Has anyone had a labour that's just not that painful?

[Scampmum]

I am having regular contractions, 15ish minutes apart (but closest together only 2 apart!), but... they're just not that painful! I know I have quite a high pain threshold and these definitely aren't BH, but not sure what to do at this point. Just wait until they're intolerable and then start thinking about the hospital? For various reasons I'd rather not have a homebirth... (difficult last labour with OP baby, parents are docs and violently opposed so although personally I love the idea don't want to stress them out...)

Have to say my contractions started 4-5 mins apart lasting 90 secs and were painful but nothing like I had been led to believe.

Fast forward a few hrs and they were excrutiating!!!!! I had epidural asap.

Hmmmmm ... yes, that's what I've heard too. Slightly worrying as this pg has been really straight forward for me [hmmm]. Last time I had all sorts of minor ailments and had a straight forward labour.

LOL about the DH massage. Just snapped at my sister because for some reason every time I'm in labour I seem to be surrounded by INCOMPETENTS who can't understand a simple 'start!' 'stop!' for timing contractions.

Did I mention I'm a bit irritable?

I heard that too, but had two almost completely uneventful pregnancies, followed by okay labours.

One not so straightforward pregnancy and one ecs due to breech-ness.

So, tis not always the case.

ok, keep a track of the big contractions AND the little ones in between.....

how far away is the hospital? how regular are they now? when i was preg i was told to go in when they were 3-4 mins apart and lasting a minute.

Maybe we could time your contractions for you

no - all she had to do was press 'start'. Apparently she didn't hear me - so when I said stop she said 'I haven't started' - exactly what DH was doing last time.

Am alternating between ball and Pampers bedwetting mat on the sofa! Should prob get on all fours, did just have a ctx that started in the back...

it is not really the timing,but how long they last and the intensity

Hospital is about 15 mins drive I would think at this time of night. Reckon will wait until regularly 5 mins apart then hook up TENS and jump in car. I don't know if I should do TENS now, I really don't need it but it accumulates, right?

Here's VS's link to the contraction timer for anyone who hasn't got it timer

baby might be turning around so stay upright, or all fours.do not lie on your back !

just try to get into it.listen to your body

remember to wee and poo, to give baby maximum space

and keep hydrated , raspberry leaf tea with honey or brown sugar for energy

starlight - well she said ring the hospital if they are painful, 3-4 mins apart and lasting a minute. so i guess if yours started at that maybe they weren't painful until they were closer together?

start TENS now as it builds up

MWs said five mins apart to me. I think they were a bit wary about me having not called the MW until fully dilated at home last time and having to get an ambulance!

Yes, yes ... probably worth getting your tens on at a low setting to get things going. It takes a while to build up so best not to leave it too long.

you mean the ones in hospital?

No waters, no show. Bizarrely I have no idea when my waters went last time, implying was prob late on (after transition) when I was in the pool. Unless by freak chance it happened in the two seconds I was in the bath before I realised I really didn't want to be there at all.

if you are not planning a HB and you had to get an ambulance last time, ,i would head to hospital sooner rather than later. and if your waters go, i;d get to hospital pretty quick!