Is my body broken?

[micah_mae_]

Hey everyone, I guess I'm just feeling a little stressed out right now. I've been dilating since 32 weeks and I'm now: 4 cm dilated, 90% effaced, and 0 station with an anterior, squishy, stretchy cervix.
Why am I not in labor? Today is my due date and no one even expected me to get this far. I've been having cramps but hey, what else is new?
I guess now I'm just worried that my body can't go into labor on it's own or something. What if there's something wrong with me?

[Phoebe]

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with you!! Don't dare doubt yourself.
Today is your due date...big deal!! No seriously, a due date is just an estimation and had you not had all of that information you probably would not be so down on yourself now. It doesn't matter at all what "everyone" expected. It is a grand thing (albeit a bit frustrating to wait) to go past your due date. Your baby will come when it is ready.
What you are feeling right now is the main problem with finding out all of that information. It is really not an indicator of ANYTHING. Truly. What it does mean is that you are almost half way there and when things do kick into gear for you that MAY mean an easier go of it!

Try and relax...I know easier said than done. But being tense and doubting yourself is not going to ease you into labor any sooner that's for sure.

You are perfect!!

Had to add...
With my first I was sealed tight even at 42 weeks. I tried to let it roll off my back but people kept asking how much I was dialated. I felt much like you feel now...
Never again. I'll never again get an internal exam prelabor. Last baby my midwife kind of insisted when she was positive I was complete because I was not moving on and I was in disbelief that I was ready to push. She wanted to give me "proof" that I was done and ready to move on to the next step (was a VBAC so I was new at that part!).

I promise you'll go into labor so very soon!!!
I promise!!

Amy

[madeofstardust]

i feel similarly to you. my due date was yesterday, i've been 2 centimeters dilated for about a month now with no new progress, save for a lower baby. i'm not sure how effaced i am or what station baby is at, i'm UP'ing and haven't quite figured out to tell that for myself. but still! i feel like my body is so ready to have this baby, i just have to keep reminding myself that it's not about me at all anymore. this is my first real lesson in patience as a parent, i'm sure there will be many many more that are much more challenging than waiting!
our babies will be here soon, they come when they're ready.

[micah_mae_]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with you!! Don't dare doubt yourself.
Today is your due date...big deal!! No seriously, a due date is just an estimation and had you not had all of that information you probably would not be so down on yourself now. It doesn't matter at all what "everyone" expected. It is a grand thing (albeit a bit frustrating to wait) to go past your due date. Your baby will come when it is ready.
What you are feeling right now is the main problem with finding out all of that information. It is really not an indicator of ANYTHING. Truly. What it does mean is that you are almost half way there and when things do kick into gear for you that MAY mean an easier go of it!

Try and relax...I know easier said than done. But being tense and doubting yourself is not going to ease you into labor any sooner that's for sure.

You are perfect!!

Had to add...
With my first I was sealed tight even at 42 weeks. I tried to let it roll off my back but people kept asking how much I was dialated. I felt much like you feel now...
Never again. I'll never again get an internal exam prelabor. Last baby my midwife kind of insisted when she was positive I was complete because I was not moving on and I was in disbelief that I was ready to push. She wanted to give me "proof" that I was done and ready to move on to the next step (was a VBAC so I was new at that part!).

I promise you'll go into labor so very soon!!!
I promise!!

Amy

Thank you so much for your kind words, I've been feeling so much like the watched pot lately I haven't even been feeling like a woman. Your words made me tear up!
I tried not to give myself a deadline, but I was so sure I would go early that I bought us plane tickets home on December 17. DS has to be at least 7 days old before he can fly so he has to be born by at least December 10. I won't let them induce me before December 8 (I'll be 42+4). I feel awful though, like I'm putting a deadline on him.
*sigh*
I guess I just need to relax.
Thank you.

[Super~Single~Mama]

from the Jan DDC, you're baby will come when he's ready!

[Phoebe]

You have PLENTY of time before your travel date. PLENTY of time!! You do realize that you could go into labor TONIGHT don't you???!!! It is so so so hard to wait. I'm not due until Sunday and I have never gone into labor prior to my due date, and neither did my mom, so I expect to see Sunday come and go. After that it's a real nail biter. I know how you feel about a dead line. I plan homebirths and it's also a VBAC so I don't like for it to go on too long. I don't want to push that 42 week mark. I don't want to get into all that extra testing. I jsut want it to be smooth.

Remember...
PLENTY OF TIME!!!

Oh and...
RELAX!!!

[nerdymom]

mama I was almost two weeks late with my LO, labored for 42 hours, and didn't make as much progress as your body already has! I know the prodromal labor sucks, but see how it IS helping you!

Just hang in there. You can do it!

[hippi@hrt]

so nice to hear im not the only one Im 40w and 1d today i have been in pre labor for 2 weeks now and currently 5 cent dilated 90 effaced and my cervix are practically looking at me.my vagina has had a runny noes for
2 weeks + and have had bloody show and all . 2 different times i had my midwife come out as my contractions were lasting for 2 hours pulse at every5 min 1 minute in length.then they just stopped.YEAH!! not!
This is a whole different ball game for me ,as this is my 3rd baby and my two older ones were born in the hospital .I would be at home have contractions go in i would be dilated and when no progress happend they would give me pitocin. I would go in knowing i come out w/a baby.So this one iam having at home with a midwife and feeling depressed that i would labor and it would'nt continue. Its a lot of waiting out and trying. I think i skipped over this part in getting ready for my home birth,in mentally preparing for this part.Im am doing it all RR tea, Primrose,walking and doing the tango with DH.and im still not holding my baby girl!! so I feel your PAIN.everybody's advice is to relax think about something else.Yes better said then done as my room is a walking reminder that baby is not her all her pink stuff surrounds me !!