Slow labour - give me some hope?

[remaininghopeful23]

Hi everyone,

not really sure what I'm looking for but maybe some hope and to know it's normal. Im 40+4 first baby and been having signs of labour all week - lots of bloody shows, cramping, more pressure etc. Last night I started getting contractions at 8.30pm which continued to intensify and become more regular all night. Became 2-3 mins and lasting up to a minute. Problem was they were all in my back. Tightening on my tummy but the pain was all lower back and hips.

It got so intense and I struggled with it after a few hours. Spent the night moving around, trying all the different positions and spinning babies etc. Had bloody shows all throughout the night and thought something must be progressing. Eventually at about 6am the pains spread out and I slept on and off for a few hours. They're coming back but still irregular at the moment.

I feel so disheartened that it sounds as if baby must be OP given the pains in my back. I had a recent scan where they actually said baby wasn't OP and had a sweep where they said the head was engaged so I didn't really consider that it could change at this stage. Does the back pain mean it's definitely OP? I'm worrying now about a long and difficult labour if it's in this position. And feel disheartened as well that it seemed to fizzle out a bit this morning.

I've felt all week that my body is trying so hard to labour and I'm wondering what's stopping it. I felt nice and relaxed and excited for it. Did all my hypnobirthing, relaxation techniques. I just feel frustrated now and really just wishing it would kick in properly and be time to meet my baby. I know I have to be patient and go with my body I guess I'm just looking for reassurance. Anyone had similar? Thanks everyone.

I feel for you, I was like this with my second. But all of a sudden started getting proper strong contractions and she was born a couple of hours after that.

Keep doing what you're doing!

Have you spoken to the labour ward? They might want you to come in and get checked at some point today just to see how you're progressing

I would ask the hospital to check you over OP, just to see how you’re getting on.

Have you tried the Miles circuit? I haven’t had to use it myself but I’ve heard it can help get baby into the right position to get labour going if it’s slowed.

It’s basically three positions that you do for half an hour each (going straight from one position to the next after 30 mins). Good luck - I hope things get going for you soon!

Thank you for replying. I'm sorry you had a drawn out labour like that too, but reassuring to hear it was a bit quicker when it suddenly got going. Everything eased off today I've just had very random and sporadic pains, intense when they come but very infrequent. So I'm due in in the morning for a check up. If it gets any way regular again I'll just go in tonight I think. Thanks for taking he time to reply x

Thank you, they said because it ended up easing off today so see how it goes and I can go in any time if I'm worried or if it gets regular again I'll just go in for a check. Due for a check up in the morning also x

It’s likely just your body having test runs for labour but very occasionally babies can struggle with very long early labours so definitely make sure they’re looking after you both! Good luck x

Thank you so much I didn't know about this but really helpful! I think I was instinctively doing some of this but definitely not for long enough from just having a read of it there. Really appreciate the help x

Walk/march as much as you can, gravity helps, try dancing with gyrating your hips

I’d honestly just relax, and rest as much as possible. I had a stop start labour with my third, I had a solid few hours on the Saturday afternoon where I had contractions 3 minutes apart. I had a bath and they carried on in there so I thought that was it but there just stopped. Had lots of niggles before and after that too. 4/5am on the Tuesday I just couldn’t settle back to sleep but I wasn’t having contractions, had a trickle of waters. Had some contractions quite strong by 9am but then they stopped. Started again around lunchtime. Stopped. Started again in the afternoon evening but I’d have an hour or so of regular contractions then a break. I decided to go to bed and they ramped up massively out of nowhere and rushed to hospital, thought I was going to push in the car. Arrived 9cm. Baby born just before midnight, hadn’t been there more than an hour. It was all totally manageable and I had some gas and air.

stop start doesn’t always make a bad labour.

Any news? 😁

My labours were all slow and long. I think it made for an easier labour than hard and fast.

Hi Rainbowsponge, thanks for checking in😊 Sorry if this ends up being more detail than you'd hoped for🤣🤣

So I ended up having 3 nights of this. After night 2 I had a check up and a sweep where they felt baby was in the OT position, cervix fully effaced 2cm and very hopeful that active labour would start soon. After that was then the third and hardest night of it, but like clockwork come 6am the contractions fizzled out.

I had a bit of a wobble after that 3rd night and went to the labour and birthing unit to be checked over as I was worried baby had been going through it for some time now. Low and behold the CTG wasn't quite normal. Mild tightenings were causing fleeting decels in the heart rate. So being 40+6 we decided to crack on and break my waters. My unit do rapid GBS testing after your waters go so a couple of hours later that came back positive. Went back to the labour and birthing unit to start the oxytocin drip. The CTG was never great so we couldn't up the oxytocin that much without upsetting baby. So 10 hours later and very little progress it was time to meet my baby by c section.

It's a boy!! He's healthy and safe and I know that is all that matters. However I do still feel so disappointed that I didn't have a vaginal delivery when it seemed like everything was lining up to go that way. His position was deflexed OP at the section which means there was little no chance of him ever coming out vaginally. Recovering slowly but surely and enjoying the newborn bubble, he's just precious💙

Congratulations on your baby boy @remaininghopeful23!

I’m sorry you didn’t get the birth you’d hoped for - don’t feel guilty about feeling disappointed. I felt that way after my second baby and, while the important thing is that you’re both healthy, it’s perfectly normal to feel disappointed.

You did brilliantly to cope for so long with latent labour and a C section is by no means an easy option - don’t forget that!

Thank you so much for your message. I'm sorry you had that experience too. It's very validating to hear you say that so thank you. Of course you're just thrilled baby is healthy and safe but feeling what you need to feel is important too I think.
You're right, certainly not the easy option. Slowly but surely getting better by the day. Thank you again😊