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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Latent labour - losing the will :(

78 replies

Emfrancesca · 01/04/2023 21:50

I’m a FTM and I’ve been in latent labour for over 24hrs now.
I started to get regular strong period like pains on Friday night just before 8pm. Woke up at 3:30am this morning and lost my mucus plug, the pains were coming 3 in 10 mins so I called triage and they said to go in and they will asses me. I was assessed around 4am and was told I’m 2cm dilated, there was quite a bit of length to my cervix but it was still “favourable”. She also gave me a sweep. We came home, I dozed on and off between the pains. They weren’t agony but I still had to concentrate and breathe through them. I’ve had pains all day today, progressively getting more intense but I was still having some that were less painful. I’ve been losing more of my mucus plug all day today as well (who knew there was so much of it?!) and now tonight in the last hour or so they seem to have dropped off, I’m still having them but the time between them is getting further apart and they are less intense.
I’m so frustrated with it, the way I’ve been feeling and how frequent the pains were I really thought I’d be back in the hospital tonight further dilated. Instead it seems to be going the other way!!!
Has anyone else had a similar experience to this? I know we all labour differently but I’m just looking for a glimmer of hope that this isn’t going to go on for days and days, as I really want to avoid being induced, which has already been booked for next Friday.

OP posts:
sunmonlight · 05/04/2023 21:04

Thinking of you OP.

PritiPatelsMaker · 05/04/2023 21:23

Emfrancesca · 05/04/2023 20:48

So I managed to dilate to 4cm by 4pm however I've just had another examination and I'm still only at 4cm - I can't believe it. Baby is in an awkward position which is slowing things down.
Got to go on the hormone drip now for another 4hrs now and then see where we're at.
I'm not allowed to eat and I'm starving, I haven't eaten since 1pm 😢

You're allowed a C-Section if you want one Flowers

hallodarknessmyoldfriend · 05/04/2023 21:30

You are so strong, OP! Good luck and you'll hold your baby soon Flowers

DeoForty · 05/04/2023 23:26

Really similar experience here (except my cervix started to swell because of the head position, so I started to go backwards). I refused the drip and opted for a C-section.

Make sure they keep an eye on your uterus tone. You've been in labour for days and now they want to ramp up the contractions.

DeoForty · 05/04/2023 23:29

And proof, if it were needed, that not all labours are created equal.

You've kept a cool head, OP.

BabsDylan · 05/04/2023 23:32

You’re doing brilliantly OP.

Exactly the same happened to me and after 4 hours on the trip I was still 4cm so C section for me. Huge relief even though I’d started out wanting a home birth 🤣.

Whatever happens the end is in sight x

Joystir59 · 06/04/2023 01:45

Good luck op! Not long now

Original poster
Emfrancesca · 06/04/2023 02:07

Just had another check and I'm 5cm. Going to give the drip another 4hrs, if there's not much change I'm going to opt for a c-section.
Does anyone have any advice on c section recovery, is it really as bad as people say?

OP posts:
FrenchTrellis · 06/04/2023 02:30

Good luck OP! Hopefully a bit of extra time will help and you will have progressed a bit more!

If you do end up having a CS then try and gently move about as much as you can so you don't end up feeling stiff. Ask the staff if they have a bed ladder to help you get sat up in bed. You can make one at home by looping/tieing a scarf or sheet to the end of your bed and putting a knot at the top.

All the best Flowers

tiredpuppymum · 06/04/2023 03:00

Have you have an epidural?

tiredpuppymum · 06/04/2023 03:01

If not get mobilising! Just because there's a bed in the middle of the room doesn't mean you need to be in it.

unkownone · 06/04/2023 03:09

I ended up with both C-sections - after 36 hours for one and loger for the other. My kids were lazy lol. Google pressure points. I did a lot of pressure points - it got the contractions going really well. But my kids were lazy and had big heads lol so didn't fully work end of the day, but could help.

EarlGreywithLemon · 06/04/2023 06:39

Very best of luck OP! You’ve had such a tough time, you poor poor thing. My first was in an awkward position so I know what utter agony it can be - and I only had to endure 18 hours before they took me to the labour ward, gave me an epidural and then broke my waters, at only 1cm. No idea how you’ve coped this long. Have a huge huge hug from me.

I had an elective C Section with my second and recovery was absolutely fine. Yes, there was pain, but nothing like labour pain and very easy to keep on top of with painkillers. The worst bit of it is well over after a few days. A friend had an emergency section with her first after a long stalled labour. She opted for an ELCS for her second, so didn’t find it that bad.

Have you had an epidural? It massively sped things up for me, because I could finally relax. It might help?

BabsDylan · 06/04/2023 07:42

First few days are the worst but you do get better every day.

Sitting up from lying down is very difficult I remember so you’ll need a bit of help with that.

You have to rest/lie down/cuddle the baby anyway so it’s fine,especially with your 1st.

I think I felt pretty good after 2 weeks though.

Thinking of you.

SeaDee · 06/04/2023 08:48

I had a section for ds1. The recovery was fine. I just wish they had given me the section much earlier before 3 days of almost no sleep.

Fingers crossed you're on the home straight!

PerfectPrepPrincess · 06/04/2023 14:43

@Emfrancesca this exact same thing happened to me. I'm finding it very hard reading your posts but I'm glad your coping with it better than me. C Section is fine...get big like super big pants size 24...seriously as the throw away maternity ones will only go up 1 leg as you'll swell from the drip they put you on, swelling will go after a few days. Congratulations on the impending birth!

Original poster
Emfrancesca · 06/04/2023 15:23

Hi everyone, our little girl was born this morning at 6:53am by c section. I am in pain now and getting up out of bed is ready but I'm hoping this is the worst it will be. She is finally here and it can only get better from here. Thank you for all your comments and encouraging words, they have helped me get through along with my amazing partner.

OP posts:
PurBal · 06/04/2023 15:27

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter. Wishing you all the best for recovery.

PritiPatelsMaker · 06/04/2023 15:39

Congratulations on your amazing new DD and wishing you a swift recovery Flowers

threeplusmum · 06/04/2023 15:45

Congrats! I had my baby earlier today after 9am. Wishing you and your baby all the happiness in the world!

SeaDee · 06/04/2023 21:19

Congratulations! That's fabulous news.

Speedy recovery

BabsDylan · 07/04/2023 00:06

Well done OP! And congratulations. Take it easy!

teezletangler · 07/04/2023 01:07

Congratulations! I came back for the update Smile

teezletangler · 07/04/2023 01:08

And your baby and I share a birthday- she knows how to take her time to be born on the right day!

justmyluck1234 · 07/04/2023 16:36

Congratulations OP x