Early Labor Length

[MaeHaftahurcha]

How long has early labor lasted for you ladies?

I'm now on day 3 of early labor, showing no real signs of going into active labor. It's making me kind of curious how it's gone for others.

[Talula Fairie]

DDC Crashing. I've heard of padromal labor lasting for up to a month or more. The good news is, if that's what's going on, your active labor is likely to be quick and easy.

[ColoradoMama]

Originally Posted by Talula Fairie

DDC Crashing. I've heard of padromal labor lasting for up to a month or more. The good news is, if that's what's going on, your active labor is likely to be quick and easy.

Um, or quick anyway. I've been having lots of of that, too, and it's making me a little nuts! It happened with my son, too. I keep saying that she's just screwing with me!

[Talula Fairie]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

Um, or quick anyway. I've been having lots of of that, too, and it's making me a little nuts! It happened with my son, too. I keep saying that she's just screwing with me!

Well yeah, if nothing else, quick. I've heard of some wicked stories of fast labor following padromal labor, but more often I've heard the other ones. I wanted to give the OP some hope.

[RasJane]

I had about a month of prodromal labor with my first. Mostly at night. A couple of times I questioned whether or not it was the "real thing" but it always settled down with position change, walking, or drinking--or all three.
I had an intense, 5 hour labor with him.

[MaeHaftahurcha]

Ah, for me this is consistent. It doesn't really change much with a change of position or eating or drinking, though the contractions get more intense when walking. Overall though, this is day 4 of 6 minutes apart, 1 minute long (roughly), just not getting closer together or really drastically more intense.

Is there a difference between prodromal and early labor? My midwife said "early labor", but I know sometimes there are multiple terms for the same thing.

[kdtmom2be]

I think there is a difference between prodromal and early labour. Prodromal is what the rest of the ladies seem to be talking about, start and stop labour that comes and goes depending on what you are doing. Early labour is supposed to be the labour from 0-3? cm and for some women can take a long time. It can be exhausting and frustrating and is usually due to baby being in a not-optimal position. Try some of the exercises on www.spinningbabies.com and see if that helps. Also, get rest if you can. I know that I went through "early labour" for many days with my DD and it was exhausting. If you need to take something to help you sleep then Benadryl, Gravol and Unisom are good options (Unisom is the best, but not available to everyone depending on thier location).

Good luck, I hope things speed up for you or stop to give you a rest!

[scrappingmom]

i had 5 or maybe it was 6 days of this a couple weeks back..... wore me down horribly.. then stopped. I've been getting nice low crampy/tightness everywheere kinda contractions today..hoping THESE will take me the whole way..prferably in 24 or less hrs

[MaeHaftahurcha]

6 days and then stopped? Yikes!

I'm already 4cm dilated, so hopefully these won't stop, but I'm getting so eager to move on to the next bit. My body just doesn't seem to want to give that extra bit for active labor to start.

[lil_miss_understood]

With DS1, I had contractions every 10 minutes from Sunday until Friday when they "augmented" me. Not sure how long it would have wore on for otherwise.

[MaeHaftahurcha]

It ended up being about 5 days of early labor, just sort of hanging out at 4cm and not going anywhere. Worked out well for me in the end though. Delivery took awhile, but active labor was less than two hours.

[j_p_i]

Congratulations! Just read your post in the Birth Announcements thread! :

[Limabean1975]

COngratulations!!! I think that's baby#17 for our DDC if I'm counting right.

[Smithie]

Wow, 17! We are a crazy early DDC!

[lotus.blossom]

congrats!