Contractions? First pregnancy advice needed

[1990fran]

Hi all

First pregnancy im 41 weeks
Since last night 10pm had what i think is contractions lasting a min 10 mins apart they feel like a strong period x 1000 i literally cant move when theyre happening so painfull, I havent lost my plug nor have waters broke, I called MW last night she said take paracetamol i havent got any indoors and said to have a bath and to call back if they are 2 within 10 mins, I cant cope with the pain I'm such a wimp! I want to go hosp to be checked out some people said online that they dialiated without contractions getting any closer?! Please give me some advice feel like such an idiot sat here crying I'm just scared all new to me x

Please call back and tell the midwife that you are struggling and they should let you go in.

Is there someone that can sit with/support you in the meantime?

Whether you decide to go to the hospital straight away or not, this labour pattern could be an indication that the baby is in a funky position and needs some help to move.

Try doing a spinning babies inversion, abdominal lift and tuck and side lying release.

www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/techniques/forward-leaning-inversion/ do for 30 seconds and make sure when you come back up you sit straight up not sitting back on your heels and stay there for 3 breaths.

www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/techniques/side-lying-release/

Do this for 10 minutes on each side, jiggling the buttocks and thighs gently.

www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/techniques/abdominal-lift-tuck/

You should do this for 10 contractions resting between contractions.

And finally..

www.spinningbabies.com/pregnancy-birth/techniques/shake-the-apple-tree/

You might not get all the way through these before something changes but hopefully one of these will take the edge off the intensity and will change the pattern of contractions.

That is exactly how I felt contractions, intense period pain that started every ten minutes. It increased to 3 times in ten minutes then would have short gaps.

MW said bath and paracetamol, still same few hours later. Went in because I just couldn’t cope with the pain 4cm yay, the pattern of gaps between contractions carried on all the way until I was 9cm and they put me on the drip to hurry along the final part so if you’re not coping please call them back not every woman is the same.

You can get pain relief there.

Good luck!!! Looks like you’re having a baby soon.

It sounds like contractions.

You don't have to lose your plug and waters rarely go first. Majority of the time waters have to be manually broken.

Call back though if that's how you're feeling!

Thanks all, i went to hosp although i had failed sweep on Thurs im now 2cm dialted and midwife was able to sweep me she said mums get admitted when 4cm so im.back home now going to have food a bath and watch a film etc and take it from here, I said how do i know when to come back she said when contractions are more frequent and more intense, how much more intense can they get?! Can barely walk!!

Contractions need to be about 2-3 minutes apart, that was the advice with my first, they are debilitating when you’re having them so don’t worry. I went in between 3-4 mins as we had to travel and was 8cm, had her a couple of hours later. Stay home as long as you can! Good luck!

Also just read that you can be 2cm dialiated for days... i thought once you start to dialiate things are going in right direction and will move quick! Argh im so confused really dont want to be induced next week which has already been booked for me, my waters still haven't broke, does this need to happen for me to eventually get into active labour?! :/

It sounds like things are going in the right direction for you OP so I wouldn’t worry just yet, just see how you go. Are you timing your contractions? They may break your waters in hospital if you’re far enough along.

I think they will break them once you get to 4cm, mine went on their own in the night so I’m not sure but I think once they break them your contractions ramp up.

Waters don't get routinely broken by midwives at 4cm, we leave labour to progress by itself as much as possible. We break waters for a few reasons: 1) induction, 2) labour progressing slowly, 3) other concerning features where we would want a wider assessment, eg. concerns with baby's heart rate. What's happening for you sounds like a normal latent phase, it is exhausting though! Look after yourself and make sure you eat and drink little and often, even if you don't feel like it. Your body will contract more efficiently with energy on board. Good luck and I hope it ramps up soon

@littlemissalwaystired

Waters don't get routinely broken by midwives at 4cm, we leave labour to progress by itself as much as possible. We break waters for a few reasons: 1) induction, 2) labour progressing slowly, 3) other concerning features where we would want a wider assessment, eg. concerns with baby's heart rate. What's happening for you sounds like a normal latent phase, it is exhausting though! Look after yourself and make sure you eat and drink little and often, even if you don't feel like it. Your body will contract more efficiently with energy on board. Good luck and I hope it ramps up soon

Sorry! Didn’t mean to give wrong advice. I don’t have experience in this, just what happened to a couple of my friends. Glad someone more knowledgeable came along

@1990fran

Also just read that you can be 2cm dialiated for days... i thought once you start to dialiate things are going in right direction and will move quick! Argh im so confused really dont want to be induced next week which has already been booked for me, my waters still haven't broke, does this need to happen for me to eventually get into active labour?! :/

Waters don't break very often on their own. Most have to be broken. The waters breaking doesn't make a difference. Some babies are born with their waters ect still on tact!

@1990fran

Also just read that you can be 2cm dialiated for days... i thought once you start to dialiate things are going in right direction and will move quick! Argh im so confused really dont want to be induced next week which has already been booked for me, my waters still haven't broke, does this need to happen for me to eventually get into active labour?! :/

And yeah, unfortunately you can be so many cms dilated for weeks. Obviously won't be the case for you as you're already progressing.

But in terms of dilation, I was 2cm from 37 weeks and didn't go into labour until 42!

Not true that most waters have to be broken.. read the post from the midwife above. Waters can often not appear until the baby does!

This stage of labour does not have any defined length.. but from 4cm first labours can be between 24 and 48 hours.

For now, rest if you can between contractions, try the spinning babies exercises, have a bath, watch a funny movie, cuddle up with your partner, surround yourself with comforting things and eat and drink. Maybe download some free hypnobirthing tracks.

My baby was born still in their membranes, my waters never went. Once baby was here the midwife had to burst the sack. It’s suppose to be quite uncommon and lucky for the baby.