How long were you in the early labour stage with your first baby??

[1990shopefulftm]

I ve now been having contractions for about 13 hours, the past 3 hours it's been one every 5 minutes and lasting a minute or so, midwife has recommended I stay home still so just wondering how long FTMs took to get to the point of their midwife recommending they go into hospital?

As the midwife saying some people were at this point for over 2 days, sometimes worse was a bit disheartening.

Every woman different, and all of a woman's labours can be wildly different. There's just no way of knowing, so all you can do is try to relax and be patient. Both of my labours were very, very quick, so I have no experience in waiting around, I'm afraid. Good luck!

I did three days of that! Started contractions on Friday night, he was born Tuesday at 9am. I only went to hospital at 11pm on Monday night and was 6cm when I arrived. I don’t regret staying at home that long. The birth was amazing

Watch films put music on, cook, eat, your baby will come when he or she is ready. Best of luck with it all!

@Nightmanagerfan I m 8 days overdue and I m due to see the community midwife tommorow afternoon.

Don't think I can cope sat in my GP waiting room like this for my appointment so I m a bit stumped what to do if the hospital don't think my contractions are enough to warrant seeing them by tomorrow afternoon.

How are you getting on @1990shopefulftm ? Hope you’ve made some progress by now?

I had a long labour with DC1. First contraction at 3am, finally had the baby just after midnight next day. Went into hospital at lunchtime but got sent home. Back again around 7pm, they took pity on me and let me stay. Had an epidural and he was born as I said just after midnight.

Hope things get going for you very soon.

@Nightmanagerfan I went to the birth centre to get checked out at midnight and I was only 1cm,they gave me a sweep and some pain relief and then I went home once I d managed to get my blood pressure under control as they were slightly concerned about it.

I have been trying to listen to my body by drinking plenty today but my contractions have slowed down a lot this afternoon so I ve probably made not much progress today if any at all.

Got just over 2 days until my booked induction so am trying to stay positive that I ve still some time left.

@1990shopefulftm How's it going? I had 3 days and 3 nights. Contractions started sat eve, emergency csection tues eve. I went into hospital every day (2cm, 3cm, back to 2cm) which i think slower down my labour.

@Nightmanagerfan how did you know not to go in? I kept panicking thinking surely it must be today. Pain was bad but it was more because I was so exhausted. Did you sleep?

@enidMatilda my waters went at half 4 on Wednesday morning, went to the hospital to find my blood pressure was too high and I was at 2cm so I was hooked up to monitors contracting on the antenatal ward without my DH there for 3 hours.
They then said they d consider inducing me at the 24 hours point, 24 hours came and no pessary as the delivery suite was so busy so they wouldn't give anyone else pessaries at that point as they wouldn't have coped , and again I was alone overnight throughout Thursday. Eventually 9am on Friday get told I m at 3cm so won't need a pessary after all and I was at the top of the list to go up to delivery suite for my hind waters to be broken and to get a drip, that took them until 4pm despite me being risky at that point.
I had my son at 11 05 pm on gas and air, had an episiotomy and 2 2nd degree tears.

My son's in the special care unit due to having an infection (he's 9lb 15 so he was difficult to get out but I never expected a baby do big to need help straight after birth) and I still have a high blood pressure, it's been very difficult not to blame myself for not fighting harder for us both to deliver sooner, despite being told by many people I did everything I could.

Ahhh @1990shopefulftm you've been through it!! Do not blame yourself! Sounds like a whole host of contributing factors there. Undoubtedly, you are the superstar. Can't imagine not having DH support. Seriously, well done!

My baby also had an infection and it was because I got an infection during my long labour. Also a big baby. Spent time special baby and have some horrible tests but after 5 days of antibiotics she was fine and we went home after a week. It's such a scary time. Totally normally if you cry all the time! Keep speaking to the nurses and asking questions if you want. What are you doing about feeding? Sending virtual support your way

@EnidMatilda thank you :) he's currently in the middle of his 5 days worth of antibiotics and we re formula feeding, the trauma has affected his appetite and energy levels a bit so he has an NG tube at the moment for anything he doesn't take in the bottle to be put down. He's had a couple of good feedings in a row so just hoping it continues and we can both go home soon.

@1990shopefulftm that sounds really positive! Good luck and congratulations! New born cuddles are the best