Prodromal labor, 38weeks, scheduled c-section

[michiigrrl]

I'm new here! Everyone must know how educational this site is to me. It has really helped me cope with this pregnancy! Here's my issue:
I started having regular contractions this last Thursday every three to five minutes apart. They have not stopped and we are approaching the week mark as of tomorrow morning. I cannot have a child vbac at our local hospital so we had to schedule a c-section. I will be 38 weeks on friday. Is it really necessary to go through all of this prodromal labor? All I need to do is dialate to a 1 and I can get this baby out. I am apparently softening ect. according to the dr. but is there anything I can do? Am I out of line for demanding some answers from my midwife. (She just keeps telling me i have some braxton hicks) Not making me happy!!! I need some support ladies...HELP! (By the way, my first daughter was born by c-section after 26 hours of labor and never getting past the 2 cm mark...maybe prodromal as well?)

[MsBlack]

If you are able to carry on your life--eat, sleep, pee, poop, etc, without too much ado, I would keep carrying on. Some women get labor like this, that takes 'forever' to warm up into full blown work that produces a baby. Don't get worn out, don't get worn down--keep eating, drinking, sleeping etc.

[Veritaserum]

I take days or even weeks to warm up and then things usually go pretty quickly. I'd make sure I was drinking lots of water and I took a lot of baths, too, because that would slow things down and let me sleep or if it didn't stop I knew it was Baby Time.

38 weeks is still EARLY. I'd give it time unless you or Baby aren't doing well. Hope things pick up soon!

[BeckiCNM]

I don't mean to sound snarky, just interested, but what kinds of answers do you want to hear from your midwife?

IMO, labor is beneficial to babies. So is waiting until labor begins to have a cesarean. Babies who choose when they are born do better. Prodromal labor is very common, especially in moms who have had babies before. I know that doesn't make it a whole lot easier to go through.

If you are seeing a hospital-based CNM, you could ask about something to help you sleep and deal with the contractions. I find many women deal better with prodromal labor if they are at least getting some sleep. Making sure you are not dehydrated, taking baths, and getting some help with your older child so that you can rest are also great helps for dealing with prodromal labor.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I wouldn't schedule a repeat for that all, personally. Labor means baby is read. I wouldn't have a repeat c at all because some hospital told me I "had to," but I guess that's sort of beside the point. I'd at least wait until my baby told me he or she was ready to come. JMO.

[chandasz]

I agree. Wait until baby is ready.... Who knows-- maybe you'll get a VBAC. Tee hee.