Early Labour - Never Ending Story

[LizzyJam]

Long time lurker here, but first time I've signed up to Mumsnet to post.

I wonder if anyone has any advice? I'm 10 days overdue with my first baby & contractions started Monday night. After a few hours of being 3-4 mins apart (11-6am) they then stopped. Cue that pattern for the last few nights.

In that time I've lost my mucus plug & had a very bad tummy - but the day times seem uneventful aside from the odd cluster of contractions.

I'm absolutely exhausted as I'm awake all night & cannot get comfortable in the day. I'm also confused as to whether I should be resting or active!

Anyway, just looking selfishly for some reassurance this hellish limbo land will end soon?! And that my contractions might actually continue into daylight hours? They're getting more intense each night - and I wouldn't class them as mild by any stretch! But my labour ward aren't interested just yet.

I now cannot imagine active labour even happening!

Thanks

Lizzy

My first labour started very slowly, with contractions only happening at night. My advice would be to rest now and save your energy for later on when you will need it. I would prefer to stay home as long as possible, especially in the current circumstances.

I never actually had a contraction in daylight hours - finally one evening they ramped up quickly and I gave birth in the early hours of the following morning.

good luck

@Peakedin1997

My first labour started very slowly, with contractions only happening at night. My advice would be to rest now and save your energy for later on when you will need it. I would prefer to stay home as long as possible, especially in the current circumstances.

I never actually had a contraction in daylight hours - finally one evening they ramped up quickly and I gave birth in the early hours of the following morning.

good luck

Thank you! I'm struggling to sleep in the day as I still get clusters of them during daylight hours, largely if I lie down. So feel completely shattered! I didn't get the memo about long latent phases, so feeling a bit caught out! X

If you can't actually sleep then at least try to rest. Now would be a good time to listen to hypnobirthing tracks if you are doing that.

I feel your pain though. I was already on the antenatal ward for various reasons which meant that I couldn't sleep during the day, then I had contractions all night.

My second Labour was like this, but the contractions were in the afternoon up til bedtime, I’d go to bed expecting to ramp up in the night but they would stop. Better way round than you are facing though! Are your contractions really painful, or is it more like cramps at this stage? If so, try your best to sleep, whether day or night. You really need your strength. I know with your first labour, you’re just so on edge in anticipation, but honestly just try to relax - your body will wake you when it needs to, and you’ll know when you need to be active. Just do what feels most comfortable. In good news, when I finally got into proper labour that time, it was only 2.5hrs because body had done most of the work already I assume. Probably your body is doing all kinds of repositioning of baby during these wee bursts - remember that to help you keep your spirits up!

I had a long latent phase with first baby. I got so frustrated with it.

Doing some very deep squats (holding onto something) and a hot shower eventually tipped me over the edge into active labour. Even then it was slow until the midwife broke my waters at 5cm and I dilated to 10cm very quickly and delivered in half an hour.

Midwife also suggested drinking lucozade to keep contractions going.

Good luck