Prodromal Labor?

[bella99]

So I am 38w, 3d.  I have been contracting since 7 this morning (it's just after 3 by my now).  The contractions started off at 5-8 minutes apart or so, and were not too strong but definitely painful.  Then for several hours, they were anywhere from 2-5 minutes apart, and lasting 15-30 seconds.  So frequent but very short.  Not super intense, but enough I have to concentrate through them.

And for the last couple of hours, they have decreased in frequency.  Sometimes I will get 3 in 10-15 minutes and then not another for 20 minutes.  Still pretty short, but painful.  I've also noticed a sudden increase in mucusy discharge.

I have done so much walking today that my legs are tired and that didn't seem to change anything.  I've been seeing the midwives at the practice I go to, but ended up talking to the OB on call earlier, who basically said everything was up to me regarding whether to go into the birth center or not.

Any thoughts or suggestions?  I'm getting tired and frustrated.

[Cujobunny]

Hmmm I know this sounds diffiult to do but try to get some rest & stay hydrated & fed. Try to do something that will take your mind off of the contractions. Warm shower, or bath if your water hasn't broken may help relax you. Walk around when you can, but don't exhaust yourself. Try some meditation or at least deep breathing.

With my dd (2nd child) I had this type of labour for 2.5 days before active labour started. The contractions started overnight on a Sunday night & only let up for a couple hours on Monday before starting up again. She was born on a Wednesday afternoon.

I expect the same type of thing would have happened with my first but after contractions were regular for a couple hours I went to the hospital. I was only 1cm dilated but for reasons I will never know, they decided to keep me there. I ended up with an epidural after not being able to sleep all night in their uncomfortable bed, then having my water broken & pitocin drip because I wasn't progressing (enough for their schedule- they should have just sent me home). Luckily that was all the interventions I had to endure, but I had to spend the whole labour in bed hooked up to all the monitors. Oh well, live & learn- 2nd time around I dealt with the prodromal labour best I could & though I went to the hospital when I felt like I needed to, I was still only 2 cm dilated but thanks to my midwife & her suggestions I was able to keep the labour going & had a wonderful, unmedicated birth.

[bella99]

Thanks for the response.

Contractions have all but stopped now...very frustrating.

With my first, I went from no signs of labor at 39 weeks, to active labor almost immediately (water broke at home with strong contractions 5 mins apart from the start) and a "short" labor of 9 hours.

I was so excited this morning when I felt the contractions!

[jessica_s]

I feel ya! I was 41 weeks last time but it started with SROM and got crazy from there. I've had a *ton* of contractions this time around and last night I was sure we were getting somewhere. Nope. Today, nothin'! 

[FoxintheSnow]

I had that with my last baby and of course it happened on the night dh and I had a mini vacation in a hotel. When I went to the OB he said "hmm something has changed here" Apparantly all those contractions didn't start labor, but they did dialate me a centimeter and thin me out a lot.

[allisonrose]

I am so in the same boat right now. The night before last I had a streak of contractions. A bit irregular but I figured they'd increase over time. Instead they later disappeared. Then last night, contractions again. Again not increasing in time and the intervals were relatively irregular. And again they seem to have evaporated in the daylight. Tired and frustrated is the perfect way of describing how I feel. I wish things would flip flop: contractions during the day and none at night. At least that would make this a tad easier.

My midwife recommended the same as Cujobunny: rest, eat well and drink lots.

[trekkingirl]

this has been going on for weeks here. Last night I had regular contractions all night but today they are gone again. At least mine aren't extrememly strong yet so I can deal. Hope you go into labor soon.

[bella99]

And today...nothing, not one contraction at all.

 But we had a really nice day with my two year old, playing with family members, reading books, and singing.

But, I seemed to be in the process of losing my plug, lots of snotty mucus in the last 24 hours, so I'm thinking all those contractions yesterday did something.