Contractions have stopped...what to do?

[Viola000]

Just after some advice/anyone experienced similar? So fed up!
I am 39+1 with second baby.

First child is 8 years old had a fairly quick and straight forward natural labour/birth. Was expecting this one to follow suit or even be quicker!

Lastnight I started getting contractions around 11pm, went to the birth unit at 4am as contractions had gotten 3-4mins apart and lasting up to a minute.

Got examined was only 1cm 🙄 got sent home told to go back when things progressed.
Managed to rest for an hour then contractions got stronger by 8am this morning.
Decided to take a bath....MASSIVE REGRET!

The bath seemed to slow everything down, contractions were still there but getting mild and by 1pm today the contractions just stopped! 😩
How can I contract for 14 hours then nothing!? I've had maybe 3-4 irregular but mild contractions since then and now I'm trying to think of ways to bring them on again as I feel if I hadn't had the bath things would have progressed 😩

Managed a big sleep this afternoon so now I'm full of energy just waiting

Do I just sit and wait? Is there anything I can do to try and bring them on again 🤦🏼‍♀️

Go for a walk.

Yoga ball or yoga stretches & walk perhaps? Stay hydrated too

Managed a tidy walk this afternoon after they stopped and also a bumpy car ride 😂 sort of made my stomach tighten a little and could feel more pressure but didnt kickstart much. Maybe will try again! 🤞🏻

Look up a yoga routine for bringing on labour on YouTube. Do squats. Keep moving! And keep hydrated and eating.

Have sex and orgasm, many many times.

As long as waters haven't gone and baby is still moving, you just keep going I'm afraid 😅

Nipple tweaking?

Maybe the bath is a slight red herring as babies like to come at night. Lol. I've not had stop start labour but from around 39 weeks, felt crampy in the evenings, wandered if labour is starting, but slept ok, then nothing in the morning. The night I was getting actual contractions, took me a while to accept, when i couldn't fall asleep at 10/11 pm. Baby arrived at 3. Good luck tonight. Hope you either get a baby or a more restful night.

I remember once a midwife saying to me... a bath will either slow/stop contractions or get things moving. With my second child I was having contractions for a few hours, mild but they were there. I then had a bath and bloody hell they came thick and fast and within 4 hours baby was here. It was all a bit sudden. Third baby, I was having contractions on and off for 12 hours, mild and then strong but not regular, you know, just the early stages. I had a bath, well it stopped everything for about 24 hours, I literally had nothing! Then about midnight the next day it all started again and baby was here within 6 hours. In those 24 hours the contractions stopped, I walked, I bounced and nothing got them going again.

Moral of my story is... rest, sleep and rest more as once baby is here there's no rest lol. Good luck x

With my first I had contractions for hours all afternoon and evening then nothing at all the next day - repeat this whole cycle for 3 more days then finally the real deal

I was like this and stuck at 3cm for about a week. It sucks waiting. Baby will come when they are ready but be prepared for it to all happen thick and fast once they are ready!! Good luck!

You could try another bath to see if it reverses the effects! Good luck!

Thanks all for replies

I had a bath when in labour with my first and it made them come on thick and fast so assumed would be same this time but obviously done the opposite 😩

Will try all of your suggestions tonight then just see what happens 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Just feeling a bit disheartened as got so excited things were happening lastnight, so was gutted when things stopped 😔

I had stop start contractions for five days with my first, not fun.

subsequent labours I just walked and walked and walked to keep things going. Also ball bouncing etc.

Sleep! Don't waste your energy trying old wives tales and getting frustrated. Baby will be here soon enough

100x this!!!

Still no sign of anything happening 😩

Cleaned, squatted and done a walk and food shop today to try and keep moving....Started getting bad constant period type cramps and tightenings this evening that lasted a few hours then again just stopped! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Have been losing bits mucus plug on and off since Saturday and a few with bits of blood which I've heard is a good sign?

Just Getting fed up and uncomfortable now just want some progression 😩

Midwife app is on Friday, I know I'm going to be offered a sweep, anyone have any experience with this? Didnt have one on my first, do they actually work?

Aww make the most of it & rest aswell. I just rested and did yoga stretches and ball. Had a nap in the afternoon before contractions & show - glad I did as defo needed that energy to get through the night & labour next day!

No sweep here but a friend had one with one of her kids and it didn’t work. Depends if your body & baby is ready as to whether it will work much like induction process. Good luck!

My advice would be rest up! This sounds similar to my experience of my second and third labours, long latent phase but then very short active labour. So as frustrating as it felt I'd take it over a long period of 'actual labour'. Hopefully yours will be the same but really try and sleep if you can and then stay active during the day, walking, ball etc.
I had a sweep after a day of on off contractions with my third and she arrived the next day, but I imagine it's very likely she would have done anyway without it!

I'm currently sat feeding my 12 week old, who put me through a 48 hour latent labour 😵‍💫 my first was even longer, but Iike you expected the second to be much quicker like everyone says. However, the second stage of labour was SO quick - I went to maternity assessment for a sweep to try and get things moving in desperation, and upon examination I was finally 5cm. The relief of being told I was finally in active labour was unbelievable. Baby was born an hour later 😅 I don't know if mentally being able to feel positive about it kicked my body into action!? Anyway, my point being, you might find your active Labour is much quicker with your second - you just need to get through this latent labour.

All I can suggest is stay upright and active, and jn a positive mind set as much as you can. I know how frustrating it is, but you're so close!!

How are things OP?

This happened to me with both my labours. It was absolutely maddening. In the end my first came by emergency section and my second did eventually come on her own. With my first I was in the same stop start labour as you describe for 3 days. With my second it was even longer- more like 5 days.

@Cindy1802
Still absolutely nothing 😭
I am so annoyed/fed up
I'm trying my hardest to just keep busy, walking, cleaning etc but I end up in absolute agony!
I've suffered a lot of pelvic pain the last few months and that's gotten worse!
Everytime I walk/clean around the house or do anything for more than 10 mins I end up with tightenings, but then this constant stitch like throbbing pain that goes down my side, pelvis and legs.

I've been walking/cleaning/ bouncing on ball (that does ease the pelvis pain)

But absolutely no movement with contractions whatsoever! 🥺 had plenty of braxton hicks since but no actual contractions, it's baffled me.

Sounds dramatic but I broke down in tears as soon as I woke up this morning, I'm just so uncomfortable/fed up and just don't see the end to this

Not dramatic at all- I cried towards the end of pregnancy due to the spd / pgp it was exhausting. Had my second last week & honestly have more energy now & feel more like myself then I did during that awful pregnancy! You’re almost there

@Viola000 ah I'm so sorry, that's rough. I would say to try and ignore the fact that labour tried to start a few days ago , and just go on with your days as if it didn't happen. Easier said than done I know! Good luck.