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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How did you manage labour/contractions at home?

19 replies

Rainforest453 · 16/11/2023 13:14

Hello everyone

Could you please share your experiences managing labour at home? Did you find anything in particular eased the pain? Also when you did go in, how many cm dilated were you?

This is my 2nd child. With my first I went in when I felt I couldn't cope anymore, but I was only around 3cm! This time I want to be at home for as long as possible before going in as the hospital is 25 mins away

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GreenMarigold · 16/11/2023 13:25

First labour I went to a friend’s house for a cup of tea, had a walk then watched the World Cup, which happened to be on. I think I had a bath at one point but it didn’t really help.

Second time round I started having contractions in the night and mostly slept through them. They stopped as soon as my first daughter woke up and we went out and had a completely normal day, shopping, park etc. As soon as she went to sleep then back they came, full on. I read for a while then went off to hospital when I couldn’t bear it any longer.

It was a 40 min journey to hospital and arrived at 9cm both times.

GreenMarigold · 16/11/2023 13:27

Meant to add - I had one of those big balls to bounce on, that helped a bit. I think just being chilled out, carrying on a normal day and not worrying helped the most.

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 16/11/2023 14:00

I arrived at hospital at 8cm but it was during COVID so I stayed home until I literally couldn't bear it to melt sure husband could come in.

Paracetamol, bath but the best thing I had was a tens machine. Absolutely amazing help with the pain. Also as OP said bounced on the ball and tried to distract myself with the TV x

aintnospringchicken · 16/11/2023 14:01

With DC1,my contractions started coming thick and fast about an hour after my waters broke.By the time I got to hospital(20 mins away) I was fully dilated and basically told to start pushing.No time for pain relief.

LightSpeeds · 16/11/2023 14:05

I didn't think I was in labour all day as the contractions weren't close together or particularly painful. When waters went, I went straight to hospital (got there in 10 minutes) and baby was born 10 minutes later.

LittleRobins · 16/11/2023 14:16

My labour was very quick. I only had a few contractions before I called the hospital and they told me to go straight in. I was 5cm when I arrived but very quickly got to 10cm so going in when I did was the right thing to do or I would have given birth in the car! I never expected my first labour to go so quickly so be aware in case it happens to you

KindaDefinitelyMaybe · 16/11/2023 14:18

I had a bath, then slept through early labour. Was convinced I just needed a poo and that they'd send me home. Turns out I was 7cm and gave birth three hours later!

CatchHimDerry · 16/11/2023 14:23

In the bath…Didn’t really help, mine went really close together really fast

I was only 4cm when I went in, they gave me an injection to slow the contractions down?

Ended up emergency section shortly after anyway as DS was a bit distressed.

I think my mother was similar on me, fast labour and my dad caught me on the way out!

Plumful · 16/11/2023 14:31

Maternity tens

Original poster

Rainforest453 · 16/11/2023 14:49

Ah thank you all!! I have a tens machine/ball so will try to go as long as I possibly can at home to avoid being sent back but will also keep an eye on the intensity/time between them so I don't leave it too late! Thanks for the heads up @LittleRobins ! X

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PinkPlantCase · 16/11/2023 14:50

I had a Homebirth so a bit different but good experience in managing labour at home.

Ignore contractions for as long as your possibly can. I don’t think timing them is particularly useful until they get really close together. In early labour I made a cake, watched a film, went for a walk round the park, ate meals as normal and slept when I could.

Breathe! Your uterus is a muscle, make sure you’re giving it the oxygen it needs.

I think a certain about of mental preparation where you decide what you’re going to do and being stubborn about it also makes a difference. I knew I didn’t want any pain relief (it isn’t really available at home anyway!) so I also knew that I just had to get through it regardless of what came. I think that helped me not rely on external things so much.

A TENs machine is useful if you want to feel like you’re doing something to help.

glasspaw · 16/11/2023 14:52

How long did it take you to progress first time?

I was admitted early for preterm labour but have been told that because I went from 1 > 10 in 3 hours it is likely that my second will be fast too, so I’ve been advised to go in before I think it’s necessary (I could barely feel the contractions when I went in last time but I was just over 35 weeks so they kept me in for monitoring, I stayed for 2 days and then suddenly it got extremely intense and 3 hours later I had a baby in my arms 🤣).

stargirl1701 · 16/11/2023 15:07

With DC1: Tens machine, visualisations, breathing, birth ball. I was 8cm when I arrived at the midwife unit and hopped in the pool. Amazing experience. I felt so powerful.

With DD2: sorting out in-laws and DD1! Headed to midwife unit earlier to get peace but once I arrived, things went quickly. She was born on a birth mat as the pool was filling. I used gas and air.

DuploTrain · 16/11/2023 15:10

A hot shower helped me a bit.. but mainly it was just agony. I phoned the hospital a few times but the contractions weren’t close enough together. I went in after 12 hours of contractions at home and I was 4cm dilated.

However.. second babies come quicker apparently and 25 minutes is quite a long drive so I wouldn’t leave it too late personally.

Original poster

Rainforest453 · 16/11/2023 17:57

thank you for the tips! I think first time round I was far too focused from the very start on the contractions that it just felt like forever. First twinge at 3am, and ds wasn't born till 24 hours later!

This time i'm going to stay as active as I can, go for a walk etc especially during the early stage and keep moving about. Will also try sleeping through it

@DuploTrain yes I was the same around 3/4cm. It felt like agony but when I got there they could only offer paracetomol and advised me to go back but then said if I wanted to stay I could. I'm going to do my best to wait it out as long as I can but I do remember thinking goodness, it's going to get worse from here?!

I won't be making the same mistake as last time - spent too much time on a bed (when they let me stay) not moving much/barely ate/didn't drink water

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Bootoagoose123 · 16/11/2023 18:01

Most of the day tried to stay as active and normal as possible, distract distract. Then once my 2yo had been picked up and it really got going, tens machine was my saviour. Kept it on all the time until I got into the birthing pool at the hospital!

Original poster

Rainforest453 · 16/11/2023 19:08

Perfect! It seems like distraction and keeping busy (as much as you can I suppose) is the key here. Will be sure to use Tens as I think I put it on too late last time :)

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DuploTrain · 17/11/2023 19:18

I had quite a different experience, when I got there at 4cm dilated they said I’d done really well to stay at home for so long and got straight on the gas and air!

I’m pregnant with my second as well… hoping it will be magically easier this time..

Original poster

Rainforest453 · 18/11/2023 11:44

@DuploTrain I really hope it's the same for me and that when I go in they can offer me Gas and Air straight away. MW said they keep hold of you from about 4 or 5cm so as long as I don't go in before then lol! Good luck with your pregnancy! When are you due?

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