When to go to hosp? WWYD?

[ThinkPinkStink]

I'm 41 weeks and it's my first.

I've been having contractions for around four hours (not v long).

They started at 45 seconds long and six minutes apart.

For the past two hours they are, on average, 58 seconds long and 3 minutes apart.

I know this is when I should go to the hosp, but I don't feel like it's time...

The contractions are not regular (sometimes every eight minutes, sometimes every minute and a half).

They are irregular strength (sometimes just a bit uncomfortable, other times genuinely painful).

They are irregular length (30-60 seconds).

They are very low down in my pelvis, which feels more like early labour (cervix opening) than later labour (squeezing baby down and out).

As an aside - my waters have not yet broken.

I've spoken to the midwife, she is happy to go with my lead.

I'm about 15 mins in a cab from the hosp.

WWYD?

[carmenta]

Labour not lot!

[ThinkPinkStink]

Thanks all!

Spin me too! I never want to hear the term again - I was SO sure that given all the cramping and all the time, the sweep and the evil mucous plug of doom - I couldn't imagine that my cervix wouldn't be 4cm +

I'm considering training DH to perform a vag inspection (surely it must be on YouTube) so
as we can sure when I hit 5cm.

Afresh I hope things start moving for you, are you getting enough head-space to concentrate with three existing DC?

Carmenta thanks for the link, that's really thoughtful. The only really annoying thing is that these contractions really do hurt - despite being low down (largely in my mons pubis) and unpredictable length and frequency, they can really take my breath away, when I real about pre labour or early labour it seems to insinuate that they shouldn't actually be painful yet - and they really are (and I promise I'm not a wimp).

[carmenta]

I found pre-labour fucking painful. I don't think there is a hard rule. I had my TENS machine up to the max when my contractions were still very irregular. Do sleep if you can though, and eat occasionally (not that I felt like it in pre-labour). It's been going for a while now and you'll need your strength.

[Mrscog]

Have you got any lavender oil? I found sniffing it neat off a tissue really helpful during contractions.

[Afreshstartplease]

Head space? No such thing in this house ...

[Scarydinosaurs]

Oh my word you super star!

You need to sleep, keep your energy up and stay positive.

This is so blinking exciting! You're going to meet your son or daughter so soon!

Longer the latent stage, the shorter the pushing (disclaimer: not medically proven, but entirely believed by me 😆)

[user1471495191]

My labour was very similar to what you describe OP! I am tough but latent labour went on for 3 days and allowed very little sleep (I sent DH to bed and only my tens machine and the online coaching and companionship of my MN group got me through the night...) by the final day I was still only 3cm but was exhausted. A midwife took pity on me and admitted me. I ended up having meptid injection and a total of 7 sweeps before labour really kicked in BUT pushing lasted a total of 12 minutes and I needed no stitches, so I told myself the slow and painful latent phase meant my body was fully prepared and ready for the birth. Good luck OP!

[Takfish89]

Oh goodness just read through your posts. Your labour sounds really similar to my first. I was also sent home at 2cms. The whole coming irregularly but painfully is awful. Hang in there it really is rubbish but at least you get to meet your little person at the end

[ThinkPinkStink]

I can't say enough how helpful and kind you've all been. It's SO reassuring. Thank you so much. I am beginning to feel like a medical anomaly who might just stay in latent labour forever.

I must admit, I've done a fair bit of crying in the last hour, I just feel so helpless and at the same time so completely overwhelmed with hormones. I'm still breathing through contractions, so it hasn't completely gone to shit. Maybe some Ovaltine will help (regressing to childhood, maybe).

DH is tidying up around me (there seems to be an unnecessary amount of bedding around the house today from various places I've rested) which is literally the best thing he could be doing. Earlier I caught him taking the temperature of my bath with a meat thermometer as he'd read that is should be 37.5' - love him!

Mrsc no lavender oil, but I have grapefruit oil somewhere (which is the only smell I could stomach in my first trimester) I'll get sniffing that!


Thanks so much all, really REALLY.

[essie100]

I have very long 1st stage labours BUT ..... the pushing bit is short and quick and not too painful so I really hope it's the same for you 👍 You're doing amazingly well hang in there your beautiful baby will be with you soon, keep trusting your body and stay calm 💋

[PutOnAHappyFace]

Read the whole thread hoping for a baby. Don't want to be the barer of bad news but with my first I was like this for a week but once my waters broke he came out pretty quick.

[ThisUsernameIsAvailable]

Id have a nap and wait a bit.

But my 3rd child was born on my living room floor caught by my oh so you might need t want to take my advice

[ThisUsernameIsAvailable]

Not want to take my advice

[Scarydinosaurs]

I hope you've had a good night!

[WeedlesHatOfDisappointment]

Hope you're both doing ok fresh and pink

[Spottyladybird]

How are you doing pink? I had a really long latent phase last time and spoke to a doula this time about what could help:
If you need to sleep, sleep.
Get birth partner to remind you to eat and drink.
Stay as upright as possible- keep baby pushing on the cervix, showers rather than baths are helpful at this stage.
Breathe- oxygenate your womb.
Rotate to dilate (all fours or upright).

[rainbowstardrops]

I've just checked in to see if there's any baby news yet!

[indecisivedoctor]

Hope you're getting some rest pink..

I laughed when I read about your DH tidying as that's what mine did in early labour - and actually continued in the hospital. Bless him, clearly didn't know what else to do and he knows I like things neat

Hope things move on for you today xx

[ThinkPinkStink]

And it's hospital time. Contractions are finally shit enough to warrant the ordering of a cab.

Thank you all so much, esp thank you for the kind words about how the pushing stage should be comparatively easy and the tips on how to get this process moving.

If they send me home or mention the words '2cm dilated' I'll refuse to leave until this baby is out of me.

[Afreshstartplease]

Well done and good luck thinkpink!

[NeverNic]

Good luck Pink and eat lots of sugar to keep those contractions going! (Oh and remember to have a www before pushing. A full bladder makes it a tighter exit for baby, and pushing harder) xx

[Frazzled2207]

Bless you good luck

[EuroCarpediem]

Ohhh have been following and feeling for you.

Hopefully by now you are fast asleep having had a long cuddle with your newborn.

[EuroCarpediem]

Opps just realised you only just posted!

Clearly to have got to hospital, given birth, had a cuddle and fallen asleep in just 30 mins is a tad optimistic!