I truly thought I was having a baby last night. I have been having contractions since Thursday 5:30 PM. Friday morning they were 8-10 minutes apart and I didn't sleep at all Thursday night because of them. Then around 11 AM on Friday... they just stopped! I spoke to a midwife and she said that's fairly normal and that this could go on for a few days.
I was getting contractions off and on all day Friday. I went to bed on Friday night and Saturday morning they were less regular again and more mild. Andrew and I went for a 2 mile walk through Holland Park with Maeby. We walked almost a mile to brunch and back with Bernie and Alison, and then to top it off, we went on an afternoon walk to Peter Jones in Sloane Square... just about another 2 miles.
During the Peter Jones walk (around 4 PM) I started getting regular contractions. We got home around 6 PM and we have a nifty app on the ipad to track them - so I started. They were about 7 minutes apart at this point and lasting 30 seconds.
Andrew made me dinner and the contractions were getting down to 5-6 minutes apart! I took a nice bath after dinner and they were getting as close as 4 and a half minutes apart, averaging 37 seconds long, and getting stronger, so I called Labor and Delivery because I was sure this was it and I wanted some advice. Looking back, the guy I spoke to was probably just about to end his shift because he hardly asked me any questions - just told me to come in and get assessed.
So Andrew packed a bag (because it was 9 PM at this time so we were preparing for a long night) and he grabbed my bag, and off we went. We walked to the hospital to try and speed things up. The contractions were still getting stronger and were still about 4 minutes apart.
When we got to the hospital, the contractions started getting super intense - about 3 minutes apart lasting almost 50 seconds. Even though it wasn't that busy, it still took the midwife on duty about an hour and a half to see me. In that time, the contractions, although getting stronger and still lasting 50 seconds, were getting further apart (averaging 6 minutes).
When I was talking to the midwife, I could tell she didn't think I was in labor. Because the contractions were getting longer apart, she said she wasn't obligated to do an internal exam unless it was a maternal request. I requested it. She was super nice... said I was about 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. BLAST! Then she said labor could continue and get stronger, or it could just stop. She wouldn't say which way she thought it would go but she didn't expect me to sleep that night because of the intensity of the contractions.
Well, we got home, I was still having fairly regular contractions but was so exhausted from all my walking that I passed out not too long after. I woke up a few times to the contractions, but they weren't close enough to keep me awake. I slept from about midnight to 7:30 AM. My contractions are still really intense today, but now are few and far between.
THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! I really thought I was having a baby today, but it doesn't look like that will be happening now... when I read other women's experiences online, it seems like my stats are not promising for an early delivery.
Andrew and I went on another 2 mile walk through Holland Park this morning... I hope that things speed up again. It's so disappointing, all this starting and stopping. I keep getting mentally prepared to have the baby. Everything aches now from almost 3 days of contractions - from my knees up to my belly button. The contractions themselves are intense, but not crippling because you know it will end. It gets mentally exhausting though because it's kind of like being punched in the arm, in the same spot, over and over - each punch doesn't really hurt that much, but the combo of hitting the same spot over and over starts REALLY hurting.
I really hope this doesn't last much longer.
I was getting contractions off and on all day Friday. I went to bed on Friday night and Saturday morning they were less regular again and more mild. Andrew and I went for a 2 mile walk through Holland Park with Maeby. We walked almost a mile to brunch and back with Bernie and Alison, and then to top it off, we went on an afternoon walk to Peter Jones in Sloane Square... just about another 2 miles.
During the Peter Jones walk (around 4 PM) I started getting regular contractions. We got home around 6 PM and we have a nifty app on the ipad to track them - so I started. They were about 7 minutes apart at this point and lasting 30 seconds.
Andrew made me dinner and the contractions were getting down to 5-6 minutes apart! I took a nice bath after dinner and they were getting as close as 4 and a half minutes apart, averaging 37 seconds long, and getting stronger, so I called Labor and Delivery because I was sure this was it and I wanted some advice. Looking back, the guy I spoke to was probably just about to end his shift because he hardly asked me any questions - just told me to come in and get assessed.
So Andrew packed a bag (because it was 9 PM at this time so we were preparing for a long night) and he grabbed my bag, and off we went. We walked to the hospital to try and speed things up. The contractions were still getting stronger and were still about 4 minutes apart.
When we got to the hospital, the contractions started getting super intense - about 3 minutes apart lasting almost 50 seconds. Even though it wasn't that busy, it still took the midwife on duty about an hour and a half to see me. In that time, the contractions, although getting stronger and still lasting 50 seconds, were getting further apart (averaging 6 minutes).
When I was talking to the midwife, I could tell she didn't think I was in labor. Because the contractions were getting longer apart, she said she wasn't obligated to do an internal exam unless it was a maternal request. I requested it. She was super nice... said I was about 2 cm dilated and 70% effaced. BLAST! Then she said labor could continue and get stronger, or it could just stop. She wouldn't say which way she thought it would go but she didn't expect me to sleep that night because of the intensity of the contractions.
Well, we got home, I was still having fairly regular contractions but was so exhausted from all my walking that I passed out not too long after. I woke up a few times to the contractions, but they weren't close enough to keep me awake. I slept from about midnight to 7:30 AM. My contractions are still really intense today, but now are few and far between.
THIS IS SO FRUSTRATING! I really thought I was having a baby today, but it doesn't look like that will be happening now... when I read other women's experiences online, it seems like my stats are not promising for an early delivery.
Andrew and I went on another 2 mile walk through Holland Park this morning... I hope that things speed up again. It's so disappointing, all this starting and stopping. I keep getting mentally prepared to have the baby. Everything aches now from almost 3 days of contractions - from my knees up to my belly button. The contractions themselves are intense, but not crippling because you know it will end. It gets mentally exhausting though because it's kind of like being punched in the arm, in the same spot, over and over - each punch doesn't really hurt that much, but the combo of hitting the same spot over and over starts REALLY hurting.
I really hope this doesn't last much longer.
Hang in there!! I know this time is tough, but it will be worth it when you hold her in your arms!!!! Xoxo
ReplyDeleteStay calm and carry on, dear! You won't have to wait too long now. Best of luck!!!!!
ReplyDelete