prodromal labor

smount2011 · February 2016

Anyone else experience this? How long did it take you to reach active labor?

Let me tell you it frigging sucks! I went in for my 37 week check up yesterday and the doctor sent me up to l&d in labor. I was dilated 3.5 cm and 80% effaced. I was monitored and having regular contractions but they were 8 minutes apart. The on call Dr checked me and I was 4 cm but she said only 60% effaced. She decided to keep me for more monitoring- she didn't want to send me home driving myself and have something happen beside the road. By 8th my contractions were 4 minutes apart and I was a 5. By midnight I was about 6 and contractions still 4-5 minutes apart. Issue was some Contractions were more intense than others. I was given an Ambien and was able to fall asleep, but woke up by 4 to more painful contractions which eventually gave way. 6:30 im still ata 6 but my contractions dropped back to 8-10 minutes apart, so i was sent home.
I have lost my mucous plug from this, but now I'm wondering if/when my water will break?

I was wondering if anyone had insight or can share experiences? Like how long did it last and how fast did your active labor take place? I'm 1/2 hour away from my hospital so if I get active we need to go.

2-Step · February 2016

Huh, I never knew this had a name, but I definitely experienced it with my first DS. I lost my mucus plug and started having contractions on my due date at about 6pm, by 11pm they were 4 minutes apart and 1-2 minutes long so we headed to the hospital. I was only dilated to a 3 and they required a 4 for admittance. They had me walk the halls until 2am. They attached me to the monitor and said I was "rocking the contraction monitor" with contractions every 2 minutes. These were bad enough to make me stop in my tracks and not be able to move or talk, but they weren't dilating me any more so they sent me home. I struggled through the night and got maybe a couple hours sleep with tylenol PM. The next day I had contractions all day that sped up and slowed down, but were never more than about 8 minutes apart. By 9pm that night they were getting stronger and I was exhausted so we went back to the hospital. I was still dilated to a 3.5, almost 4. The nurse begged the doc to admit me because she remembered me from the night before. They finally admitted me and broke my water, which was good because it had meconium in it and the doc said he was glad we were moving forward with labor because of that because it could be a sign that the baby was in distress or soon could be. After my water was broken I progressed perfectly at 1 cm per hour and slept through the night with the epidural. I woke in the morning to push. Unfortunately, after 4 hours of pushing I ended up with a c-section because he was totally stuck. Even the surgeon said we were lucky to get him out safely because he could barely pull him out the other direction he was so wedged under my pelvic bone. It was a long road, but I really do think the intervention to jump start labor and c-section were unrelated. I have a low pelvic bone and DSs head was in the 99th percentile and he was 9 pounds. I'm not sure how long early labor would have been if I hadn't had the intervention and water breaking, but I'm glad I did because of the meconium and ultimately how long the pushing lasted, otherwise it could have ended in a more emergency situation with the baby in distress. I also was completely exhausted and probably would not have been able to push at all had I not had that night in the hospital with the epidural. I would check in with your doc or the hospital every 12 hours if your contractions are intense and steady. I'm no expert but maybe ask them about when they would consider intervention and think about how you feel about it. I didn't expect it to be so crazy and end the way it did so it threw me for a little bit of a loop. In the end I got a healthy baby and, although recovery was a little tough after such a long haul, everything turned out great.

MamaRoni · February 2016

Basically everything she said! Good luck

flowerintherain · February 2016

Some women are in prodromal labor for days or even weeks! But it sounds like you're progressing...slowly, but progressing none the less. Just keep an eye on your contractions and don't hesitate to go back. Sounds like your baby will be here anytime now. Good luck.

GinnyJ2012 · February 2016

I had it with my first for 4 days but wasn't progressing. My water broke on its own and then I progressed to a 3, but was stuck. After an epidural I relaxed and made it to 10 within a few hours, and was able to sleep. Pushed for almost 4 hours and baby was there! Hope things start moving for you.

PugsandKisses · February 2016

I had it every day for 2-3 hours at 230pm like clock work. This lasted almost 3 weeks. It. Was. Exhausting. However, I had a scheduled C/Sand never went into labor.

Good luck, you are getting there.

smount2011 · February 2016

Well, ready on day 4 and I'm already exhausted, both physically and emotionally. Just when I think it's time to go (strong, wind sucking contractions 5 minutes apart for an hour) and we get the car loaded, my contractions die again and leave me a tired wiped out mess.

flowerintherain · February 2016

@charley15 oh man, I thought for sure you would've progressed and be in active labor by now!! I know it sucks, but the end is near..it's gotta be, right?
I read this birth story yesterday that reminded me of your prodromal labor. It was this lady that had a vbac home birth and ended up laboring for something crazy like 58 hours! It's long, but a good read.

https://www.pnmag.com/h-s/my-homebirth-vbac-the-birth-of-rebecca/

smount2011 · February 2016

flowerintherain said:

@charley15 oh man, I thought for sure you would've progressed and be in active labor by now!! I know it sucks, but the end is near..it's gotta be, right?
I read this birth story yesterday that reminded me of your prodromal labor. It was this lady that had a vbac home birth and ended up laboring for something crazy like 58 hours! It's long, but a good read.

https://www.pnmag.com/h-s/my-homebirth-vbac-the-birth-of-rebecca/

That article made me cry. This whole process is draining.

RissKay · February 2016

Ain't it fun? Ugh. I've had it for about a week now. It's SUPER fun......... Not.

I'm sorry. I even had my OB sweep membranes and everything... nada. Kid just isn't ready yet, unfortunately. /sigh

kitteh81 · February 2016

I've never experienced prodromal labor before myself, but i did have a pretty long first labor due to a sunny side up baby, and I have heard from multiple sources that prodromal labor is most often caused by fetal malpositioning. Maybe some SpinningBabies can help?

https://spinningbabies.com/start/in-labor/what-to-do-when-in-labor/

https://www.houseunseen.com/2012/06/malpositioned-babies-and-prodromal.html?m=1

skruhmin · February 2016

Ds1 I had it for 2-3 weeks before my water broke at 37.6. I've started with this one right at 36w - every time i move around I have either bh or real ctx. I'm hoping I'm not in for the long haul with this one because it totally messes with your mind and it's exhausting. But I am prepared for the long haul just because I've btdt. It's just what my body does.

MamaRoni · February 2016

I'm probably going to have a very UO here.... but u really should go back to your hospital or birthing center. While it is certainly true some labors just take forever.... some stall for no reason... and some never really start....
Its a little scary that you've made it to 6 cm and now have had 3 days of no progress. I'd definitely demand to be rechecked... put on the monitor... and baby's position verified. ESPECIALLY living 30 min from hospital .

I absolutely know u hate the idea of being stuck in bed and even the possibility of birth interventions you didnt plan on.... I'd hate that too.... but I think it's time.

paytonpedro · February 2016

MamaRoni said:

I'm probably going to have a very UO here.... but u really should go back to your hospital or birthing center. While it is certainly true some labors just take forever.... some stall for no reason... and some never really start....
Its a little scary that you've made it to 6 cm and now have had 3 days of no progress. I'd definitely demand to be rechecked... put on the monitor... and baby's position verified. ESPECIALLY living 30 min from hospital .

I absolutely know u hate the idea of being stuck in bed and even the possibility of birth interventions you didnt plan on.... I'd hate that too.... but I think it's time.

I actually kind of agree with you. 6cm is kind of a lot. I mean, doctors and midwives know more than me, but I would definitely ask for the baby to be checked just to make sure you didn't stall because he/she is in distress. Do you still feel normal movement?

I've also been having prodromal labor for 3ish weeks, but I'm only 2cm and 50% effaced.

smount2011 · February 2016

I already went back the following day and saw my doctor and in 36ish hours I regressed back from a 6 to 4 Because my contractions had become irregular. He said that can happen just like it does after pregnancy- once contractions are gone we manage to close from a 10 back to a pinhole.

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