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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Can I stop my contractions for a few hours?

184 replies

DesperatelyDue · 29/06/2022 02:23

Hi night owls. I realise this sounds completely bat shit crazy but hear me out. (And don’t be mean, I’m truly desperate)

I‘m 77 hours into an excruciating latent labour. My contractions have ramped up to pain the likes of which I have never actually felt before. But they remain 5 minutes apart and the hospital have told me I will absolutely be turned away until I’m 3 in 10. (I have phoned back twice more to beg for help but the midwives are steadfast)

Every day, up until today, the contractions have stopped for 3-4 hours in the afternoon and given me a chance to eat without vomiting and get a few hours of much needed sleep. But not today!

I’m exhausted and really emotional. I can’t do much of anything because I have to stop every 5 minutes and get onto my knees.

So, my crazy question is… has anyone been in this situation before? And can you recommend anything that would encourage a break in contractions for a while? Thank you.

OP posts:
Changes17 · 29/06/2022 12:48

But yes, agree that if vomiting etc and in sharp pain might need to go in and get checked out.

strawberrysummer19 · 29/06/2022 12:52

Sorry op hope you can get some relief x

SafferUpNorth · 29/06/2022 12:56

Yikes, the vomiting doesn't sound good. You must be dehydrated by now. And those sharp pains... I'd say call your midwife again and/or head to the maternity unit.

BertieBotts · 29/06/2022 13:00

I don't think there are nerves in the cervix itself.

You could ask for a pethidine rest which is where they knock you out for a bit and once the contractions start up again hopefully you're further along.

Good luck. I had slow labours so know exactly what you mean about not being able to rest, but not this long. Hope you get some movement or some rest, either way!

Ballsaque · 29/06/2022 13:03

I went through this too…. Absolute torture. Just because it’s latent labour it doesn’t mean it isn’t agony!

I had bruises on my knees after.

once I was finally admitted I went on the drip for a few hours and was only as dilated as I went in. Very frustrating to have all that pain for no gain!

best of luck OP. I expect you’ll burst into tears at the door tonight which might help your case!

BertieBotts · 29/06/2022 13:03

Lines in vision could be a sign of pre-eclampsia though, which is an emergency.

awmum2b · 29/06/2022 13:11

This brings back a lot of very unpleasant memories. I think it's barbaric that women are forced to endure this.

I think one thing i felt when i was in this situation was that no-one believed how much pain i was in, so i believe you if that helps. I always considered myself to have a very high pain threshold (bone hanging out my arm, pain manageable) but this was something i had never known. I couldn't stop being sick, i was eventually admitted for severe dehydration but still had to progress with the slow labour as i wasn't 4cm. Eventually i had to have an emergency c-section after babies sats dropped, the surgeon told me that there was in fact no way this baby would have been born naturally....so 79 hours for nothing!!! I am still pretty angry about this as you can tell! Oh n after all that they hand you this baby and you're meant to care for it after a week of no sleep, no food and extreme agony!

So please advocate for yourself, get your husband to advocate for you and really push for the help you need. You are not being weak or attention seeking, you have to look after yourself as much as possible in order to look after the baby.

Wishing you the very best of luck and hope that the end is nigh...and i promise it defo worth it (although i will never, ever be repeating the experience) xx

Geranium1984 · 29/06/2022 13:11

Oh my gosh I thought my 36hr labour was long! You poor thing.
I really hope you're at the hospital. I was really dehydrated when I went in and they put me on a drip. I was also allowed an epidural at 3cm as it had been so long since I'd slept. It was magical I hope you get one so you can relax for the rest of the labour.
Xx

Original poster
DesperatelyDue · 29/06/2022 13:12

So, just to be absolutely clear for my tired and emotional brain - nobody else here has experienced a very sharp shooting pain during and in between their contractions. Pain located very very low in pelvis, near pubic bone. Painful enough to make you cry during contractions? And a dull ache the rest of the time?

p.s Does a cervix really have no nerve endings? Wtf was that horror show during my last coil fitting?
p.p.s I’m reasonably confident I don’t have pre-eclampsia but I am a little worried about dehydration!

OP posts:
Geranium1984 · 29/06/2022 13:14

No, not shooting pains, all my contractions felt like a wave... a build up of the excruciating tightening then falling away.
I'd just go into the hospital and tell them about these pains, dehydration and you could always say the moment has been less to really get their attention.

SafferUpNorth · 29/06/2022 13:15

That shooting pain doesn't sound right, OP, nor does the constant vomiting. Get yourself to the hospital.

awmum2b · 29/06/2022 13:17

I had shooting pains in my pelvis and lots of bloody show but only whenever I went to loo...which was frequently as i was on an IV due to dehydration (from constant vomiting)...they reassured me this was normal.

I think you really need to be pushed to get checked out

CandyLeBonBon · 29/06/2022 13:19

DesperatelyDue · 29/06/2022 13:12

So, just to be absolutely clear for my tired and emotional brain - nobody else here has experienced a very sharp shooting pain during and in between their contractions. Pain located very very low in pelvis, near pubic bone. Painful enough to make you cry during contractions? And a dull ache the rest of the time?

p.s Does a cervix really have no nerve endings? Wtf was that horror show during my last coil fitting?
p.p.s I’m reasonably confident I don’t have pre-eclampsia but I am a little worried about dehydration!

Yes I did but I was in Labour after two sections and it was my dehiscence of my uterus. Don't think that is the case unless you've had a section (but could be wrong obvs)

Fink · 29/06/2022 13:20

You need to get to the hospital. Get in there and refuse to leave. Tell them about the vomiting and the shooting pains, and what movement you've noticed from the baby. Hope all goes well from here on in and you have your lovely baby soon!

HSKAT · 29/06/2022 13:21

I would go to the hospital now.
I would refuse to leave and just labour in the corridor if they wouldn't give me a bed.
Can't be too careful at this point

sunflowerdaisyrose · 29/06/2022 13:21

I had some shooting pains during late pregnancy and during labour, but I definitely think you need to go to hospital now and not wait until this evening.

overthinkersanonnymus · 29/06/2022 13:29

Girl, go to the hospital this afternoon and don't leave until you and the baby have the all clear from the monitors etc.

No one on this earth should have to go through 3 days of agony and have no idea of progress or safety. It's insane that women in this country are just left to suffer.

Treat yourself to an epidural 😁

Good luck and we'll all be watching for your updates! Xx

AmaryIlis · 29/06/2022 13:32

I second, or third or fourth, the idea of getting to the hospital now, if you haven't already. It doesn't sound like they're really factoring in your vomiting and dehydration, let alone the sharp shooting pains you describe. And presumably there may be more staff around in the afternoon?

GreenOlivesinGin · 29/06/2022 13:36

DesperatelyDue · 29/06/2022 13:12

So, just to be absolutely clear for my tired and emotional brain - nobody else here has experienced a very sharp shooting pain during and in between their contractions. Pain located very very low in pelvis, near pubic bone. Painful enough to make you cry during contractions? And a dull ache the rest of the time?

p.s Does a cervix really have no nerve endings? Wtf was that horror show during my last coil fitting?
p.p.s I’m reasonably confident I don’t have pre-eclampsia but I am a little worried about dehydration!

OP, I had the same pain by the sounds of it, it was worse than the contractions. No one was ever able to tell me with certainty what it was, they guessed it was probably the baby's position causing but did not know for sure (and it's not what it felt like to me). But of course it may be something entirely different to your pain, so definitely raise it with the midwives and other healthcare professionals.
Also at this stage, being so tired and in so much pain....I would push to get admitted and get an epidural so you can at least get some rest, even if you don't want any drugs to speed up contractions (but of course that's only my personal preference).

SRK16 · 29/06/2022 13:37

Go to the hospital. Headaches, vomiting etc sound concerning.

Weefreetiffany · 29/06/2022 13:39

Please go to hospital and don’t take no for an answer. You need to get into the headspace where you feel safe and relaxed and that won’t happen while you’re in pain, worrying about the pain and vomiting. You need some help to make it easier for you and keep both you and baby safe

Fupoffyagrasshole · 29/06/2022 13:41

just go in!!

I was told not to come but it got so excruciating and midwife kept saying just go to bed and have a rest etc - i literally couldn't because of the pain I was in.

eventually I just got in a taxi and showed up - when the midwife saw me she was shocked at how much pain i was in - i was checked and the baby was a bit distressed and turned out she was transverse and stuck and i was never going to progress! I was rushed for emergency c section within 20 mins of arriving

so i was right to listen to myself and not the midwife

iolaus · 29/06/2022 13:42

Go get checked out - where I used to work always had the rule that if someone rang 3 times in the latent phase of labour they were asked to come in (not always kept in, not always having a vaginal examination) because if they were concerned enough to ring 3 times they needed more reassurance and some TLC

BTW stabby pain, I would lay money on your little one having their hand up alongside the head - I had it with my second and it's horrible, only realised years later that everyone who complained about it had a baby with their hand up - this also fits with the long early labour

GinUnicorn · 29/06/2022 13:43

I think with the length of the labour and the stabbing pains it is really important to get checked out. It’s probably nothing but better safe. Good luck

ThorsBedazzler · 29/06/2022 13:49

I had excruciating pain on my coccyx- baby was back to back and his skull was against my spine. Not fun.

If you were not able to make it to a Mw appointment, I would take that as a sign you need to go and get checked out in hospital. At the least you'll know how dilated you are. But get checked and hopefully you don't have too much longer before the baby is born.