We’re at 41+6 over here and I’m finding all the short sounding labors pretty comforting. My mom’s dead and no one seems to remember specifics, but I had the impression of much longer labors being the norm, and I’ve no way of finding out how exactly her labors were timed and defined.
I’m really hoping today’s the day for us. I think I’m having “real” contractions, but honestly don’t know. There seems to be rigidity of the whole uterus and some aching that comes with it of the lower back, but nothing in there that I would identify as a peak, nothing like a sensation that wraps itself around to the back as I have so often heard described. They don’t seem regular but I don’t think I’m noticing them enough to know when each one is happening.
I really wish I had a turkey timer popping out or a bell going off. I hope I’ll know when I’m “really” in labor–but then again, I’m hoping this is it. I’m still comfortable (actually even more since he dropped) and still love being pregnant, but the postmaturity and talk of induction really worries me, and everyone’s damned antsy to see this boy. I want it to be today, so I’m finding all these stories of labors lasting less than a day a hugely hopeful boost.
Good luck Tortuga! I know, one way or another, they do all eventually come out, but at this point it feels like it will never happen and the waiting is enough to drive you crazy. Every twinge, every pang and you think “Is this it?”, and there are twinges and pangs aplenty
As they say on the baby boards elv elv elv
(easy labour vibes)
I think something really is starting/has started, but I have no idea-- if this really is it-- when I would mark the start from. So I wouldn’t be able to answer the OP’s question except with a ballpark. Hopefully it will end up a small ballpark, like a little league field in a poor town…
And the outcome was: It happened again. I was induced on Tuesday because my blood pressure went screwy. This time I was in labour for 14 hours before having an emergency c-section. That kind of sucked, but fortunately cuteness ensued (also penis - it’s a boy!)
Obviously, childbirth is a very individual, unique experience; I guess I had a
pre-conceived idea that a first birth would be long and difficult, and since that wasn’t my experience, wanted to hear from others. We women are strong, aren’t we? So why the hell aren’t we ruling the world?
First one, I started feeling contractions between 10:00 pm & midnight, and went to the hospital, all excited. Silly me, I was only dilated 1 cm. I wandered the halls with my husband, mom & MIL in tow, but nothing happened. Around 8:00 am we gave up and went back home. Around lunchtime, I found out what REAL contractions felt like- a red-hot poker up the hey-hey. I remember screaming at my husband that I knew the kids next door smoked pot, and GO GET ME SOME!!! And I don’t get high anymore… Went back to the hospital, set a lovely epidural and birthed Thing 1 around 5:00 pm.
Second one, I woke up in labor at around 7:00 am, and woke my husband & broke the news. We quickly dressed and drove to the hospital, and Thing 2 was born at lunchtime. So fast I didn’t even get any good IV drugs prior to the epidural.
So, the first one was about 12 hours of light or pre-labor and 5 hours of no-shit labor, and the second was less than 6 hours start to finish.
Less than 3 with my first, over 20 with my second. And like Lynn, I got the pitocen treatment, I highly recommend you avoid it at all costs, it actually took the pains from agonizing to unbearable. I didn’t have an epidural with either (OH, I wanted it, but the docs pulled all that “oh, it’s too soon, oh wait, now it’s too late” crap on me).
1st: Went into labor on a Tuesday afternoon, admitted to L&D on Wednesday night, had him 1am Friday…so like 50 hours or something. Had Pit, but just took forever. Baby wasn’t in any distress.
I had an OB, and he never even brought up c-sec as long as the baby was ok (which he was) and I was willing to keep laboring. (which I was)
I was at the dr, I was 2 weeks late. He said I was 3 cm. Stupidly he admitted me to the hospital. This was 7 pm. So by 5 am nothing had happened, so they induced me. Nothing until 11 am, when I went to 4cm and the pain started.
I then asked for an epidural. They claimed they “couldn’t find” the epidural team (for two hours) hdiing in the hospital supposedly.
By then the pain was 1 minute, the relief 1 minute.
At 1 the epidural happened. I pushed a few times and by 3 pm he was out. So I will say technically 4 hours of labor.
Forgot to add- all my “labor” was my body moving Thing 1 & Thing 2 down the internal passages pretty much without my help- when they finally said “push” and I did, it only took 3 good pushes to shoot them out!
And pitocin was the only thing that unlocked my “I’m-at-1-cm-and-I’m-not-fucking-budging” cervix. But I also had epidurals both times.
I was in labour 4 hours with twins 1st July 2012. One of my daughters had a stroke and came out with a gash on her face. Abby has severe brain damage and cerebral palsy. I dont want pity, as my life isnt sad nor am I depressed.
Labor started around noon on Saturday.
It wasn’t bad, just a little annoying.
By six it was becoming uncomfortable.
By 2am Sunday I was going to the hospital, in quite a bit of pain.
The hospital kept sending me home, I kept coming back.
Finally around Monday midnight I told them I was not leaving and the baby one way or the other was coming out TODAY!
Around 3am I finally got an epidural.
My son was taken by c-section just before 1pm on Tuesday.
I had the easiest pregnancy.
Who knew the labor would be so bad?
