Banging my head against a wall

[ThePolishWombat]

Been in slow, latent labour for 8 days.
8 fucking days.
Baby number 3, and I’ve never experienced any form of slow labour before. DC1 was an induction, so straight in with full force contractions. DC2 I must have slept through the latent phase, woke up early in the morning with regular contractions and baby was born that afternoon with little difficulty.
But this baby is something else entirely
I have a few hours of pretty regular contractions - stronger than Braxton Hicks but not quite what I’d call painful, then nothing. Not even a twinge. And this has been over a week now.
Don’t even know what I want from this thread - just a whinge I guess. I’m just so deflated, frustrated, tired, about ready to strangle DC1 (thank god she goes back to school tomorrow!!) and DH isn’t remotely helpful or sympathetic.

UURRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH.

That sounds so frustrating especially with two dc already to have to consider! I dont know if this will be any consolation but I spoke to midwife today as I am 39+5 with baby #1 and have had mild contractions but not like the usual Braxton hicks last week most nights then nothing in morning, a whole day of them on and off on Saturday then nothing. She said it's a good sign but wasn't really good at elaborating why. Hope your little one makes their appearance soon!

@owlalwaysloveyou I’ve been told the exact same - all these braxton hicks will be doing their job of ripening and shortening the cervix....they are just doing it at a snail’s pace apparently!!

My mum was like this when she was pregnant with my brother. Once labour started properly it only took 15 minutes!

Have you spoken to the midwives? Mine said I needed to tell them if that happened to me because they might bring me in for a sweep.

I had a long latent stage 4 days and then a long active stage 3 days before dp demanded a c section. DS was too big to drop down far enough to dilate cervix. If it goes on too long ask to see the consultant.
Good luck

Op i feel you

39+6 with dc5

Random contractions and loosing plug for over a week

I am pissed off

Feeling quite “crampy” today - so maybe the walk for the school run has given this baby a nudge?!

@Personita I wouldn’t accept a sweep even if offered
I don’t allow any form of internal examination! Hideous experiences with DC1, so no one sticks their hands up there anymore. The idea turns my stomach!

A bit crampy here too but not expecting it to turn into anything

I had very positive sweep experience in last pregnancy and am hopeful i can get one tomorrow

I had this with DC3 as well. God it was such a pain. Then when he finally decided to get on with it it was 4cm to baby and placenta in 1.2 hours. My lovely midwife recorded the second stage as 2 minutes . Good luck! Have you got any names yet?

This happened to me with DC3 too... for three weeks. Three weeks! He was finally born at 40+13. I was losing the will to live.

I’m clinging to the fact that lots of people keep saying DC3 kept them on their toes, but then once it all kicked off it was very quick!!
My last 2 were relatively quick - a 3hr induction with DC1, and an uneventful 10hr spontaneous labour with DC2 - so neither was obscenely long and drawn out.
Keep going backwards and forwards with names I figure we will just see what she looks like when she’s born!!

My third flew out. Best birth so far. 5 hours from first twinge to in my arms. Seems i am paying for it now instead

I’m clinging to the fact that lots of people keep saying DC3 kept them on their toes, but then once it all kicked off it was very quick!

Definitely true for me. 3 weeks of latent labour, 13 days overdue, failed induction and was sent home to try again in 24 hours, an hour after I got home contractions started and he was born 5 hours later. Easiest birth by far.
It was weird he was so late (and the initial stages were so drawn out) as it didn’t happen with the first two.

Every little twinge has got me getting excited
I’m hoping she arrives sometime in the next 72 hours so my parents can meet her before they head off on their holidays for 2 weeks!!

Hope things get moving soon. I got on the birthing ball- rotate your hips with the Braxton Hicks and it intensifies the contraction, helping the baby move down and hopefully triggering labour faster.

I’m on my ball, I’ve had a clary sage bath, and had my pump out (been advised to harvest colostrum antenatally for a suspected small baby)

Hows it going op

Still nothing
I’m seeing the midwife a little later today. Still getting lots of cramps/BH’s etc and getting more and more frustrated!!
Feeling like sticking a hand up there and dragging her out

Any luck with the mw?

I had a sweep yesterday. Very uncomfortable all day with some contractions but not getting to real deal yet!

Looking at induction at some point this week as baby is on large side

IVEGot just be routine checks.
It was the appointment where she’s supposed to have the “if your pregnancy lasts longer than 40 weeks” discussion and give me the leaflets about induction/sweeps etc, but I decline all of that.
There’s two ways this baby is coming out:

1. Spontaneous labour at home anytime between now and 43 weeks
2. Elective csection at 43 weeks.

No induction or sweep happening here!

I honestly could not carry this baby another 3 weeks! Soooo uncomfortable.

IVEGot after my induction experience with DC1, it’s not something I would ever willingly subject myself to again

I am told induction is usually easier once you have had a baby before as your body "remembers" Ive never been induced though but will give it a go this week if need be!

Nope nope nope nope nope.
The experience for me is up there with some of the worst experiences of my life Never again!!

Hope you labour soon OP I’m pregnant with my third too and am getting nervous about labour as I’ve heard third labours can be so different - not even due til January though!

Woke up in a completely irrational, foul mood purely because I’ve woken up and I’m still pregnant as if I expected to have spontaneously expelled a baby in my sleep