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Natural Birth
BelleIsa
member
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
Am I crazy? Should I ask for an ultrasound?
BelleIsa
member
For the last week I've had contractions that start and last anywhere up to 12 hours, always 5 mins apart and lasting a minute. They generally don't increase in intensity of length etc. and my midwife says this is normal yada yada yada.
(For my DD my water broke first and I immediately went into active labour with contractions less than a minute apart - so this is all new to me.)
All yesterday and last night I was having contractions that were strong enough to keep me up at night, but again, not increasing in intensity. But, I was also feeling very nauseous and a TON of pressure. I sort of had the feeling that 'this was it' but then it stopped and now I feel like something is wrong. Baby isn't moving as much today, and I really feel like last night my body was trying to get going but something was stopping it.
I've only had one ultrasound this whole pregnancy (at 20 weeks), and my midwife doesn't do weekly growth ultrasounds at this point, but I feel like an ultrasound would put my mind at ease. Is there something an ultrasound could tell me about why labour isn't progressing? (Like maybe the umbilical cord is too short and wraped around her neck or something?)
Am I just being a crazy, hormonal (and at this point, frustrated and sleep-deprived)?
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Am I crazy? Should I ask for an ultrasound?
This! If I were in the position I would be a nervous wreck. Of course I am also hormonal and naturally a worrier. So I worry when there is nothing to worry about. But honestly, I have been told to go with your instinct, and if something feels off, always get it checked out. You know your body, and you know your baby. It's always better to be safe. I would go in.
I'm usually not a worrier, but for some reason, I just feel like this isn't normal and that something is 'off'.
Will call my midwife and ask if they can monitor me for 20 minutes next time I'm having contractions just to make sure LO is okay (heartbeat not dropping or anything).
I just feel like such a wreck these days...
Eleanor Noelle - 18/05/12 Claire Elisabeth - 16/-5/10
It sounds like typical prodromal labor. I had it for a week before I went into actual labor. The hardest thing is that it gets you on edge and by the time you're really in labor you're exhausted. Since you know what real labor feels like, just ignore it if you can and go about your normal routine.
Since you're worried though, do you have weekly appts with the midwife at this point? I think they did fetal monitoring the week of my due date and then the following week. So, it might be something she's planning on for your next visit.
ETA - I forgot to say that my doula said it sometimes happens when your body is trying to work the baby into a better position for delivery
When my DS slowed down/stopped moving at 39+ weeks, my OB immediately sent me for an NST/BPP. Everything was fine, and I felt very reassured.
You may be experiencing prodromal labor. I had it with DS for about 2.5 weeks before true labor started.
Two things - you're not crazy, but I doubt an ultrasound would tell them anything about labor, just that your baby is doing fine.
Also, with my second, my body had a lot more random contractions to prep. Heck, my sister had labor every night for 2 weeks (from like midnight to 5 am) prior to actually going into labor with her second. Oh and hormones peak for pregnant women around 1am-3am in the morning, so it's pretty common to have night contractions that are strong and then as the hormones in your body wean, to have the contractions stop.
Good luck and I hope the "real thing" happens soon for you.
...baby #3 is here...