Labour pains

[spaced]

As some of you know, our baby was due Thursday 29th Nov. It is now the 8th Dec and first stage labour pains started yesterday AM.

Contractions started at 10mins apart, with 30 secs contractions. Last night (6.30pm) it went down to 5mins (30 secs contractions). Went to the hospital, midwife done a check and sent us on our way, saying that its pointelss staying in hospital waiting, might as well go home and wait until either the waters break or the contractions come down to 3-4 mins. All of today contractions have been the same, but my wife is in agony, cant sleep duer to the pain every 5 mins. THe contractions are now lasting one minute. Called the hospital and again they said I am doing all I can, until contractions are down to 2-4 mins, no point going in.

Anyone have any tips on how to make pains a little more bearable so she can have a little nap??

Thanks!!

[Ice.Maiden]

Poor woman! How long does it take to get to hospital? She ought to be in there now, having pain relief.

[daffidazey]

Hi spaced! Has your wife had a soak in the bath?? Thins may help her feel slightly more comfortable but won't help her get any sleep i'm afraid. If it was me I'd go to the hospital and say that she is in too much pain to cope and refuse to leave. Goodluck!! Hope it all goes well. Daffi x

[spaced]

shes in the bath as im typing this. Its helping but not much. I called midwife, and told them the contraction times. they said that it still to early.

They were really good and said that im doing all i can.

[Ice.Maiden]

I hope the hospital's only a few minutes away. Bless, you ARE doing all you can, and this could carry on for a while yet - or things could happen suddenly! Best of luck.

[B00]

Awww, you must both be so excited- despite her being knackered!

I'd be tempted to go to hospital anyway, lie and say the contractions are closer, then do as Daffi said- dig ya heels in and refuse to leave.

Good luck to the both of you, and a soon to be welcome into the world to Mini Spaced :-)

[toby99]

Do you have a distance to drive to the hospital?

[spaced]

hospital is 10 mins away. May be best to wait in the comfort of home. Ive got a stop watch so im timing constantly

[redcrx]

oh poor woman! and poor you, you must both be so exhausted.

All i can suggest is a warm bath too. I found it helped me when i was in hospital but then my labour wasnt as long and drawn out.

If you have any late night chemists open near you perhaps call and see if they have TENS machines for sale (make sure they are for labour pains) and perhaps get a friend or someone to go and get one. That may help. Or maybe a gym ball for your wife to sit and rock backwards and forwards on. That may help get babys head putting pressure on the cervix and helping it open up.

Other than that if you want to keep at home then paracetomol is only thing safe to take.

I hope that things move soon, and that baby spaced arrives safe and sound.

[Psychick]

As its been a while since you posted Im taking that as a sign things have finally gone far enough for you to go to hospital. If not, give the hospitala call again over exaggerating how much pain (not that you really need to exaggerate I know!) your wife is in and that shes been like this since yesterday and is so exhausted. Surely they can take her in and at least give her some pain relief to rest because shes going to need all the strength she can muster when the time comes to push!

Good luck to you both!

[Ice.Maiden]

It's true. Everyone's given some sound advice here, but there HAS been a lull hasn't there? Maybe baby's arrived! I was in labour for 25 hours with my first, and believe me, the pain was nothing to how exhausted I felt, so I hope things hurry up - and are going alright, spaced!

[Jillius]

Let us all know the outcome please ! Good Luck, hope all goes well xx

[Psychick]

Poor you ice.maiden!

I was in established labour for 4 hours 19 minutes with my first but was having contractions for about 12 hours before and that was enough for me!

I just really hope its true about the next being quicker lol

[Jillius]

I had no pains at all with my 2 kids and they were both born very quick. My son in just 5 minutes and my daughter popped out in about 20 seconds. Luckily I was having a check up at the time and as the midwife took her gloves off and said " see you in a week" my daughter just shot out !

[Goodsoulette]

Hope all is well and that you got through it all okay. The problem with going in to early is that someone who is about to deliver because they do wait and home might have to get in an ambulance and go to hospital 50 miles away because someone who isn't 3cm dilated is in a room.

Psychick, I was 6 hours established labour with my second but had been having twinges and those irregular contractions for about 18 hours before that. My first was 27 hours established labour but contractions from when I had my show 24 hours before that. I've never met anyone who has had a longer birth the second time round but you could be the first lol

[Ice.Maiden]

Psychick - if it helps at all, the second one lasted 6 hours, from start to finish. Honestly and truly, from what I've heard since though, I had two very easy births. The first was exhausting beyond all reason - I just wanted to go to sleep, but I didn't need pain relief for either. I was amazed at how simple it all was, and can only hope that many people experience the same thing.

[Psychick]

I really dont want to be the first Goodsoulette! lol

Ice.maiden, mine was very straight forward too and I found the experience of being in hospital to be worse than actually giving birth!

[daffidazey]

Hope all is well spaced and Mrs spaced and bump/baby are doing well. Keep us posted. Daffi x

[B00]

No news then? The news must be good then....right???