Long latent phase - struggling

[FirstTime28]

Hi lovelies

Mainly looking for advice or to see if anyone else has been through a similar experience?? I know I can't be the only woman to go through this and some ladies go through far worse so please don't think I'm complaining.

I've had braxton hicks from about week 29 of the pregnancy, just really tight and not at all painful. I had them non stop for about two weeks then they stopped completely on the Tuesday and last Wednesday July 8th I was 37+5 I woke up at 5am with horrific tummy pains then at 8am contractions started which were tighter than I've ever experienced and were actually painful! It wasn't mega painful and I was able to do things etc I decided to have some paracetamol and have a bath as I know that's what ladies are told to do as I guessed it would be very early stages and it didn't help the tightness almost seemed to increase and felt like someone was holding my windpipe . I decided to call and they said to come in . They examined me and I was 1cm dilated and the cervix had shortned . I was told I was in early labour. They approached me again in the evening and asked how the contractions were and I said they hadn't changed they had stayed the same frequency and pain level and tightness so they decided to send me home as nothing had progressed . I was happy to be home as instantly felt more relaxed . I was told by the last midwife at the hospital it could go on for 4-5 days . Since Thursday the contractions have stopped and started painful and non painful , I've had horrific back ache, period like pains , lots of discharge, felt sick (I never suffered with nausea in the pregnancy) I'm struggling to sleep because of all it ! I did see my community midwife at the gp on Friday and she said early labour can stop at any point . So I'm a bit all over the place , my body is all over the place , I'm just shattered. I'm scared when I get to it I'm just going to be far to exhausted to do anything. I'm worried about my baby, is she okay in there with the contractions here and there ? Is she going to be okay if I'm not feeling good ? Just started getting painful contractions again writing this 😫.

This is my first pregnancy so I literally have no clue what to expect or what to do. Any advice or experiences would be lovely right now ❤️

Hi this probably isn't what you want to hear but I had my first baby 10 weeks ago. I started with really really bad back ache Thursday night which progressed over 3 days I gave birth on the Monday. Sunday night I couldn't talk through them so I went in to be checked and I was 6cm! I also went in on the Saturday night to be checked my cervix was fully effaced and I was 3cm I could have stayed in as they expected me back by the middle for the night but I said it wanted to go home I felt more comfortable there but like I say by Sunday the pain was excruciating. Baby was back to back that's why all my pains were in my back felt nothing in my front. I tried warm baths and codiene that the midwife gave me but nothing worked I couldn't even sleep through them even though I tried. Hopefully it's not too much longer for you and good luck! Everything sounds promising x

I was 1cm dilated with braxtons, back ache and cramps from week 38 to 40, then jumped to 3cm at 40 weeks and lost my plug, and had my waters popped and the hormone drip at 41+6.

My Labour however was very quick once they popped my waters 5 hours total Inc 25 min just pushing.

Sounds like you're going through the same thing as me! I was in latent labour for 6 days before baby finally arrived. I was having hours of regular painful contractions, getting to 7 mins apart and then just like that they'd stop!! Soooo frustrating I know. One of those things you have to just ride out I think. My midwife said to me however annoying and tiring it is just remember it's your body slowly progressing to where it needs to get to. And don't worry about being too exhausted for the real thing, you will find that energy from somewhere trust me x

Thank you ladies ❤️ xxxxxx

@FirstTime28

Hello! I'm just wondering how your labour went after? I know this post is old now but I could have written it myself word for word. I've been having regular contractions for 2 and a half days and cocodamol is no longer helping just making me extremely tired! When I got checked on the first day I wasn't dilated at all so have spent the rest of my time at home trying to move things along. I'm losing pink discharge which I'm assuming is something to do with me progressing but not getting my hopes up.

Don't know when I should get checked again or if things will hopefully happen soon. I'm so exhausted and can't sleep through the pain or eat because it makes me feel so nauseous.

How long after did you have to wait until you were in active labour? I have a section booked for a weeks time and would rather go naturally before that!

Thank you ☺️