discharge and long early labour

[conkertree]

just wanted to see if anyone else has had a similar experience - seem to have been in early labour for about a week now. midwife confirmed i had started last tuesday - was about 1cm dilated. have been having contractions on and off since then - sometimes in regular patterns, some days with not many.

since yesterday having them roughly every 10 mins - was painful overnight, but not every one is painful, and doesnt seem to be so regular this morning.

i know the baby will come when its ready but it just is pretty frustrating. started getting quite a lot of egg white type discharge in the last couple of days - wondered if that was any sort of sign, or if it only counts if its bloody or tinged pink?

would really appreciate any advice from anyone who had a similar sort of long early stage. thanks.

You should get the discharge checked, it could be that your waters are leaking. I had this, a long slow early labour, was 6 days from first contraction until dd was born, and like you they were sometimes very close and painful and at other times spread out. We got there in the end though. I was induced as my waters had broken, they were only leaking evry slightly, small amount of watery discharge, but still a leak and they were concerned about the risk of infection. Good luck, I hope it happens soon for you.

Conkertree, I've not had a long early stage myself but have seen enough stories to know that this is normal! This is your body doign what it needs to do, it's wonderful! The main thing is to make sure that you are well rested, sleep whenever you can. Also try going for some brisk walks to encourage baby to settle futher down, bear in mind your positioning also so that you encourage baby to rotate. Lie on your left side and when up then keep your belly in front of your hips and your hips above your knees.

Your discharge sounds like a show, it doesn't have to be bloody. Your labour will start shifting a gear soon and your baby will arrive!

Have a look at one of my favourites for tips on getting through this early stage.

Stay strong

Definitely sounds like a show. If you can, just carry on normally with your life (easier said than done I know). Try and remember that every contraction is getting you closer to your baby, they may be helping her get into a good position and softening your cervix. Have you got a TENS machine for any periods of stronger contactions - they can be a good distraction if nothing else!

I'm suffering the same - been 1 and half weeks since had contractions all night one night - not been checked by mw but seeing her tomorrow.
Have also had contactions on and off since! Sometimes just a few a day, then had 3 in half hour this morning - then nothing again!
Getting very frustrated and fed up sitting about waiting and wondering about every twinge.

I had five days of very strong and regular contractions with little or no progress (got to 3cm in 4 days, then had a sweep which actually stopped the contractions for a while). I kept going as long as I could but DP dragged me to the hospital to get induced the day after that. I'd suggest you keep going and try to relax but I wouldn't let yourself get so exhausted that you can't manage -- it might be 'normal' but I don't think my DD would have arrived safely without intervention (or at least not for another month!).

I hope it all gets going for you soon, but don't be afraid to go and get yourself checked out.

(What annoyed me most was how little info there is about this -- I felt like everyone else managed to give birth within a couple of days of regular contractions starting.)

Oh thank god for this thread, i dont' bother joining in with birth stories as everyone I tell about my week of 10 minute contractions thinks I am imagining things.
The hosp just kept saying '10 mins? no need to come in yet' and insisted that I go for my mw check at the health centre on the 4th day, DP had to take the afternoon off as there was no way I could have walked or driven there while having contractions!!
I sat in the waiting room having contractions, told them I'd been having contractions since my show 4 nights previously and they didn't even check me!
However when the contractions suddenly dropped to 2 mins on the 7th night, hosp only 5 mins away, I arrived and was fully dilated - had had transition in the car!!

All because it was my first baby and I didnt' know that I could turn up at the hospital to be checked. The last 48 hours at home were agony but the midwives still said I shouldn't come in. COWS. When I think that other people have epidurals for what I went through at home!!! Gutted!

So I would say go to the hosp every 5 mins if you have to, to get checked. Don't be fobbed off by midwives saying that your contractions have to be a particular timing before you can come in. They can always send you home again if you are not ready. Send DP out for a stack of magazines and try to relax.

BTW, after ds was born, my mum said it took a week to get my older sister out but she hadn't wanted to frighten me , but all her subsequent babies came nice and quickly. I can't confirm that as I had sect for ds2.
Good luck your baby will be here soon!

it's nice to hear it is 'normal' - as you say flibbertyjibbet - all you ever hear is how things just suddenly happen - and to be honest this is my 3rd and did happen spontaniously before, was begining to wonder if I am just imagining it!!!