Anyone have tips or stories to share on getting through hours, days, or weeks or prodromal labor and having enough energy left for when the real thing hits? I'm so tired.
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My ob recommended a glass of wine or a tylenol PM at night.
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@Anagram:
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Big hugs. I was really lucky because my contractions stopped at night, so I have no super tips. I definitely recommend trying to rest as much as possible as opposed to charging about trying to get into active labour. Chin up chick, very soon you will have that precious bundle on your arms.
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@Cherrybee: thank you. Yesterday I stopped trying to get labor going and tried some mindfulness meditation and journaling.
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@pastemoo: seriously! haha. I had prodromal labor for a full week, after I was already 3 cm dialated. One thing that helped me was that I was not mentally ready--my mom wasn't in town yet to watch LO1, so I wasn't actively trying to get things going.
The good news is that my body did so much pre-work, my actual labor was super fast. 2 hours from feeling anything to baby, and since I was at work and had an hour commute, I was only in the hospital 20 minutes.
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edit: wrong thread
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@Cherrybee: I've wondered about that- trying to encourage the contractions vs resting when I get them. I've opted for resting every time but as I get closer to my due date it is tempting to not.
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@Anagram: mine too. It's a good idea!
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@brownepiano: I was induced with my first baby and it took 4 days for me to get to 2cm. I spent every waking moment marching around the hospital grounds and bouncing on the ball, and by the time I was actually in labour I was completely exhausted. I vote for a good mix of both.
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@brownepiano: yeah, since it started at my due date it's harder to decide. Resting isn't helping the contractions or sleep but it is helping quiet my mind.
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@pastemoo: I'm sorry that's really rough. I was googling it and don't think I am in true prodomal labor just having contractions often enough to interupt every part of life and sleep and make me wonder if walking will turn them into something (since that's what they had me do in the hospital last time when my water broke and I had hardly any contractions).
I hope that your labor is fast and smooth to make up for the pain and lack of sleep now! Can you take some Tylenol and benedryl to see if that will help your body relax enough to sleep a little?
My friend had prodomal labor for 3 days and getting out to spend time with friends was a good way to keep her mind occupied but I don't know if the pain is too much for that for you.
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@brownepiano: I can only sleep with benedryl or diclegis (my morning sickness pill that used to make me sleep 12-16 hours!). But it's something. So that's happening now.
Thank you. I hope it means labor will be shorter. We'll see, I guess. -
@pastemoo: Good luck! Hang in there!!
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Thinking of you
The second was so difficult for me mentally because he took his sweet time and I was in a time crunch with my work return deadline and my IL's leaving town and my husband's paternity leave ending (allllll my help). I walked and walked and had a good share of prodromal for nearly a week, but went in to l&d for headache/blood pressure, sat still for 4 hours in a triage bed and labor only then started.
I agree with @Anagram: most of the work was already done when the time came, labor was quick and much easier than the first time around. Hoping it's the same for you!
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@lemondrop: Same with the time crunch.
And thank you. -
@pastemoo:
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Hang in there!!! These last few weeks (or days for you) are so uncomfortable!
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I'm so sorry - those 5 days were so, so hard! I eventually got a morphine shot and felt so much better. Looking back, I wish I had gotten induced, but that's just my personal experience. Good luck
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I eventually did castor oil. The gentle way so it wasn't uncomfortable. Baby was here 12 hours later
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