Quick question re contractions/timings - please help!

[trendaverter]

I am 41+6 and have been contracting steadily now every 6 minutes (on average) since 2pm yesterday.

Is this normal?! Are these 'real' or am I just getting some persistent bhs? I was able to sleep through much of it during the night, I am beginning to wonder if I am imagining the pain!

If nothing you do changes the rhythm of the contractions, then, yes, you have begun labour. Here goes! Relax, eat and drink moderately, go to the loo, and make sure your birth partner is on hand. It could unfortunately be ages yet before things hot up for you, but the LO is on his or her way.

Am no expert - (just had one nearly 6 yrs ago!) but sounds hopeful.

I contracted all through the Friday night - everything stopped on the Sat morn when I was going in to be induced anyway. Had pessary - walked and walked all day - 1 cm by 5pm. Contractions coming fast by then but only lasting around 40 secs - still got me to 3cm by 7ish. DS born 12.45am.

Thanks ladies - this info does help. I do feel like I am losing heart sometimes!

As bbabe said it can be pretty unpredictable i started day and bit before and was only 1cm dialated. If i were you i'd have a nice long walk somewhere quiet and not to stressful and see if things get stronger. You kind of get to a point when you know that labour has started. IYKWIM? Good luck x

sounds like the start of the latent phase...happened to my sister....2 days of regular contractions that didn;t stop, but neve r got stronger or harder....but then started properly and was relatively quick and easy....try some lucozade..it helped her !

thanks lulu!
I just bought some lucozade, will try anything!

Good Luck TA......I'll check back later. RL beckons!

I had this with dd, regular contractions every three mins for 24hrs. when they got more painful and I went into hosp they were still every three mins for most of the time, and the midwives didn't believe me that they had been that close for so long!

Early labour mistakes

Try to sleep at night time and go about your normal daily routine during the day, have naps when you can if you need to. Conserve your energy but some brisk walks should help baby's head to descend further into pelvis and put pressure on cervix to dilate.

Warm baths and/or warm shower on your back to give comfort, massage from dh, lean over birth ball and rock! Don't time the contractions, ignore time as such, once the contractions get strong enough that you cannot possibly talk through them then you can consider yourself in labour.

But above all remember that all these frustrating contractions are actually doing something, they are getting baby manouevred round to better position and means that when labour does get going properly all that work has already been done. Don't be pressured into anything to 'help' you, your body is doing an amazing job!!!!

Sounds very promising trendaverter, rest as much as you can and stay positive. Good Luck. xxx

Thanks for this Klaw

The pains seem to have pretty much stopped for now, they were there for 18 hours or so, stopped, I did some exercise and they came back but then I was so exhausted I had a nap and they seem to have gone again now.

I plan on going for a walk in a minute now that I feel a bit better, will see how it goes!

I do feel a bit positive that something seems to be happening though as I feel a lot more uncomfortable in myself, if that makes sense. Perhaps the baby has dropped a little? Not sure.

Ooh! Just had another big pain. I shall keep my fingers crossed that they progress into something more definate but I am so greateful for the advice and reassurance to know it is normal!

I was wondering if I was just having bhs or something as I haven't been having too many 'practice' pains as it were, but it does seem that something is indeed happening, albeit slowly

Hi MrsJ!!!!

TA, it is happening, it is slow but it will develop into proper labour eventually, maybe soon, maybe later. As long as you rest, walk, eat and drink, eliminate regularly, minimise risk of infection, have faith in yourself and please don't get worn out, you will get there!

Will keep this thread open on my pc....

if you've got stairs go up and down them sideways! It helps to get baby shouggled into pelvis

and if the nipple stimulation isn't being effective and the oral prostaglandens aren't working then just chill and wait!

hang on, isn;t the sex and nipple stim my line???

I think you'll find it's mine too which is why we connect so well!

I'll stick some scones in the oven and the clary sage in the oil burner

TA, as you liked the last link I posted I thought you might find Pelvises I have known and loved useful too. Gloria Lemay is a lovely lady and talks a lot of sense.

The next four are sites I came across AFTER my VBAC and I so wish I'd seen them before:
www.birthinternational.com/diary/archives/000558.html
www.birthpsychology.com/messages/push/push.html
www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/pushing.asp
Birth Without Active Pushing www.harcourt-international.com/e-books/pdf/465.pdf

now, if you;d just relocate to merseyside...

all gone quiet...shall we start dimming the lights and whispering??

Thank you so much!

The pains seem to have stopped again but I am feeling VERY heavy and uncomfortable, like the head has dropped a bit further maybe? It was 3/5 on Wednesday at my checkup. Trying to read it as a positive sign and have spoken to my MW to postpone my scheduled induction for tomorrow - I would like to give my body some more time to continue along this vein.

It has been very reassuring to know that a long 'early labour' is quite normal though, a lot of the lovely ladies on my ante natal thread seem to have 2 hours and bang they are mothers!

I am looking after myself and trying to remain distracted. If anything new materialises I will be back!

Thanks Klaw and Lulu xx

well done !! trust in your body to do this......a bit of bedroom action later might help...a lovely bath with candles, and some good strong positive viusalisation...

xxx

OK TA! thanks for update, did your doggy enjoy his walk? Had a quick shufty at your profile, you and dh make a lovely couple!

Anyway, did you follow DomesticGrumpess's journey to motherhood these least 2weeks? I'm so glad that you've cancelled the induction, it really is not necessary, your body is doing the necessary work that it needs to do, you are not average and don't conform to the medical profession's idea of normal.

Stay strong!

nice pics indeed

Thank you

Doggy loved his walk, and I enjoy them too, it's great having a dog, stops me sitting on my arse all day!!

Yes we have all been listening to DG and watching her 'live birth' in awe - IN the pool while in active labour and she was still offering everyone else advice!

I was amazed!

I will let you know after I have been to the hosp what any news is, might be late though as I need to ring at 4pm to see when they will see me.
I am very firm in that I don't want to be induced - and forever grateful to MN and the wonderful ladies that frequent it, without this site I would have been ignorant and just done whatever the doctor told me to do. I feel much more confident and empowered in my choices now I have joined MN.