Ow...pelvic pressure

[Hezzie]

Well, today is my due date! I want to say that the baby dropped because I have so much pressure and pain in my pelvis that it hurts to walk without holding my belly and moaning with every step. I've also had some mild cramping, like menstrual cramps coming on but they're not regular. I can feel his/her head waaaaay down there, too. At the same time, I'm still getting kicked in the diaphragm/lower rib cage. Is the baby stretching? MW and U/S tech think I might be having a "long" baby. Not a big baby, just very long. I was almost 23" and DH was 21" and he was born 3 weeks early, so I wouldn't be surprised.

Does anyone have any suggestions for dealing with pelvic unpleasantness? I know it's good because that means I'm moving towards labor and I want this baby OUT, but it's impeding my ability to function adequately. I'm afraid to do the "hands on all fours butt in the air" trick to take pressure because I know the baby is positioned properly and doesn't need to turn, and I don't want to do anything to slide him/her off my pelvis. Guess I just have to grin and bear it, eh?

[writteninkursive]

Oh, I empathize completely! My little man has his head firmly pushing against my tailbone. I can barely walk, much less get comfortable enough to sleep! My hips are killing me!!!

As for the kicking in the ribs, sounds a lot like my first baby. She had dropped at 38 weeks and her feet were still securely in my ribcage. She was 21.5 inches at birth. I find that it was probably her personality more than her length that contributed to the rib kicking at that point. She's always been reallllly active, she was one of those babies that can NOT be swaddled without kicking until the swaddling comes off. She's now the feistiest 3-year-old! It's amazing how much you can tell by how they move inside of you! And if your baby feels spread out inside and is sleeping, chances are he/she will sleep like that too!

I hope you get your baby out soon! Have you tried Cohosh?

[Hezzie]

Originally Posted by writteninkursive

Have you tried Cohosh?

No, I haven't tried anything yet. I'm going to see my MW on Thursday and discuss natural induction methods with her. I have been taking EPO and at last check (2 weeks ago) I was 1 cm/80% effaced, so it's been helping. Our local store sells the blue cohosh, but not the black but there's some other places I can look. It's expensive!

I know what you mean about the sleeping thing. My niece was in a butt-out-in-front breech position and they had to do a version to turn her head-down on my sister. She's now 11 and still sleeps with her feet tucked under her, butt in the air!

[Turquesa]

Maternity belts provide temporary relief for me, but they don't work as well as they used to when they're competing with that little head trying to poke out! I mean, good grief! If they want out so badly, why don't they just start the contractions already???

I literally feel your pain, mama!

[writteninkursive]

The cohosh really works! I got a bottle of the tincture forms of each for $11.00 a piece at a local organic foods store. I have seen them priced more expensive than that, but you can probably do some digging and find them cheaper. You just mix 10 drops of each one together and into a little bit of water. It smells and tastes very... earthy. But it'll get the contractions going if you're ready (and at 40 weeks, you're probably pretty close!).
I tried everything to induce labor with my first baby (castor oil and red raspberry leaf tea and all that) and the only thing that worked was eating a ton of food (it was Christmas night) and apparently that kicked me into labor. And that one is virtually free, so maybe try it first! :
Good luck and hoping to see your announcement soon!