Labour not progressing - so exhausted!!! Please help

[Rainforest453]

Hi all

On wednesday night I started having contractions. They were irregular which I know is normal especially as they'd just started out. However since then, they get so intense randomly for a good hour and then decrease in intensity and closeness but still painful. For 2 nights now they've been 8 mins apart for a good while, then when I get tired and lay down to sleep they just slow down

The thing is, they dont completely stop so I can't sleep or if I do, its only 15 mins between. I am using TENS, taking paracetomol too. I am so exhausted now

Is there anything they can do for me at all? Can I request they intervene and help get me into established labour? This is my 2nd baby. I am as active as I can be during the day but its becoming impossible now. I could talk through the contractions wednesday night but now the ones i'm getting are enough to make me stop and really breathe through

I just want an end in sight. Also worried about the baby being distressed from all this

Things that helped me when I got stuck with DC2
Acupuncture (see if one will give you emergency appointment, I found one happy to come to my house for an extra £10)

Blowing balloons (weird but true)

Bouncing on a gym ball

Lots and lots of walking.

Good luck it's horrible!

Hi there, I am a midwife working on a labour ward. Yes, you could definitely request the doctors to intervene (it would have to be a Dr decision). You could get an epidural and have your waters broken to induce labour. You will probably have to go on a hormonal drip. These are all safe options. Epidural does not increase the risk of an emergency Caesearean section. It does increase the risk of instrumental delivery which is safe, just not on any woman's birth plan. However, epidural will allow you to rest. I don't normally recommend epidural as a first line treatment. However, long latent stage sometimes happens with slightly malpositioned babies i.e. head down by looking sideways, back to back babies etc. This is when epidural and hormonal drip sometimes can help. I can't really comment whether your baby is getting distressed or not. For this, I would need to ask you more questions and I don't feel it's professionally acceptable for me to go down this route on Mumsnet. I suggest you call your maternity assessement unit, talk to a midwife, describe what is happening, ask to come for monitoring and to discuss with a Dr whether epidural and induction of labour would be appropriate. I hope it helps.

@Tiredbehyondbelief thank you so much for your reply and restoring my sanity.
That really gives me hope as I started to think they just wont do anything for me no matter how long this goes on. Thank you for explaining it's got to be a Doctor's decision- at least I know I have the option to talk about it with them.
I started out thinking I will not have the epidural/induction but this pain and exhaustion has completely changed my mind. After days of no sleep/barely keeping food down i'm feeling the effects of it

Do I ring Triage and ask if I can speak with the Doctor about it? My MW hasn't replied all week

Thank you @smilesup I hadn't thought of acupuncture. I will have a look online. I will also get back onto the ball incase the position is slightly off x

Would you try a hot shower/bath? It really helped me dilate with my first. Things went so quickly once I got in a hot bath. With my second they got me to use the ‘peanut’ and have it between my legs and move sides every 30min or so. They also got my sitting in a squatting position for gravity to do its thing.

If a doctor's decision is needed definitely try to go in today because weekends seem to have fewer docs or consultants on duty. Best of luck x

Thank you @Rosiiee - I will try a hot bath. I avoided it thinking it will slow things down but seeing as nothing's happening anyway I will give it a go. I know letting things happen on their own is the best way so happy to try everything

@HowNice23 very good point!! - i'll try the hot bath and if no improvement then going in

I hope i'm taken seriously. Last night when I called Triage for advice, and basically asked the same question the MW was dismissive and said "can offer a sweep but tbh it's not been happening to you long, could be ages" - she also said "bit early to be using TENS but if that helps you then great" - definitely not too early in my eyes, its the only thing keeping me home

I know it’s counterintuitive but lay off the paracetamol - it inhibits the release of prostaglandins, which are needed to help labour progress.

Hi there, it's midwife again. Just as I have said earlier, I suggest you call Triage and explain your situation. Sorry to hear you had experienced a dismissive midwife last night- that was last night. It's your 2nd child so things are usually quicker to progress. I would say, definitely call Triage and hear what they say.

Have they established that your baby is not ‘back to back’? One of my labours was exactly like this and was back to back. The baby’s head doesn’t press the right way on your cervix, apparently.

Good luck OP! Keep going, baby soon!

Thinking of you @Rainforest453. This sounds similar to my first and baby was transverse so think that was causing the stalling! It is exhausting having contractions for days on end. I did finally give birth two days after the initial contractions!

I hope you can get some help and the rest you need 🤞🏼

Try acupressure points too. Nipples, and the web between your thumb and forefinger.

Anything to report? Got my🤞🏻crossed for you!

Thank you all. I am in the Triage now and waiting to speak with the doctor. @Tiredbehyondbelief thank you so much for your advice regarding my rights to speak about my options. Of course while i'm here, no contractions other than when I was stood waiting

If they say no, i'll just go home and try everything again. So hard when you already have a child/children at home and have to care for them too - was able to function up until this point where i'm just drained of all energy

Hi there, you can insist that the Triage takes you seriously and monitor your baby using an electronic monitor (CTG machine) - if they haven't already done so. Like others said, long latent stage is often a sign of a baby being in a slightly awkward position. It's not necessarily a bad thing if (and it's a big IF) the baby is coping. Most babies will cope and eventually turn. However, the electronic monitoring doesn't have predictive power - i.e. it only gives information about baby's well being at that moment of time. Listen carefully to what the doctors will say. In our hospital they would quite often suggest epidural and induction of labour with breaking the waters followed by the hormonal drip. You can demand that you are admitted to the antenatal ward- it's your 2nd child and 2nd labours are often quicker. If they are not, then why not? In my experience, long latent phase is often followed by all sorts of interventions. It is not clear what causes what - i.e. long latent phase causes inteventions or interventions happen because of baby's malposition and long latent phase. Baby's safety is paramount. So listen to the doctors and to your inner voice and don't hesitate to come back for another check up if they send you home.

OP hope you are ok. I had similar Tuesday. Got to hospital 6.30am 4cm, still same at 2pm. Went home and got in bed with my husband (just for a cuddle), not sure if that released oxytocin or if she had moved herself.

Contractions got back to being 3 mins apart, stronger and longer. I was still 4cm when I got back to hospital at 6pm but they gave me a sweep after they checked and I had her at 7.48pm that night.

I also had a midwife say that my contractions were only 'moderate' at 6pm and I shouldn't be in that much pain. Was glad to see the back of her on the shift change. It's horrible when you feel dismissed x

Thank you @Tiredbehyondbelief ! The doctor came around to see me and had actually offered induction, she also did a scan and you are correct - baby's head was tilted to the side which she said is causing the long latent phase of labour. I was induced and had the baby yesterday

@Tryingtoconceivenumber2 congratulations!!! Absolutely it is horrible when you are dismissed. Hope you are feeling okay and enjoying the cuddles xx

Congratulations and best wishes OP xx

@Rainforest453 congratulations 🎉. Yes all ok thank you, it's been lovely x

Hi I have just seen your a midwife. Question please.. I've been contracting for the past 3 weeks. No dilation. 4th pregnancy so I know the difference between braxton hicks and full blown contractions. The other day I was have contractions every 7 min. So pretty irregular. They have stayed the same since. Hospital said they wanted to do a cat 3 on me but then changed there mind(really got my hopes up).. I've been in so much pain. No painkillers are helping. What advice can you give

@Rainforest453 Awww congratulations! 🥰 Lovely news x

Apologies I just saw your message. Sorry to hear your cat 3 was cancelled. Can't comment if it's a good or bad thing as I don't know your full story and it's not appropriate to gather more details over Mumsnet. I suggest you go for a check and ask the doctors to discuss induction of labour or a CS or waitingfurther. Keep pestering them they will eventually have to listen. I hope it helps

Congratulations !!!