Stop/start labour

[0310Star]

I'm 38+3 and yesterday I had on/off contractions all day that turned into every 2-3.5 mins lasting about 40-60 seconds for a good few hours. Was sure it was time but this morning has stopped
Anyone else had a stop/start labour and how long did it go on for?
Gutted this morning....

Anyone??
They've come back again today, constant since about 7.30am but triage say they need to be more painful!
Please tell me this is a good sign!!

Not much advice to give as I was induced early with both of mine but it does sound like it's the start of baba arriving! Mainly just wanted to say good luck xx

@Letmesuckyourblood thank you, I really hope it doesn't go on too long! 2 days already and I'm now worrying this could go on for weeks after reading threads of people who have had it go on for ages!
Although I THINK that's more irregular, this has been pretty regular for 2 days now x

If it's been pretty regular then I'd definitely say they're getting ready to come. Make sure your hospital bag is ready to go!!!

Is this your first?

If i were you I'd be on a birthing ball bouncing, it helps babys head apply pressure to the cervix so with that and combined contractions on and off it may kick start things properly. However it still is a good sign so don't be disheartened hopefully you will have your baby soon x

Yes this is my first! I was worrying that I wouldn't know when things were starting and these slow drawn out contractions are not helping this theory
Have been on the ball all day, on it now hoping it helps! Have taken some paracetamol which has taken the edge off a bit.

Thank you ladies x

I had stop start contractions with DD. It would start every night about an hour or two after I went to sleep. I timed them, getting closer and without fail every time I was about to wake DP, they would stop. So it went on for 5-6 hours. By day 3 I was exhausted. I hadn’t had any sleep. It was not a good time!
Luckily I had a midwife appointment after the 3rd night and had a sweep which properly kicked of labour. At the appointment I was 1cm dialated and fully effaced. They contractions were doing something! It is frustrating though.
Much as it’s probably the last thing you want to do, having sex might be a good shout. Not sure you’d get a sweep so early but sex might have a similar effect!

Well I'm 39 weeks Tuesday and my midwife is at the surgery on a Wednesday so if this is still going on I may see if she can squeeze me in and have a check at what's going on. I may have to try sex if it gets much worse though! Just annoying as last night we went for dinner at the pub and I couldn't sit there, didn't enjoy dinner, and we were home within half hour!
My dog also won't leave my side, maybe he knows something is happening!

I had it, for three days, it turned out my bladder was not emptying and it meant that the head was not contacting properly with the cervix. So this delayed my labour. Maybe ask your midwife if this could be happening?

I wonder if maybe if this goes on for another full day tomorrow I should call triage and just ask if they can check me. Surely if they are non stop all day but not progressing then something can't be right? But tbh with this being my first I have absolutely no idea!

I had this with my second. Started Friday lunch time so called my mum over to look after eldest and DH came home. Went on all evening. Stopped when I went to bed. Woke up completely normal. Started again mid morning Saturday. Baby arrived after midnight Sunday.

@TheVonTrappFamilySwingers I REALLY hope this is the case for me! Sounds almost identical to what's happened so far so 🤞

I unfortunately had something like this. Mine was a trauma though. My body did this for 4 days and nights. I went into hospital to get checked over. Turned out I was 6cm so they kept me in. After 3 more days of contractions starting and stopping I ended up on a drip to speed things up.

Turns out my uterus doesn't contract properly so everytime I lay down or sat labour slowed down to a snails pace. If your concerned then please get checked. Mine was by no means a common thing but better safe than sorry. By that I mean my body got so tired I was begging for a C section but waters finally burst then a 4th degree tear and life saving surgery for me and DS. Please do get checked if your worried.

Yep. 3 days of stop start and then 25 hours of contractions every 10 minutes until it kicked off properly. I feel your pain. If it helps with my second it was 4 hours after the first contraction.

@RosieCotton so sorry to hear that, I think if it carries on I will go get checked!
I've just woken up, day 3, and they've worn off again over night 🙄 thankfully I managed a good nights sleep, must have been tired as didn't even get up for a wee! Bladder was fit to burst when I did wake up!
Will see if they come back again today, it's so frustrating!!!

Well that didn't take long, back with a vengeance already!

I had this with my first - it went on for 3 days, then I went into labour properly, my waters broke at 5pm and my daughter was born at 10pm! I think the slow start was what made the real thing quicker, as the 3 days of contractions must have been doing something! Good luck, i’m sure you will meet your baby very soon!

@Purplestorm83 this is what I've read a few times about the real thing being quicker, and I'm hoping that's the case! It's very frustrating as kind of feels like I'm getting nowhere BUT at least something is happening I guess!

@RosieCotton I am starting to worry I could be experiencing what you did. Today is day 5, and as soon as I sit/lay down they ease off or stop! It's exhausting, and the hospital aren't concerned at all but surely this can't be right?
Did you have to push for them to see you?!

I know this isn’t what you want to hear but I had this for 2 weeks before baby came! I was exhausted, got to the point where I was trying so hard to ignore it but every time It would get so intense I was convinced it was happening. I was having weekly sweeps at this point as my notes stated I could have them from 38 weeks due to vbac. Every sweep I was 1cm, then 2 stretching to 5 and my last one I was 3cms. Labour started within the hour and 3 hours later he was born! You will know when it really starts, and I know this is the absolute worst part of pregnancy but I bet your labour will be fast when it gets going. The start stop is your body doing the first 3-4cms so you are already ahead of the game when it comes to the real thing! Good luck OP x

@kiabella ohhhhhhh don't tell me that!! Lol it's so frustrating, it's like I'm being teased!
I just want them to check everything is ok, if they say it's just a waiting game then fine, but I just feel like I'm getting nowhere!