[ndtc]

Hi everybody,<br><br>
I started having contractions about 4 minutes apart on Saturday April 21st (my EDD) at 6:30pm. They were about 50 seconds each and steady for 12 hours. Since yesterday (Sunday) early morning I have been having 80-90 second contractions that come every 8-15 minutes. These contractions are much more painful, but they are not increasing in frequency!<br>
My naturopath made me a tincture of black and blue cohosh, I have tried stairs, warm baths, EPO, lots of food, sex, nipple stim, semi-sleep and I keep telling baby it's okay to take her time but AAAHHHH!<br><br>
It's been 36 hours now and I need inspiration.<br><br>
Please, anybody else have a long natural labor? Please tell me about it, DH is trying to understand but he can't.<br><br>
Thanks for listening to my rant. I'm feeling a little delirious.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[cornpicker]

hang in there and good luck!<br><br>
Maybe switch your message to baby from "it is ok to take your time" to "I need you to move down and get this show on the road. I'm anxious to meet you. Let's do this, we can do it!" etc.<br><br>
good luck!

 

[ndtc]

Good idea. Think I'll change the mantra. Thanks!

 

[Jimibell]

I found that my dh focusing his attention to me and not to other things around the house or his work made my labor suddenly pick up.<br>
also, any other children around? my labor really went into action after dd#1 went to sleep...<br>
maybe you need a good cry?<br>
in labor with #2 I had been laboring for a long time and then I went into the bathroom alone to pee and I had a huge contraction by myself and then I realized that I was scared to mother 2 children and I walked out of the bathroom and just broke down crying and after that I was in transition!<br>
it was great but I didn't realize until that moment that that was a fear I had......<br>
letting go or addressing fears always helps to open up I think.....<br><br>
sorry I don't have any other good ideas but remember that you're not alone and you can do it!!!!<br><br>
oh and maybe you can let your dh know that you're in charge, he's there to support YOU......

 

[Dakota's Mom]

I had long labors with all of my children. 48 hours with the first, 23 hours with the fifth. These little ones come when they want to. Maybe if you can take your focus off how long it's been and focus more on seeing the little one. Talking to the baby, urging him/her to come on out and meet the world. Drink some tea to relax. Watch a funny movie. Do whatever it takes to relax and not focus so much on how long it's been already. Your little one will be here soon and you'll be rested and ready to be a mom if you can relax now.<br><br>
Kathi

 

[annettemarie]

Moving to Birth and Beyond where you can hopefully get lots of inspiration!

 

[UmmIbrahim]

hey<br><br>
I had that for 3 weeks before I was induced...LOL...some times during th day we'd be ready to call the MW to go, thinking I was about to give birth...<br><br>
Nope...it would start and stop, start and stop...start and stop...was really really horrible...<br><br>
I donno what to tell you...but, been there...done that...tried everything and Ibi was just too content to come out I guess...LOL<br><br>
hahhaaha<br><br>
Umm Ibrahim

 

[hubris]

I had 2-3 days of prodromal labor with my first birth, then 20 hours of active labor. My biggest piece of advice is to GET REST if you can. We were soooo anxious for our baby to be born that we were doing everything we could to help labor along instead of taking advantage of the slow start, and by the time active labor finally got going, I was already exhausted.<br><br>
If you can take a break from nipple stim, etc, maybe what your body needs is a chance to rest before heading into the home stretch?<br><br>
Sortof similar advice: I found that the more we paid attention the the clock and timing contractions, the more I was psyching myself out. The info wasn't really all that helpful to us and only served to make us think something was happening before it really was. With my second son, we didn't time contractions at all until I was ready to call my OB, and then we only timed a few so that we had an answer to the inevitable "how far apart?" question.<br><br><br><br>
Soon your little one will be here! Gentle birth vibes for you. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Bindweed]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> My middle was over four days.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/dizzy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Dizzy">:

 

[sapphire_chan]

If you have had small glasses of wine during your pregnancy, this would be an appropriate time to have another. Otherwise, try red raspberry leaf tea.

 

[Funny Face]

I agree with PP, GET REST! I labored with dd for 37 hours and if I had it to do again I would've rested while the cntrx were still bearable and stayed OUT OF THE TUB until things were really trucking along.<br><br>
Good luck, this may sound crazy, but I'm actually jealous of you right now!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue">

 

[Jilian]

I hope your baby is here by now. If not, rest as much as you can and keep eating for as long as you can (to keep up your energy). There are some accupressure points you can also try to stimulate contractions - one is on the back of your ankle, right where that tendon runs. Give it a squeeze during contractions and see if it helps.

 

[SweetTeach]

Hey A!!! Been thinking about you and I'm sending you serious labor vibes. All weekend I was meaning to email you. Come on out baby girl...

 

[Fay]

My natural VBAC labor was 68.5 hours long, starting when I woke up w/contractions 5 minutes apart and ending with a beautiful healthy baby boy. I recommend yoga poses, deep breathing and relaxation/visualization exercises. I did not require any medication during my labor. If you're the praying type, pray or meditate. Your body wants this birth to unfold slowly.<br><br>
After your baby is born, get your thyroid checked. Ask your doctor to check free T3 and T4 levels, not just the TSH. An underactive thyroid may cause a slow labor like this.<br><br>
I sure hope you're holding a new baby right now.

 

[cheeseRjedi]

Hopefully your absence means you are holding your beautiful little baby right now!

 

[TBA in PA]

Do you have a labor attendant? If so, have them check you for an asynclitic head position by the baby. <a href="http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/asnchead.html" target="_blank">http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/asnchead.html</a>

 

[MamaRabbit]

The fact that the contractions are so long and strong but that far apart makes me think odd position. Could you go for a swim or try some hip squeezes? Having your DP doing a hip squeeze during each contraction for a couple hours will not only help with the pain but also encourage the baby to find a better position. You can do it either standing up or lay on your left side and have DP press from the top side.<br><br>
May or not be this but that popped into my mind first.

 

[sweeetpea]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that">:<br><br>
Positioning also popped into my head. Not every OP labor has the "classic" back labor symptoms. If you think baby might be OP, you could try:<br><br>
Pelvic rocks while on hands and knees<br>
Belly lifts between and/or during contractions<br>
Side lunges, with one foot raised.<br><br>
Good luck!

 

[Dancinmommy]

hi hunny! my labor was prodromal for about a week before i actually went into 'real" labor-which was then 32 hours. the good news is my active labor was only 2 hrs and i only pushed for 15 mins!my best advice is to rest and eat small things!!!!!!! you will def need that energy however you can get it. even if sleep doesnt happen, try to relax in a bath w/ your eyes closed, breathe deeply, and know we are all here sending you crazy amounts of birth energy!!!! you can do this!!!!!!!

 

[Dancinmommy]

oh yes and position changes are a great suggestion...squats, lunges, walking!!!!!