My Firstborn’s Birth Story: 4 Days of Prodromal Labor, Sent Home Three Times

A Journey of Waiting: The Start of Labor

There’s something profoundly sacred about birth stories. Perhaps it’s the way they are rooted in both the ethereal and the tangible—a merging of anticipation and the raw power of bringing life into the world. My firstborn’s birth was no different, filled with emotions that flowed like the gentle tides before a storm.

Before experiencing labor myself, childbirth felt like a distant mystery. It wasn’t until the contractions began that I realized how little I truly understood about the journey that lay ahead.

At 38 weeks and 6 days, my world shifted. What had been consistent Braxton Hicks contractions throughout the final weeks of my pregnancy became something far stronger, more insistent. These contractions kept me awake all night, and by morning, the first sign of impending labor—a bloody show—presented itself. With excitement swelling, I prepared for what I thought would be the swift onset of active labor.

Prodromal Labor: The Waiting Game

But active labor didn’t come. Instead, I found myself caught in the unpredictable and unrelenting rhythm of prodromal labor. It is a kind of labor often misunderstood and rarely given the recognition it deserves. The contractions were real, painful, and persistent—but my body was not yet ready for birth.

For the next four days, my husband and I made repeated trips to the hospital, each visit filled with the hope that this time I would be admitted, that my body would finally be ready to bring my baby into the world. But after hours of timing contractions that grew closer together, we were sent home, time and again.

Prodromal labor is a deeply challenging experience, often dismissed by medical professionals as “early labor” or “false labor.” But for mothers like me, it’s real. It’s exhausting, both physically and emotionally, as contractions continue without progress. I felt caught in a loop—my body laboring without moving forward.

The Toll of Days Without Rest

By the second night, fatigue had wrapped itself around me like a dense fog. The contractions, though regular and intense, only yielded 1 cm of dilation. I was disheartened—how could I possibly reach 10 cm when even one centimeter took eternity and so much pain?

In the hospital, a kind nurse urged me to accept a morphine shot to rest. It was a difficult decision for me, someone who had braved through pregnancy without medication. But the exhaustion was too much, and I knew I needed the strength for the coming days.

Yet, even after this brief respite, the labor continued without much progress. My body was working hard, but still, I remained at only 2 cm the next day. The days blurred together as contractions gripped me, while time moved in slow motion.

The Long-Awaited Shift

It wasn’t until the third afternoon, after another hospital visit, that the news I had longed for finally arrived. My cervix had dilated to a “stretchy 6 cm.” Relief washed over me like a wave. I was going to stay. I was going to meet my baby.

From there, everything moved swiftly. I requested an epidural, desperate for some relief after days of endless labor. It allowed me to finally rest, and in what felt like no time at all, I had reached 9 cm.

The moment of birth was just around the corner.

The Arrival of My Baby

With each push, my focus narrowed entirely to my baby. I had been told there were traces of meconium in my amniotic fluid, so I pushed with a fierce urgency, determined to meet her and ensure her safety.

Finally, at the cusp of midnight, her head crowned, and she slipped into the world with a loud, clear cry. In that instant, everything stopped—the days of waiting, the exhaustion, the uncertainty. She was here, and it was all worth it.

The doctor placed her on my chest for skin-to-skin contact, and time seemed to stand still. My baby—the one who had lived inside me for months, hearing my heartbeat from within—was finally in my arms.

A Message to Mothers Experiencing Prodromal Labor

Looking back on my firstborn’s birth, I now understand the often-overlooked experience of prodromal labor. It can feel like an isolating and bewildering experience, but I hope that by sharing my story, other mothers in similar situations will feel seen and supported.

Remember that even though the journey may be longer and more taxing than anticipated, your body knows what it’s doing. Trust in the process.

Through the struggle, pain, and waiting, I was gifted the most precious thing of all—my baby, born through a process that pushed my endurance to the limits but ultimately revealed a strength I didn’t know I had.

Yunnie is a mother of two who moved from Seattle area, USA, to Singapore to foster her children's relationship with grandparents. Her mothering journey is shaped by Montessori. Yunnie embraces low-tox living, and continually seeks to manage her children's eczema and skin sensitivities that developed due to climate adjustments. Through her writing, she shares authentic moments of her mothering journey, hoping to inspire and grow alongside a like-minded community.

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