The laboring slowly but no baby yet club

[Synchro246]

First I titled this the labor signs but no labor club then the early labor but no baby club then I changed it to what it is.
It seems like lots of us are undergoing a very steady and slow process that will eventually culmintate in real labor and meeting baby.
Why isn't this publicized more? I know, like was said on another thread--the mainstream get induced by now.

BUT dang it THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NORMAL.

Why do we feel like our bodies aren't working? They ARE working!!

Why do we feel the need to speed things along? We DON'T.

Let's enjoy this ride together.
Lets revel in the slow and steady changes.
Lets re-frame our perspective when we start to feel "done" or impatient.
Let's not feel badly for not having our babies "yet".

[JanB]

Can I just sing the praises of my OB for a minute here? I feel lucky to have him, because I walk in the door, diabetic and 38.5 weeks, and inform him that I've been having regularish contractions off and on for the last several days, and instead of saying, "OMG! Let's get you hooked up to the Pitocin right now!" he shrugs and says, "Sounds normal. Everything looks good. We'll see you next week.... maybe." (And then of course joked that if I have the baby this week it would be great if I could have it at a halfway decent hour during the day, ha ha.)

It was so low-pressure and really validating as far as me feeling like my body is doing what it needs to do.

That having been said, these contractions could pick up and turn into the real deal ANY TIME NOW. But I would like to go shopping with my mom on Sunday, so I guess it can wait until after then.

[Eaglevoice]

Thanks for starting this thread, Laura. It's just what I needed this morning. Last night I didn't have too many "real" contractions. It seems to be happening every other night lately. But when I woke up this morning I couldn't help but feel disappointed that nothing happened. I went to bed with the crampy achy feeling that something was going to start...but maybe my body is waiting until I'm not sick anymore. I feel much better than I did yesterday, though I just sneezed three times and had to blow my nose again as I wrote that!

It is hard, though. Trying to explain to people that, no, I have not had my baby yet even though I've had several hours of contractions, bloody show, mucous plug and the like. I've completely stopped answering my phone. Except for my mom. I'll still talk to her, because I asked her not to call me if she just wants to know how I'm feeling. But I don't answer either of my sister's phone calls or any of my friends. I just wait to hear their vm and if it's something worth talking about, I'll call them back.

So yes. This thread is the exact thing I needed to see this morning. Because there is absolutely nothing wrong with what is going on inside my body right now. This baby knows what he/she is doing in there and maybe they are just trying to make it an easier ride out by getting some of the work done earlier.

[Jilian]

Slow and steady wins the race right? I've been in and out of labor for weeks now, but I'm not technically due until June 4. Every night I have contractions, each night stronger than the one before. Last night they came on suddenly at 3 mins apart and were really strong - then they went away. I kind of enjoy laboring this way, it allows me to get some rest and to gear up for the real thing. I'm not sure why prodromal labor gets such a bad rep, I think it's the way to go. Now when real labor starts I know my body will be good and ready.

[chrissy]

yep, me too. and now that i'm getting used to it, i'm pretty fine with it. i was having a really hard time with it when i kept thinking it was the real thing, then i would get really frustrated when it petered out. now i am just telling myself that baby will be here soon and trying not to get hung up on exactly what i am feeling and what it means about how soon i'll be holding my baby in my arms.

this is the exact same way i labored last time and when i finally went into "real" labor it was superfast- 2 hours or so. i can handle that again, although i think more like 4 hours and therefore a little less intense would be preferable.

[megviolet]

I need to join this club too!

I started having cramps and losing mucous and getting strong contractions... on easter weekend.. and still no baby!

I'm 13 days *overdue* now, still very stop and go. I hav thought i was in labour twice, gotten quite miserable and uncomfortable and unsure how to deal with the contractions, just to have it go away.

I'll get really crampy for awhile, have lots of loose BMs, contractions that are intense enough that i can't really talk or walk when i'm getting one. A few times i've had hours of regular contractions, about 7-8 minutes apart, but then they go away. *shrugs*

I think it's good. It's given me a chance to really zone out and connect with the baby, taught me how to relax through a contractions, and certainly taught me that labour is NOTHING like what you see in the movies!

It will happen, hopefully all this warming up will mean easier and shorter labours for us.

[BrooklynDoula]

Slow and steady here also!!

[jldumm]

can i join..... been laboring since 11 pm last night with only 3 hours of sleep and contractions every 30 min and often less!!! i am ready for things to pick up or slow down.....

[jessma]

I've had lots of cramping, but very few "real" contractions as far as I can tell. Some mucous, but no bloody show, loss of mucous plus, etc. I'm trying really hard to say "stay patient, slow and steady, he'll come when he's ready..." but honestly... I'm having a hard time of it. I'm tired... physically, mentally... reading all of your posts is helping - at least I know I'm not alone.

[crittersmom]

This is so wierd for me.My others were very clear.The baby was all lined up, contractions for a couple of weeks, water breaks baby.This time around I had my usual contractions and I thought for sure May 5 was the day.The cntractions just stopped.I have now been having about every 10 15 minutes contractions since yesterday morning and plug and mucous so I'm guessing this is the labor that lots of other moms get.This baby is also refusing to budge from his posterior position.Everytime he hiccups its coming face up.
I got the call from the MW this morning since according to them I am probably 4 days overdue.They want to evaluate the baby ect. ect.I'm staying home since this critter is still behaving normally and I'd much rather be comfy than poked and prodded into getting things to move it along since I'm due anyway.(its that kind of practice unfortunatly)

[Jilian]

I think this baby is just teaching me patience. Today I had some spotting, a few pieces of mucous plug, and not much else. I'm surprised my nightly false start hasn't happened yet.

[Synchro246]

Originally Posted by Eaglevoice

It seems to be happening every other night lately.

That's what my pattern seems to be too. I'd understand it more if it were nightly. . .though I could see the potential for increased frustration with that.
It's cool it's cool.

Originally Posted by chrissy

yep, me too. and now that i'm getting used to it, i'm pretty fine with it. i was having a really hard time with it when i kept thinking it was the real thing, then i would get really frustrated when it petered out.

Yes!! I think that's a big part of my initial frustrations. I'd get all geared up for baby and. . .nada. I'd think about how the next date would be a cool birthday and . . .nope.
Now my default mode is everything is practice labor. I wonder what our reactions will be like when we the final strech of labor.

[kittn]

Originally Posted by Synchro246

Yes!! I think that's a big part of my initial frustrations. I'd get all geared up for baby and. . .nada. I'd think about how the next date would be a cool birthday and . . .nope.
Now my default mode is everything is practice labor. I wonder what our reactions will be like when we the final strech of labor.

ive given up thinking it could be "it" as well. I wonder if I will even believe im in labor for real when it actually happens.

BTW Synchro I had a dream 2 nights in a row about you having your baby on a saturday night. LOL I dont know why I dreamed about you but hey thought I would pass it on

[mamalex]

I'm joining this thread. I'm due May 27...that's average my "date" with the ultrasound date. I've been contracting forever! I was told 3 weeks ago that I wouldn't make it to 38wks, and now I'm 39. Ds went 12 days over, and I just can't believe that could happen again.

Last night, ctx all night long. Felt them in my cervix, belly hard, all that. Much less frequent today. Not really painful, just crampy. I'm trying to relax, not get worked up about this. Baby is lined up well and is very low (a zero station?) and cervix is very, very soft.

I'm just so excited and want it to happen now!!

[megviolet]

I am soooo exhausted today. Went to bed at about 11, got up NINE TIMES through the night either to pee or because the cramps and pressure were so intense. Finally got up for good at around 7 this morning. No cramps since i got up of course :

Trying the nipple stimulation thing, figured out what i think is the right way, mimicing how one would hand express milk... although i've never had mil so what do I know. I did it 10 minutes each side 3 times today... didn't bring on a single contraction although i DID start to leak colostrum and now my boobs hurt.

Officially 42 weeks today. Guess the baby is holding out for gemini after all.

[Synchro246]

Any nursing mamas among us?
I noticed some increase in intensity of ctx while nursing my ds to sleep just now. That was weird.

[kittn]

Originally Posted by Synchro246

Any nursing mamas among us?
I noticed some increase in intensity of ctx while nursing my ds to sleep just now. That was weird.

yup still nursing here and the ctx have increased during nursing but they stop soon after.I had also read/heard somewhere that nursing during pregnancy can cause you to deliver later rather than sooner

[JanB]

Is anybody worried that all of this practice labor means that the baby is in a bad position? I worry about this.

[BrooklynDoula]

MW says my babe is in a good position, so I think it is just our bodies getting ready!

[kittn]

Originally Posted by JanB

Is anybody worried that all of this practice labor means that the baby is in a bad position? I worry about this.

yes yes yes. MW says baby is right on so i know I shouldn't worry. but right now I worry about everything! my first was born face first with his hand beside his face and sunny side up. YUCK! i cannot go through that one again. it was not nice. but the MW says it doesnt get any worse than that so I guess Im ok even if that does happen