To dance or sleep?

[Thankyouthankyoujellybean]

I've had 90 mins of contractions, starting about 9min apart and getting down to 5mins apart (some as close as 3, but went back to 5). It's midnight and I'm battling a chest infection. I'm pretty tired.

So, should I try to dance this baby out, or get some sleep?

Try to sleep, if it's real labour you won't be able to stop it. Good luck

Definitely try to sleep. Real labour will wake you up anyway.

Is it your first?

Yeah, I know you're right. I've been off and on for four days and I'm getting impatient now.

No, third! But I had to be induced both time before, so this is exciting 😂

Ooh!

Did you have vaginal births before?

You sound too excited to sleep!

How about having a bath and alerting whoever is looking after your other children?

The warm water will relax you and help your chest, too.

Listen to your body - sounds like it's saying to sleep. I found that dancing was good when contractions were stronger and more regular - such a great distraction and pain relief.

@TheShellBeach yes, but they were long, grim, drip-induced and entirely at the hospital. This is new!

Was your last labour less than two years ago?

My parents are actually here and asleep, so I'll leave them be until it's go time - my Mum is like me and will be too excited to sleep when she knows something is happening 😂

Three and a half years. Does that make a difference?

Are you having a home birth?

No, but the hospital is only 15 mins away

Ooooh, exciting!!!!!

It's usually quicker if it hasn't been long since the previous birth.

Sleep if you can. I was up all night with contractions 3-5 minutes apart with one of mine. I was fine while up but, as soon as I lay down, it hurt like hell. So sleep didn't work out for me. If it will for you, I'd take advantage of it.

Bleuch. Getting painful but still 5mins apart.

Be careful. If you've only experienced induced labour, you'll not know what regular labour feels like quite possibly. I was induced with my first. My second was natural and so much easier. I thought I was in early labour when the urge to push came. Don't leave it too late.

I disagree! Kee moving and put some comedy on to get the oxytocin flowing. Stay upright.

If you're getting to the point where you can't talk when you've got a pain, and they're ramping up in intensity, you should encourage the labour by walking about, and also think about going to the hospital.

Be careful it doesn't suddenly become too intense or you might find yourself with an urge to push, and no time to get there.

How many contractions in ten minutes? Two or three?
Write down the time each one starts and see what the time difference is.

Natural labour in a third baby can be very rapid.

How are you getting on OP?

Are you okay?

I bet the OP's at the hospital, 8 cm dilated.

@TheShellBeach pretty much bang on. Arrived at 6:28 😂