THREE days of contractions... and nothing!

[thebluenoser]

I'm getting really frustrated, not to mention exhausted. The contractions get more frequent (as much as four minutes apart), then peter off, they get more intense, and then stop completely. If I move from standing to sitting or shift around a bit, I'll get a really intense contraction, but then they'll just go back to normal. How much longer can this go on?

Is this your first labour?

I was going to say the same, apparantly the fact that I had contractions for 3 days made for a much quicker, easier labour, not as quick as 1.5 hours mind you!

I had this with my first baby. I telephoned and was admitted which in hindsight was a mistake as it slowed down again. Better to stay at home IMO for as long as possible. Frequent warm baths for the pain, TENS if you've got it and walk as much as possible to speed things up if you can! Good luck!

Oh I totally agree with staying at home as long as possible, I did same as pinkteddy and was admitted to roam around a hospital ward instead of my own front room!

Get plenty of kip when the CTX let you, and keep eating and drinking plenty - when all this latent stuff ends, your labour will probably be speedy!

Yep, first baby. God, hope you're right about the shorter labour! I'm not ringing the hospital until I can't talk through them because it would be very frustrating to drive there (about 1/2 hour)only to be sent back. It's much better to be at home, methinks.

I know I should go for a walk/exercise, but whenever I move they get much worse, then trail off... and I'm thinking why should I put myself through that pain if it's not going to progress anything? Or maybe I should just buck up and get moving...

I had nearly five days of this with my first. The triyble was she had turned so her back was against mine. If you have one of those birthing/exercise balls get on that as that helps as does being on all fours. Maybe give the maternity ward a ring for some more advice on getting baby the right way round.

Five days!! Poor you... Saw the midwife yesterday for a sweep (in a period of non-contractions) and she said that the baby was in a perfect position, so luckily I don't have to worry about that. I've been bouncing away on my birthing ball, which helps relieve the pain a bit.

Oh no you don't need to go for a walk or do anything tiring - 3 days of contractions is enough to wear anyone out. I had 2 days before real laboour kicked in and you have my sympathy as it is hard. If I were in your position I would do whatever I could to stay comfortable and rested, sleep if possible, and not try and bring labour on at all. Real labour will come soon enough and you will need all your energy for that. In the meantime all these pains are doing something so don't lose heart. Best of luck