Early Labour

I`m assuming I`m in the very early stages of labour, this is what has happened:

10pm - 12.30am - Typical irregular BH`s and baby extremely active and unsettled, can`t sleep.

From 12.30am - 6am - Contractions every 8 - 12 minutes, can`t sleep for the pain - period like cramping radiating from back to front, slight mucous discharge.

Last looked at the clock at 6.15am then woke up at 7.30am - Find my undies are wet, still having contractions every 8 - 12 minutes.

Get up and mucous discharge has slight red blood in it.

Okay so it`s now 11am and I haven`t progressed any further, please tell me this is the beginning and it`s not just false labour, I`m still getting cramping but seem to be able to tolerate it more now I`m up, I`m so tired from only getting just over an hours sleep, I did try to sleep but each time I drifted of through the night a contraction would unsettle me.

Take Care

Dee

certainly sounds like early labour. I'd Ring the labour ward re wet underwear, just in case waters have broken.... and tell them of the slight bloody discharge too.....just so they know. I'd say it won't be long before your little man is here!!

congratulations! cant wait to hear :D

Ooer Dee, sounds promising....

Here are two articles to help you and remember that you don't need to make a dash in if you think your water has broken right away - as long as there is no discolouration - otherwise you will be put on the clock. Even with broken waters, they want to induce you or augment you in an hour or two in many cases I have seen, but the thing is, labour is a complex system of hormones and a couple of hours is not enough justice for those hormones to work - it could take up to 10 hours! Especially in a foreign environment where you are feeling nervous and anxious, it's not conducive to labour. You have a chance of a quicker, shorter labour where you feel most comfortable and at ease.

Funny where I have been present in births, the women have been able to go longer without having to go in or further interventions. Even with meconium, they have not rushed to induce / caesar :) Not suggesting for anyone to do this without advice, but with the right support it is possible. Go in early and the process is often controlled for you if you don't ask, question or let your wishes known. If they are standing there having the discussion with you, then it's not a medical urgency is it? :)

Early Labour Tips & Suggestions
Labour Signs - Could I Be In Early Labour?

Pink mucous is good - means the cervix is moving and dilating but remember early labour can be very slow and drawn out, so keep resting, play it down and ignore as much as you can. When you are not coping or if you think something is wrong, then it's time to go in. Active labour does not stop or slow down unless stress is playing a part - but if it was going to keep going, it wouldn't stop. Sounds like you aren't far off anyway hon! Keep positive, rested, and eat some carby foods to get that longer energy...

Yay Dee....sounds like things are moving!! Goodluck hun. Fingers crossed that you get the birth you want!Go the VBAC!!

I didn't mean go in, just let the midwives know what it happening....

Hi Dee
It sounds like things are starting. Try to rest as much as you can, if possable get some sleep. I agree with Kelly there is no need to rush of to the hospital unless you are concerned or finding it difficult to cope. Thi stage can last for many hours.
Fingers crossed for a beautiful birth.

Thanks Girls and Alan.

I haven`t rang the Hospital as yet as I don`t want them to tell me I should be going in, I want my body to be given ample opportunity to try for a VBAC but then I also have no idea when I should go in..

Thanks for those articles Kelly.

I have more mucous coming away, more slightly yellow looking, I`m also feeling quite cold and shivering - reading the article I gather this can be normal??

Yes but then they know and ask you to come in ;) So unless you are happy to say no or just not let it be known... two ways you can do it - I think without pressure is best :) Brenda Manning (midwife) proof-read the sections in my articles about waters breaking and going in too.

Woo Hoo Dee! You may not make it to August afterall!

Hope all is going well sweetie :)

The shivering is often associated with stress and anxiety too - so try and have a nice, warm shower / bath to relax - ideally you would have a shower in labour to help with gravity but if stress is a factor and it's early labour, a rest will help here. I'm sure you've read the tips for water breaking so just follow those and you will be fine :)

GO GEDDEM GIRL!!!! You deserve this VBAC, think positive, focus and see the birth you want... it's okay if something that is of medical urgency comes up, you've worked so hard and researched this and gotten a Doula so I am sure you will feel more at ease if this has to happen - but that doesn't mean you can't hype yourself up for this, talk to your baby and trust your body - you were born to do this...

Dee - I think you should try and have a sleep, because you will need your energy for what's coming. After the nap - get walking. If its labour that should speed things up. It has done for me every time. Make sure you rest first though because you've had no sleep you poor thing. It might be easier said than done though, with all the excitement ;)

Best of luck, hun and cant wait to hear how you go :)

Ooooh Dee, I hope things are well on their way. Good luck hun, I truly hope you get your VBAC :hug:

Well I`m still here and still experiencing contractions, yesterday they did slow down to once every 40 - 60 minutes, today they are coming every 20 - 40 minutes with the occasional 12 minute one in between, still leaking know I`m not sure if I`m leaking watery mucous plug or a slow amniotic leak. The contractions are strong enouh to stop me in my tracks so I`m aware of each and every one of them especially if I`mholding Matthew at the time.

I got 5 hours of sleep last night although it was very interupted by contractions so at least I had more then the 1 hr from the night before, I`ve been having terrific pelvis and backache sine 3am this morning, feels like my pelvis is falling apart!!!!!

My Doula has been terrific and tells me that although I may feel like my body isn`t doing anything it will be dilating slowly, she also tells me the next stage should be rather quick.

I just keep thinking how many more days do I have to put up with this? This stage of labour never entered my head, it`s so typical of my body to take the long way around labour!!!!!

Kelly - THank you for your lovely words of support :)

Take Care

Dee

Oh Dee, im sure it wont be too much longer. :hug:

Dee - Praying that it's all going to be nice and quick from here on... Wishing you all the very best and thinking of you lots

Awwwww Dee I was hoping you wouldn't still be waiting. I too am hoping the next stage whizzes by. Good luck hun.

Dee I'm so excited for you.Hang in there, things should be progressing nicely! Goodluck hun....

All the best Dee! I know with Matty I was in early stages for 3 days before they talked me into going in... so it can last a while... just keep nice and relaxed as much as you can.

Dee - I'm so excited for you! Can't wait to hear he's been born! You can do it girl. Goodluck!

Yay Dee. It sounds like your early labour is far more impressive than mine - thats for sure! I was in early/false labout for about 2 weeks - going into what you are describing re contractions every couple of nights. But I didn't have the wetness or the pink mucous, so I'd say you are doing much better.
Everything sounds like it is happening nice and slowly, and hopefully it will mean the dilation stage is nice and quick for you.
Enjoy a nice hot shower and if things aren't happening by later this afternoon, maybe a couple of sleeping tablets would be a good idea? My natural birthing midwife gave me a couple after I had started to dilate in an effort to keep me at home resting longer, as like Kelly said - if I hadn't progressed according to a certain rate in hospital they would have taken action.
I hope this time tomorrow a little baby is in your arms!
Best wishes for you.

Dee you are going so well!! Well done! I know you can do it.

Early labour can be slow and long, from hours to days to weeks - when that baby is ready it will come :) No pressure ;) We don't want to put too much anticipation on the poor mum and bub!!

Dee, hoping that all goes well for you hun. Trust in yourself and your body you CAN do this. This is what we are made to do.

Goodluck sweety, hope all goes well and smoothly for you :)

Good luck Dee, i am thinking of you hun!!!

You can do it sweetie!!!

Good luck Dee,we are all behind you and thinking of you

Any news yet from Dee??? Hopefully you are holding your beautiful little boy now sweety :)

Trish - I`m still here waiting for my little bundle of joy

Nell & Fi - I`ve been thinking of both of you and remember you both having pre labour for days/weeks, Now I know exactly how you were feeling.

Thank you so much for your support girls, I really appreciate it. I`ve been totally fed up with myself and my body but I keep reminding myself that it must be doing something to prepare for the big day.

Unfortuantely my Mum had other thoughts about my lack of progress, she rang late last night and told me there must be something wrong as it`s not normal and I`m days overdue, she then went on to say I need to go to hospital to be induced, of course telling this to an overdue woman I burst into tears and have been very upset ever since. Mark has been wonderful and tells me to ignore her and my body is doing the right thing but it`s hard as she is my Mum.

Anyway I had my 41 week appointment today, all is NORMAL, I go back next Tuesday afternoon if bubs hasn`t made an apperance by then, they will then decide what to do by the end of next week which most likely will be breaking my waters.

So now I hope this body gets a move on, I don`t want to be in this pain for another week, still getting very irrregular contractions, some of which are very strong and I`m still leaking sticky stuff ewwww.

Thank you girls once again, not sure what I`d do without you all :hug:

Oh dear at your mum. Silly duffa. Of course nothing is wrong and you know that. He's just biding his time to make sure you're well and truly ready. Have you decided upon a name yet? Maybe that's what he's waiting for, he doesn't want to come out as Baby. So he's giving you time to pick.

Atleast you're still have contractions that's good, your body is still doing stuff which is fab.

Still sending you lots of luck, he'll be here soon, I'm sure of it. You defintely won't go past next Tuesday :hug:

*hugs* Dee. I hope this doesn't last too much longer.

LMAO Dee - isn't it funny how when we are going through this crap, we remember what everyone else went through! My sister went through the same thing with her second, and she was calling me with sympathy while I was goign through it.
All I can say is regarding the safety of your bubs, if for one second you genuinely feel like something isn't right, thats when you make the call to the hossy. Keep counting baby movements and make sure all that is OK, and just keep the hossy informed - and PLEASE try and get some rest. :D

Its worth considering the sleeping pill option, even just a mild sedative to relax you to get you sleeping at night (I'm not sure ifthis is a "gentle" suggestion, but I reckon its a good one) cause I found at night my contractions were at their worst. Actually between about 1am and 4am was just atrocious, and I got next to no sleep for about 2 weeks.

And the only other thing is dont listen to anyone who tells you that you wont make it past a certain date. I had about 4 midwives and a dr tell me that I would go into labour any minute (they were sure) and it was still an induction almost a week later! I'm not trying to make things worse, cause I reckon you will be fine, but just dont be disappointed in they do end up taking a form of intervention OK? You certainly will not have failed!

So - please keep a mind on the movements, and relax, and hopefully things will be OK in a few days!

Fi

Dee, we're all plugging for you in this household. My girls asked me today if I had heard anything.
GL Dee!

Go Dee!!!!!!!!!

Hoping you get to hold your little man sooner rather then later :)

YOU WILL DO GREAT :D

All the best Dee....go get that VBAC Missy!!!

Remember Dee, an EDD is just that. An "Expected" Date of Delivery. It is an estimate. Your littleman will come out when he is good and ready. My little princess came out 2 weeks after her EDD and she was just perfect, no problems. Relax and think happy welcoming thoughts to him and pamper yourself!!!
hugs and kisses for a perfect childbirth

Sounds like labour to me Dee, congratulations. Maybe you should go and get checked out your waters might have broken.

Good luck

Tiff - How lovely of your girls asking after me

spreckemilly - I realise EDD is just a rough estimate but I`ve been in prelabour since late Snday night, an hour doesn`t go by without a contraction, before then I had all the time in the world to meet my little man but when your in constant pain I want to me him now.

Thank you girls for your ongoing support.

This is my 5th day of prelabour and both Mark and myself are getting so frustrated, since yesterday my contractions are a lot stronger that I have to stop what I`m doing and breath through the pain, this continues right throughout the night where at times I`m throwing my body across the bed, panadol does nothing for the pain. Needless to say both Mark and myself are very tired.

I know it`s a waiting game but I am getting quite frustrated by it all, why can`t my body just go into labour like most women.

Awwwwww Dee, sending you lots of love and luck :hug:

AWW Dee, {{{HUGS}}} sweety. You WILL get there. Just think positive, and it won't be long till you hold your little boy :) You are doing GREAT :D