2 days now of this early labour on and off

[laurenwiltxx]

Im 38-4days. It has been 2 days now of contractions for ages and then stops and starts. How do I hurry this up?? I'm really becoming disappointed now. And feeling like crap irritable tired. Any suggestions or experience of how long this can last?

that's ok, sounds like your body is just getting ready

walking twice a day at this stage helps relieves the cramps & keep baby in position and keeps things flexible down there - it always felt like last thing is want to be doing but I kept with it

once I had the long sustained back cramp lasting around an hour, then I knew things were real. before that it was like period cramps off and on so I was lying on sofa doing not very much but midwife told me lower back cramps that didn't go away were a sign full labour was imminent

even then it was a good 5 hours before thing started happening for real

I just wish I know when though lmao I know how it sounds but its really frustrating me I imagine it does everyone. I'm trying to think logically and that its me getting ready but my crazy brain is saying my body doesn't know how to start labour properly

Hiya Lauren, I could have written this too! I had a sweep on Friday and now I'm lying here in bed contracting away but it's not very painful. Like you I'm wondering if my body just doesn't know how to do this! Fed up and want to get a bit of sleep in but that's just not happening either. Fingers crossed for some proper definitive signs!
Good luck

3rd baby here, 39+6, I have had this for 2-3 weeks now. Starts at around 2ish in the afternoon, sometimes last well into the evening but generally just fizzles out. It's driving me mad, getting me tired and the whole not knowing when/where it's going to properly start is infuriating!

Keep moving (easy to say!), real contractions will get stronger, paracetamol if needed, baths etc. A friend who is a nurse told me my body is taking so long to prepare that labour will probably be quite quick - totally anecdotal I'm sure but it's keeping me going!

I'm 40+4 with my 3rd baby and having been early with the others have found this 3 weeks (!) of stop start really hard. Try not to overthink each pang and carry on with life, you could be holding on a while yet

I had days of slow labour with my first two DC (3 days with DC1 and a week with DC2) it is massively draining.
Hope things progress for you soon

Tips I've been given include walking / staying upright, sitting on birthing ball and circling hips, down on all fours and swaying hips. Hopefully things speed up for you soon.