In very slow early labour - encouragement needed!

[Lovage]

I've been having contractions all day on and off. They're not getting any stronger or closer together - about every 10 mins for just 10-30 seconds with some patches of stopping altogether, since 8am (when I had a show).

It's fine, except that with DS I had a very slow labour (2 days like this and then 27 hours of more established labour, ending in 3 hours pushing stage). I got really really tired and I think that's why the second stage was so long and awful. I had complications like a cystocele which is still causing me trouble and an episiotomy (that healed badly) that I'm pretty sure were just because I was so tired by the time I was giving birth. I'd been hoping for a much quicker labour this time - knew it'd never be a few hours but was hoping for 12-18 hours total. I'm worried that it's going to be another 2 days yet.

As well as the practical worry about getting too tired (am resting lots and did manage a 45 min nap after lunch) it makes me feel crap at giving birth - like my body doesn't really know what it's doing. No idea why I should think that quick labours are the proper way to do it, but clearly I do!

I also feel guilty for having got my parents up to look after DS when it's clearly going to be ages yet. They're fine with it, but I still feel bad.

So words of encouragement much appreciated...

my sister was like this for three days

no one minded being kept up to date as it was all so exciting.

rest, eat , drink, laugh, have a bath, sex and nipple stim, but at the moment conserve your energy.. you will need it soon enough...

Good luck!!

You never know it could progress quickly which will be a good thing you have your parents there. Watch a good film and relax x

Im sure your parents are happy to be part of it - Get them to cook and clean for you

good luck

Just to add support. Keep resting but busy enough to keep your mind off it all. Have friends round you who will support and encourage you. Eat and drink for as long as you can. Remember it's normal and that second labours are usually shorter and easier than first labours. Good luck chick.

Having had a long (not as long as your first though!) labour with ds1 i would say, eat, build up your energy, and rest.
Eat good stuff as if you were running a marathon - pasta, bananas, etc.
get some glucose sweets type stuff at the ready.

and good luck!

Thanks all - is picking up a bit. At least, contractions are getting much more painful (need TENS machine now) but no closer together - still about 10 mins apart. Lasting a little bit longer but still well under a minute and most under 30 secs.

Does that suggest I'm still not dilating much? Last time I'm sure the contractions got closer together as they got more painful, but this time they're just getting more painful.

Have started filling birthpool since that takes ages (homebirth). It's sprung 2 punctures already (borrowed from a friend who'd had it in her loft for 2 years) which we've mended, but is a bit alarming - can't do it without my pool!

Have you called the midwife? Would she come round and check to put your mind at rest?

Its a good sign that they are getting more painful x

My first labour was similar to yours, 3 days slow labour, 32hrs established (but less pushing at the end) - successive labours were much quicker .

Good luck with it all - lots of rest and keep eating and drinking.

I'm getting all excited on your behalf!

Thanks! Only just got back on MN...

Baby boy was born 4.30am on 19th Oct. Don't know what I was worrying about about slow progress - was about 9 hours of established labour, which was much better than previous 27 but not so fast it was scary or pain too difficult. Only 25 mins of second stage (much better than 3 hours!) Lovely water birth and I caught him myself. Small second degree tear and graze, but healing well (unlike damage from first birth which has been stirred up a bit). Hooray for second-time birthing!

congratulations!