Long labours

[monroe234]

FTM to be here. Possibly about to ask one of the silliest questions, so I apologise in advance!

When people say they had long labours as in 24 hours+ is this usually full blown labour, as in pain and no sleep? Or does it mean from the moment things started I.e still at home/able to sleep until babies arrival?

I'm hoping it's the latter for the majority!

I didn't think I was too fazed about giving birth but now it's getting closer I am starting to wonder if I can even do it - although I certainly don't have a choice haha.

Thank you!

My first was 48 hours from first contraction until birth. However the first 30 hours was mild pain, I could sleep through it (although not very well) and spent most of it walking up and down the street trying to get things moving! After about 30 hours the pain really ramped up, and I was having contractions every 5 mins. Went to hospital and was only 2cms dilated. Further 12 hours of very painful regular contractions at home. Went into hospital at 9am and was 4cms, have birth at 4pm. So pretty long and arduous.
Number 2 was 18 hours from first contraction but I’d say 12 hours of mild contractions followed by 6 hours of ‘proper’ labour, so much easier!

I had a long labour with my first. Most of it was latent rather than 'proper' labour but I still couldn't sleep through any of it I'm afraid.... I started having 30 s contractions every 6 min Monday night, which petered out the next morning but started again every time I laid down and tried to sleep, this repeated every night / day until Thursday night. 3 am ish Friday morning I cracked and called the labour ward in tears as the pain / sleep deprivation got to me. They eventually let me come in and gave me pethidine to let me sleep, and told me over 4 nights of contractions I'd managed to get to 2 cm dilated... DS was born on Saturday evening in the end - with 18 hours of active labour to add onto the 4 days of labour.

I'd say mine was longer than most people I've spoken to, but certainly not the longest. If it does get to the point you can't cope though, even if you arent in 'proper' labour they will help you in the hospital if you make it clear how much are struggling. (Probably send you to the ward rather than let you stay on labour ward though ). Once you are in active labour, I think most people with a very long labour eventually end up having an epidural, and if they work properly you can doze.

Wow thank you so much! I did go in with my sister when she had my niece which was only two years ago, but I can't remember much, i know that sounds crazy but I just can't!

I guess I'm trying to prepare myself mentally as much as possible but I know it'll just happen the way it wants to happen!

I'm currently dealing with the shooting pains in the public area, only started this morning and my goodness it's unpleasant! Upon googling it seems pretty normal but my goodness, if I am struggling with this who knows how I'll cope in labour! X

Mine was 54 hours, the first 34 wasn’t counted as ‘established labour’ apparently and started as mild cramps then went to full on contractions (couldn’t sleep through them unfortunately although I would very much suggest a tenns machine for this stage). Something I wish I had known beforehand is that my local hospitals wouldn’t admit me until I was in ‘established labour’ So I was left with paracetamol and told to go home. Last 20 was established labour which I actually found better because I knew I was at least progressing.

I had 21 hours of labour I couldn't sleep through but was in latent labour for a week before that and early labour 12 hours before it got painful.

I had an almost 4 hours second stage though which was horrible though (and unusual).

I had my first contraction at 3:30am on the Monday, they continued every 7-20 mins until Thursday afternoon when I was FINALLY 4cm and admitted to MLU where things really got going. DD was born at 8am on the Friday.

The contractions started off fine and ramped up over the course of the three days at home. By the end though, it was the sleep deprivation that was the kicker, not the pain. At one stage I hadn't had any sleep at all in 2.5 days.

I was a tit though and lay in bed/ on the sofa feeling sorry for myself when I should have tried staying upright, walking, bouncing on the birthing ball while staying hydrated and eating. I really didn't help myself!

I'd take it as from first contraction to delivery. Labour with DC1 was 21 hours which sounds horrendous, but it was only (ha!) the last 12 hours that were painful.

Yup me too. Started having contractions at 4am on the Sunday. They were frequent and painful and I was unable to do more than cat nap or sleep in the bath (the warm water suppressed them) for days. By the Thursday night I was struggling to stand through the contractions, his head was pushing down on a nerve which was sending pain through my legs. We went into hospital then as I was desperate for stronger pain relief and I was told I was around 2-3cm. I finally reached active labour at lunchtime on the Friday and gave birth eventually on Saturday morning. The sleep deprivation was killer, I'm still not sure where I managed to summon the strength from to push him out. I now laugh out loud when I read about latent labour feeling like mild period cramps. Wish I'd been that lucky.

You will get through it though, you have no choice. Stay positive and accept all the suport and help that you can. Best of luck.