Talk me down, girls

jellybelly03 · August 2013

Hi all,

I've been lurking here for a while and sometimes post in response to other people's threads, but this is my first actual posting. Anyway, I am on my third pregnancy, 39+ weeks, and have been having prodromal labor since last Tuesday. It's slowly killing me. (BTW, for those who don't know, this is totally NOT just Braxton Hicks - it's real-deal stop-and-start labor that just starts to pick up and then dies out.) I want to be all zen-like about this, but geeze, I'm totally sick of it! And the idea that I might still be going through this in 2+ weeks is too much. I'm having a really tough time concentrating on anything else right now (not to mention that I'm only sleeping "well" about every other day). I'm reluctant to take my older guys anywhere because I'm afraid to have an episode and not be safe to drive them back home. AAAAAARG! And I've been getting panicky whenever DH goes to work. (Thank goodness it's the weekend!) I had been alternating between feeling totally fine about being pregnant and wanting it to be over, but the latter is really starting to outweigh the former these days. Girls, please help me to see that there's light at the end of the tunnel, because right now I sort of feel like I'm losing my mind!

aylafsu88 · August 2013

I have no direct advice but I just wanted to tell you to hang in there. It has to be tough dealing with prodromal labor especially since you have active kids. Try to stay positive and relax as much as you can (easier said than done)! GL!

ejb23 · August 2013

No advice either just wanted to pass along positive thoughts and hugs!! GL

jellybelly03 · August 2013

Thanks. On some level, I know it's going to be over soon. But, totally irrationally, I keep thinking that I am going to be pregnant forever and yadda yadda yadda. Ug...

Khaleesi07 · August 2013

I'm sorry you have to go through this @jellybelly03 Hopefully your little one comes soon!

pe3we303 · August 2013

Just read the anyone seen a chiro thread right after yours, maybe try getting an adjustment. Maybe baby needs some things moved around to get consistent labor going. I am 31wks2days and at 36wks midwife suggested starting chiro adjustments. Hang in there baby will be in your arms soon!

Arielle27 · August 2013

I really feel for you! But it will just be for a finite time...

I had irritable uterus in my last pregnancy that had me in and out of the hospital three times before giving birth (sometimes just time table braxton hicks, but also contractions that dilated me, etc). It lasted a month.

This time I've had it since 28 weeks, went into preterm labor last weekend (31 weeks), dilated only a tiny amount, it stopped, but I've had braxton hicks or contractions every 5-10 minutes most if the day and evening since...

Luckily I'm not dilating anymore, but like you I am so sore and exhausted (contractions wake me up nearly very night), and on the one hand just want to make it until at least week 37, but on the other hand can't imagine this going on for another 5 weeks!

I also have two kids under tr age of 3, so there's never any rest...

But like I told you, I just try to remind myself that it is a finite period of time in our lives, so I'm just trying to make it through each day...

Good luck and feel well!

jellybelly03 · August 2013

Thanks, girls! I know it will all be over soon, but sometimes it's hard to keep that in mind. Geesh, you'd think I could be more relaxed my third time around!

And crunchymama, that is really interesting and totally possible. I had some major activity on the day that I was not with my kids and again today when DH was around to take care of them!

mrsebright · August 2013

Just wanted to chime in in solidarity. I'm right there with you: 39+, small episodes of real contractions that go for an hour or two then peter out, nervous to travel too far from home, etc. I went to 42 with my first and have cried (several times) at the thought of doing it again.

Fingers crossed for you that a real, fast and easy labor comes soon for you.

PepperBug · August 2013

This happened to me too with work. Once I stopped working, the baby arrived very quickly within a few days at 39 weeks, 2 days. Only about three hours of really painful labor. Hang in there and try to relax...it will happen soon!

kriskell · August 2013

I had this too but only for a few days. It was super frustrating and my biggest fear was just feeling like when labor started for real that I wouldn't have the energy or endurance I needed. In the end I never did have a naturally -progressing labor with a predictable pattern. Even in active labor my contractions and fialation stalled. I wasn't able to labor in the tub because the water slowed things down even more. I was able to have an unmedicated birth center birth but my MW had to do several things to help me along. Hang in there! There is an end in sight!