Just some random thoughts/questions

[soveryblessed]

Hi! I'm currently 36w1d along with baby #4. This is my first homebirth. My first birth (twins) was at 32 and a c-section; I never went into labor. My second birth was induced at 39w4d. They broke my water at 9am and nothing other than contractions every 13 minutes apart happened until they gave me pitocin at 5pm. By about 9:30pm I was cranking; I started pushing at 6:30am. So that's pretty much how my births have gone. I have nothing to compare what may happen here!

First, I wonder...my midwife thinks that my labor with this baby is going to go very fast. I don't know...I feel like it's going to drag out. She also doesn't think that I will go much past my EDD, but I sort of feel like family history is against me (my mom's pregnancies have all been 42 weeks or at the very least 40 weeks, never any sooner).

Secondly, I can't have a homebirth until I'm 37 weeks. I charted; my ovulation date says I'm due Feb. 5th. The two ultrasounds I've had have both said Feb. 3rd. (One was done at 10-ish weeks; the other at 18 weeks.) I wonder which date I should stick with since my chart was crazy...late ovulation, late implantation, up and down temperatures...ugh!

I wouldn't be sitting here pondering on all this, but I have SPD and I'm in serious pain. The baby has flipped from LOA to ROT/ROP, and won't drop. My cervix is still posterior. I have no signs that I'm ever going to go into labor, and I can't go past 42 weeks or I'm transferred out. It sucks because I don't want to go to the hospital; it's not family/baby/VBAC friendly, I hate the OB's there, and they most likely would seriously push a c-section on me.

So I guess I'm looking for some hope. Hope that this baby is going to come at a decent time, that maybe I'll have a normal labor (remember I've never gone into labor on my own before), that I won't go too far past my EDD. I just don't know if physically I can take the pain of not being able to walk around, move, and take care of my 4 year olds and my 20 month old.

[Dese]

In general your midwifes will probably take the later date (your charting date) as it gives you a couple of extra days if you go overdue. I'm actually in the same situation, ultrasound put me at January 11, my charting puts me at January 13... midwifes are going with the 13th.

The idea goes that the more babies you have the faster the labours, but it's hard to say. You're only 36 weeks so you could have a lot of time ahead of you, 6 weeks for that baby to come! I'm sorry you're in so much pain. Have you been seeing a chiropractor? If the cost isn't too great it's really worth it, can help with your pain and getting the baby into the best position. If you can't do that, try sitting on an exercise ball a lot or hanging out on your hands and knees.

[Nicole730]

I would agree with taking the later date, so you have a little more time for the homebirth. I really don't think a 2 day difference is that much of a difference anyway, so might as well use it to your advantage and get the homebirth.

I'm not sure about your labor going fast. I've always heard they get faster because your body "knows" what to do now as it's done it before... but it seems like your body hasn't had a lot of natural experience yet.

I agree with trying a chiropractor, I believe it should be under $100, and most definitely worth it to ease the pain these next few weeks. Plus, it can help the baby drop into the "correct" position.

Good luck to you and I hope you get the birth experience you want!

[sweetpea_119]

I'll third the chiropractor advice!! I have dealt with serious SPD issues & would never have made it without some adjustments at the end!

Don't worry about baby dropping nor should you worry about your dilations/effacement. Those three items can changes in literally minutes when your body is ready...more focus on those will only make you worry, but it won't change the fact that you'll be ready when your body decides to be ready. This is my 4th pregnancy & this is the first one that I've had a baby drop really low into my pelvis before labor was moving along, so I can vouch for that sign being pretty optional. LOL!

If you're too worried about no internal changes happening, just turn down the interal exams...then you won't have a feeling like nothing's happening & you can just focus on trusting your body to do its job

[ShwarmaQueen]

I has SPD severly with DD, my OB never mentioned anything about a chiro (and this was before I was introduced to MDC). This time, I mentioned it to my MW when I felt it coming again and she suggested chiro, so I did it at 24ish wks, a couple of sessions, and it went away and didn't return. Another vote for a chiro!

[Dese]

Just a quick note, my chiropractor charges $30 per adjustment, but the initial consultation where they did scans was over $100.

[Nicole730]

Originally Posted by Dese

Just a quick note, my chiropractor charges $30 per adjustment, but the initial consultation where they did scans was over $100.

Do they do all the scans when you are pregnant though? I was talking to one and he said that they would have to wait until after I delivered to do some of them. I really want to see a chiropractor, but we are on a tight budget right now...so I don't know if that is really the case.

[babycatcher12]

I second (third or 4th) the chiro.
It also sounds like you could benefit from some positive pregnancy and birth affirmations. Your emotions and fears can have a negative effect on your labor and birth.
Hope you have the birth you want!