Advice and moral support. Labour slow to progress TMI

[Peachy2018]

Hi there, I am a FTM and 40.3 weeks pregnant with my IVF little boy.

I’m looking for reassurance, advice, personal experiences as I’m finding the beginning of labour scary and difficult.

The day before my due date I lost my plug before bedtime and spent the night with period like pains. During my due date I stayed active and had some aches and pains, felt run down and tired. This continued the next day as well. During that night at about 3am I started getting intense contractions about 10 minutes apart. I hardly slept although eventually drifted off but then woke about 5am to a wet bloody patch on my sheets. I called the labour line as wasn’t sure if my waters had gone and was worried about the blood. I went in for an early morning appointment and they did some monitoring of me and the baby, a scan and examination. They said it wasn’t my waters, just bloody discharge and I should go home and wait for things to progress.

I spent the rast of yestersay with strong contractions every 10 minutes which became more frequent through the night and so very painful. At 6am this morning I called the midwife as they were 5 mins apart and 45 seconds length. She advised I wait until they were 4 mins apart and longer. I felt exhausted and emotional by this stage and by 8.30am everything had slowed down and they were back to being 10 minutes apart. It’s now 12pm and they are 15 minutes apart but so intense when they do come. I’m loosing loads of bloody discharge when I go to the toilet and my body is sore.

I feel like I’m going to have another night of no pain and sleep which will probably tail off again tomorrow.

Is this normal? I’m getting more and more anxious which I’m sure isn’t helping...

You poor thing, you sound thoroughly fed up (which I can understand!) Early labour can play all sorts of horrible games on us!

The good news is that things are moving in the right direction of their own accord! You’re right though that getting anxious about it won’t help. Your body needs to be relaxed to produce the oxytocin needed for labour. So do whatever you can to get nice and relaxed - have a bath, go for a long walk, curl up on the sofa with a nice film, listen to relaxing music. Try and nap if you can as contractions often start up again at night.

Have you been practising any breathing techniques for labour. If so use them during the contractions if they’re already painful. If not, there’s still time to start. I also recommend you google the Positive Birth Company - it has some free videos available which I’m sure will help!

Good luck and you’ll get to hold your baby very soon!

Thanks for replying - I feel like I’m going mad and I keep snapping at my fiancé.

Logically I know this is all normal but I suddenly have these terrible thoughts esp when seeing the blood even though the midwife assured me he is fine.

I have had several baths already as they are the only thing that works. I’ve tried lying down on the sofa or bed but that seems to make the pain worse. I feel better pacing or sitting on my ball. I think that’s why the nights are hell, as while my fiancé sleeps soundly I am walking around the house in agony.

I really hope our little man decides to make an appearance now and I can put all this down to a distant memory.

Thanks again for the reassurance! Xx

Oh I really feel for you, this sounds very similar to my last labour (now 39 weeks and hoping for a faster one this time!) It is mental and physical torture and is exhausting. Do you have a tens machine? I couldn't have got through it without mine. I think I went back and forth to the hospital about 4 times, it's all a blur now. They did send me home a couple of times with diamorphine which helped me relax a little and get some sleep. I hope things start moving for you soon xx

Jaychops, it is really mental and physical torture! It’s the not knowing that makes it so hard...! I just saw the midwife and she comforted me a little, she says I am 1cm dilated and effaced so she seems to think it’s unlikely to take long now although she did say if he hasn’t come by Saturday she would see me again good luck with the rest of your pregnancy xx

Brilliant news peachy, and thankyou! Honestly, you will feel like it's never ending whilst you are in the midst of it but once it's all over with you don't remember it like that. Remember to keep eating and drinking! Thinking of you and keep us updated

Thinking of you hun!!! Ive been in early stages since last wednesday night just feel like crying and oh doesnt seem to understand just how uncomfortable i am so i completely sympathise with you things have started to ramp up tonight so hoping this is it although im not holding my breath best of luck!!x

I had a very similar experience to you- I started contracting at 3am Monday morning, wasn't admitted to hospital until Thursday afternoon and baby born on Friday morning.

I know what you're saying about the nights being the worst. I insisted on DH sleeping in the spare room so that at least one of us wasn't totally exhausted, and he came in one morning to me sitting on the edge of the bed crying. I felt really desperate- like the pains would go on forever and I'd never sleep again. The pains weren't unbearable, but bad enough to wake me or stop me sleeping.

When I was admitted, the gas and air as like manna from heaven. Labour wasn't exactly fun, but you will get through it. You will find the energy for labour, even if right now it feels impossible.