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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

How long (and painful) can the latent phase be?

31 replies

helenpettigrew · 26/12/2007 23:14

Happy Xmas everyone. I've been in the early stages of labour (not established) since Sunday evening with irregular but frequent and excrutiatingly painful contractions. I'm 41 weeks today. The baby is, or certainly was, posterior lie so this may account for increased pain. We went in to hospital early on Christmas morning but as I wasn't in 'true' labour we went home. I had a show on saturday night. Has anyone experienced such a painful and lengthy latent stage? The pain feels like someone is trying to break my back open; it also stretches round my lower abdomen is felt in my bottom! I'm getting a bit desperate!!! Anyone? xxx

OP posts:

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CarGirl · 26/12/2007 23:16

you are not alone, someone - Awen???? has been in the same boat since Friday!

mylittleponey · 26/12/2007 23:18

sounds like things are progressing!!!! try getting a strong cloth and put it behind you so it so it presses on your lower back and pull when you have a contraction. I found this helped. good luck xxx

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 26/12/2007 23:18

Have you had any internals to check for dilation? I am aware posterior baby's can be more painful, but do you think your labour may have progressed? What are the timings of your contractions?

I don't have any experience with a posterior baby, but can you find any positions that are comfortable? On all fours, in the bath etc?

duchesse · 26/12/2007 23:22

long and painful. also erratic (I have a 38 hour and a 21 hour labour to show for that).

It's all working towards something though, whether turning the baby from posterior, or softening the cervix, or whatever needs doing. I always think the term "latent" is a little dismissive.

Original poster

helenpettigrew · 26/12/2007 23:33

Hi there - thanks all for writing - it's good not to feel alone!

Contractions have varied between 5 and 15 mins since Sunday night (altho they started on Sat eve but not painful) with some breaks during the day (now, currently about 6 mins apart).

I was given an internal exam on Tuesday am (Xmas day) but the mw couldn't 'find' the cervix without hurting me - so she didn't really go for it - I wish she had though, to be sure. Clearly I wasn't in real labour tho'. She wrote in my notes that the cervix was beginning to efface but not quite sure how she knew that without 'finding' it. She also said the head was very low down but in the notes wrote it was still 3/5 palpable, which it has been since the end of Nov. Am so confused and prob thinking too much but hard to think of anything else.

All fours, baths, walking, resting - none of any of these things have any effect on contractions. I was using a TENS machine but have tried today without it as suggested on phone by labour ward.

Will try the cloth thing - thanks xx

OP posts:

Original poster

helenpettigrew · 26/12/2007 23:39

Agreed! Calling it 'Latent' makes you feel like you're fussing over nothing when it can be agony!

OP posts:

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 27/12/2007 08:13

How are you feeling today? I hope things are moving along for you. None of the contractions are in vain, they are doing something - even though I am sure it doesn't feel like that!

Original poster

helenpettigrew · 27/12/2007 08:53

very, very tired. Can't sit or lie down so virtually impossible to rest. I have a mw appt today so hopefully she can give me some help.

Thanks for your thoughts.

OP posts:

ticks · 27/12/2007 09:12

Hi Helen my thoughts are so with you. My frst baby was OP and labour felt like it went on for weeks. I felt so useless when I finally went into hospital and they told me I was 1cm. But she eventually popped out with a bit of asistance, although it was quite a long and painful process. My second was due on Sat and like you have had lots of on and off pains, but this baby is also OP. I think it just makes the pains so inconsistent and you feel like you are getting nowhere but it will make an appearance eventually. Fingers crossed for you xx

Original poster

helenpettigrew · 27/12/2007 09:21

Poor poor you Ticks - your second OP too.

I think my little one might have to be an only child if this is any indication of a future labour (incidentally, it's been a horrible pregnancy too; throwing up for 9 months - I'm clearly faulty!).

Am ridiculously worried about hosp appt today as scared they will say I'm only 1 cm dilated or something. I thought they'd intervene by now - like breaking my waters. Friends who've gone overdue have had help by day 4 or 5 (eg sweeps etc) but I've had nothing and I'm now 8 days late. Might be because xmas got in the way - or that because it's OP they know that any form of induction is going to be doubly painful.

Like Iliketomove it says - I suppose we have to remember each contraction IS doing something even at this 'early (endless) stage.

Good luck to anyone in the same boat. xxx

OP posts:

meep · 27/12/2007 09:22

You're not alone - you have my total sympathy! I won't tell you how long my latent phase went on for - it's probably best not to focus in on the hours or you will go mad. Needless to say muy Mum phoned me on day 2 to sing me happy birthday and I threw the phone across the room ! I am also with you on the annoyance of being told I "wasn't in labour" every time I phoned the hospital ! I eventually went in and was given some di-hydrocodeine when I was 1.5cm which meant I couldn't go home - and they let me sleep on an examination bed in one of the triage rooms - not very comfy but I did manage a sort of sleep! Good luck - just remember that you will be meeting your lovely baby soon!

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 27/12/2007 10:56

Good luck at the hospital. Breaking your waters may not change anything and may only welcome an infection.

You'll get there, it may not be today or tomorrow - but it will happen.

JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 10:59

I had a long latent phase with ds1, was over a week and I was up and down to the hospital thinking it was it when it wasn't. When things got going it was very quick though, about an hour from 1-8 cms, short transition, then 2 hours pushing.

JodieG1 · 27/12/2007 10:59

My waters broke while I was pushing, gushed all over the floor!

mylittleponey · 27/12/2007 11:04

hope things are going well xxx

suzi2 · 27/12/2007 14:44

replied to you on the other thread. basically I had it with DS and DD. Though real labour was no worse really. I saw the mw who attempted a sweep but couldn't find my cervix and DS was not engaged. She told me I had "weeks to go". I went home, cried, contracted, cried some more... went to hospital 12 hours after that and was told that it probably wouldn't be weeks, but nothing was really happening. Went another 12 hours later at 8pm to ask them to stop the false labour as I hadn't slept and couldn't cope. Turns out I was 6cm dilated.

So don't lose hope. It's all doing something.

ticks · 27/12/2007 14:54

hi helen hope things are ok - al my twinges have stopped, am not even thinking about it now. it is really disheartening when you are told there is no movement but it will come out eventually. i was told at one point i was 4cm and then an hour later i was 3! I nearly smacked someone. i ended up having an epidural and i got there in the end. and it won't be an only child - you forget all about it i promise! (until it happens again, and you get filled with dread)

Original poster

helenpettigrew · 27/12/2007 16:56

Really useful and encouraging advice, so thanks everyone.

Having been determined to have a natural and active birth (hoping to use a birthing pool etc.) I am now faced with my worst idea of labour.

In short, the midwives now think that my waters broke (hind waters, so just trickling not gushing) yesterday afternoon. I thought it was more of the show (because real labour still hadn't established) but was aware it was very watery.

So they have to augment labour tomorrow to reduce risk of infection to me and the baby. I can't say No. The thought of lying on my back with a OP baby while they continually monitor the baby is filling me with horror! I will have to have an epidural which has always terrified me. They've told me it will definitely be very long and very painful - encouraging! I am almost certain it will end with an emergency CS. Tried to find other threads about OP babies and successful augmentations - but haven't. I still don't know how dilated I am or not (they didn't want to check because of infection risk) - but contractions still irregular.

Any advice?
Hxxxxxxxxxx

OP posts:

ticks · 27/12/2007 17:06

lulumama sent me a really useful link - will see if i can find it

meep · 27/12/2007 17:15

don't be terrified of the epidural if you have to have one - I didn't feel a thing and it made my Op labour much more bearable - I could still feel the contractions but they weren't as severe as before.
I have all my fingers and toes crossed for you

Bluestocking · 27/12/2007 17:38

Poor you, a long latent phase is really grim, isn't it? I think I'll emulate Meep and not tell you how long my latent labour was until you have your baby in your arms - I don't want to discourage you! Try not to be scared of the epidural - I didn't have one until the very last minute, because like you I was terrified of the very idea, and as soon as it had kicked in I felt so much better. It will all be fine and you will have a gorgeous newborn to snuggle very soon. and keep us posted.

lennygirl · 27/12/2007 17:56

Message withdrawn

Izzybel · 27/12/2007 17:58

Aww, poor you! Mine was about 2 days, so not even as long as yours, and I was fed up to say the least! DD was also posterior. Ended up having an epidural and it was amazing, pain just went and I was able to sleep, which I had been in too much pain to do so for about three nights! Fingers crossed that baby comes soon. Keep us updated! Good luck!

suzi2 · 27/12/2007 20:40

I'll cross my fingers that things kick off naturally for you.

Technically, you can say No if you want to. Also, why do you have to have an epidural? And they can monitor you while you're standing or lying on your side (wish someone had told me when I had DS!) so don't be bullied onto your back. Also, in the meantime, try to do some things to encourage your baby to shift to anterior. Time on all fours (bum higher than head), lie on your side when you lie down, don't lounge back etc might help.

I do know people who have had OP babies naturally while on their backs - it's not impossible. I had DS while on my back and it was pretty tricky (though he was OA) but even if you could flip onto your knees for the pushing it woul be much easier.

And I know many people who have had labour kick started/sped up for them and haven't found it horrendous.

Encouraging mw's btw ... you being relaxed and not having a lot of fear and worry is the best thing to encourage a natural labour so try not to listen to their negativity.

whomovedmychocolate · 27/12/2007 20:47

What do you mean you have no choice but to go for induction - sure you do - do you have any signs of infection? If not, why not hold off for twelve hours and see what happens and spend that time walking and trying to do anything but have a baby and who knows.

BTW Latent is:

Long Agonising Trying Exhausting Nauseating Torment

But it does end. And you get a great prize at the end which only screams at you for the first 14 years then ignores you for the next six!

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