Latent labour

[AKM89]

Hi all

Looking for a bit of comfort / advice really. I am 39+1 and I’ve been in on and off latent labour since Tuesday afternoon (it’s now Sunday morning). It’s mostly (fairly painful) stop / start irregular contractions, usually in the afternoon and throughout the night, stopping early in the morning. I have also been losing my mucus plug since Wednesday. I am really trying to check myself because I know I am incredibly lucky to even be in this position, but I am also now feeling totally exhausted from being unable to sleep through the pain, and wondering how much longer this can possibly go on for. I’m a first time mum and had totally been preparing for a late arrival until this started happening. Does anyone have a similar experience?

Sleep when they stop!! Honestly, you should eat and sleep and that's it.

Call triage and ask for advice saying you aren't coping well with the pain.

Thanks @physicskate - I have been trying to sleep during the day and that should hopefully be easier after finishing work on Friday. Finding it a huge mental drain though, especially being on “alert” constantly, and think I need to find some coping strategies as it’s now beginning to feel like this could easily go on for days longer.

Do you have a tens machine? I found it very helpful in both my early labours (dd was a three and a half day labour start to finish: you have my utmost sympathies!!!).

I found her labour really difficult and I was just too exhausted by the end (no sleep) so needed forceps to help me.

@physicskate thanks so much for the sympathy, sorry to hear you have been through this too. I don't have a tens machine actually, will definitely looking into be sourcing one of those if this continues.

I had a 72 hour latent labour and it was exhausting. Think I managed 4hs sleep across those 3 days. Active labour was 12hs. I recommend tens- can buy from boots on click and collect. I wore mine for the whole time until I got into the birthing pool. I also carbloaded as much as I could- whole meal pasta with olive oil and black pepper if I recall correctly. They were giving me honey in the birth centre to get me through the final stages of pushing. Don’t spend your whole time walking up stairs or bouncing on a ball- you’ll knacker yourself more. I used to do 15-20 mins activity to try and keep active then have a 40 min rest as far as contractions would allow. How are you getting on?

@Makingnumber2 Thanks so much for the tips! I am definitely going to look into in-store delivery of a tens machine for the evenings. I have been eating quite a bit but good idea about carbloading, as I think that’s a good way to try and push through the physical tiredness as much as possible. Contractions pretty much stopped on cue this morning, so just waiting for the whole thing to start repeating itself at about 5pm!

Ugh you poor thing @AKM89- you must be so exhausted. It's classic that they start up in evening- mine were similar- always more intense from evening through the night. It's nature from cave people times- it was safer to birth under the cover of dark, so often labours ramp up in the evening and at night.
I think I also took paracetomal which didn't seem to do anything. And after yet another night visit to labour ward- one nurse did prescribe me some codeine, which was kind but not really that effective! Anything is worth a try though IMO in these situations! TENs really was what got me through. I really hope things start progressing fully for you asap. Sending tons of positive birth vibes your way

Do I read it right that you are working up to 40 weeks? You are a stronger/braver woman than me!! Especially with latent labour.

I haven't been through it but you have my sympathies as I did have a lot of false starts with my 2nd. But do try and take care of yourself. Is finishing up work an option?

I was in latent Labour for just under a week with my eldest. Was shit and the TENS definitely helped. All I will say is that the actual Labour was good and ended up being swift and the pushing but was short which I think was because of the ground work the latent Labour did. I know it’s shit but it will be worth it.

@Muststopeating Thanks so much for saying that, as I have been feeling like a total weakling over how much I am struggling, especially today. Yes I am 40 weeks in just under a week - thankfully I finished work on Friday past which will at least make napping more feasible and mean I don’t really have to function any more haha!

@SteveArnottsCodeine Thanks, reassuring to hear of someone else being through it (though I sorry that you did!), and it’s very encouraging that your active labour was shorter - crossing fingers it works out that way for me too. Ps. I like your name!!

Hi all - just adding a quick update for the sake of anyone who finds this in the future. Very pleased to say that after 7 days of latent labour, my little boy was born yesterday - as painful as all the start / stop contractions were, I think they must have contributed to the fact that we arrived at hospital at 10 and he was born at 2! Thanks to everyone who offered advice and suggestions!

Ahh congratulations OP and thanks for the update! 7 day latent labour- you are an absolute warrior! Enjoy all those newborn snuggles x

I was just about to say I don't think you'll make it to Friday! Congratulations!!! Xxx

Congratulations @AKM89! I had 3 days of latent labour with DD and was exhausted by the time she was born so well done you (and I hope your DS is sleeping well enough to give you a bit of rest occasionally!)

I had this for 4 nights until things properly ramped up ..I totally sympathise as it’s exhausting and stressful as you just want to get it done and sleep! This was obviously unique to my babies position etc but when I did finally go to the hospital on the 4th night even though I was 3cm things were still slow ..the midwife checked babies position and she thought baby was kind of stuck around my hip trying to get round a corner, she got me holding a lunge position during contractions which was agony but things really sped up after that. It may be worth calling midwife to see if they’d have a look for you or they suggest anything you can try? Good luck!

Ah sorry I only read the first message haha! Huge congrats! 😁