very slow and painful early labour - seeking tips/advice for surviving this

[miniegg]

hello again, am feeling a bit desperate...
went into early labour at midnight last night and had manageable contractions through the night, between 3 and 6 mins apart.
coped fine but by 5pm they picked up in intensity and i started really struggling with the pain. So we trekked across London in nightmare rush hour traffic and went to the hospital whereupon I discovered that despite all the pain and 17 hours early labour I am less than 3cm dilated (though the cervix is very thin - i think that's what they said - which is apparently good). The labour ward was full so they encouraged us to come home again.
and now i'm back home the contractions have eased off, which is a lovely relief but not the direction i really want things heading in. now it looks like I could have a second night without sleep for not much benefit!
i feel like i'm at the bottom of Everest trying to get up it with a broken leg...the contractions were awful this afternoon and yet i'm only 2cm dilated. how do people cope?
i am NOT a wimp - or at least, I didn't think I was till this!
how have others coped with a very long early labour? all tips/advice hugely appreciated .

[bananabump]

Aaw you poor thing. No advice as I'm about to go through it for the first time myself, but just wanted to respond to your thread. You must be so frustrated!!

[CarGirl]

I should think once it start "for real" it will be quite quick and you'll cope fine because the summit will be in sight have you got a tens machine?

[Leati]

Miniegg

You need to rest so that you have strength later.

[lulumama]

if your waters are intact, try sex

you are not only 2 cm, you are already 2 cm, and 1 /5 th of the way there !!

try a really strong visualisation, in the bath, with some clary sage or lavendar oil, and ask the baby to come

you are getting there

all the pains up till now will have served a purpose...thinned your cervix, got baby into a good position

try to sleep tonight, if labour starts in the night, you;ll know

chin up chuck !

[MuminBrum]

Have you got someone other than your DP/DH to sit up with you? I was in early labour for six days and fortunately my mum was here, so she did the night shifts and my DP did the day shifts.

[Walnutshell]

Feeling for you... Started my own labour (21 months ago now!) at 11pm Sunday night and no sleep until birth almost 2pm Tuesday. Luckily was admitted to hospital when I went in on Monday evening at 7.30pm - even though I was only 2cm dilated... was a relief. I think it was because the MW took a shine to us - and of course, it can't have been too busy.

Really thinking about you - it will feel like such a long time but it really is so close now...

Oh, I don't have any tips except that if you have a birth plan, review it now. I didn't and I decided to have pethidine after many hours of contractions and I regret it. Not that you would necessarily feel the same of course, but it's worth thinking through as it really won't be long. Mind, you have a doula so I expect all that is pretty much covered.

Sorry, rambling! Good luck xxx

[Nbg]

Back rubs from your dh, a nice warm bath, also if you have one of those birthing/exercise balls they are great to rock on if not sitting on the edge of a rocking chair and rocking your pelvis when you get a contraction.

I think everyone has different experiences when it comes to labour pains.

[SusanL]

Hello. Really hope things are getting better. My first child took a good while to come. After a number of hours I was close to giving up and asking for them to open me up. The only way I gor through this is with the support of my husband. I literally placed myself in his hands. I decided not to think, panic, analyse or worry but let him do that and try and listen to my body. I made a nest as best as I could in the my hospital room and drew comfort from the thought that it would not last for ever and I would have my beautiful baby soon. Stay strong. Susan x

[mummytosteven]

Long hot bath, as much rest as you can get, and some paracetamol. Seeing as your cervix is thinning, full labour should be pretty imminent. When I was in a similar position to you, I was told that I would have my baby within 24 hours (of being told to bog off home as I was still in pre-labour). And the mw was wife - gave birth 20 hours later.

[MuminBrum]

If you possibly can, find something you can laugh at - put on your favourite funny film or TV series. It's very relaxing to laugh, if you are laughing you can't possibly be tensing up, and it passes the time wonderfully.

[lulumama]

lucozade...something sugary can help

or raspberyy leaf tea with honey

and rest !


rest
rest

ok?

[coleyboy]

TENS machine, birthing ball and once you are far enough gone (and if the hospital has one) get yourself in a birthing pool.

The water works really well. It helps with the pain, and enables you to move round really easily.

[coleyboy]

TENS machine, birthing ball and once you are far enough gone (and if the hospital has one) get yourself in a birthing pool.

The water works really well. It helps with the pain, and enables you to move round really easily.

[octo]

breathe and rock
breathe and rock
breathe and rock
breathe and rock

[miniegg]

thanks everyone - i almost managed to fall asleep which would have been just bliss but then the most hideous contraction kicked in and it's all started up again...i dont have a tens machine (long story as to why not) but i do have a birthing ball which has been really helpful.i know i'll get there. eventually! i also know this is quite normal - but somehow you think it won't happen to you!
i've got some lucozade in my hospital bag so will have some of that now...
thanks again..

[octo]

Careful miniegg - I thought that - my waters broke - only just got to hosp in time -washing pushing on arrival and refused to get out of car!

[octo]

wasn't washing - not sure where that came from - mixture of was and pushing I think

[Walnutshell]

GOOD LUCK, YOU WILL DO BRILLIANTLY!

Will be thinking about you and looking forward to your good news x

[icet]

ah miniegg, was hoping you wr on your way. I was 40+10, had contract for 7+ days and like you unable to do much with the pain. Was sent home from hosi few times as not far enough in labour, went in for 40+10day check (to get induct date) and was so tired and in pain, they did a sweep. All I can say is stay calm and positive, your doing really well and sounds like your in control. Just be patient, my DH (bless him) use to walk the streets with me all hours to try and take my mind off the pain. Won't be long for you now, warm baths and a nice massage to keep you relaxed.

God bless you both...be brave and go with it, your nearly there chick!
x

[Niecie]

Oh you poor thing. Just what you didn't want.

You seemed on such a high this morning too. You did so well to stick it out at home for as long as you did. At least there is some progress though - it wasn't totally in vain. There is no going back now until that baby is out. Lets hope you are one of those ladies who take ages to get established and then go from 3cm to 10cm in a couple of hours. It does happen.

As everybody says, sleep if you can. Any point taking paracetamol? Sometimes the midwifes tell you to take some in early labour and if it takes the edge off the pain enough to rest so it might be worth it.

If you can't rest, try and stay upright and let gravity do some of the work!

Hope your DH is OK too. I know you are bearing the brunt of this and he isn't in pain but it must be draining for him as well. Good luck once again.

[HonoriaGlossop]

good luck mini. I do feel for you as I was in early labour a long time and the trouble is that there's no rest to be had when the contractions are so close together and so very painful. If I was to do it again I would spend more time in the bath, water definitely helps the pain more than anything else I think.

'Rest' sounds a silly thing to advise when you are having horrible pain, but if you can work out how to cope with it while not moving around too much I'm sure that's at least some rest. I remember I walked around for almost 48 hours and I was so bloody knackered! Obviously there are benefits to being active in labour but when labour is so long like this, you do need to conserve energy.

Get in some warm water and get people massaging you etc etc etc.

Good luck!

[butterflymum]

TENS machine.

[Niecie]

Sorry - by staying upright I didn't necessarily mean standing necessarily. I am sure you have already tried this but I mention it just in case you haven't but have you tried kneeling in front of the birthing ball and leaning over it? Quite relaxing although you might need a pillow for your knees. You might get come rest but you are still using gravity.

Keep going - the end is in sight!

[miniegg]

thanks. gahh, i was so naive! was sure i'd have baby by now!
unfortunately rest is impossible because the contractions are so strong - any remotely reclining position is hell when a contraction kicks in.
will hospitals give serious (ie not just paracetamol) pain relief once you get to the magic 3cm?
or do you need to be even further along?
at this rate it is the exhaustion that will get me...if i wasn't so totally drained i'd be dealing with the contractions better.

[Niecie]

I think 3 or 4 cm is the magic number. Certainly it was for DS1 when I had an epidural.