Help! Long latent labour and excessive vomiting

[babymaybe562]

I am having the longest early labour ever. Started getting mild but manageable contractions on Thursday eve. Not regular or painful enough to go into hospital. Yesterday they got to 4 mins apart so went into hospital.

To my surprise the lovely midwife said I was 3-4cm! Yay! Spent around 4 hours pacing/bouncing on ball ... started to get a bit concerned as contractions weren't becoming more painful.

Turned out she was wrong and I was only 1-2cm

Went home to rest and contractions ramped up and started being sick. Went in again, lovely midwives had birthing pool ready ... But contractions stopped being so painful.

Spent an hour waddling up and down corridor only to become totally exhausted and contractions stopped completely. Midwife advised I rest as body was obviously too tired to continue.

Woke up an hour later in pain again ... then once again they stopped. Still 1-2cm.

Home again now and dozing between contractions (so getting 3 minutes of sleep at a time, basically). And I cant stop vomiting. Is this normal? I don't think its from pain as I'm still breathing through the contractions.

Could do with some support. Its been a long few days and I feel so tired. has anyone else had a very long latent labour like this?!

Firstly, my sympathies, horrendous thinking you are further along than you are!

I was sick repeatedly during labour, I planned a home birth but eventually had to transfer in as was so tired and dehydrated, couldn't even keep little sips of water down. As I understand it it's unusual but does happen from time to time. Next time I'd plan to have my baby in the hospital purely so I could have access to the anti emetics if I needed them.

Have you told midwife about the vomiting? I would suggest it needs keeping an eye on, as you obviously need to keep your strength up and keep hydrated!

My labour started on a Friday lunch time and eventually had my baby on the Sunday morning, and that was tough enough, so I do really feel for you.

Are you with anyone today? Do you have any plans? Do you have a name picked for your baby and know if it's a boy or girl?

Thank you 😊 sympathy helps! I did mention it to the midwife before I left that I had been sick, but it ramped up quite a bit when I got home.

Its my second baby. Was induced early with first so never really had early labour. It was 0 to full contractions immediately! And 7 hours from pessary to birth.

Was not expecting this to happen this time round.

MIL is looking after my daughter. Husband is asleep in toddlers bed (didn't fancy having him around while I intermittently throw up!).

Sorry to hear you had such a long labour too, and vomiting as well. Its just such hard work isn't it.

I keep reminding myself it'll be worth it when he eventually gets here ...!

I feel so drained.

Oh and its a boy. Name picked. Little outfit ready. Just need him now!

Oh so sorry, you have my sympathies! My first DC was like that. Days of mild to moderate contractions at least every 15 mins often closer together. It is so exhausting! I was sick intermittently too but was throughout pregnancy so didn't give it much thought. When I finally did get admitted I got gas and air and passed out til my waters broke and woke me up!

I hope it gets going proper for you soon. It will pass!

Oh it is exhausting. I had a week of stop start with dd2. Once I finally went into labour fully it was 5 hours from first contraction to her delivery, would have been less if I had managed to push her out but she got stuck and I ended up with an Emcs. My mother was the same with my brother, he was 1 hour to delivery when it got going. Hopefully all this means when you do get going it will be swift. If you keep vomiting phone the labour ward to ask for advice as you can easily dehydrate and become very weak.

He is on his way, even if he is taking a while to arrive!

It is hard work, I felt like I had been on a journey through the centre of the earth by the end of it all!

Thank you all. Its so reassuring to hear others have experienced this too. Its a unique kind of exhaustion that comes before I've even started the hard bit!

Bit of an update. Decided to try sucking an ice pop as a way to keep liquids down. Whilst this happened i felt something 'go'.. Lost the rest of the plug and some liquid too. Could this be waters as well?!

Unfortunately I'm on the cusp of being sick again so ice lolly plans didn't work out!

Will mention dehydration to them as I've been unable to keep anything down since I've got in.

EmzDisco that is exactly how I feel!

I had this with my first labour. Keep notes of what you're eating and drinking and when and how much you're throwing up. The midwives were a little eyerolly about me complaining about lack of sleep and not keeping anything down until I projectile vomited onto one of them! In hindsight they probably thought I was overexaggerating, and it would have been helpful to have had data.

I did end up with pethidine, an antiemetic injection and a drip, but DD was comparatively quick for a first labour once we got going! But I couldn't seem to establish labour until I'd had a good sleep thanks to the pethidine after those days of latent labour.

Good luck!!

I have no experience of labour at all, but saw this is in Active. Hand holds for you - this does sound like a trial. I hope things speed up soon and you're cuddling your lovely baby

I repeatedly vomited through both of my labours. Every 2-3 minutes; couldn't hold my head up. Vomiting carried on after I'd delivered too until I was given Ondansatron. None of the other IM antiemetics had any effect on my continuous vomiting & nausea. I was in hospital though, not sure how I'd coped at home. You sound amazing!!
Best wishes OP

I vomited through labour and was threatened with a drip, in the end my husband made me take small sips of still lucozade in between contractions, I was sick throughout pushing too, I'd let then know you're being sick as it might be good to get a drip on you if it doesn't stop, particularly if your in early labour

Hi everyone, thank you for all your replies. Shortly after I last posted we headed back into hospital and a couple of hours later our beautiful boy finally arrived in the birthing pool! I was very dehydrated so took some time to be discharged but we are home now. Anyone who reads this in the future - good luck with long early labour! It is hard work! But so worth it in the end x

Congratulations OP

I don't normally comment on labour threads as I have never been in labour, but yours struck me for some reason. Enjoy your newborn boy.

Congratulations babymaybe

Yay! Congratulations!

Ahh congratulations!!x