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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

prolonged latent phase

26 replies

Awenamanger · 22/12/2007 21:32

Has anyone else had this? Been having 4 in 10 contractions for 30 hours. Only 2 cms dilated and cx length is still 2cm too. Am now home trying to manage here as find it upsetting in hospital. Trying for VBAC too so they wont help this stage along either. They wouldnt let me leave last night as were concerned about uterine rupture however diff dr this morning was happy for me to go. Baby is more posterior which is why they think is taking so long (same happened with ds1 and ended up emr cs and pph).

Any advice/experience?

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lulumama · 22/12/2007 21:35

oh poor you

my sister had a 2 or 3 day latent stage

her midwife advised lucozade

stay active, and upright or lean over a bean bag or birth ball, try not to lie on your back,all these things can help with a posterior baby

that in itself can give a long latent stage as there is not equal pressure on the cervix

go with what you are feeling and listen to your body

rupture is a small, small risk less than a percent IIRC

try having a bath or a shower to relieve discomfort whilst things are getting going..

eat and drink lightly and regularly to keep your energy up and sleep when you need to

your body will let you know when your full attention is required

lulumama · 22/12/2007 21:35

oh poor you

my sister had a 2 or 3 day latent stage

her midwife advised lucozade

stay active, and upright or lean over a bean bag or birth ball, try not to lie on your back,all these things can help with a posterior baby

that in itself can give a long latent stage as there is not equal pressure on the cervix

go with what you are feeling and listen to your body

rupture is a small, small risk less than a percent IIRC

try having a bath or a shower to relieve discomfort whilst things are getting going..

eat and drink lightly and regularly to keep your energy up and sleep when you need to

your body will let you know when your full attention is required

madChristmasmouse · 22/12/2007 21:37

Awen if the pain allows you you can rest sitting back to front on a dining chair with a nice soft pillow in front of you. You will lean forward and help your little one turn while you rest.

Original poster
Awenamanger · 22/12/2007 21:50

Sat on excercis ball now (feels right iykwim)

Lower back aching also very painful down low at front (think it is babies head on cervix although i dont know)

Baby is engaged (the can feel his head internally).

Am going to run another bath soon. Had one earlier and seemed to intenisfy contractions.

Eating choc buttons and drinking 7up (no lucozade in).

Feel like a failure

OP posts:
lulumama · 22/12/2007 21:52

why on earth do you feel like a failure???? you are strong, you are getting through this after a very stressful few weeks

do you have any raspberry leaf tea? have some with some brown sugar or honey in it

get DH to rub your lower back firmly with smooth motions and press quite hard, that can help relieve the pain

brusselbeansprouts · 22/12/2007 21:55

You aren't failing at anything!!
This is what your body needs to do and it will all happen soon!

Original poster
Awenamanger · 22/12/2007 22:00

I think i am feeling like i am not doing my 'job' properly. Went in hospital 3 weeks ago when then said i was having threatened pre term labour and had to have injections for baby (was 35+ weeks) DP had to travel back from Japan and since then been niggling.

Everything got really strong from 4.30am Friday morning. Didnt go in till 6.30pm as wanted to hold off as didnt want to be there without needing to be. Had a show and was getting contractions every 3 mins. When i got there they monitored me (active) and shown was getting 4 in 10 regular contractions. They said that they were sure i would be dilating well and in active labour etc. When examined was only 1-2cm dilated and I never made much further progress depsite the contractions. They said baby was OP so been bringing him round to left.. he does nearly get there but slips back a bit.

This morning i was on diff ward and diff team.. at ward round the midwife (who admitted she hadnt read up notes properly) gave consultant the impression that i was 'niggling' 'irregular' and cervix closed. Made to feel like wasted everyones time. Afterwards dp and i talked to her and she did read notes and aplogised and put me on monitor with again confirmed 4 in 10 reg and she examined internally was said she could feel babies head and that i was 2cm dilated. DP and I decided to go home as was no progress from 2am to 12noon and I would be more relaxed at home. Hospt were really nice in the end but i really want a VBAC but also dont want to risk the PPH and emer cs etc i had before.

Gosh that was a long one.

OP posts:
lulumama · 22/12/2007 22:17

your body is doing what it needs to , and just because you are not measuring up to some mythical idea of what labour must be like, you are not failing.... labour does not always fit the textbook or medical check list of 1cm an hour dilation, etc

your baby is in a postion that makes labour a little slower to start

so yuo had a false alarm, many many women have them

please don;t punish yourself for this

you need a bath, a small glass of wine, a visualisation of a how you want labour to be and to let go of thinking things are not right or you are failing

positive , strong thoughts

you go girl!

Izzybel · 22/12/2007 22:27

Don't feel like a failure! I had this with dd and it's so frustrating. Took 2 days to get into established labour and bloody hosital kept sending me home when all I wanted was the gas and air grr! On the bright side dd arrived eventually, she had been OP like your LO, which was why she had taken her time. As lulu said, try to stay positive, your LO will be here sooner or later. Hope everything goes well. Good luck!

Ledodgy · 22/12/2007 22:42

I had this with dd I was contracting for 3 days before reaching the magic 3cm. She was back to back as well. Good Luck it will happen for you soon, I promise.

Fragolina · 23/12/2007 12:37

Hi Awen, you are definitely not failing at anything!!! This is just what your body needs to do, your body knows exactly how to give birth, and you don't need to fit some 'textbook' version of the 'perfect' labour! Sending you positive vibes +++++, stay strong!

merrylissiemas · 23/12/2007 12:45

how are you this morning?

Original poster
Awenamanger · 23/12/2007 15:21

sorry i didnt reply last night. Managed a fitful sleep, but it was sleep The painkillers have helped take some of the edge of. Ending up dreaming about the contractions too. DP has been fab, he has taken ds out already today and they are out again as i really find it hard to amuse a 7 year old atm. Still getting regular contractions. Think baby has shifted around abit. Still low back pain too. Baby has been moving still.

Looked up on internet about prolonged latent phase and worried myself. Silly me.

I have been following all your advice, except the wine which i think i will give a go this evening before bed. Also while dp was out earlier i managed a hours sleep (again dreaming through contractions). Have also been bathing, sitting on ball and rest. Figure if this is a long haul then i need to conserve my energy.

Also wondering wether I will end up having baby at home as dont want to keep going up hospital. No idea if i have dilated anymore than 2 now. Surely the contractions should be doing something?

OP posts:
lulumama · 23/12/2007 15:23

Yyou might have a really quick established labour after all this.. you just need to take it as it comes and have a plan just in case....

resting is good.. you do need to conserve your energy when you can

the contractions are doing something, dilating and effacing the cervix and shifting baby around

hang on in there and keep us posted x

Original poster
Awenamanger · 23/12/2007 15:34

thank you lulu (am i right in thinking you are a doula or midwife?). You have really reassured me.

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Original poster
Awenamanger · 23/12/2007 19:37

Had another show about 309 mins ago. LOts of it, like jelly lots of clear and some slightly blood stained (v small amount of blood tho). Does this mean i have dilated further??

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Original poster
Awenamanger · 23/12/2007 19:44

30 mins not 309! lol

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lulumama · 23/12/2007 22:02

sorry, have been out, am a doula, hoping to train as a MW one day!

blood stained show is certainly a good sign, could well be a sign things are progressing...

PeckaRolloverAgain · 23/12/2007 22:08

Hi awen, havent read whole thread but my baby was OP a few weeks ago, I really wanted to move her as my others were op and i had long drawn out labours.

I used a few doses of homeopathic pulsatilla along with lots of ofp positions, visualisation etc and touch wood she has moved!

Good luck for the birth, latest show sounds good xxx

Original poster
Awenamanger · 24/12/2007 11:20

pretty sure baby is now on left side. Am resting lots, drinking lots and really hoping baby will now hold off for a bit.

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merrylissiemas · 24/12/2007 13:57

how are youdoing?

Original poster
Awenamanger · 24/12/2007 14:14

resting still been getting some quite stroing pains but trying to ignore. Figure as long as i can ignore them then i dont need to call anyone

Also ds1 had a chat with the baby and told him he isnt to come yet lol.

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Flibbertinseljinglebells · 24/12/2007 14:21

I had a week long phase like this with ds1. It was the longest week of my entire life. But when things finally moved - got to hosp fully dilated and he was out 1.5 hours later. My mum said she had exactly the same with my older sister but thought it best not to tell me that till after the event . I just kept sending Dp out for tons of crappy 'chat' magazines.
Baby will come when he is ready.

Flibbertinseljinglebells · 24/12/2007 14:23

Sorry I don't mean to frighten you!! I was just trying to show that sometimes things are long and slow and I think I was much better at home than in hosp having things artificially speeded up. I did ring the hospital about twice each day crying about how long everything had been going on for and kept being told not to come in yet!

Original poster
Awenamanger · 24/12/2007 19:51

dont worry you havent frightened me. Am getting lots of pain now. Feels like he is trying to dig his way out. Am actually wanting to slow it down night with it being xmas eve and all.

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