41 weeks today - 2nd pregnancy??

[grdngdss]

I know normal pregnancies can be 38 - 42 weeks but I'm 41 weeks today with my second son and there are NO signs of labor being imminent. With DS1, he was born between my O date prediction and LMP date prediction - 40w 2d by O date. I had cramping and lots and lots of discharge with him, so I knew labor was gearing up.

This pregnancy has been completely different. Had a breech situation, resolved at 39 weeks. At last weeks' check he was still head down and engaged in my pelvis but I haven't felt the same cervical pressure and it still feels like he's a little "off" center. I was 4 cm dilated on the outside, 1.5 up near the top of the cervix. I almost wish I hadn't gone for the check.

My midwife is great and she keeps insisting it will happen when it happens, but I'm really getting anxious as I've already extended MIL's visit and only have childcare for a limited time for my older son. Also, next weekend, all the "staff" midwives will be out of town at a conference, leaving 2 new (not officially on staff) midwives to cover the weekend. That makes me nervous, too.

I'm on the fence about non-natural induction techniques and would love to hear thoughts from others who have been in a similar situation. Did you just wait it out? Did you go from no signs of impending labor to full on labor? I do accupressure points and am considering acupuncture as well as a membrane sweep, though I hear they are painful and don't often work. Any other ideas??

Thanks,

Christine

[XanaduMama]

Maybe try a chiro adjustment to help get baby into a better position? If you feel like he's a bit "off" I think you should listen to your intuition, and IME many overdue babies are malpositioned, even by a little bit. In which case, the natural induction techniques aren't going to help, because you need the pressure of the head on the cervix to get things going.

Webster technique adjustments can work wonders. You can find a provider here: http://www.icpa4kids.org/locator/index.php

[Peony]

BTDT. My first two were born at 38 weeks, DS at almost 41. So although he hadn't been in there *that* long it felt like i had been pg forever. He came when he was ready. No signs of impending labor, just woke up one day and there it was.

[mama to 2 girls]

's I know how you feel.....dd1 was induced in the hospital at 40W 3D....dd2 came on her own at about 38-39W...and when I got to 41 weeks with ds I started to get frustrated and worried...I would have been risked out of a homebirth at 42 weeks (law here) so (and this is just MY opinion) my m/w wanted to do a membrane sweep because I was not dilated at all or even effaced but I felt that it was too invasive so I went ahead and did accupressure (I actually went and had someone do it). I am a BIG believer in letting babies come when they are ready but I just had a feeling that he was ready.....

I went for my appt. at 3:30 pm and started cntrxs at about 5:30pm and he was here at 12:20am......and BOY was he ready....all 10+lbs. of him!

FWIW if it came down to it this was my list of what order I would have tried to give him a little nudge.

Accupressure
Accupuncture
Membrane Sweep
Herbs

[grdngdss]

Update

Thanks for the replies. Went for the appt. and BP is really high - 153 over something... very high for me. Now dilated to a 3 and she stripped the membranes. Fingers crossed that it moves things along.

On bedrest until Wednesday a.m. to see if it goes down - was running around in 110 degree heat today. If it's still high, we'll look at AROM. Not ideal, but I don't want to get to the point where I'm too high to labor & push. I'm bummed because I was really hoping to labor in water.

[kltroy]

Ooh I hope your baby decides it's time to be born soon and/or that your BP comes down quickly! With my baby #2 I had NO signs of anything at 41 weeks. The next morning I woke up with some "different" contractions, and my baby (a VBAC) was born at 3:26 AM the following morning, so 41+2.

Hang in there - your baby WILL come soon. Remember... nobody stays pregnant forever

[XanaduMama]

Honestly, I'd try everything else before AROM. Especially if baby is still high or malpositioned...but in any case, it puts you on the clock and can't be taken back. I'd go for cohosh or castor oil or something first.

And FTR, you can totally labor in water after ROM. I even did during my hospital birth with ds, and had a lovely water birth with dd after ROM to start labor (both times). Water doesn't enter the vagina--they've done studies. Just keep everything else out of there!

[mamatolevi]

Originally Posted by XanaduMama

Honestly, I'd try everything else before AROM. Especially if baby is still high or malpositioned...but in any case, it puts you on the clock and can't be taken back. I'd go for cohosh or castor oil or something first.

And FTR, you can totally labor in water after ROM. I even did during my hospital birth with ds, and had a lovely water birth with dd after ROM to start labor (both times). Water doesn't enter the vagina--they've done studies. Just keep everything else out of there!

I totally agree with this. AROM puts you on a clock and some drs have a faster clock than others. You'd be better off trying foley catheter, then pit (or cervidil if you're not a vbac) before AROM. ESP if baby is still high up.

As my first doula said about water and ROM... the vagina is not a straw!

[cappuccinosmom]

My first was born at 39 weeks + a few days. My second was 42 weeks 3 days. Yes it was miserable but I'm glad I waited it out. Labor with him went from 0-60 in about half an hour, and the total labor was 4 hours, to the minute. Water didn't break until I was pushing.