What’s going on?!

[Sunisshining12]

I’m 40w, woke up 4 nights ago with cramps which slowly progressed to contractions (well that’s what they feel like), they’ve been getting gradually more painful & are now extremely painful. But not regular. I may have say 4 in one hour, none the next, then 8 the next! They are much worse at night & I’ve not slept for 4 nights now. Had some brown discharge & clear mucus last night. They typically last 20 seconds. The pain is horrendous.

Rang the hospital they said don’t come in until you have 3 contractions in 10 minutes. I’m still waiting to progress to that but am absolutely exhausted now after nearly 5 days of this. I can’t leave the house & don’t know how to cope with the pain (I’ve been in & out the bath, bouncing ball, breathing, paracetamol etc etc)

What’s going on? Is this ‘normal’? I thought by now the contractions would get closer together. I can’t stop crying as I don’t know how to cope with the pain despite following all the advice. This is my first ‘natural’ labour. Had section with my first so never experienced anything.

I’d go to the hospital and ask to be examined to see how far along you are and discuss pain relief so you can get some rest.

Any update?

My contractions didnt get close together until my waters broke, went to the hospital and was 8cm! Tbf id only had 24 hours of irregular contractions though not 5 days

How painful are they? Can you do anything else - walk, watch TV, talk while they are happening? Or are you incapacitated? Did you have Braxton hicks before?

Update - well I went into ‘proper’ labour 2 hours after that post! And delivered early hours of the next morning.

Midwife said it was the latent phase & cervix preparing the days leading up to that. The pain certainly ramped up after I posted that. Got to hospital 5cm dilated :)