Aline started having contractions around noon Thursday. By 5PM they were three minutes apart though not overly painful. We went to the General anyway just to see what the’d say. An exam around 7PM showed she was one centimeter dilated and about 50% effaced. A good start but not enough for admittance. We went home.
By midnight, the pain was enough that we went in a second time. But another exam showed she was no further along. The hospital had a sofa bed in a lounge for expectant moms in early labour so Aline took some morphine for the pain and we took advantage of the lounge staying the night.
By Friday morning she was 2-3 centimeters dilated and still about 50% effaced but contractions had slowed to about 10 minutes apart. Progress but still not enough for admittance. Aline was able to get a little sleep during the day but had trouble keeping food and water down and threw most of it back up. Friday evening the staff (mostly friendly and helpful though very young) rehydrated her with an intravenous drip, gave her some more morphine for the pain and we stayed a second night.
Saturday morning she had another exam and this time she was 3-4 cm dilated and 75% effaced with contractions still anywhere from five to ten minutes apart. Aline was tired and cranky and wanting a shower to freshen up. So with no indication that things woudl move along any quicker in the near future – we headed home around 10AM.
Its’ now 6PM and she’s suffered through 60 hours of early labour.
I wish there was some way I could take over the pain for her.
Come on little one. Give your mum a break. Stop your dawdling and move along!
