Due tomorrow, so frustrated my contractions keep fizzling out - UPDATE!

[sunflowergrrl]

This will be my third baby (first homebirth) and I have never been this late before. I know I'm not really late but I'm still so frustrated. I was charting so I know my due date is accurate, plus we had an early ultrasound to confirm (I had traditional care during the first part of my pregnancy).

I have been having false labor for a week....consistent contractions for a couple hours and then they fizzle out. My poor DH has been missing a couple hours of work for nothing! I just want these contractions to stay and get stronger and stronger!

I'm so ready to go buy some castor oil or try some other natural induction. Anyone have any experience with this?

By the way, how do you set up your signature?

Lisa, proud Army wife and mom to Alex (6/05), Cassidy (10/07), and baby bean, due tomorrow!

[MsBlack]

Ok, first--banish these words from your vocabulary: 'false labor'.

There is no such thing. You are having labor by installments, and this is very very common after a first baby, and especially so when working on a 3rd or beyond baby. Your cervix is changing, softening, effacing, dilating bit by bit. Once birthing day comes, your labor will be shorter than it otherwise might have been, because some of the work is done already.

No need for inducing yourself, by any means even natural. This pattern you describe is normal and good! Not a problem. Relax, eat, drink, rest up when you can....sometime in the next week or 2, you'll be holding your baby!

[Juvysen]

Every contraction you have now is one less you need to have later

[Pookietooth]

I would totally relax and not have your dh come home until you are sure your labor is going to progress farther. Eat a ton, make freezer meals, and do whatever last-minute preparation you have been putting off (if you have nothing, come over to my house and help me, ).
You set up your signature by going to the "user cp" (upper left), and clicking on "Edit Signature" where you will be able to type whatever you want in there.

[wbg]

Originally Posted by Juvysen

Every contraction you have now is one less you need to have later

Originally Posted by MsBlack

Ok, first--banish these words from your vocabulary: 'false labor'.


There is no such thing. You are having labor by installments, and this is very very common after a first baby, and especially so when working on a 3rd or beyond baby. Your cervix is changing, softening, effacing, dilating bit by bit. Once birthing day comes, your labor will be shorter than it otherwise might have been, because some of the work is done already.

No need for inducing yourself, by any means even natural. This pattern you describe is normal and good! Not a problem. Relax, eat, drink, rest up when you can....sometime in the next week or 2, you'll be holding your baby!

and

Hang in there Mama...your baby is making its way out at the perfect pace that it needs. You will be holding your LO soon.

[jecombs]

Hang in there, Mama! This baby will come when he/she is ready and I'm sure it won't be much longer.

FWIW, I've heard the 3rd one always throws Moms for a loop. They completely change the pattern that was set by the other two. My grandma swears that's why she only had 3 kids.

[greenthumb3]

ITA with everyone who posted. Your body is doing what it needs to do right now. Try to relax, keep your spirits up, and things will pick up when the time is right.

I think I could have written a post identical to yours when our third baby was due!!! It helped me to meet with a support group of women who were planning or had had homebirths. The next day, my body finally kicked into labor. (Two days after EDD)

I had two days of on and off contrx and thought I was going crazy. My mw telling me it was false labor sucked b/c THOSE CONTRX did not feel false!!! They were steadily 15 minutes apart all night and some were so strong I had to breathe slowly to keep my focus. Then they would STOP. arg! Totally different than my other two experiences with labor, both homebirths. This time, for baby #4, I think I am prepared for the inevitable: confusing contrx leading up to D day. All I can say, is when those suckers pick up, better call that mw over fast!

[sunflowergrrl]

Thank you everyone for your kind words - they are really encouraging! I had another big "installment" of labor last night - I hope tonight's installment produces a baby.

[Pookietooth]

Best wishes! I had a friend whose contractions weren't that strong, and she took a homeopathic remedy to strengthen them. It was one of the cohoshes -- blue or black -- and it worked for her. Just in case you wanted to try something.

[xelakann]

Hugs! I know how hard it can be... my "labor installments" started at 36 weeks, I even dilated to 4-5 cm. A couple nights a week since then I have had contractions that I have thought would lead to a baby. I am now 40w6d...still no baby

I am really struggling to stay positive and patient. It is very hard.

[sunflowergrrl]

I had a baby girl, Bridgette Katherine, at home at 40 weeks + 2 days. A much longer labor than I had expected, 12 hours, with a very robust pushing phase. Very surprised after only a 5 hour labor with baby #2. But, a wonderful homebirth and a healthy, happy baby and mama!

[Juvysen]

[wbg]

Originally Posted by sunflowergrrl

I had a baby girl, Bridgette Katherine, at home at 40 weeks + 2 days. A much longer labor than I had expected, 12 hours, with a very robust pushing phase. Very surprised after only a 5 hour labor with baby #2. But, a wonderful homebirth and a healthy, happy baby and mama!

Welcome baby girl! Well done Mama. Beautiful name.

[jess152]

Congratulations! What a pretty name!

[greenthumb3]

Originally Posted by sunflowergrrl

I had a baby girl, Bridgette Katherine, at home at 40 weeks + 2 days. A much longer labor than I had expected, 12 hours, with a very robust pushing phase. Very surprised after only a 5 hour labor with baby #2. But, a wonderful homebirth and a healthy, happy baby and mama!

Well, something to be said about every baby and birth being different, guess that prodromol labor doesn't always equal 2 hour births, .

Congrats on your baby's birth!