Still. in. labor. Help!

[SarahDC]

Please help this first-timer who wants a drug-free birth understand what the heck is going on... So my contractions started on Friday, very irregular, and by Saturday afternoon, I was steady at 3-5 min apart so off to the hospital we went. I was only 1 cm when checked in but contractions nice and strong at 2 min apart. I walked ALL night, moved on my ball, was tended too wonderfully by my doula, (got no sleep all night), and by 6 am was only 2 cm! They gave me the choice to stay or go and of course I left. So - since leaving the hospital, I have still been contracting every 2 min, although I was just able to sleep all night because the pain level went down. I thought for sure I'd wake up in hard labor. I'm 41 weeks today.

How long can this go on? Walking yesterday really increased the intensity & frequency of the contractions - do I just keep walking all day? We've DTD of course which didn't seem to do much.

[rebeccajm]

I'm so sorry ! It sounds like things are progressing, just very slowly. Hang in there, it won't be long!

I just had a similar experience, as I just had my first vaginal birth. I went to the hospital on a Thursday evening, was at a ZERO and 30% effaced, got sent home "prodromal labor" and told to take Tylenol PM. Baby wasn't born until 4:02 pm on Sunday after 17 hours of "real" labor.

[lisa_nc]

I was in labor for at least two weeks. Prodromal sooooooooooooooo sucks. It's FRUSTRATING, TIRING, INFURIATING, DEPRESSING...hugs mama. The good side was that once I got going I went REALLY quick. I hope that's also the case for you. Try to eat well and get some rest.

[loriu]

i echo lisa in that i had prodromal labor for three weeks off and on and then my labor went really fast. hang in there!

[robbins611]

They key for first time mamas is to ignore it as long as possible...no timing or stair climbing....just go about your normal business. Prodromal labor can last a loooooong time. You'll know when it's the real deal by the intensity. I know this is frustrating...just know that every cx is doing a little work you won't have to do later. ((HUGS))

Much Love,
Gini

[cristeen]

I just did this myself... I had 2 days of labor before my water broke, and then another day and a half before we had any progress. And then labor was about 20 hours. The entire thing was 5 days of little sleep, little food, and a lot of stress for everyone. Have a drink, a hot bath, a good meal and get some sleep.

[LateMom]

OP- how are things going? So hoping you have your baby by now!

[RavenStar]

Sarah,
For four days my contractions came regularly at night. Then during the day they would slow down or stop. The first few days/nights I stayed up, walked, etc. After the second day I tried to sleep at night and go about my day as usual.
It sounds like your body is getting ready. Hopefully it will happen soon!

[SarahDC]

Thanks for the support everyone It is SO hard to be patient! We're thinking that she's posterior and I'm doing everything I can to get her to move (inversion, hands/knees, acupuncture). Still contracting every 2 min