Keeping perspective about contractions....

[CharlotteSometimes]

So yesterday I started having regular ctx at 5pm. Dh called the midwife (behind my back, ahem) after about 2 hours, and she sent over her backup and the student to check on me (she's an hour plus away, they were 20 min), though I wasn't feeling this was necessary. Then my ctx majorly increased in intensity, as in, I couldn't talk through one at all. They sent me to the bath with some chamomile tea after watching me for awhile, and lo and behold, the ctx stopped (this was at 10:30pm). My midwives were very positive with me about the way I dealt with the ctx, the position and pulse etc of the baby, and the fact that in the end, the work I did last night gets me closer to the baby in the end.

And I will say that I enjoyed the ctx. I liked how they felt (with DD I had ridiculous back labor and a 42 hour labor all told, a bad experience with my midwife, no ctx that I could feel on my belly, a really negative homebirth, except for the fact that in the end I did have a perfect baby in my home).

This wasn't painful as much as it was strong and intense and powerful, and I really could feel my cervix doing things. DH checked my cervix and said it had definitely changed position, was soft soft soft and that the baby's head is right there, all of which I noticed too. I had a great time with dh on the couch, just breathing through it all (dd was in bed, which was nice), chatting, hanging out.....And it was great to have a preview of coming attractions, especially since it was SO positive compared to dd's birth. I can honestly say that I enjoyed myself.

And all night I had weak contractions. More like a strong BH. And I'm still having them now.

And I am so bummed. I rationally know that this sort of thing is totally normal for 2nd time moms, but I just wasn't ready for it to stop. I feel let down. I was having fun! And somehow I can't wrap my brain around the fact that the baby WILL come, eventually.....

Anyway, just thought I'd share the positive experience and my inability to accept it with the grace and understanding I wish I had.

[melamama]

:hug Sounds like you did great.

I had a similar experience with my second--with my first I also had awful back labor and no idea about the contractions. Then with my second I had almost the same situation you describe with the ctx. All day long, slowly getting stronger, then we called the mw and she told me to have a glass of wine and get in the tub and go to sleep :( . Things did calm down and I did go to sleep. It was the next day or the one after that that everything got stronger all day long, and ds was born that night.

Yes it's a bummer since you're so ready, but the great thing is that your body is really getting itself together---that night once my mw arrived and checked me I was already 8cm--and I had done so much labor already it was exciting!

You're close! Good luck :thumb

[MamaChel]

You did great. I've been having something similar for the past 3 days. I'm running on auto pilot anymore. DH keeps asking if we should call the MW but he knows better than to go behind my back. We have the birth tub set up and I have wine here to try b/c last time the glass of wine didn't work, LOL. I'm so tired of the constant contractions anymore but babies come on their time and I remind DH that I have been resting a lot since he started his leave early and the ctx are not stopping just backing off in intensity. At least this is progress.

Good luck and try not to get discouraged, these last few days/weeks are so very hard.

[RedOakMomma]

Wow....it sounds like you did great! I love that you said you were enjoying yourself. That's such an ideal attitude for labor.

:hug that it didn't continue, but at least you have the certainty that your body is working with you, that it's preparing for birth and preparing you for birth. Sounds like, someday soon, you're going to have a GREAT labor, and you'll be holding your baby soon! It won't hold off forever!

:hug :hug

[Kam]

I'm so glad to hear your body is gearing up! That's very encouraging. And your midwives sound great! You can go into active labor now with so much more confidence and optimism--that means as much as a few centimeters, in my book!

I have never heard about false starts being more common with second pregnancies. Can anyone fill me in? I had weeks of prodromal labor with Meg, and arrived at the hospital at 7-8cm the day she was born, so I have no idea what to expect this time. It sounds as though your experience was normal, huh? Go figure. In all the reading I've done, I've somehow missed that very important point.

warmly,
Kam, mamamama! to Meg and one more