Help! Mucus plug just gone, pain down there - is it time?!

[Noodles81]

Hi guys,

I was due yesterday and had a sweep yesterday. Woke up this morning from pains in my lower back which then transferred to pain in the front, they were coming every half hr.

Just went to the loo now and my mucus plug has gone - it was flegm like and browny/redy in colour. The pains have also come back they happen every so often maybe half an hr.

Does this mean labour is imminent? What shall i do? Friend said now is the time to have sex to get it all going - isn't it dangerous to have sex if the plug has gone?

I'm so nervous!!!!

Hi all,

Well got woken up at 3am by really strong contractions, so much so i got the TENS out. I timed them and they were every 7mins lasting 1min each - i thought yes this is it come on......but no.

Around 10am they've gone down to every half hr and a lot less painful. I called triage and they said that it's normal for latent stage and this could go on for days yet before it settles and evens out for the real thing. Arrrrrrrrrrgh!
Why can't i be one of those women who just says oh yeah i went into labour at 3am and baby was born at like 1pm or something?! But no, i'm sitting here days later, still wondering how many more days it's gonna take and whether or not he will come before induction on Friday!!

I am now tired from waking up at 3am but want to move around and get active to get things going rather than lay in bed some more!
Why doesn't he want to come out and meet us?!

Aw, love, I really feel for you. I had this as well and it is rubbish, isn't it?

Okay, that baby WILL come out, eventually, but please please get some rest and sleep when you can or you will be knackered but the time it kicks off for real.

My experience of this is that I gave up on ever giving birth, was booked in for induction just like you, and went to bed in a mood, saying,"Fine, I'll just stay pregnant for ever, then!". I was woken up a few hours later with lovely great big massive painful contractions, which I could tell straight away were the real thing.

You're doing brilliantly and you're already at 2cm or more now. Just get that rest! Think about it: you need to be fighting fit for labour and have the most physical bit ahead of you. The more rested you are, the harder you will be able to work when the time comes. And it is hard work, like working out, so get rested now and you'll be able to keep going when you need to. Marathon runners train for months (like you have been during pregnancy) and then rest up the night before the race. Good luck!

And stop timing the buggers, they can hear you .

Hi Noodles, just dropping by to offer some encouragement, you are doing really well. Make sure you have a nap so that you are rested and try and keep yourself occupied so that your sole focus is not your contractions ( if you can). You will cope fine with the labour as long as you try not to panic and just go with it ( if that makes sense). Above all keep an open mind . Keep us posted xxx

Hi Noodles hope you are resting up and eating lots of chocolate. xx

Thank you guys for your lovely words of support, you've really kept me going :)

Opener - how long did your latent phase go on for until the real event?

Question - if nothing by Friday (is this likely?) what would happen? I can't be induced as such as i am technically in labour so will i go in to have waters broken or a drip to speed things along?
xxx

It sounds like you're making great progress . You're baby will be here soon now.

Try not to tire yourself out trying to encourage things to happen. You will need all your energy for the last part of labour. A resting labour like this can be frustrating, but if you go with it can also be more gentle than a harder faster labour.

Oh, and stop timing things! All that thinking about numbers will get too much adrenaline and thinking brain active, which will only slow things down.

There's really not much point in us telling you how long our latent phases lasted for because everyone is different . You just need to go with your labour and let go of trying to control and predict everything. There is every chance your baby will be here long before Friday, but the more you worry the slower it will be.

Honestly, you need to surrender yourself to it

I was about where you were at with DS1 when I was induced due to pre eclampsia at term. Pessary was inserted at night, then by exam at 9am ish was 5cm so took to labour ward.

Waters were broke as I wanted to avoid the drip(didn't want to be stuck on the bed), had him 1 hour and half later.

That was 13 years ago though so may be different now!

I think the one of the issues with induction is if your body is really not ready, yours is so don't worry if it gets to that point, although I stand by my thought that he will arrive well before then!

Figure of 8 on your birth ball, really helped open up my pelvis!

The first rule of Slow Labour Club is "We don't compare lengths of labours"! Seriously, it'll either depress you, get your hopes up or scare the shit out of you. You are going to have your labour or birth and it will be unique and your baby will be gorgeous.

Having said that, anyone posting on here saying their labour was really quick deserves a nipple flicking.

I can honestly say, anyway, that three years later I really can't remember how long it took. I was ready to kill someone by the time the real contractions started, I do know that. Probably a member of my family, because of course they were all really excited about it by then. I started sending texts like "Had the baby - only kidding!" after a bit because I was getting sick of people like my cousin saying "Get on with it!" and "How is your pretend labour going?".

My waters went before my contractions started, which meant I had a 72 hour period for labour to start for real before induction, so sorry, not much use there.

It is sheer bloody murder, but it WILL happen for you: one way or another, you WILL not be pregnant for very much longer. You WILL be a mum and you WILL have your baby. You never see a woman 11 months pg, do you? Hang on in there and swear as much as you need to.

Don't think that just because you're not in 'active' labour that your body isn't active.

Usually labours like this, whilst a pita, have a very fast 'active labour' because the body is toned, prepared with no shock. When you get going it is likely to be very quick indeed and the 'painful' bit very short.

Noodles - lots of people are suggesting that you stop timing your contractions, if you want something to read about why then this piece by The Hackney Doula (also an MNer) is rather good :)

Fliss that was a brilliant read thank you! Tonight i will be ditching the iphone and just going with the flow. I honestly didn't realise just how much effect constant clock watching on the ol' bod!
It's got me wondering if that's the reason why contractions suddenly stopped this morning after quite a successful run!

Since they stopped i've not thought about it and have watched some TV and will be taking a nap in a bit in case they start at night again and felt some twitches! But sound advice from you all, stop thinking about it and see what happens - as HARD as that is for me! Not that i like to be in control or anything!

Opener - i like your style, think i may try that with the family! OH's dad decided to book his holiday to Oz for tomorrow because he was so sure lil one would come on time and he calls everyday asking where his first grandson is!!

I sincerely hope it is true that the 'hard' bit is easier after this long wait - i'll use that as my carrot to keep me pushing through the pain!
x

Take it easy rest up and relax. My labour was 30 hours, woke early one morning with massive contractions very close, then they slowed down for the rest of the day didn't go into hospital until around midnight when the midwife said " ooh you are 5 nearly 6 cm did you do that all by yourself well done" and I said thru gritted teeth thanks now can I have some bloody drugs!! Ds eventually arrived at noon after 2 and a half hours pushing. Everyone's story is completely different and amazing, so we look forward to hearing yours!! Do get rest, pushing is exhausting so the more ready you are, the better.
It won't be long now I'm sure!!

My bloody boss texted me to say, "Any news?" and I sent one back, saying "Yeah, Obama won!" - DS was an early November '08 baby.

Tell your FIL you had the baby but didn't want to bother him...

Noodles splendid thoughts already from some wise MNers (thanks Fliss for linking to my blog piece).

"Take it easy rest up and relax" just about sums it up.

I usually suggest a planning a nice dinner out and a glass or two of wine at this stage!!!

Ooh yes, or arrange with friends to go to a movie. That's what got DS out in the end: we were going to go and see Quantum of Solace. I think. It was one of the Daniel Craig James Bonds, anyway.

Definitely make plans as if you had all the time in the world. Preferably pay for tickets, and make it something that you will need a babysitter for once your baby is here, so not a meal in at your house.

That ought to shift 'im.

hi noodles.me again!
with dd1 i was booked in for induction as i "cooked her"" and extra 10 days...labour kicked off 3am day i was due to go in..ha ha

i had waters broken..that cranked things up fairly quickly

i know its hard but your time will soon come to hold your lovely new baby in your arms and proudly say to yourself i did it!!

meantime remember you are doing a fab job.youve grown a new life!

big hugs and best wishes.x

I had a long latent phase with DD1 and DD3. It is very, very tiring. The biggest problem I had with DD1 was that she was OP / back to back - this may or may not have contributed to the long latent phase... if you have a look at Jean Sutton / Optimal Fetal Positioning (it is supposed to encourage baby into a good position for delivery and can be used even in labour). It might make you feel like you are 'doing' something? Otherwise my advice woulld be to make sure you rest plenty while all is quiet, eat little and often and keep up your strength for the main event.

Oh, and good luck :)

Hi guys,

Well it's all kicked off again. I had nothing from 10am - 3pm. At 3pm i decided to go for a good sleep and contractions started again. Sod's law!
They've been going on ever since. I haven't been timing so i don't know that side of things but they are still more painful than the ones i was having on Friday.

I am peeing every 5mins, very little which is horrible because it's such a struggle to get myself up from bed, literally feel like a whale being cranked up. There's also still some plug coming up, some just green and some bloody.

I'm curious to know if i have dilated anymore since 2cm yesterday afternoon, but also not as i don't want to be disheartened. All i know is it can't be as open as i would like to be to be able to go in and deliver because if i was they would be closer and i wouldn't be standing up typing!

I'll just keep plodding along i guess.
x

Noodles can you perhaps call your midwife? A green show might indicate meconium in your waters, i.e. the baby might be struggling a bit. It would be best to talk to someone and get their advice rather than just leave it.

Hi Noodles! Well done for getting this far.

I'd also suggest ringing the midwife / labour ward with the news about the green show. They might like to check you out.

Hi Noodles.
I too had a long latent stage.
Hope things kick off for you tonight.

Well done . I'm not surprised things got going again when you lay down to relax. I hope you find some nice music or a DVD or something to do this evening, so that even if you can't sleep you're not tiring yourself.

Not long until you hold your baby now .

Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice :)

I called triage and she said that green in mucus is ok, especially as it was only one occasion. She said it's if it's in the waters that i need to come straight in. She said just wear a pad for now to keep an eye on it and call back if there's any more or if blood or waters go.

Maybe noodles will have a Valentines baby!! This is really exciting, hope tonight goes well for you!!