Contractions - 24 hours

[2023MumToBe]

Hi all,

I’ve been having contractions for over 24 hours now, and I’m absolutely exhausted. They’re only lasting for 40 seconds or so, and range from every 6 minutes to every 9 minutes. I’ve had the occasional few that have lasted for around 1 minute 20.

I know I can’t go to the hospital yet as they aren’t 60+ seconds and every 3-5 minutes for over an hour.

I have tried using my birthing ball to help but it seemed to make the pain so much worse. I don’t know if I’m in so much pain because my body is so exhausted, but I’m really struggling to cope with the pain. I have taken paracetamol but this also has not helped.

I have tried to nap, as I managed to get 4 hours last night, but since then I’ve not been able to sleep.

can anyone please recommend anything to help? I did have a nice warm bath earlier, this did help ease the pain a little, but I can’t afford to keep filling up the bath unfortunately. I’ve tried a hot water bottle, this also didn’t work.

sorry for going on, this is my first time being pregnant so I’m just a little unsure. I’ve been on and off the loo all day, and I don’t want to keep eating anything because my stomach doesn’t seem to be able to hold it, sorry for the information haha. I feel so thirsty as well, but I’ve drank 3L of water today.

any advice at all would be amazing, thank you

If you’re struggling to cope then ring your maternity unit.

How many weeks are you? It sounds like the diarrhoea might be a sign it's happening imminently!! Just keep going, some labours can be days and days. Good luck xxx

Have they stopped at all in the past 24 hours? Is baby still moving as normal for you? 3L is a LOT of fluid. Are you weeing good amounts?
Tbh I would call the labour ward for advice now

Have you got a tens machine? If so now would be the time to use it.

Things that might help - move about, I know it’s hard at this time of night but if you keep moving that could help things move on a bit faster.

Alternatively try and sleep, lye in bed and watch a film or listen to music.

Whatever happens this time will pass and soon you will be with your new baby!

If you haven't already I think it would be worth calling your maternity unit. Mine let me come in in very early labour to see a midwife, as I was really struggling with the pain, and they were able to give me something stronger than paracetamol which helped.

Good luck, and hopefully you have your baby in your arms soon!

Deffo go see the unit if you are worried, the least they will be able to do is give you reassurance and explain what is happening. My first labour took 36hours, the active time lasted 12hours the first 24 was slow going, I went in due to pain and I was 1cm dismayed they told me the baby was fine and to get some rest. They gave me a stronger paid med and it got me some good sleep. Good luck!!

Hope the night went well for you OP x

I had a horribly long labour with my first - 52 hours including early labour - and it was hell. I didn't sleep a wink. Contractions started 4am Tuesday morning and I didn't reach 4cm (established labour) until about 11pm Wednesday. I went to the hospital on the Wednesday morning and I was only 1cm, but the pain was horrific. Turns out baby was back to back and all the contractions were pushing baby's skull into my spine. This was the root of the long labour and the extreme pain.

What I will say is that my contractions were never consistent - even when I was 10cm - they did get closer together but also some were closer together and some back to 6mins apart. So I would go get yourself checked out, I couldn't rely on the timing of my contractions to tell me how established I was.