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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Labour stopped

29 replies

Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 05:55

What fresh hell is this! This is baby 3 and it isn’t cooperating.

What I thought was Labour kicked off last night. Cramps, progressively getting worse, very painful (more so than BH) to the point I called in backup to watch my other children. Averaging 5mins apart.
Had a bloody show and then…nothing.

Now I’ve got cramp and intense pressure but not what I would describe as active Labour. It’s not got worse at all and I’ve managed to sleep through bits of it.

What do I do at this point, can I go in and ask the midwives what is going on or is it best to stay at home?

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 21/03/2023 05:59

Call your midwife. No.3 can end up happening very quickly, I was almost fully dilated by the time I got to hospital and had no pain relief at all.

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 06:02

Really @RedHelenB! I don’t feel like I’m in active Labour, just sore and uncomfortable but I don’t have ‘contractions’ any more. I didn’t think they would examine me as I’m not labouring.

Completely fed up.

OP posts:
Zapx · 21/03/2023 06:06

What week are you on OP? If term/overdue I’d go in to ask if they can check.

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 06:08

I’m 39+3 @Zapx so term but not late.

OP posts:
RedHelenB · 21/03/2023 06:08

What do you mean by pressure, are you still feeling that?

Nettlestea · 21/03/2023 06:10

How far along are you? I had exactly the same happen to me at 39 weeks and thought for sure it was labour, it’s my third too, then it all just fizzled out. Probably phone the midwives and see what they say, that’s what I did, they told me to take paracetamol and get some rest, and that the contractions would wake me if it progressed. I’m 40+1 today and think my waters have just gone, but I’m still so unsure, will phone midwives later, I’ve heard these third babies can be difficult to tell. Good luck!

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 06:11

@RedHelenB like a constant feeling of needing a wee that won’t go. I could also feel the babies head pushing off the cervix but that seems to have reduced 🤮

OP posts:
PopsicleHustler · 21/03/2023 06:11

I was in slow latent phase labour for a week with number 5! Everyday I thought this is it, would ramp up and slow down. I was constantly texting my husband and my aunt every other hour, the contractions are really picking up today is the day. To texting him never mind stay at work they have fizzled out again. She was then 10 hour labour which was not too bad going bearing in mind she was ny 5th, you would think things would be quicker! Not in my case, at all. I just gave birth 11 weeks ago to baby number 6, emergency c section which was unfortunate because I had done 5 natural labours but he was a big boy and was getting stressed out and i was getting nowhere past 4cm.after 27 hours. I had lost my mucus plug on Tuesday and had him on the following Monday, it was a bit stop-start then too with a few spaced out contractions for a couple days end if December and then coming close together and then nothing, until beginning of January 2023 my waters went 7.30am, and I plodded along at home until things picked up and went to hospital in the evening. They wanted me on the drip fron the get go but I had it before and it was horrible. Just kept going til 8am when they said you have to go on the hormone drip as you're not getting past 4cm, but then they examined baby and said his heartbeat is too high which means emergency csection.
Maybe yours is stop start too and then will kick off. But it sounds like things are going in the right direction. Maybe go see your midwife or get an internal to see if you're dilating. Or have sex to speed things up!

HappyKoala56 · 21/03/2023 06:12

There's no harm in calling your midwife and explaining how you're feeling, they may offer to check you over.
This happened with my second, got childcare for DS at 5am went straight into hospital and then it all stopped. I was 38 weeks. I was 2cm and was given a sweep, told they'd see me in the next day........10 days later I was induced lol. Some babies are just monkeys from the get go - best of luck OP

PopsicleHustler · 21/03/2023 06:13

Wow yeah I had that a lot with baby number 6,feeling to wee all the time. I mean you go through that all the pregnancy ,but it really ramped up when I was in labour!!!! Sounds positive. I think you're almost there! Yay!!! Best of luck !

RedHelenB · 21/03/2023 06:13

Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 06:11

@RedHelenB like a constant feeling of needing a wee that won’t go. I could also feel the babies head pushing off the cervix but that seems to have reduced 🤮

Maybe it is a false alarm, but when I had shows baby came within 24 hours of that.

Libmama · 21/03/2023 06:14

My third was very stop start for a couple of weeks. She was born at 41 weeks exactly. Took forever to get going properly.

PopsicleHustler · 21/03/2023 06:14

Wow nettlestea@Nettlestea best of luck to you too!

CaptainMum · 21/03/2023 06:15

Hi! Mum of four here. Congratulations on baby three being ready- exciting!!
If possible, Keep moving, keep upright. (If you want labour to progress!) Bounce or walk, if contractions stop or you feel too comfortable- like in the bath- make your body get to work again. It does sound like today it could happen. Good luck!

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 06:17

Thank you everyone. I’m feeling really tearful and deflated…really thought that would be it. With both other labours I’ve had a baby relatively quickly, never had pains stop and start.

I will try and ring the ward but I don’t think they like to see you until your in active Labour which im definitely not!

OP posts:
littlemissalwaystired · 21/03/2023 07:08

Third babies are pickles I'm afraid! The latent phase of labour almost returns to how it is with a first - more stop/start. Once it gets going it's often speedy though.

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 09:46

Still nothing except random excruciating contractions that never get regular…soul destroying.

The maternity unit won’t see me until I’m contracting properly so I’m settling for the long haul.

OP posts:
PurBal · 21/03/2023 09:49

This happened to me but my waters had broken so had to go in to be put on the drip to get me going. My sisters last labour went on like you describe for a number of days. Keep moving! You’re doing great.

Findyourneutralspace · 21/03/2023 09:58

I had a seven hour break in my second labour, from 10pm to 5am. Luckily I was able to use it to sleep, then when it kicked back in properly it was all systems go. I was glad I’d rested.
Good luck OP - hopefully today will be the day for you.

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 21/03/2023 10:26

Thanks all of you. I’ve sent DH back to work as it felt pointless him hanging about.
Here’s hoping it starts up again tonight 🤞🤞🤞

At the moment not much is happening, the odd random not regular contraction and a baby with hiccups but that’s about it!

OP posts:
katmarie · 21/03/2023 11:11

Slow labour with bladder pain and contractions that ramped up and then tailed off, is exactly what I had with my first baby. I was in that phase for five days, and it was excruciating at times. I felt desperate for a wee, but when I went nothing much happened. I was in and out of the midwife unit daily during that time, but it wasn't until the 5th day, when they asked for a urine sample and I couldn't do anything, that they actually listened to me.

What had happened is that my bladder filled and couldn't empty, which blocked baby's progression, which meant labour couldn't get going. The midwives decided I needed intervention at that point, because there are all sorts of risks around bladder rupture, etc. I was catheterised, which was an incredible relief, and then had an epidural and an induction drip to progress labour at that point. They found meconium when they broke my waters, but DS was born absolutely fine after about 12 hours on the drip.

So if you are having bladder pain, and are struggling to wee, please get yourself seen, you might need intervention sooner than later.

chronictonic · 21/03/2023 11:13

My labour was like this. And lots of friends. Sometimes it's very on and off.
Try going up and down the stairs sideways.
Good
Luck!

Original poster
Whoneedsleep · 22/03/2023 04:52

You were all right…after a day of stop start/is it or isn’t it, baby DS arrived last night within 8 minutes of my waters breaking. Just about made it to hospital so I think the saying baby 3 can be fast and furious (and very intense!!) was correct for me.

Thanks so much for the support all ❤️

OP posts:
Timetochangetheoil · 22/03/2023 05:03

Wow! Congratulations Op and well done 🎉🥰

PopsicleHustler · 22/03/2023 08:24

Massive congratulations 👏 well done ❤

When/where did your waters Break?