Scared of losing my homebirth

[skylarsmom08]

Okay, so I'm a little pessimistic at this point and just want to get my worries out of my head.
I'm 40+4 with my 2nd. We are planning a home waterbirth and I want this to work out more than anything. (I had a BC birth with #1)
So I know I'm not technically past due (42 weeks) but I really feel like he's not going to come before then.
I have been researching Pitocin inductions just to be prepared if my plans do change.
I'm super against hospitals and giving birth in a hospital and just don't feel comfortable with it but I know that that decision might be out my hands.
My question is have any of you, who planned a homebirth, had to be induced at the hospital? If so, any recommendations? Were you still able to go natural besides the pit? Does the doctor have to break your water?
I don't think i'm going to be an ideal patient if I have to go and plan on sticking up for what I want, but I also know that in the moment best intentions don't always hold up.
Hopefully I'm just hormonal and he comes soon and none of this is an issue but I feel like I should mentally prepare myself for all possibilities.
TIA

[Pookietooth]

What makes you so sure that your baby will be so late? Have you tried all the home induction methods (sex, nipple stimulation, etc.)? to you.

[skylarsmom08]

I've tried everything. I know that he'll come when he's ready, but for some reason I just can't see it actually happening. (I think I'm just done mentally). I've been having contractions (and strong ones) for 3 weeks now (about 3-4 hours almost every night--they get to the point where I almost call my midwife and then they stop) and I'm only 1-2 and 50%. Frustration is setting in bigtime!
I also think I'm so set on a homebirth that I feel like I'm doomed to have to go to the hospital. It's just really negative thinking that I can't seem to stop. So I figured I might as well prepare myself and maybe just accepting it (hospital) as a possibility will be helpful to me.

[ShwarmaQueen]

Are you doing EPO internally (nightly) and orally?

I'm also nervous about missing my HBAC window.

[prancie]

I don't think you have anything to worry about at this point. You are still well within your limit and having all the signs of impending labor. Seriously, relax, you are more likely to delay labor if you worry too much.

[chi_mama]

I was feeling the same way you are now last month. DS2 did come at home though... I did a few acupuncture sessions, EPO and finally castor oil at 41 weeks. He came really fast too, even though I was only 1 cm a few days earlier... I think all that warm-up labor really prepared things.

[Kidzaplenty]

From someone that planned a HB and ended up with a hospital induction, here is my advice.

If you are going in to the hospital, you are likely going to need pit. Have them start it out at "2" and go up by "2" every half hour. It is as slow as it can be, but it only took to six to get my own body to kick in, then I had them turn off the pit and I took over from there. (They may not like it, but it is easily done.)

They may choose to break your water. That is your choice. I did finally allow it when I could not get the baby to sit on the cervix with the water intact.

Also, I suggest you read carefully the general consent forms. The basic consent forms give your consent for them to do anything and everything THEY feel is necessary, including episiotomy, c/s, immediate cord clamping, shots, 3rd stage management, etc. They SAY they will discuss these things with you, but they don't always do so, and your consent forms give them the right to do what they think is best or easiest for them.

Personally, I created modified consent forms (which is perfectly acceptable) that listed specifically what I would consent to and even listed things I refused consent to. This saved me from a c/s as well as an episiotomy.

I don't think you have anything to worry about, but, I think it is better to be prepaired. I am already working on my consent forms that I will be taking with me (in case of hospital birth again).

[peaceful_mama]

My baby went to 41 weeks EXACTLY. On the night that I was 40 and 6, I felt *exactly* like you do right now. It was a Thursday night, and my friend was going to walk the mall with me to try to start something, anything.

I was in the van driving to the mall saying "I don't know why I am doing this, it is not going to happen anyway. On Monday, I am going to call my backup and talk to her about inducing because this baby is NOT coming."

ANd nothing happened at the mall.

At home, I allowed my baby girl to nurse, she asked for the first time in a couple weeks. (She was 21 months)
And within 10 minutes, I was MOANING through ctx!

My baby was born at 9 AM the next morning.

I think I felt so ready to give up in part because DD was 9 days early.

I used EPO with her but did not with DS2 because I was told it wouldn't do anything anyway, even when I used it with DD, my CNM said it would help get the cervix ready but not induce labor....I really don't know why I didn't just do it anyway, I know I will with a future one if there is one.

DON"T GIVE UP. IT WILL HAPPEN.

[badgerbaby]

My dc#2 was born at 41 weeks exactly. I had an appt with mw on 40w6d and let her strip my membranes because I had the same concern. I had the little guy at home the next day.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by Kidzaplenty

I don't think you have anything to worry about, but, I think it is better to be prepaired.

I agree - no need to worry yet, but it is always good to be prepared.

I went to 41W4D with DS. I hadn't even been having any BH!! I was starting to think my uterus didn't work! I decided to have my membranes stripped. Ctrx started 2 hours later, & I was feeling the urge to push less than 5 hours after that!

[ACsMom]

So, how are you doing today? It's been 2 days since you last posted on this thread, and I'm wondering if maybe you had the baby? If so, I hope it was a beautiful home birth! If not....how about some relaxation/visualization, stuff like that? Anything to keep you from stressing (too much) about when it's going to happen. With my first, I'm convinced it was the stress about missing my window that caused the delay and kept labor from progressing.

Anyway....let us know how you are, when you can!

[phatchristy]

Hey PM me if you want some more info, I'm in your area. That is, if baby hasn't made his/her arrival!