No One Told Me It Would Take Forever!!!! How Long for You?

Updated on July 20, 2009
S.P. asks from Moreno Valley, CA
5 answers

I have been having contractions for over 24 hours. [they just started to hurt but not so bad] and they are very regular. I already lost my mucus plug, and had some spotting. But...its seems too take forever. How long until the real pain comes? [i have already spoke too my doc, and she said too come in when I can't handle the pain] But I didn't know labor could last so long. [I have been having the contractions every five minutes for over 24 hours] But it seems like my body is taking its time with this lol

1 mom found this helpful

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

So What Happened?

It lasted until the next day! I went in for a nst appointment and they admitted me right away! uhg, they didn't give me pitocin or...something. But something els it started with an E. Oh, and I asked for the IV medication...first time around...it worked. Second time around....not so much. The only time the real pain came is when I was about 8 cent dialated...and this over whelming urge to push came along. [hahha the nurse got mad at me] she said dont push but i COULDNT help it...30 seconds later i was a 10! ;) 25 minutes later out came JAYSON! [AND my husband didnt pass out or throw up!]

thanks moms<3

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

It could still take a few more days. Just relax as much as you can. You'll know when to go in when either your water breaks or the pain is just a couple of minutes apart and you can't complete a sentence without screaming. Usually the first baby does take longer. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

M.

answers from Las Vegas on

Unfortunately, labor can last for days. When the pain gets to the point when you feel like you can't take it anymore, you will be close. The painful part, thank goodness is the shortest part. Stay home for as long as you can. The pain will get intense when your contractions are 2-3 min apart. When your water breaks, it will go really fast after that. Hang in there, breathe deeply and walk around. Get in the water too if you need to relax. You're almost there!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

ok you'll probably hate my response, but here goes anyways...
I was actually in labor for over a week, but had no idea. I went in for my 38 week check up and found out I was already 3 cms dilated. Over the next week, I cleaned the house and sat in a v position on the floor with my hips tilted forward as often as I could. I had no pain at this point. Until the day of when I woke up with a sore back. I had all back labor, but it was all very doable. In fact, I was in a chatroom and was talking to some of the other people in there who knew I was preggo and one of the women told me I was in labor... I proceeded to argue with her that there was no way this could be labor! LOL I did listen and call the delivery location and they said yes, I was in labor and there was no mention of pain intensity. They wanted to know only how close the contractions were to one another. So I'm not sure if I understand the whole pain concern. Yes, it will hurt at some point, however I made it to 7.5 cms and I was walking around until about 7. So every woman is different. I got the epidural at that point because I heard the woman next door to me screaming so I thought... check please!!!! I dont' wanna feel it.
Just relax, try walking (A LOT) to speed it up and you can always do what my aunt told me to do that worked... scrub the bathtub like you're trying to get the enamel off of it and then vacuum without the self-propel on. Next morning I was in full labor. So good luck!! :)

OH and another comment about the pitocin...
I had one friend who lost their grandbaby with that stuff... and my best friend lost her only daughter because they gave it to her to stop her labor and the baby died.. stillborn. So AVOID it all costs. You're already in labor and just let your body take care of what it is supposed to. I will say though that they can break your water which will speed things up if you're at that point. Hurts like you know where, so Id advise having the epidural first if you're going that route.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

R.J.

answers from San Diego on

Wheeeeeee FUN :) How exciting!!

It can take days...usually doesn't though. Don't you hate that ambiguous "when the pain is too much" thing? For ME...the best description of when the pain really gets going, are the cramps right before you have to run to the bathroom with diarrhea. When you start feeling diarrhea "ugh! Ouch!" would bend over double (if you could, but have got this passenger in the way). It's time to head to the hospital.

Until then...try and get some sleep.

* * *
Just a note on pitocin: It can stop a labor hot or cold. Meaning, that a naturally progressing labor can just get "stuck" where it is...or the utereus just sort of twitches and spasms but the contractions stop. It's also SUPER painful. In nursing/med school we get taught to avoid it whenever possible (aka, only use it to induce, not when someone's already in labor...unless as a last step before emergency c-section)...because it caused the uterus to start contracting in EVERY direction, and not just down. Aka...it causes a really ineffective labor, that usually takes longer and hurts a lot more.

This isn't what USED to be taught, and it's not what is practiced by a lot of nurses (who are the notorious givers of 'automatic' or 'procedural' pitocin doses). If you have any choice in the matter whatsoever, avoid it.

Yay. I know. One MORE thing to think about. <grinning> That's okay, though, because as soon as things do start hurting you won't actually be thinking about anything. Even if 50 people started parading through your room doing the conga :) You'll bark orders like a drill sgt, or they won't even matter.

Congratulations love.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.H.

answers from Los Angeles on

It will all be over with and you'll be holding your precious baby by this time tomorrow!

Blessings to you and your family.

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions

Related Searches