Prodromal Labor... - Page 2

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

ocelotmom. Come on, baby!

Good thing I wrote that. The tooth fairy would totally have forgotten to come otherwise!

[ocelotmom]

Got out of the house today and walked around the store with DH for a while. Not particularly comfy! Such exciting outings we have... but it did good things for my mood. I think I've been more than a block from my house once in the past ten days.

Decided that all this means that my body is ready, and just waiting for the baby to be more ready, which is an interpretation I can happily live with.

Tomorrow is my midwife appointment, which means an hour and a half drive each way. I was really rather hoping not to have to do this one! Of course, that's still a possibility. It's not all bad, though. We'll have a chance to go out, have lunch, and go hang out at a bookstore or something without the kids for a few hours. And I guess we'll be taking the birth kit and a diaper bag in the car, just in case!

[madis81]

ocelotmom - SOunds like you'll be holding baby soon! That is a very long drive to take when you are so close... I'd be packing the birth kit just in case too!

My contractions are getting more frequent at night, along with the cramping during the day. I thought for sure baby was going to be born today. If I could relax, like REALLY RELAX, and get a good nights rest I think I could birth this baby the next day.

[kittywitty]

My mw visits are that far, too, Ocelotmom. I also have a car birth kit in my van! Probably a good idea at this stage of the game!

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by madis81

ocelotmom - SOunds like you'll be holding baby soon! That is a very long drive to take when you are so close... I'd be packing the birth kit just in case too!

Oh, of course. And a diaper bag. I'm going on the theory that if we have it, we won't need it, as a car birth or hotel birth or something would make for a totally entertaining story, but isn't exactly the experience I'd prefer.

I'm wondering if it's legally possible for my mw to have more rural moms do self-care for the later visits, or if she's really required to see them in person every week a the end. I mean, urine test strips aren't exactly rocket science, most drug stores have an auto BP cuff available, and most other things they measure could be easily taught. Maybe I'll ask about that.

Edit: Talked to her on the phone, since I needed to confirm the appointment time anyways. Apparently her more rural clients give up on the prenatals around this point all the time, so she's totally fine with that. So now we just have to track down urinalysis strips today.

[BirdMum]

Ocelotmom - I'm glad that your MW is comfortable with you doing your own prenatal care at this point. That must be a huge weight off to not have to make a drive of that length!

I'm feeling labour-y. Been getting those insane bursts of energy, still contracting a lot but no pattern though they are more intense. No dramatic cervical changes, but it's super mushy, around 3cm, I'd say around 60% effaced, and getting a bit more anterior. I'm thinking if she engages further (I can feel her head right on my cervix), I'll probably dilate pretty quickly. 36w tomorrow, so I'm comfortable going at this point if she gives the signal that she's ready.

Had some bloody show over the past couple days, and it seems that my body is cleaning itself out at the moment. I suspect it probably won't be terribly long before I move from prodromal to early labour, though I'm trying not to read too much into it since I know it could be a few weeks still. I do have a feeling that it won't be very long at this point, though.

[MamaFern]

OoOh.. it sure sounds like there will be some new "november" babies before too long!!

[Metasequoia]

BirdMum ~ so exciting!!! How are you today?

[ocelotmom]

I'm getting more back pain now (not back labor type pain, just general discomfort), which happened the day before I went into labor with DD. But I'm not trusting that this whole thing isn't just moving slower and that it actually means anything except that I'm one day closer to whatever the endpoint is, which would be true anyways I rather hope it isn't today, as it's my midwife's birthday, and I know she and her family have plans for tonight.

At this point, I kinda want to just wait for a Scorpio. That's barely over a week now. Physically, I'm pretty much fine with that, but I don't like the uncertainty. I'd rather just know one way or the other, you know?

[BirdMum]

Originally Posted by Metasequoia

BirdMum ~ so exciting!!! How are you today?

Didn't really sleep last night but I got a nap today. Back is killing me when I have the ctx, but they aren't getting any closer together or more intense and I haven't had any more progress with my cervix. I'm thinking this is just going to be a very drawn out prodromal period.

[Metasequoia]

Originally Posted by BirdMum

Didn't really sleep last night but I got a nap today. Back is killing me when I have the ctx, but they aren't getting any closer together or more intense and I haven't had any more progress with my cervix. I'm thinking this is just going to be a very drawn out prodromal period.

Awww, that stinks. I guess the prodromal stuff can get really old, huh?

[quelindo]

What's the difference between prodomal labor and Braxton-Hicks contractions? I've been having a ton of BH and they're driving me batty, but I'm only 34 weeks.

[BirdMum]

Originally Posted by Metasequoia

Awww, that stinks. I guess the prodromal stuff can get really old, huh?

Yep. Gets very old, very fast. Still, it will *eventually* lead to a baby, which is nice.

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by New Mama

What's the difference between prodomal labor and Braxton-Hicks contractions? I've been having a ton of BH and they're driving me batty, but I'm only 34 weeks.

For me, the differentiation is that BH contractions are purely abdominal and occur very irregularly. Prodomal labor contractions extend around to the back and/or feel like they're stretching the cervix (and presumably I'm right about that, seeing as I did dilate some from where I was before they started) and occur more frequently and regularly - like I'll go for an hour or two having them every 5-10 minutes before they die down again.

No clue if that actually corresponds with the clinical definitions

[BirdMum]

Originally Posted by ocelotmom

For me, the differentiation is that BH contractions are purely abdominal and occur very irregularly. Prodomal labor contractions extend around to the back and/or feel like they're stretching the cervix (and presumably I'm right about that, seeing as I did dilate some from where I was before they started) and occur more frequently and regularly - like I'll go for an hour or two having them every 5-10 minutes before they die down again.

No clue if that actually corresponds with the clinical definitions

I think that's a pretty good explanation. Seems everyone does experience them a bit differently, but I definitely have them in my back and low in my pelvis in addition to the abdominal sensation like you described.

Although for me they don't stop, really. I've been having them every 20-30 minutes since last Saturday with only a few breaks here or there. They just don't get more intense or closer together. When I had prodromal ctx with DS, I'd have them for upwards of 12 hours at a time with no increase in frequency or intensity.

[HeatherB]

Yeah, I think the definition of "real" uterine ctxs that don't intensify or get closer together is probably a good one. I have also heard prodromal labor called one that does not cause cervical changes, but IME and what I'm observing from everyone in the DDC, these early ctxs ARE causing changes - minor as they may be.

[GranolaIsCool]

I'm with ya, except this has been going on since 31 weeks

I am closed but 2 weeks ago I was 70% effaced so who knows.

I'm miserable. I'm 36 weeks today and I kind of feel like I want to punch someone in the face. I deal with the up at night timing them too.

Ugh.

[madis81]

It seems that the prodromal labor has quieted a bit the last couple of days. I just have tons of pressure. I told my DH that as soon as I relax for a day or two this baby is coming and my body is telling me to do just that. Relax AND rest. With that said, I tried to check my cervix earlier and I couldn't find it today. The baby's was head was so low I was scared to look for it. Seriously, the baby's head was so low, I couldn't reach up to my second knuckle. This baby is ready to come out!

[ocelotmom]

Originally Posted by madis81

The baby's was head was so low I was scared to look for it. Seriously, the baby's head was so low, I couldn't reach up to my second knuckle. This baby is ready to come out!

Same here. My others didn't get this low until some point during labor. I CANNOT believe that I've been walking around with her this low for a week now and she hasn't fallen out yet!

I'm considering AI to see if it helps bring anything on, because actual sex seems physically impossible seeing how low she is.

Anyways, mine has been low for a week, and I've been poking around at my cervix the whole time (not literally, obviously. I do occasionally do other things), and she's not out yet, so I think you're safe if you want to search a little harder.

[Ellen Griswold]

I'll join the low baby club. I was walking around the store today and honestly felt like I needed to keep my legs closer together because she was just gonna fall out . I do not remember feeling this way with the other kids. Had some contractions last night in the middle of the night. They weren't really waking me up, but I just "knew" they were there. Seems like any time I try to use my abdominal muscles, I get a contraction.