third baby and labour question

[leesha]

Just wondering what your labours began like with bubs number three. I was due yesterday and from Thursday up till right this minute I have been having contractions that seem to start a pattern but no closer than 10mins apart.
Just when I think it's starting it all stops and maybe nothing for hours and then starts again or just random contractions and usually always on average 40secs
I have been loosing bits of mucous but not a full plug as yet. Gooey and slightly pinky or just clear. So I rang the hospital today and spoke to midwife and was told third or more babies are notorious for this stop start labour but good news is when it ramps up to 3-4 mins apart things will happen really quick.
Has anyone got similar stories or can reassure me this baby is coming cos I am feeling really disheartend ATM.my first two were quite quick labours and once started it never stopped.
I also never went overdue so can't work out what my body is doing :-(

[RhiChiChi]

This sounds very similar to a friends labour. He waters broke/started leaking early one morning (approx. 7am) with no contractions. Hospital said to come in for monitoring, which was about 1pm and she got send home around 5pm. She is notorious for fast labours (two prior fast labours), so they stayed close to the hosptial. She was having irregular contractions during this time and eventually her & her DH went home around 8pm to rest. She ended up going back to hospital at something like 3am the next day and had her bubs a couple of hours later. I don't think you are far away from established labour and I'd rest as much as possible or if you are feeling energetic you could bounce on a fit ball and see if that gets things going a bit more? I hope it isn't too much longer for you.

[Tanya]

My third I had a prolonged prelabour, I think for a couple of weeks. I think subsequent labours long prelabours are quite common. However the labour was very similar to number two

Baby will be here soon, you won't be pregnant forever, try and relax and enjoy the last moments of your babe being on the inside

[~ Mylitta ~]

Leesha, I could have written that post! My first two were born 2 1/2 weeks early and once labour started it didn't stop. First labour was about 9 hours and second was about 3 hours.

With my latest DD I had two lots of prelabour with mild contractions about 6-10 minutes apart, that eventually fizzled out to nothing. I was also losing bits of my mucus plug for about 2 weeks and like you it was generally very light pink or just opaque white. Just before 39 weeks I started having some very mild contractions in the late evening. They started coming every 3-4 minutes but were still really mild but that was when I realised it was the real deal. I had about 2 hours of the mild prelabour, then the active labour hit strong and fast. I was only in active labour 1 hour and 45 minutes and my daughter was born in three pushes. Once it all started it definitely went fast. If your other two labours were fast, then I would suggest heading to the hospital (if that's where you plan to give birth) as soon as you think you might really be in labour. I wouldn't have made it to the hospital is there had been traffic (it was 3am on Monday morning) and had only been there 10-15 minutes when DD arrived. Midwives tend to not realise how fast my babies are coming and don't call my Ob in time, and he missed both my daughter's births. That was fine by me though because I got to deliver then both myself. With DD2 the midwives never even touched me or her even when she came out with the cord around her neck (which I just calmly unlooped myself). It was lovely

[leesha]

Ohhh thanks girls for the replies. I'm so frustrated with my body as it def knows what to do but it's not doing it.
Mylitta your first two labours were the same as mine that's why this is new to me. First was 6hrs and second was only 1.5hrs and only a
Couple of pushes to get her out! I def will be heading to hospital as soon as I get contractions 3-4 mins apart. I'm trying to rest but I've also been doing everything I can to bring this labour on and nothing is ramping it up. I already have an app on Monday with the ob at the hospital if I don't get this bubba out before then! Do they still induce if this is prelabour? I'm avoiding induction if possible but was
Thinking maybe the gel might help speed this up? Aghhh come on baby give me a wonderful mothers day present :-)

[Tanya]

Ohhh thanks girls for the replies. I'm so frustrated with my body as it def knows what to do but it's not doing it.

Thinking maybe the gel might help speed this up? Aghhh come on baby give me a wonderful mothers day present :-)

Your body is doing exactly what it should

And if you are wanting to avoid induction I wouldn't agree to anything at your appointment on Monday, being only 40 + 6 then you are not overdue. Your prelabour will be doing all good things to your cervix and if you do decide to 'bring on labour' you will possibly only need your waters broken.

But to be honest, if you have done everything to help establish labour and nothing has worked, baby is just not ready yet

[leesha]

Thanks Tanya what you said is completely true. I'm feeling better today, I was so down on myself last night and knew if I had some reassurance from other women it would ease my mind. Which it has, much appreciated xx

[Novella]

My third labour was so different to my first two. My first two were prem with PROM at around 36weeks, no pre labour and around 6 hrs if labour. With dd3 I was 37+4 which felt over due compared to my first two and I had been losing plug for two weeks and had lots of pre labour. I had start stop contractions in the morning from 8.30 am then regular contractions from 12 at about ten minutes,mi ended up with 6 hours of established labour but it only felt like 1.5. Hrs of proper ouchy labour and the pushing stage only lasted 3 minutes.

So for me things took longer to get going the third time round but the labour was fairly easy . Hope your little one is earthside soon, have a lovey mothers day

[Cricket]

Yep, third babies are notorious for the prelabour thing. Mine did it to me. (Subsequent babies are likely to do the same.) It's tiring and frustrating, but it's normal, and your body will eventually get the "real thing" going and it will probably be fast. Hang in there! This baby will eventually come out!

I'm not quite as far along as you, but I've been having contractions off and on for a couple weeks as well. I know the feeling! JUST COME OUT ALREADY BABY!
All the best for a wonderful birth, hopefully soon!

[Jessiebean]

Wow this is some great information- I have #3 on the way it is very reassuring to read your responses (I am only 24 weeks so hopefully I won't need to think about it for a while) I am planning on a hospital birth but as I had prelabour for a week and then delivered 10 minutes after getting to the hospital I am also prepared for a freebirth now!

[leesha]

I'm still here and pregnantContractions still stopping and starting!
Had an internal yesterday and I was 3cm dilated. OB said this baby should come tonight but obviously not cos today I woke up still pregnant! LOL....
I am booked in for friday morning to have my waters boken even though the OB doesnt think I'll make it to friday....This baby is stubborn and I bet I am still pregnant friday morning!!!!!
Anyway I am mentally drained and my body is sore from this stop/start labour so I agreed to the inducing on friday. At least it has already bagan to do something so breaking my water might be the little push it needs to get going!
I'll keep you posted!

[Tanya]

Can you go treat yourself to a massage or a manicure or something like that?

[leesha]

Am sending the kids to mum and dads tomorrow Arvo for the night at least so will have a nice hot bath and dinner cooked for me by dh and try to get a good nights sleep. I just need rest, so tired......

[Tegam]

The pre labour with ds was insane! But labour was nice and quick.
Hugs. Pre labour is horrid!


Iooookopllkd

[cathie5]

I went a week over with my 3rd, got heaps of BH. Labour went for ever for me........

cathie

[leesha]

Thanks girls for the replies! Prelabour went for a full week and then on Thursday night my water broke at midnight. Contractions started at 2.30 and ds2 was born 40 mins later!
So if anyone else is reading this in the future my third labour was a long week and a bit of prelabour with things stopping and starting then once it got going he only took 40mins to arrive and that was me only pushing once for the head and once for the shoulders :-) went from 4cm at 2.30 to the birth so quickly!!
So I missed the induction by 3hrs, what a clever boy!!

[Cricket]

Congratulations! Wow - he certainly did decide to arrive quickly, once he made up his mind, didn't he? So glad for you that you've got him in your arms finally! It's a wonderful feeling, isn't it? Wishing you all the best as you rest and recover and enjoy your new little man.