Getting frustrated... baby needs to come. (X Posted in Aug. '09 ddc)

[wanderinggypsy]

Ahhh.... where to begin this rant?

I'm only three days past my 'due date'. Already, my midwives are getting pushy about "what to do next".

I do have a history of cholestasis, but it hasn't presented this time (not yet, anyways!). I also tend to make big babies, and this particular one looks like he will be pretty huge.

They have been trying to take away the option of homebirth, and at ten days post-dates, I will be transferred to the care of an ob for induction.

My membranes have been stripped twice. I am still having sex on a regular basis. I am walking lots. I'm spending lots of time on a birth ball. My cervix is favorable, but labor just isn't starting.

What else can I possibly do to get this babe born at home before all hell breaks loose and I end up on a pit drip in hospital??

[kcparker]

This sounds really hippy-dippy, but maybe doing some meditation/visualization/dialogue with the baby would be helpful. Perhaps you can talk with the baby and your body about reasons why things need to start happening, maybe you will get information back that reassures you or gives you peace about it not happening. I think stressing about it is both counterproductive and nearly impossible not to do when you are 'under a deadline'.

With the midwives' okay, you could try other minimally invasive induction techniques interspersed with what you are doing now - pressing acupressure points, nipple stimulation, acupuncture treatments (my acupuncturist has had very good success with helping women avoid medical inductions), castor oil, various herbal tinctures. Sometimes if you are right on the edge, they can tip you into labor, but I think if your body is not ready, they are not going to 'force' you into labor.

Good luck! Who knows, you could be in labor as I am typing this!

[MegBoz]

I was going to suggest pressure points as well.

Additionally, if there were really truly no medical reasons for induction (10 days past 'stupid' due date is NOT a good reason, IMO) then I wouldn't consent to it. (I have no idea about cholestasis & if that might change things for you.)

While you can't force your MWs to come attend your birth at home, you also can NOT be forced to consent to an induction!!!!!! Just because you have to transfer your care to OBs & a hospital birth doesn't mean you have to take the whole 'hospital ride.' You can still refuse induction, labor at home as long as possible before going into the hospital, etc.

& try not to beat yourself up. I went to nearly 42W & was so stressed out (I NEVER even had any BH ctrx - I was starting to think my uterus just didn't work!) My doula emailed me something about stress inhibiting labor starting. While I do believe extreme stress could prevent labor happening, I was MAD that she'd said that to me because I interpreted it to mean I WAS AT FAULT! (My frustration was contributing to labor not starting.) & I didn't appreciate that.

So, I say it's hard to tell yourself "don't be frustrated" but you can at least be more gentle with yourself and not beat yourself up even more over the fact that you are frustrated, ya know??