Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

3rd DC - labour keeps stopping??? normal??

45 replies

whoodoo · 26/03/2010 08:08

3rd baby and hoping for VBAC after successful 2nd baby VBAC. 39.5 weeks now. I had contracctions 2 nights ago and went to bed but woke up OK. Some back pain yesterday and then in the evening some proper contracctions every 4 mins so I really thought it was starting. fell asleep and I'm still in one piece now with the odd tightening this monring but nothing regular. Is this stopping and starting normal? With my last 2 I just popped and got started on labour properly - waters went with second one but no waters or show with this one. starting to worry

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
rubyslippers · 26/03/2010 08:16

it doesn't sound like established labour

if you haven't had a show or waters breaking then labour doesn't sound like it has started

probably won't be long by the sounds of things

if you are worried then of course you should call your MW

morethemerrier · 26/03/2010 08:26

I had this with DS2, in the week before I actually had him (9 days over)!

Twice I was convinced it was starting and it drove me mad as I was gearing myself up mentally only to have to 'stand down' when it all faded!

My midwife said that it wouldn't take much to 'tip the balance into real labour', so it does sound like things are happening!

Also, when it did happen, it was fairly fast! Three hours!

So I like to think that those 'practice' contractions were doing something useful!

I didn't have a show and my waters only went in the last few minutes before delivery.

Good luck x

Emsie84 · 26/03/2010 20:02

Just in case you are still around - I had this with DS. 2 nights of on off contractions i.e. bad at night but managing to fall to sleep (with TENS machine on) and waking up with nothing. On day 3 I begged my MW for a sweep as I was so tired and she agreed, that was at 2pm by 5pm I went to hosp and was in established labour and had DS at 12:27 that morning.

HTH

steph1512 · 26/03/2010 21:16

hi i am 39plus2 and have been like this for wot seems like weeks..driving me mad esp as im so nervous this time round!

homebirthmummy · 26/03/2010 22:10

Don't be nervous it's a good sign.

Often you can have pre labour/early labour for days or weeks! It sounds bad, but the contractions are manageable and only last an hour or so.

It just means when established labour starts you have already done some of the leg work!

And some find, when established labour kicks in they are fully effaced and a few cm dilated (that's what happened to me and labour was fast too!)

HTH, and good luck!

P.S You don't need a show or your waters breaking to indicate you are in labour. Sometimes a show can occur days before labour or during, and likewise, the most common time for waters to break is around 7cm/8cm (just before transition).

NonnoMum · 26/03/2010 23:01

I was very stop/start with DC3, the MWs told me that 3rd baby can often be the trickiest as with first labour - you don't know what's happening, 2nd- so much easier than the first, but 3rd - more room to flip around and be a bit of a cheeky monkey.

I kept going in and out to hospital with 3rd like a nervous first time mum. However, when it did get going, it only took an hour!!!

Good luck...

Original poster
whoodoo · 27/03/2010 18:59

I'm still here in one piece - they all stopped on friday and got MW round. She said I could be at least another week but baby all fine. Just started to get more period like pain just now rather than actual contractions.

OP posts:
Arcadie · 27/03/2010 19:54

Period like pains are exactly how I would describe my contractions. You may be on your way. FWIW I'm expecting DC3 any minute (already overdue) and an irritatingly large number of women have told me that their 3rd births all stopped and started. Why is childbirth such a blooming hassle..........?

Original poster
whoodoo · 27/03/2010 21:27

I think I'm having contractions but cos it's been so stoppy and starty I'm convincing myself I'm not actually in labour. Just wish waters would go or something so I know I'm not imagining it. Don't want to go up hospital to be told to go home cos that will be soul destroying...

OP posts:
nellie12 · 27/03/2010 21:32

I had them for month with ds3. Even when I finally was in labour they stopped.

The labour only lasted 4 hours though.

In the end my policy was that if contractions stopped after paracetamol then it wasn't labour.

MumNWLondon · 27/03/2010 21:36

This happened to me with DC2, was in labour for 3 hours before I could accept it really was it (only when i had a show and 3 hours of regular contractions despite resting could i believe it.

DrSkidaddle · 27/03/2010 21:36

yes I had this with DC3 (now nearly 4 weeks old ) - all I can say is that when it happened for real the only differene was that the contractions didn't stop! There really wasn;t any other difference. However by the time I got to hospital I KNEW it was labour - and it was pretty quick. It is frustrating but just bear with it and see how it develops. Good luck!

cjn27b · 27/03/2010 22:16

I'm 38 + 4. In my 36th week I was admitted to hospital twice with contractions only for them to stop completely. It's all very strange, and totally different to last time. I was led to believe that labour was probably imminent, but nothing has happened since.

Original poster
whoodoo · 28/03/2010 10:04

went to bed and woke up still in one piece....expecting the same tonight

OP posts:
SmallShips · 28/03/2010 11:01

I was admitted at 35 weeks with contractions that stopped overnight. Am now 37 weeks and have felt like something could kick off at any moment since then.

Have stopped thinking about it now.

DarrellRivers · 28/03/2010 11:07

whoodoo, I could have written your post
39+6 here
DC1 and DC2 both started with waters breaking and regular painful contractions which increased in intensity followed sensibly by delivery

DC3 (at the moment) I have had 10 days and several episodes of thinking things have started, and then they don't
I persuaded the mw to sweep me on Thursday, and had some contractions for 5 hours but then all went again
This morning got woken by even more painful contractions, but they again went after 1 hour.
I am going ggggrrrrgghghhg internally
Hopefully something definite will happen soon
Everyone I speak to says 'oooh , third labours are renowned to be like this!'

Original poster
whoodoo · 29/03/2010 11:02

Darrell - are you still in one piece? I am and am officially 39+6 by my dates today. Nothing further on the contraction front. Seeing MW today again and thinking of asking for a sweep - seems like you got yours before 40 weeks?? friend recommended sex as hers came 3 hours after that but too knackered for that or the ensuing labour really.

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 29/03/2010 12:29

Still here
Have been contracting more this morning,and painful and more frequent but have just told my mum and DH so bound to stop now
Am 40 weeks today and have got ANC with consultant this afternoon, will have to beg him for a second sweep
My mw last week was older and really chilled, so I don't think she really cared
I suspect it depends on the midwife tbh

Original poster
whoodoo · 29/03/2010 13:34

mine's a second VBAC so if I don't get it out in the next ten days they'll want to induce me which I'm not up for and will probs have to opt for a section- with a 3.5 YO and an 19 monther I'm not really up for that. I'll ask her this afternoon if she'll get her hand up there and see what's going on - if she tells me I'm only 1cm I'll be gutted . The MW on Friday seemed to not want to examine me cos of possible cord prolaspe??

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 29/03/2010 14:17

Yep, my first was a section
That's why i though if I could get a few sweeps in before they start talking gentle induction, then that is a reasonably low intensity intervention
Depends on your MW, yours sounded a bit unhelpful, I think I was just lucky this woman was there on that day, she was covering for my normal team
Anyway, contractions seem to be every 4-5 mins and have racheted up in intensity
Am collecting things for my bag, and I don't think I could make it to my appointment with the contractions as they are so painful
Hopefully I'm in labour
Try nipple stimulation for 30mins or so, every day
And read lulumama's lovely advice on this thread, keeping positive helps, I've been picturing a daffodil opening every time I get negative thoughts, sounds daft, but it helped keeping me positive
see here
And remember you are not yet term, all the contractions are helping and mean you are getting really really ready to go into labour

Original poster
whoodoo · 29/03/2010 15:41

just got back from MW and she did sweep - I'm 2-3 cm, head well down and half effaced or whatever it is. Lulumama gave me great advice for 2nd (1st VBAC)labour - upright, active and mobile I remember chanting that all the way through along with thomas the tank engine theme tune as a result of the diamorphone. MW thought I was mad but he was out naturally in 7 hours. I have a horrible feeling I'm going to have timmy time going round my head with this one.

Sound like you're well on your way if you can't make it for 2nd sweep - let me know how you go. Wishing you loads of luck

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 29/03/2010 15:44

good news you got your sweep
Am still contracting well here, and trying not to think about things stopping
Seem more intense now, ie chewing pens when getting pain and a little closer together

Original poster
whoodoo · 29/03/2010 15:46

are you going to the hospital soon?? I'd been advised to start making my way once every 4-5 mins as people have said third can be quick once you're established.....

OP posts:
DarrellRivers · 29/03/2010 15:49

I'm getting close to that now
So far really intense every 8 mins or so, and then less intense ones a little sooner together
last two have been intense and 4-5 mins
(hospital only 10mins away as well)
And ambulance station practically next door

DarrellRivers · 29/03/2010 15:50

just need to know I am established
(also like home better than the hospital)

Swipe left for the next trending thread