinning babies but ultimately baby Wil arrive when it's ready.

Oh evening primrose capsules are meant to help also eating dates but it has to be six dates a day.... Yuck.

Sunshine87 · 26/03/2016 22:10

Thanks OP, thanks thiswasthecrownjewel. I'm giving it till Monday and if no better I'm ringing the maternity day unit to see if they can book me an induction. Its unfortunate due to all these BH I'm having to wait longer for the sweep 😟 I've resorted to hounding my husband, eating currys,birth ball and walks. I don't know what else to do. To look at me I'm 5,1 and huge all baby don't think my frame can take it. I've been back and forth as I'm sure my waters have went but they don't think they have 🙄 Got made to feel like an idiot before when I thought they had gone with DD and when it came to the labour they had gone.

Junosmum · 26/03/2016 22:46

A week!

Horispondle · 26/03/2016 23:08

I was 4cm dilated for 3 weeks! Had my mum drive 3 hours for a false alarm two weeks before. DC2 arrived in 14 minutes with no warning whatsoever. I was in shock but would take it over DC1's delivery anyway. I had severe SPD and within 10 minutes I was celebrating walking again the mile round trip to neo-natal but still

Tftpoo · 27/03/2016 10:27

I feel your pain! I am 41+1 today and have been having on off cramps and pain in my cervix for a couple of weeks. I've had a sweep and lost some mucous plug but still no actual labour. I have pgp too and the pain in my lower back is making it really hard to do the things you're supposed to to get into labour - walking, cleaning, sex, etc. I've eaten a lot of pineapple and am fucking sick of raspberry leaf tea. The only thing that seems to get any contractions going is using the breast pump but then everything dies down again. Ho hum...I guess it won't be much longer now whatever happens. Hang in there OP.

NickyEds · 27/03/2016 22:19

I had this for 3 solid weeks before dd was born. It was absolutely exhausting physically as it meant I couldn't sleep and it was irritating as I kept getting babysitters sorted for ds then having them stand down! The day before dd was born I'd been up all night with bh, felt certain things were underway so dp stayed at home. Everything just calmed down and faded away, I was so convinced that it was another false alarm that I told my sister she could go out to an end of term piss up and resigned myself to another disturbed night. I woke up at midnight with an almighty contraction and dd was born 5 hours later, lovely birth, no tears, easy recovery Smile. I did have to leave ds sleeping with my sister desperately trying to sober up in my living room though Blush!

Original poster
Peanutbutternutter419 · 27/03/2016 23:02

Well all has slowed down again today and tonight so I'm guessing I am in it for the long hall!

OP posts:
thundernlightning · 28/03/2016 03:28

Oh, Peanutbutter, my sympathies. I think I'm in the same boat. I'm 39 weeks and have been getting this for about a week now. At sunset the crampiness and irregular contractions start, I snag a few hours of sleep, but nothing gets rhythmic and then the sun comes up and everything packs it in again. Agh.

Here's hoping we all get some traction, and soon.

outputgap · 28/03/2016 04:04

Snap! I am 39+5 and this is dc3, but I have never had this slow build up thing before. I went for a long walk on Friday and was convinced it was going to start properly that night. Was up til 2 with bh. And now, nothing.

Have got induction booked for Wed though, so hoping that all this means induction is more likely to work well.

Phalenopsisgirl · 28/03/2016 08:41

Haha, good to know I'm not alone, I've been doing this since Thursday evening, so it pretty much wrote the Easter weekend off as I was wary about doing anything major. Today I am 40 +1, will keep you posted. I also have been eating lots of pineapple and am wondering if the pineapple has caused it. A few people seem to have found it a bit disruptive when I looked into it.

Phalenopsisgirl · 28/03/2016 08:48

No sorry 41+1 not 40 !!

Annabrooke90 · 28/03/2016 09:26

My last three babies have been spontaneous, first was induced. But with my spontaneous labours all lasted around 5 weeks of stop start, loss of bloody show and every other kind of possible sign. My body just goes very slowly though. Luckily enough because all the signs started at 29 weeks with ds4 and he held on until 34weeks. Everyone is different though that is just normal for me. I hope your baby doesn't keep you waiting much longer.

HarlotBronte · 28/03/2016 10:34

Take it your waters haven't gone? Mine was about 42 hours after they went, with maybe just 6 hours of stop start before that.

Original poster
Peanutbutternutter419 · 28/03/2016 18:35

Oh dear! Quite a few of us suffering over the bank holiday! It's so frustrating as we couldn't really plan anything other than popping in to relatives as and when I feel up to it. I haven't even started to lose my plug yet but then again it all happened in 1 go with DS so none of this waiting around! Thinking of you all going for inductions this week and hoping that does the trick!

I'm in to see midwife on Weds so will see what she suggests!

OP posts:
Tftpoo · 30/03/2016 10:02

Hope the MW appt goes well peanut. 41+4 here now and no real signs of anything happening - things are moving along (lost the plug, cervix 2cm dilated) but so slowly I don't think I'll go into spontaneous labour before the induction which is booked for Fri. Hoping though that as my cervix is favourable that the induction process will be successful and not too long. Like you, I had no waiting around first time (twins came at 35 weeks) and this wait is doing my head in! I need a hair cut but have put off booking it just in case but I'm going to book for tomorrow as it is the last chance before I go into hospital and it'll probably mean I go into labour tonight and look like cousin it for the next few weeks! Good luck.

Phalenopsisgirl · 30/03/2016 18:01

Had a sweep this morning, lost a little plug and having a few cramps but been here with the cramps before. 41+3 now. Not sure if the sweep is working or what I am experiencing is just standard stuff.

Original poster
Peanutbutternutter419 · 30/03/2016 19:20

phalenopsisgirl I was sat on my ball eating pineapple core the night I went into labour it's my DS. Obviously we will never know if that helped or was just coincidence!
Hope the sweep gets things really going for you!

tftpoo hope you manage to get your hair cut and off you don't, you won't care as baby will be here!

My MW appt was uneventful. Baby is in the right position and good to go, just have to wait. She has offered a sweep at 41 weeks which I hopefully won't get to!

OP posts:
ollieplimsoles · 01/04/2016 20:10

Keep positive!

I lost lots of plug at 37weeks with dd and thought oh yay this is it... was induced at 41+3! I was all good to go but it turns out her hand was up against her head and she was stuck in position. I had a lovely birth experience with her and it was very quick and easy, induction isn't always a negative experience!