Start and end of contractions.....

[Trillian]

Oh its fine if your DH finds it makes him feel helpful to time them but once you're in labour time is irrelevant - Not sure if anyone else notices this when reading birth stories or not, but if they say they saw the clock or asked what the time was and the answer made them feel deflated, or "OMG, Ive been at this for hours/I thought I would be further along" etc - that's what its really like, you do feel a bit disappointed and it can take a while to get yourself back on track again and refocus on what you're doing. Same thing goes for internals during labour too (but that's a whole other discussion ROFL).

Your labour goes so much smoother if you let the process of birth take you over and you fully submit to it - that's why having a support person (either dh/partner/doula) is so important because we shouldn't have to *think* about anything other than giving birth. I'm someone who completely internalises during birth - I make hardly any sounds, I just withdraw into myself and let my body do it's thing and I have no concept of time while I'm in labour, except for my first birth where I had enough time between contractions to be lucid. With my last two births I had no idea what the time was or how long i'd been labouring until it came time to push and I had to came back to earth LOL, because that takes concentrated effort.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

trillian, that is what i am going to try to do this time. i am gonna ask if they can take the clock down! it really is disappointing when you are a time watcher and then you get an internal and they say you still have 10 hours to go and it is gonna get worse! i just dont want to know this time! :-)

[Shanti]

Thanks Trillian. That's really sensible advise. I have a feeling that I'll just want to go into my own little world and be left alone to just deal with it all in my own little space but of course I won't know how it's gonna go until i'm "in" it. I think looking at a clock would stress me out, particularly if a MW said to me 'you are only 3cm dialated' i would be thinking 'oh man could be hours away'.... hence why i'm not even sure if i want internals done!! Maybe 1......

I just remembered that on our hossy tour few months ago the MW said that there are clocks in the room but quite often the MW takes them down..... which is a great idea. There are no time limits at our hospital it seems (which is wonderful).

Whilst labouring at home for as long as possible, I will get DH to help me time my contractions but purely so we know when to probably get ready to hop into the car. Being my first bub, don't really wanna leave it too late

[hj1981]

Hun, you will feel the contraction starting.... I said alot through my labours to DH "here comes another one...." then my breathing would get heavier as it peaked & calmed as it passed. Then feeling normal in between

Good luck, its a very exciting time!!! I know you're going to do a fantastic job!!

xxx

Yep i was the same - And DH said he could tell by the look on my face and the breathing etc when another contraction was about to start!
He also said i would be chatting away and the next thing i would be dead quiet as i tried to "breath" thru them!
AHHHHHH SO EXCITING - wish i could turn back time and do it all over again!

[2ndtimemum]

Whilst labouring at home for as long as possible, I will get DH to help me time my contractions but purely so we know when to probably get ready to hop into the car. Being my first bub, don't really wanna leave it too late

It's not likely you'll leave it too late to get to the hospital... especially (as I said before) I didn't really feel regular contractions but still got there in time Just enjoy the procedure and you'll know when it's time to get in the car.

[sunshine_sieben]

Well, in my case, they never got regular, we gave up on the timing. Once it got all too much, we went to th birth centre. I basically got to the point when I felt that if I don't go now, I'm gonna stay home to have the baby here. Not even 2 hours after getting to the birth centre, Maya was born.
Oh, and I never had any internals either. They lifted the gown a couple of times, but all they said was: you're doing great, moving along just fine.

Saša

[Cassius2]

I have to agree with Sherie (trillian). finding a mental zone is probably the best once you are in established labour.

in my case i forgot to time my contractions as i was just so surprised that they were happening. i realised about 40 minutes later that i was having millions so buzzed the midwife. for me, because my waters broke and DD was fully engaged the contractions did ebb and flow, but never fully disappeared and were 1-2 minutes apart. although they were coming fast, they were manageable....

my midwife also dumped the clock!!