Slow labour? What would you do?

[emjadex]

So I'm 38+4 and for exactly a week I've had irregular cramping, tightenings and back ache. I went into hospital to get checked due to reduced movements (all was fine) and the tightenings became regular, felt more like contractions and they showed up every 5 minutes on the CTG. The midwife said it was the "early stages" and sent me home. They stopped once home. I've seen the community midwife since then who said I can ask my consultant for an "early sweep" when I see her on Thursday this week.

I'm now physically and mentally exhausted from constant lack of sleep and intermittent pain. Last night I woke up with horrendous back pain, strong cramping and I'm so fed up.

Should I ring my community midwife or the hospital to ask for advice? Is there anything they can do for me?

I'm 37+2 and I've been having this for a few days now, sometimes I'll also have horrendous period like cramps to that will last a few mins then go.

Did they give you an internal?

They will most likely tell you to take paracetamol and have a warm bath sighs but I understand how frustrating it is.

I had this identical as you, with my daughter, and I remember once I'd had enough I went to Labour suit at 12am and she said your only 1-2cms despite having regular contractions, she ran me a hot bath of clary and sage oil and said this will either bring it on if it is Labour or stop it if it's not. Sure enough I went into full blown Labour straight away! She was born 3 hours later! I swear by that stuff

It’s normal to get really fed up with being pregnant during the last two weeks. You’re big, bloated, uncomfortable all the time, can’t sleep, and the braxton-hicks contractions are a pain.

But for me, I did not do anything to hurry labour along. I refused sweeps because of the risks of infection and premature waters breaking leading to an induction. I worked FT until my due dates anyway because I didn’t want to be sitting around waiting for the baby. They were all late anyways first one was ten days late. (Felt like 10 months). So I empathise with you.

All I can advise is take it easy. Take time for yourself and read that book, take nice walks, enjoy being alone because the chances of you being alone will be close to zero for the next 4 years- longer if you have more than the one child.

@eatmyshorts89 horrible isn't it? They didn't give me an internal, wish I had asked but I hate being in hospital so I was eager to get out. Ooooh I'll have to look into the clary sage. I'll try a hot bath though and see if that does anything.

@PlanDeRaccordement thank you, initially I tried to just go about my day and focus on getting housework etc done. But the pain is really getting me down now and I'm so tired from it keeping me up at night 😪

I’m in the exact same position apart from
I’ve now had 2 sweeps !
Went in on Friday with reduced movements. Was having tightenings etc but not painful. Anyway they said it looked like on the monitor I was in early labour as babys HR went up when I had a contraction. They offered me a sweep so I had one done, I lost my mucus plug the next day and had some period like pains. Had another yesterday That made me loose more of my
Mucus plug and last night I was having regular contractions but only 1 every 12 mins so couldn’t go in yet. They unfortunately stopped after a few hours 🙁 today I’ve got instense stomach and back pain and fanny daggers! I’ve just been on a walk as I wanna try get things going again, I definitely cannot last another week and 4 days in this much discomfort!

Hope you go into labour soon 🙏🏻🙏🏻 Xxx

@EmC96 hahahaha fanny daggers I love that explanation 😂😂 xx

@EmC96 oh bless you, I'm glad they gave you a sweep and hopefully things will start to progress for you! I'm the same, I can't bear the thought of potentially another fortnight (if I go overdue). 😖

I got so fed up earlier and rang the hospital but as expected, they just said that it's all positive and that this stage can take weeks. 😳 Midwife advised to drink plenty and take pain relief. 😔 I even said I'm absolutely exhausted but they said at this stage there is nothing they will do. 😭