I'm starting to lose my mind, and I think it would help to hear from others who have gone through the same thing!
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Four days of prodromal labor before I gave birth to my daughter three weeks ago. Intense frequent contractions at night(every 5-10 min). Less frequent, less painful contractions during the day(every 10-30 min). I never progressed beyond 3cm so I had a c-section. It was rough, but she was worth it!
How long have you been having contractions? How far along are you?
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@runsyellowlites has had experience with prodromal labor too. Her story really helped me! I would post a link to her birth story if I had more time. Look on my wall!
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@Colee: I'm 40w4d and I've been having contractions - most of them pretty painful - since Thursday at 2am. The first several hours were the most intense, and then they petered out. They are about 10-20 minutes apart on average, though they will have stretches that are close together, and then stretches with hardly any. I am not dilated at all.
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I was in early labor for 1.5 days. Contractions were 5 minutes apart but I could sleep through them. They would come & go. Had a healthy baby girl after 8.5 hours of labor, vaginal birth at home. I walked a lot in hopes of speeding things up but I don't think it worked. Wish I would've slept more! Ha!
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@emg86: I was told today that it's not early labor because "real" labor contractions don't space out or go away at all. I am really hoping this is a warm up to the real deal though & not going to go on for days & days! I have been going on a long walk daily but also resting a lot.
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@daniellemybelle: I hope those contractions are doing some work for you!! I was dilated to 3cm at the time...just saw that you're not dilated yet
doesn't mean much anyways but contractions are supposed to help get things thinned out & dilating...it was very true for me.Oops, I didn't mean early labor, you're right--it's false labor
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@daniellemybelle: Well the day before I was officially admitted I went in to be checked because I was in so much pain from contractions every 2-4 minutes but they were in my back. I was only a 2. And I had been a 1 at the OB a couple days before. But then the next day I was an 8. So I don't really count that as "false" but at the same time it was incredibly slow-going.
Also, my contractions NEVER got regular. I almost didn't go to the hospital because I was waiting for them to A) hurt more in the front than the back and B) be more regular. I had every 3 min contractions and then a 12 minute spacing and said never mind let's stay home. Then the next one hit and I was on the floor. Good thing we went because when we got there I was in transition!
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And I don't mean to scare you..it's just that labor is not always the same for everyone. If the intensity gets to be too much it's ok to go in, even if just to get checked out.
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@daniellemybelle: EVERY contraction you have IS doing exactly what it is supposed to do! EVERY. SINGLE. ONE!
I had bookoos of false/prodromal labor and a successful vaginal birth.. only complication was getting dehydrated which caused tachycardia & a slight temp. It can get discouraging but remember.... even though you've never done this your body DOES know exactly what it's doing! It does!
For me I had nightly "false" labor for a week straight. Every night around 1 am I'd start having contractions roughly 10-15 minutes apart. Then around 7 am they'd stop. I did the best I could to just sleep between them and would find the most comfortable position during them. It stunk!
Then I think on night 6 they just didn't stop & continued between 10-20 minutes apart for the next day until I got into active labor.
Before having any contractions I was "barely 1cm, high, not effaced, and soft" (remember since I was a stm being kinda dilated pre labor is kinda normal). SO I had a week of false labor & roughly 24 hours of prodromal labor before I made ANY progress! It took 37 hours of "consistent" (as in not completely puttering out) contractions before I could to 4cm.
It was long, but staying confident in my body REALLY made a difference! If you fight your contractions they *will* be worse. Rest when you can, even if it's just a short amount of time & move as you need. The best position for me was in all 4's leaning on a tower of pillows or the arm of the couch. I could literally sleep between contractions but then sway my hips during them. After no sleep for a week it really was a heavenly position. lol
A friend of mine just attended her SIL birth where she was in prodromal labor for 96 hours. She got chiropractic adjustments & had acupuncture done to help things along. She had a natural homebirth.
Don't get discouraged. You're doing amazing!
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I had it for a week before being induced due to low fluid at 40w 5d. I'm pretty sure it would have continued another day or two. It's super frustrating, but hang in there as best you can- baby will be here so soon!
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I had went into pre term with my last 2 pregnancies very early (27 & 30 weeks), the contractions never really ended, they'd be worse in the morning and evening. I was put on bedrest until 36 weeks each time. Mine would be 2-3 minutes apart and last all day and night, then space out the next morning. I was induced at 40+1 with my second and surprisingly went on my own the third time at 39+2.
My advice is to keep hydrated and try to lay low.
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Ugh, it sucked so much. They went on every 10 min starting at midnight and lasting until 6 AM. This happened 4 nights in a row. Then I asked the doctor for something to help
me sleep for the fifth night (I was a walking zombie by then), but the fifth night turned into real labour. Got to 5-1-1 in 2 hours, went to hospital and was already 6 cm. So, stuff could definitely be happening! -
I was due the 21st, started having "false" labor contractions on the 10th which continued for about 10 days. I'd have irregular contractions for hours, they'd stop, then come back again - mostly during the day. I was only ever 1cm dilated during that time. It stopped all together when I decided to stop working. I think it was the stress of my job (I teach 2nd grade and was terrified of going into labor at school).
I was induced on the 28th (40 weeks) and had a great delivery.
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I had contractions for about 5 days before the 'real thing' started. They ramped up at night to about 5 minutes apart, but then spaced out again. They seemed to get worse when I walked or bounced on the exercise ball. The real contractions didn't change with activity or movement.
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Thanks everyone! It's reassuring to hear your stories because I feel like this is so unusual. It's hard to not be discouraged and frustrated with my body! I don't know what scares me more - going on like this until 42 weeks, or getting induced... So let's hope baby wants to show up soon!
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I think I am going to lose it. Thought I was in true labor for over 3 hours tonight, only for the contractions to space back out again. They are super painful so I can't sleep. I have been in pain for three days now and I can't do this anymore.
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@daniellemybelle: hang in there!!! It will all be worth it!!!!
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@daniellemybelle: I had contractions for a few nights that kept me awake but went away during the day. I think that started on Thursday? That Sun around 4pm I started having contractions again... Started about 60 sec long, 10 min apart. They intensified all night and by morning were 5 min apart. But by 11am Monday they'd moved to 10 min apart again. Felt like back labor and was intensely painful. Nurse midwife at my OB practice said it sounded like false labor and told me to relax and enjoy my last child free days - I could have shot her. I got off the phone and sobbed... In so much pain and so exhausted. Later in the day the contractions moved to 7 min apart but stayed that way. At 3ish I got on a bouncy ball and that really seemed to help. Contractions went to 5 min apart. At 6 or 7pm I talked to the OB and he said I'd labored on my own long enough and told me to come in to be checked. I was 4-5cm so i was admitted and got an epidural. I had my daughter around 2am Tues morning (and it WAS all worth it).
So for me, I think the last 34 hrs or so was all true labor, even though they spaced out for awhile. The contractions felt equally intense the entire time on Monday/Tuesday, no obvious shift or anything. Can you go to the hospital? I wish I'd gone sooner...
Best of luck to you..., I remember how tired and frustrated I felt. Hugs to you. I will be thinking about you. You've got to be super close!!! You can do it!
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@78h2o: They told me to not come to the hospital unless they stayed consistently close together & intense. The pain is still intense, though not every time, but since they spaced back out I am assuming it's still false labor based on what I was told, and it's too soon to go to the hospital. Though part of me is ready to throw my birth plan out the window and show up asking for Pitocin ASAP.
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Hmm... my contractions were all the same length and intensity, but the spacing changed. I could not walk or talk through them at all by early Monday am (maybe 2am when they were 6 min apart) and they really took my breath away. I didn't have a birth plan (other than to avoid pitocin and try to avoid an epi), but I was so exhausted I ok'd the epi (husband and parents were pushing for it and I was worn out). I honestly felt like it sped things up. My time at the hospital was blissful.
Have you bounced on a ball? Maybe if you get to 5-1-1 you can go for a check? My hospital wanted 3-1-1 but said 5-1-1 was close enough to do a check. I dont know though if some contractions aren't that painful - that does sound different from my experience, but worth a try with a ball. I tried walking but that didn't do anything.
Hang in there!
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@78h2o: Thanks for the encouragement. My doula keeps telling me to not expend my energy trying to speed things up and to just rest. Of course I was not able to sleep because I contracted all night. My doula told me I might just now be entering actual early labor since they are staying longer & intense even though they are farther apart... I don't know what to think anymore! I am just exhausted and tired of being in pain. I don't think they will want me to go to the hospital though because they aren't even 5-1-1.
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@Jennimac: Thanks lady... I am so ready to join all the October ladies with babies!
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@daniellemybelle: I didn't have much prodromal labor, but my contractions did not conform to the 5-1-1 rule. They just got more intense.
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Just wanted to say good luck. Whatever this is - early labor/prodromal/whatev, it's still your body doing a lot of work. Make sure to eat and drink enough and if you can't sleep at night try and nap during the day. Labor is a lot of work and extended labor is even more work so try and pamper yourself as much as possible so when the fireworks come you can be semi-rested and have the food energy you need.
Best wishes!!!!!! -
@daniellemybelle: Hang in there. Mine never got to 5-1-1 and if you're having back contractions I've read that it's not uncommon for them to be irregular. I second @maysprout..try to rest up! It will make recover a little bit easier if you haven't been up for days and days prior to lo's arrival. Hugs to you! Hope your LO is here soon!
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@daniellemybelle: You're going great!!!! I agree with your doula about *trying* to rest as much as possible! With G I had prodromal labor too & spent ALL DAY walking only to have my contractions space out as soon as I'd stop and after completely wearing myself out I hadn't dilated any more than I already was.
A few things you may try:
1. Getting a chiropractic adjustment to make sure you're all aligned so baby can get into a good position.
2. See if your doula can try a rebozo to get baby in optimal position, give you relief, and even speed up labor! Here are some youtube videos:
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=rebozo%20in%20labor&oq=rebozo%20in%20labor&gs_l=youtube.3..35i39.13998.18253.0.18401.22.20.0.0.0.5.489.3699.4j5j6j1j2.18.0...0.0...1ac.1.11.youtube.P6qMbK2oGi8And a link to a downloadable book from THE rebozo lady Gena Kirby.
http://genakirby.com/shop/rebozo-e-book-first-edition/
3. Also if your labor is spacing out during the day you could chat about trying some melatonin..... I took 1 1mg pill midday shortly before using the rebozo and together I FINALLY got into labor labor.
4. You could also try some acupuncture.Don't push yourself though.... your body needs energy to do the work later. Eat lots of protein, stay hydrated, and just try and relax..... have you tried a glass of wine & warm bath? or a Benadryl to help you sleep? Both of these are things my MW suggests in prodromal labor too. Basically "When it's "labor labor" nothing will stop them and they'll wake you up when it's time"
Try to rejuvenate your mind! Rest it too & try to remove your expectations of how labor is "supposed" to go in that you should be "x" amount along b/c you've had "x" amount of contractions... you WILL get there. You're doing AHMAZING!
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Thanks ladies! Last night, I called my midwife again out of desperation, so they had me go the hospital. Good news: Baby is looking great. She is so happy in there! Bad news: It's definitely "false labor" and I was still only dilated a fingertip and about 25% effaced.
Even though I have been anti-drugs for this pregnancy, I decided to take the morphine shot they offered me. Best decision I have EVER made. I slept so well last night & while I am still having contractions today, I seriously feel like a new person!
Interesting thing I learned: The baby is posterior, which could be both my lack of dilation, as her head can't get in and push down, and the pain I'm experiencing. So I'm going to try over the next couple days to get her to move in a better position.
@runsyellowlites: Thanks for all your awesome tips and your reassurance! I am going to try the chiropractor. My doula suggested acupuncture as well, though I might hold off on that a bit since I'm not crazy about needles. My mom is also going to help me do some "Spinning Babies" moves to try to turn the baby from posterior.
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@daniellemybelle: I'm sorry your baby is OP. Mine was too.
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@daniellemybelle: so how far along are you now?
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@Mrs. Jacks: Thanks - did you go late, or have issues getting dilated?
@sotofamilia: I'm 40w6d.
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@daniellemybelle: oh man, that's rough...I only made it to 40w4d, but I remember thinking I was going to be pregnant forever! Everyday the sun would go down and I would get excited that something was going to happen overnight...and then every morning the sun would rise and I would still be pregnant.
I hope things kick into gear for you soon - best of luck on the birth and in the next few months!!!!! I hope all this false labor means a nice, fast, birth for you
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@daniellemybelle: I went into a very irregular labor on my own. We needed some augmentation to get me going (breaking the bag, a little bit of pit), but all in all it progressed pretty well and they flipped the baby while she was in the canal. 3 pushes
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@daniellemybelle: You should most definitely see if you doula can do some "sifting" to get baby anterior! P was kinda facing sideways all during my early/prodromal labor and using the rebozo worked WONDERS in getting her nice & straight! The earlier in labor the better!
My MW also had me staying off of my back & not laying back at all... pretty much staying in a hand/knees position & doing lots of pelvlic tilts to coax her anterior facing. She also had me NOT leaning over anything high like a counter until P was WELL engaged but that position can close the upper part of the pelvis making it easier for baby to stay/get back into a bad position & not engage like wanted.
Here's a video specifically on sifting & helping baby turn! My MW did a slower "sift" where she didn't do it too vigorously but pulled up on one side slowly & then switched pulling up on the other side while I laid on my back. It also felt SOOOO good to have the relief of pressure, even while having contractions!
Glad you were able to get some rest! That makes a HUGE difference on what we mommas think we're capable of doing!
So excited that you're getting close!
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@sotofamilia: It certainly feels that way. My midwives keep saying that first time moms often go over 41 weeks, but I do feel like I am going to be pregnant forever!
@Mrs. Jacks: I really didn't want to be induced or have my labor augmented, but I know these things often don't go according to plan. I was a little upset I had to get morphine last night but it was the best thing I could have ever done! I have a much better outlook today.
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@runsyellowlites: Thanks! My doula suggested the cat/cow yoga pose, which is the same as pelvic tilts I think. I don't think she does any rebozo work
I asked her about movements/techniques to move the baby and she just said the above, plus acupuncture/chiropractic. Do you know anything about the Miles circuit? @evansjamie suggested it.
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@daniellemybelle: Yea cat/cow is the same..... pretty much live there and NOT any recline positions until baby is turn & WELL engaged... As for the Miles circuit, No I don't.
Tbh I think if your mom was coming to help you with some spinning babies moves she could probably try some sifting (just watch a coupld YouTube videos & maybe download that ebook). It was really simple & you can even use a shawl (what a rebozo looks like anyways) or a bed sheet! Definitely worth a shot & it really feels great!
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Here's the link for the Miles Circut: http://www.milescircuit.com/the-circuit.html. It says it takes 90 minutes, but my midwife said that you don't have to so it as long as they say if you aren't comfortable.
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