Keep me company in early labour?

[aaaarti]

Hey all.. 39+4 today, had a bloody show this morning and now my contractions have started but still far apart.
Have my tens machine ready but not sure when to use it..
Any advice to get through this is welcome!!

No advice but just wanted to say good luck!

Good luck, is this baby number one?

Aw fantastic! I have a tens machine, I have a copper coil and get very very painful period pains that I'd compare to labour contractions. You'll know when you need to start using it, start it off on low and gradually increase it.

Do you know what you're having and does he/she have a name yet?

All the best my lovely!
I'm so envious! I'm 39 + 6 and so desperate to meet baby!

I wish you both health and happiness

Hi all! Thank you! @Cassie85 This is my first and a surprise so super excited to meet him/her!
I have a boy and girls name in mind! @SunnyJane
Contractions are getting stronger and closer and just feel like I should be sitting on the loo just incase!
Do you recommend putting tens machine on early or wait until pain is unbearable?

I used my tens machine as soon as my contractions were regular (my waters went at home) and were ramping up pain wise. It just about got me to hospital and on to G&A.
Good luck, I hope everything goes smoothly for you!

Aw I’m so excited for you. My first labour started about this time of night. I found it really helpful to do a hypnobirthing technique of counting my contractions.

Are you on your own or do you have someone with you?

EAT SOMETHING!!! I only ate a bacon sandwich all day (10-11am and gave birth at 7pm)

I don't think I put my TENS machine on early enough, I had a day and a half of period level pain before things kicked off in the morning of the day I gave birth. Maybe put yours on low and then turn it up?

Ooh how exciting. Good luck lovely. We use a TENS machine (for pain relief due to medical condition) and the only thing I would say is you may need to relocate the pads after a while as you can suffer from skin ‘burn’ - not like a real burn but will be sore to touch.

Ah is it your first? All I can say so breathe into all pains and also enjoy all moment xxx love a birth thread congrats

Good luck! I used a Tens machine with my first and found it really useful. I started it when contractions were about 5 minutes apart but not that intense and it really helped as things stepped up before I could get in the pool.
Advice: keep upright and moving around as much as possible.
Breathe in for four and out for 8 during each contraction. It can help to visualise something like a balloon inflating and deflating too.
Eat and drink little and often (And go to the toilet regularly too - a full bladder can slow things down)
And remember, each contraction brings you one step closer to meeting your baby.

Basically what everyone else has said. Don't leave it till it's unbearable. How far apart are your contractions now and how long are they lasting about?
Won't hurt to stick it on now low and ramp it up when you need it x

Hot showers also really helped with my pain as well. I think I had about 10 through the night 😂.

Don't shower with the TENS machine on 😂 Try to get as much sleep as you can, have a bath when things ramp up too much to sleep and once you are properly dry stick the TENS on and gradually increase it as you need. Definitely eat as much as you feel you are able to, you'll need the energy soon! Good luck!

Good luck hope it’s going smoothly!

No advice OP, but I shamelessly love a good live birth thread.

How are things progressing?

I went to the hosp at 2am and got sent home for being 2cm dilated. Been at home since but my contrctions are very irregular!
My bum area hurts so much when I go for a wee or sit down!
Also vomitted at the hosp and had the shakes! Fun times ahead!

Try sipping cold squash. Vomitting isn't unheard of unfortunately and you'll need to stop yourself becoming dehydrated. How are you managing with the pain?

I remember the frustration of being sent home only too well. Don't be afraid to go back in if you don't feel you can cope - I was back to back with both mine so had to do this.

In the meantime, get walking up and down the stairs if you can, and try to keep mobile. Good luck!

Stay mobile if you don’t feel too tired. If you do fell tired I would rest up and wait.

Good luck with it OP. Hopefully the contractions will become more regular and closer together soon.

Keep us posted and when it gets tough just remember that you are almost ready to meet your wee precious 😁.

How are you getting on OP?

Still at home, I rang triage and they said irregular stop start contractions are normal and can last days! I hope not!!
Been getting strong painful contractions but they are so far apart!

Feel for you OP.

Do you feel you have long enough to nap/relax inbetween contractions? Sounds like you might be in it for the long haul.

But you are dilating which is a good sign. Hope it's over for you soon.