Slow labour? Soooo fed up - any positive stories or just nice words?

[waitingtobloom]

My last pregnancy was very similar in that I would have runs of mild contractions which would stop after a few hours (was actually in hospital once and they were registering quite high just not enough). My labour with DS started when I woke up in the morning with contractions every 5 minutes lasting about a minute but not strong enough to do anything - went on like that for hours and hours but wasnt dilating past 2 cm. Then suddenly they changed and he was out in 1.5 hours but thats another story lol.

This time around have had similar experience - runs of mild contractions which I just ignore as know this time they are not strong enough. Last night though I started getting pains 5 minutes apart and about a minute long. Certainly strong enough to make me sit up and notice but not strong enough to be in established labour. This carried on ALL night - was drifting in and out of sleep and they still kept coming. Stopped this morning when my DS got up (coincidence?).

Have had a few pains on and off today and generally feel exhausted and sick - but could be lack of proper nights sleep (lol whats one of those?!). What do you think - will it kick back off tonight? I know its just a waiting game but really want someone to say yes lol.

I am about 3 - 4 cm dilated but not effaced (but very soft) and have easily been swept. Have had a show over last few weeks and huge one last night (was quite in awe of it lol).

Please baby come on - I so want my homebirth and the very short staffed midwives are making a huge effort this weekend for me - head of midwifery is coming out for me if I go tonight apparently - how posh!!!!

Just need some hope - feel so crampy and tired and have had enough yet. Am 40+1 (know it could be a lot lot worse.

xxxxx

the best thing you can do is try and get some sleep if at all possbile. i had this with dd and they actually gave me something to make me sleep and i woke up 6 hours later a further 3cms on, and went straight to the delivery ward. it sucks, the waiting and stopping and starting

If it's any consolation I'm in exactly the same position. I actually came on here to look for any advice. I've been having runs of contractions for about a week now but it doesn't seem to quite click. Sick and tired of it now. I'm 38+1 and scared of two more weeks of this!

Not sure if this helps or not but I had a similar labour and ended up being induced which threw my low risk birthing unit plan out of the window completely. The positive bit is that it was a much more positive experience than I thought it would be even though I didn't get to give birth where I wanted and in the way that I wanted.

I really hope you get your home birth though...good luck

I'm not an expert, but all the signs seem good, like your body is doing warm-up contractions. Try if you can to get some rest and trust your body, let it take over.

Wishing you a beautiful birth ((()))

I had mildish contractions every night from day after DS was due until I was 41 weeks. They would stop about an hour after I got up in the morning. When they finally didn't stop I went to the hospital about 11 am and he was born at 1:42 in the morning the next day.
I had a lovely birth despite being long I only had gas and air which is what I wanted. I stuck to my guns over an episotomy and I didn't tear even though he was 9 and a half pounds.
Try and get as much rest as you can I used to get up have a bath and go back to bed. The end is in sight, I hope you have your home birth and good luck.