How do I cope with start and stop labor?

[Lynski]

Yesterday I had some intense contractions and then last night I had some very REAL, painful ones for hours on end. Once I got up and moved around a bit they would stop, but as soon as I layed back down it started up again. That started at midnight and I was finally able to doze in between them from 4-7am. Now I'm at work. Nothing but my normal BH type contractions and I'm exhausted and ticked off. This went on for weeks with DS but I was at home and could nap during the day if I needed. So how do I handle another 3-4 weeks of this? I am so irked today from sleep exhaustion and feeling let down. At 4 this morning I was washing NB diapers and thinking maybe this was it, but now it's life as usual again. Please give me some words of wisdom to get me through the next few weeks!

[Ruthla]

Just think- you thought you were in labor, and now you get to keep that full, round belly a little bit longer! Also, be thankful the contractions stopped- they're not particularly pleasant, are they?

I'm willing to bet there are women who never experienced labor who'd love to be in your shoes right now!!

[whoamama]

I had this same type of labour with #4, three yrs ago. It was very tiring and frustrating at the time, but I had only three hrs of active labour, perfect birth. Hang in there and respect your body's ability to birth, don't give in to any ideas about speeding things up/induction. Rest and eat well and relax, babe will come when ready.

[Lynski]

I won't be doing any induction methods or anything. Well, maybe sex. I trust DD and my body to know when she's truly ready and I don't want to mess with that process. But at the same time I'm tired and I just want to either stop or start!

[KindRedSpirit]

Do some relaxation techniqes to help calm the stress factor.Maybe take some rescue remedy,and think of it as a bonding time with baby.A conversation of sorts.I've thought I was in labor 4 times now,and I'm today a week "overdue".This is really a special time when your body,baby and you get to "converse"and get an idea of how you'll labor together.So many mama's don't get this time.I'm trying really to make an effort to be positive in these last few days of inutero time with baby.(Especially since this is #4,and things will be very chaotic after the birth.)Have a nice long soak in the tub.Snuggle with your family,hang out...Who says the babymoon can't start until the baby is born?Think of it as eloping! Anyway,good luck,and try to enjoy the now.

(Just so you know,all my griping is on another thread,so I can be positive here. )

[courtenay_e]

Yup. Sorry to say it but I had exactly six weeks of prodromal labor with both of my kids before they were born. It sucks. By the time I had them I was so exhausted, I wanted to cry. However, I knew that some day, it would really roll over into hard, active labor, and I would not "think" it was time, I'd KNOW we were having a baby. And both times, I knew. The hardest part for me was that my labor always happened at night, so getting enough rest was difficult. I feel for you. Just try to go on assuming that labor ISN'T happening today, and then when it does, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Get all of your ducks in a row, and be ready, and when baby's ready, she'll come. Blessings!

[grace's voice]

I've had this going on for the past week and a half as well, it IS exhausting! The only way I'm coping is by taking naps whenever I can, esp in the evening when DH comes home, before the contractions start up. And, I'm trying to keep in mind that every contractions IS doing SOMETHING. It may not be appearant to me, but for whatever reason either me or the baby need these contractions. The thing that's so frustrating to me is that everyday everyone around me expects me to have the baby... he will come when we're both ready people! Whenever that is is fine, but the watchful eyes are really irritating.

[courtenay_e]

Yuh. My family called so many times a day, I stopped answering the phone for a few days. That, of course, only freaked them out worse, as they assumed I'd gone into hard labor and hadn't called them... *sigh* I promised my mom and sister that they'd be the first two after myself and my dh to know (mom was doula and sis took pics, so they needed to be there, of course I'd call them!), but this didn't deter them from "caring." I just finally accepted this as part of the prodromal process.

[grace's voice]

Yeah, my sister is scared we'll forget to call her, and she is part of our birth team... not only that, but she lives in the condo right next to us! My mom is also freaked out we will forget to call her, just like she was my last pg. We have the list of people to call posted in our living room, but appearently that isn't enough reassurance!

[Peppamint]

I've BTDT, twice now. Three weeks with #2 (4 hr labor) and 5 weeks with #3 (2 hour labor)...

I know it can be so mentally and physically tiring, but it does generally make for a shorter, more efficient labor.