10/4 Who's still preggo? Let's play

[robbins611]

SO, I'm 41wks 2days and my abdomen feels like it is gonna pop today. How is everyone feeling emotionally? How overdue are ya? What are your plans? What have you tried? Homebirth, birth center, hospital? How are your care partners handling you being overdue?

I'm planning on waiting her out. Emotionally I go between being so excited and feeling blessed, to feeling a bit angry and done. I've tried epo, eggplant, dtd, sweeping membranes, walking, rrl, homeopathics, and a tbs of castor oil...I'm having an hbac and my midwife is being wonderful about me being overdue and is encouraging me to let her come on her time.

Also, what are your guessed baby stats?

I think she'll come Oct 5 before sunrise and will be 9lbs7oz and 21 3/4in and it will be a fast a furious 3 hr labor

[~Caitlyn~]

I'm still pregnant, and warding off induction... even though the baby is doing just fine in there.

My mw is backed by an OB, and definitely won't let me go past 42 weeks. I'm 41+2 now. I'll see her again on Tuesday... really hoping to go into labor on my own...

I've been having some sharp shooting pains to my cervix... so, I am taking this as a good thing... also a fair amount of mucus... but no strong rhythmic ctx...

My guess at the stats:
October 5th - 9:42 AM (Thinking positive!!)
9lbs 8oz (They estimate 9lbs 15ozs)
A natural vaginal birth

[LateMom]

41+2 here.
Today I felt good emotionally, just getting tired of explaining that baby is not actually in harm's way now that I am past my due date!
Stats guesses: Oct 6 birthday, evening, 7lbs 9 oz baby.
We are birthing in a hospital where I had a natural intervention-free birth with #2; midwives are being patient and haven't mentioned anything past 42 weeks. I did carry #2 for 41w6d so this is maybe expected (although I thought I might be let off the hook this time around). He was 8lb 8oz.

I haven't had any labor signs, just a bit of pressure and shooting cervix pains, but I tend not to have any signs and then labor begins suddenly!
Hoping the full moon will get things started here!!

[ckirchmiller]

ME! 42+1 here. Physically, I feel great! I've even been sleeping well. Emotionally...well, I have my ups and downs. I lost my homebirth as of this morning, and then freaked out when I realized I couldn't put any new images of birth in my head. I cried from 1 a.m. till dawn. But then I pulled myself together and came up with a list of questions for my midwife about the hospital birth, and found some peace.

Let's see. I'll shoot for tomorrow 8/5, and say 8 lbs. 3 oz.

[dancemama23]

Hello! I am still here too. My story is that I was planning a VBAC and now that I am almost 41 weeks my ob is talking about a scheduled c. Ultrasound showed a 9 lb baby and since my previous birth ended in a c, she is against letting me wait any longer and still VBAC.
I'm just so disappointed, and still have a glimmer of hope that I will go into labor naturally within the next 24 hours or so.
Last night I even stood with my naked belly in the light of the moon and begged the lo to come out and see how pretty it was.
Dr. appointment is today at 4:30.
Best of luck and good wishes to all of you still pregnant, I'm rooting for you!

[lisa_nc]

Dance, are you part of ICAN? Good luck! I still wouldn't sign on for the section. I know VBAC moms who have had diagnosed CPD and still birthed bigger babies for their VBACs. I VBAC'd surrogate twins and the doctors were up my rear trying to terrify me. It can be such a battle. I hope you do what *YOU* need to do without a lot of undue stress and hoopla. Good luck and sending you lots of support!

[HydeParkB]

41 + 4. Wow. NEVER thought I'd be waiting so long...

Last night I had some middle of the night contractions, but I just didn't have a good feeling about those. Now I am back at work, and sort of working. At least here I can sit and concentrate on drinking water. At home, I tend to overdo it.

I have a doctor's appointment and sono at 3 today.

I feel okay. I am getting over the cold/flu/crud I have. I'm not terrified that a combination of it and labor will kill me.

My guess:
10/6, 9:36 a.m., 7 lb, 2 oz.

[robbins611]

Still here 41wk3days...this is nuts! I've actually been losing my mucus plug since last night...but all of my contractions have stopped. How weird is that? I'm still crossing my fingers for today. Any progress other mamas?

Much Love,
Gini

[ckirchmiller]

Oh Dancemama, I'll have you in my thoughts today hoping you go into labor! The time limit thing really stinks. I agree that you need to make sure you do what you feel is best for you and your baby, not necessarily what your doctor thinks is best.

As for me, I'm still here! 42+2 now. I had some cramping last night which I hoped could be something, but nope, gone today. I have another NST and ultrasound scheduled for today to check on everything. I'm a little nervous about something changing since last week, but I'm hoping that it hasn't. This baby has until Thursday to cook before we hit eject. Come out babies!!!

[LateMom]

I'm still pg-41+2. It seems paltry compared to you 42+ weekers and I hope you all get the birth you have waited for so long...
I am so done obsessing when she will arrive that I am starting to forget I'm pregnant. I am avoiding the phone and friends like the plague, though...

I am still hoping for tomorrow, somehow I don't think anything will happen today.

[ckirchmiller]

It looks like I might get the date right, but not the way I wanted it at all. My AFI was unfavorable today (down to 6 from 12 last week) so they're inducing me tonight. I'm trying to get excited about finally having the baby, bit I can't get past the fear and sadness I have about being induced. :-(

[LibertyBelle]

Hey Mamas,

I'm still here, and still pregnant! I'm 41 weeks, 5 days. My midwife attempted to do a stretch and sweep today, but my cervix was too closed. It still hurt like crazy though! We'll try again on Wednesday. If there is nothing happening by Thursday night, I'll be starting up the lovely induction process at the hospital. I'm hoping that now that I have an induction date, my body will just get things started on its own. I've heard of that happening for so many women.

Anyways, lots of labour vibes to you ladies!

[LibertyBelle]

Originally Posted by ckirchmiller

ME! 42+1 here. Physically, I feel great! I've even been sleeping well. Emotionally...well, I have my ups and downs. I lost my homebirth as of this morning, and then freaked out when I realized I couldn't put any new images of birth in my head. I cried from 1 a.m. till dawn. But then I pulled myself together and came up with a list of questions for my midwife about the hospital birth, and found some peace.

Let's see. I'll shoot for tomorrow 8/5, and say 8 lbs. 3 oz.

ckirchmiller, I lose my homebirth if we're not in labour by Wednesday. Big hugs to you. It's hard to turn that switch, when you've been imagining things happening one way for so long.

[robbins611]

Ladies, I really really suggest castor oil induction before giving into riskier methods. It is a time honored and safe method. All of the rumors on mec staining due to castor oil are just rumors. A review of the studies showed that there was no increase risk to mother or baby from taking castor oil on or after term. It can make you miserable...but pitocin definitely will, and is much more likely to hurt you or the babe. If your cerivx isn't favorable, then put epo next to your cervix and it will fix you up. Anne Frye recommends 6 capsules of 500mg every 8 hrs. The standard dosage is 3, but extra will only accomplish the goal faster. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions. I have lots of resources and have personally had several inductions before I knew the alternatives. I pray everyone has healthy babies soon.

Much Love,
Gini
41wks3days

[LibertyBelle]

Originally Posted by robbins611

Ladies, I really really suggest castor oil induction before giving into riskier methods. It is a time honored and safe method. All of the rumors on mec staining due to castor oil are just rumors. A review of the studies showed that there was no increase risk to mother or baby from taking castor oil on or after term. It can make you miserable...but pitocin definitely will, and is much more likely to hurt you or the babe. If your cerivx isn't favorable, then put epo next to your cervix and it will fix you up. Anne Frye recommends 6 capsules of 500mg every 8 hrs. The standard dosage is 3, but extra will only accomplish the goal faster. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions. I have lots of resources and have personally had several inductions before I knew the alternatives. I pray everyone has healthy babies soon.

Much Love,
Gini
41wks3days

How long do the ill effects of castor oil last for? Are we talking 24 hours of tummy upset? It wasn't strongly encouraged by my midwives, but was presented as an option if I felt I wanted to try "everything."

[ckirchmiller]

Originally Posted by LibertyBelle

How long do the ill effects of castor oil last for? Are we talking 24 hours of tummy upset? It wasn't strongly encouraged by my midwives, but was presented as an option if I felt I wanted to try "everything."

They weren't able to fit me in to L&D today after all, so I decided to try the Castor Oil as a last ditch effort. So far it's been 2 hours with no ill effects. My midwife said it should go through my body in 2-6 hours. I'll let you know how it goes. (They said Rite Aid brand was the best - it didn't have any nasty taste)

[~Caitlyn~]

Originally Posted by ckirchmiller

They weren't able to fit me in to L&D today after all, so I decided to try the Castor Oil as a last ditch effort. So far it's been 2 hours with no ill effects. My midwife said it should go through my body in 2-6 hours. I'll let you know how it goes. (They said Rite Aid brand was the best - it didn't have any nasty taste)

Please keep us posted... I'm so curious about this option... this induction stuff has my head spinning. I feel like I am living the expression 'darned if you do... darned if you don't...'

My fear is that if I keep fighting off induction until Friday (assuming all is well with NST's and BPP's...) just to be induced... with an even bigger baby (Est. fetal weight was at 9lbs15ozs last week)... I'll end up in a c-sect. Or, I go for an induction tomorrow... my mw wants me in there yesterday... and I start the intervention slide and end up with a c-sect.

Or, I try the castor oil at home?

*sigh* I can't stop thinking about it... and I really wish I could. I know all of this stress isn't helping my body progress either way. I just wish she would come out on her own.. soon.

[ckirchmiller]

Castor oil results: 12:30 water broke, contractions started soon after, diarrhea inconvenient but not too bad overall. No vomiting or anything. Will post after baby. I say go for it!

[robbins611]

I am so excited for you! Please let us know about that beautiful baby


Caitlyn, unless you have diabetes or pelvic abnormalities your body will not grow a baby too big to push out. Trust in that. When your baby gets as big as it can and still fit...he/she will stop growing and come out. Big babies are born via c/sec because the docs don't want to wait out long induced labors. I've worked in birth for 10 yrs and have never seen a baby too big to be born vaginally that didn't have a diabetic mama....and even many of the diabetic mamas pushed their big babies out too. Trust your intuition on the castor oil. I have been putting it off because I still think she'll make her appearance soon without it.....but if it looks like she needs to make a quick exit I will take it in a heartbeat to avoid unneccessary interventions or surgery.

A good recipe is to blend it with a scoop of sherbert and enough juice to make it drinkable through a straw.

Much Love,
Gini

[LibertyBelle]

Originally Posted by ckirchmiller

Castor oil results: 12:30 water broke, contractions started soon after, diarrhea inconvenient but not too bad overall. No vomiting or anything. Will post after baby. I say go for it!

What an exciting update!!!