Can you stop labor unintentionally by relaxing??

[sarahbay]

I'm overdue now by a week, and have been getting some real good contractions in the evenings that peter out because I lay down or do some other relaxation stuff like shower, etc.

If I kept upright, walking, nipple stim, etc. would the contractions turn into real labor?

If you stop your labor, do you naturally go back into labor the next day or a week later, or what happens??

[Sabo]

Exactly the same thing was happening to me earlier this week. Soon after I went to bed, everything would stop and I'd wake up annoyed. Last night, my water broke, but I'm still having only very intermittent contractions. I think the fact that they start and stop like that is just a normal part of the process. It is terribly frustrating though. I hope your baby decides to be birthed soon.

[iamama]

If your labor stops its not labor its predomal labor. Means your body is warming up for the big day! Maybe having sex can increase those contractions but most likely not unless its the real thing.

[lactivist]

I was having the exact same thing for weeks. The day I went into labor there was no relaxing out of it. I tried to lie down and thought I would die. I did extremely deep relaxation and it was the only thing that got me through my four hour labor. I don't think you can relax away real labor, well at least I couldn't.
Wendi

[leanbh]

this prodromal labor happened to me for three days before i hit an 'active labor pattern'... and that's what you're looking for, a pattern. they should intensify, be unrelievable by relaxation/laying down/hydration, and get closer together.

when i would get this, my mw would tell me to do the opposite of what i was doing and drink a liter of fluid. so if i was laying down, i had to walk around. if i was walking, i had to lay down.

i had contractions for three days at 6 to 8 minutes apart. but when it was real, i just knew it.

hth, and i hope you're holding your little one soon!

[IntuitiveJamie]

Sarahbay and Sabo
I am sending you lovely ladies BIG LABOR VIBES!!!

Sabo- that's great news about your water breaking. That means a lot, so hopefully the contrx will pick up.
I want to read birth stories tomorrow morning!!!!!!!

[sarahbay]

Awwwww

Thank you Takebirthback !!!!!!

I hope we get a baby soon too.

I've been so swollen and miserable lately.

[HeatherB]

When it's the "real deal," there's no stopping it! So don't worry - take care of yourself and get the rest you need now so you'll be ready when it comes. I made the mistake of trying to do things to "speed up" labor the first time and have regretted it ever since! Baby will come, and having episodes of ctxs, even intermittent, means the time is drawing near!

Sabo, so glad to hear your little one isn't far away, either! Will be watching for more news!

[Plaid Leopard]

[gina871]

I have been going throught the same thing, but mine starts in the am and stop about the time the girls get up. I am just wait for when I can't walk or talk thought them. Then I will know it is the really thing.
Last week I went to the chripo hoping that if I got all an ajustment that the baby would just fall into place. It did help the baby turn for better brith possition, but has not encourage labor so far.

[lisarussell]

You can't really stop labor. a labor that stops and starts like that is really good, it gets much of the work done of softening and effacement, helps baby scoot into a good birthing position, and generally means a shorter labor once it does kick into gear.

Mental stress regarding the birth can slow things down, and create unnecessary pain. Be sure you're welcoming labor in your mind, ready and willing to face the events of birth and open to receiving the experiences of labor. Ending pregnancy is a mind-trip as well as a body trip. Fear of releasing can slow down a labor.

Grantly Dick-Read's Childbirth without fear is an awesome book for helping with that. Enjoy your final moments of pregnancy, take pictures and look forward to snuggling with that sweet new baby.

Originally Posted by sarahbay

I'm overdue now by a week, and have been getting some real good contractions in the evenings that peter out because I lay down or do some other relaxation stuff like shower, etc.

If I kept upright, walking, nipple stim, etc. would the contractions turn into real labor?

If you stop your labor, do you naturally go back into labor the next day or a week later, or what happens??

[sarahbay]

Gina,

I was thinking about going to the Chiro too, as it would help get baby into a better birth position. I feel like he's posterior right now.

But not sure that it will actually help get labor going, and everytime I go, he does get in a better postion, but it only lasts a few days or a week, then I have to go back!!!!

I'm feeling better about the whole overdue thing today though.

So of course I'll just wait it out.

It really does help to hear that when it's real, there's no stopping it!!!!

Thanks ladies for the encouragment!

I'll keep you posted, and let you know when I do actually go into labor.

[beautiful_mama]

I second third and fourth the chiro thing...if anyone wonders about baby being in a good position, that is the place to go!!
I am hoping to go tomorrow or tuesday latest, my hips are KILLIN me!!


Thatbeing said, if you change position or activityand they stop that is known as what someone else said prodomal labor
Sorry!

I know, it's SOO annoying, I just posted baout the contractions I am now having a lovely 2.5 weeks before my EDD and my babies....always, always, come late SO it looks like WEEKS of torture for me!

Hang in there, look at the bright side, in a few (very short!) weeks we will ALL be holding our pumpkin babies...
And contractions will be a thing of the past