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July 2013 Moms
CJ086
member
Who has experienced prolonged latent labor?
CJ086
member
A rock and a hard place. I have done what I am told by my OB and I feel stupid and ashamed of myself for going into L and D two nights in a row just to be hooked up to the monitors for a few hours and confirmed I am contracting regularly but my cervix is stuck where it is. I understand that it is too early to help anything along, Lucas is just not ready, I am okay with that. But I am also too far along for anything to be done to stop the contractions. I am being told that on day four of consistent labor contractions I am "just in latent labor". Has anyone been in this position? I am emotionally drained and just don't care anymore. I feel so defeated, 1/2 my body thinks it is time and the other 1/2 says no. I would really like everything to stop at this point because I just can't do it anymore. I don't even want to show my face in L & D again even if it is the real deal because I feel like they are all looking down on me like I am an idiot. I cried almost all night last night, which let me share does not help the contractions at all, it makes them worse. Please tell me I am not the only person to go through this.
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Re: Who has experienced prolonged latent labor?
No they have not given me anything for sleeping. The nurse last night told me to change the way I am sleeping and to change my diet. This woman had zero bedside manner and told me to change position during a contraction when the only relief I could get was with the position I was in. I wanted to smack her.
My OB started with the call me if you have more than 6 contractions in an hour, so on Monday I did that. He had me go into the clinic and he checked I was starting to dilate and efface. The ctx at that point were not at regular intervals. He told me to call back if they became regular. Then comes Tuesday and ctx become way more painful and are 7 mins apart on the dot, lasting for 1 to 1.5 mins each, so I call his office, he wants me into L & D. Into L & D I go, on duty OB confirms regular ctx, even comments on them being "good" ones, checks cervix & there is very little change. Which by the way I am not even sure if there was a change with different people checking. He calls my OB and together they decide to give me the option of staying or going home but to call if they get closer together or don't let up within 24 hrs or so. I choose to go home because it is more comfortable than sitting at the hospital. I stay home from work on Wednesday and track the ctx which at this point is not very hard because they hurt like he!!. All morning they are consistent 5 min apart. I go for a walk (1/2 mile to store across town) come home eat lunch feel super sick to my stomach and lay down, nap for a little bit to wake to ctx one on top of the other. I go on for 4 hours with what feels like little to no break in between them. I can hardly stand up let along walk. Sooo once again call my OB and tell him what is going on, again he sends me to L & D. Ok, well I wait a couple hours and try to have some dinner to no avail and we drive down again. The nurse hooks me up, and yep ctx are 3 mins apart and look good, checks my cervix and says she doesn't feel it is ready and just go home and relax. Oh but don't sit like this and don't lay down like that. Call if you have blood or water running down your leg otherwise there is nothing we will do for the next 4 weeks. So at that point I just leave and cry all the way home and most of the night, meanwhile ctx are still on top of each other I have just come to the conclusion that I will be stuck in this hunched over position in agony for the next month.
Sorry so long, I just got going with it and couldn't stop.
My latent labor stage lasted just over 2 weeks
What I found to help was trying to change my mindset and not focus/dwell on how long this is lasting. Try to keep yourself busy - go for walks, clean, go to the beach, get a massage or pamper yourself! I've been there and ended up in L&D a handful of times throughout June as I just wasn't sure... When the real, active labor contractions started there was no mistaking them - You will know when it's time. Good luck and hopefully you're not stuck as long as I was.
L: 7/12/13
C: 5/11/15
E: 3/7/17
Due 11/10/18
I'm hesitant to respond to this because you aren't going to like what I have to say, but I've been dealing with this for nearly 5 weeks.
It's totally miserable I can relate! I'm only 1cm dilated and 20% effaced too, for about 4 weeks now. So frustrating. I've been taking half a unisom to help me sleep. I still wake up several times a night in pain and to get up to pee but I find it helps me fall asleep again easier than if I don't take it.
Don't feel stupid for going in, I've been in twice as well. My dr told me since I've had several bouts of 2min apart contractions that last 12+ hrs, I am to go by pain level when determining when to head in, not by frequency of contractions. She said when I can't walk or talk through them and they are that way for 1-2 hrs, that's when I'll know to head in.
I'm so sorry you're dealing with this. I'm scheduled for an induction monday, at 41 weeks but I pray this little one comes on her own!!