Your suggestions on how to cope with a long labour?

[Willow]

Trish - I know exactly how you feel. I had prelabour/labour of 72 hours with my first. I couldn't eat or sleep for those three days. My contractions started on the Saturday, were painful by the Sunday and by Monday I felt like I was in some sort of purgatory and it would never end! It did of course, on the Tuesday afternoon.

However I don't see my birthing experience in a negative light, I was just unprepared for how long it could take. I was very sore (mostly muscle tenderness from bracing against contractions etc) for a few days but after that was fine.

I can't say that I'll do much differently this time except that since having DD we have moved house and have a huge corner spa bath and I am planning on spending as much time in there as possible before we leave for the hospital. This was by far my number one comfort during my first labour and as soon as I got to the hospital and they let me stay (had been sent home twice) I took the gas and got in the bath and coped just fine after that.

It did take me about 2 weeks to get my appetite back strangely enough. During labour everyone kept telling me I had to eat but I just could not. It was the furthest thing from my mind. My DH made sure I drank lots of water and powerade though and sucked on lemonade ice blocks when I could.

I hope what everyone says about second labours being shorter is true for both our sakes!! My ob keeps telling me it won't be as long this time, but like you I'm not holding my breath! I am prepared this time and I know that I can do it!