It's February: Anyone Else Still Pregnant?

[boigrrrlwonder]

To be fair, my due date was Jan. 31, so I'm not terribly far past. Still, anyone else in this DDC still waiting? It's a little depressing to see all the birth announcements and still be pregnant.

[Gray's Mommy]

I'm 41 weeks today...there are just a handful of us left from January. I never thought I would have 2 babies in February though...life is full of surprises

[boigrrrlwonder]

My elder DD is born in Feb, too. I actually am getting nervous about the entire throwing a birthday party for her if the baby waits much longer.

[Magistra]

To be fair, I should have been in the February DDC, as I'm officially due tomorrow. But I didn't join in until last month and was so sure I'd go early. I'm closing in on 3 weeks of irregular contractions and 3 days of pretty major ones, along with frequent bloody show. And I'm at a whopping 2 cm with contractions anywhere from 3 1/2 to 35 minutes.

I can't bring myself to go over to February right now since so many people who were due after me already had their babies.

[ktmeyer]

I'm here. My due date was the 23rd, so I'm fast approaching the 42 week deadline. Getting very nervous about my options. I'm planning a homebirth, my blood pressure is up, and I am desperate not to end up in a hospital instead.

[mymary]

Me. 41 weeks 2days. Felt great today. Got a great nights sleep last night. Just relaxing today, but I feel like I am on the clock. How dumb. Starting to try to get more information re: induction. Never had to go this far before. Dont know what to do next. Yesterday, did a half ass dose of castor oil that did basically nothing to me. Today did walking on treadmill and reflexology that killed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whew that is painful.

[Helensmom]

Hi,

I'm also here--a late crasher to this DDC. I'm 41 weeks 1 day. I don't feel much of anything going on. I've tried spicy foods, castor oil, black licorice, red raspberry tea, sex, a little walking...My OB says my cervix is very soft but the baby hasn't moved down yet and I'm not dilated. I'm scheduled for a c-section on Friday, but I'm still hoping and praying for a VBAC before then...

-Linda

[boigrrrlwonder]

I hear all you mamas talking about things you're doing to start labor. Am I the only one who's super on the fence about trying to get stuff going, naturally or not? I don't know. When I was 39 wks, I had a dream where my baby told me that s/he wasn't ready to be born yet. I didn't know how seriously to take it. I still don't. But I do know that I believe that a normal pregnancy includes up to 42 wks, and that healthy babies can be born even past 42 wks. I want to stay calm and relaxed and wait patiently for my baby to come. I keep trying to tell myself that I don't need to be doing anything, because there isn't anything wrong with being half a week late.

The problem is my medical care. My midwife routinely starts doing NSTs after you go past your due date. She's let me decline a lot of other routine stuff: the GTT, prenatal rhogam, an ultrasound, but she's much more nervous about this and might even make me sign a document saying I declined it next time I go in. She's also been giving me all these tips about how to start things naturally. It's hard to relax and keep it in my head that going past that arbitrary date isn't a problem when my care provider is acting like it is.

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by boigrrrlwonder

I hear all you mamas talking about things you're doing to start labor...It's hard to relax and keep it in my head that going past that arbitrary date isn't a problem when my care provider is acting like it is.

I am NOT doing anything to self induce at this point. If I get to 42 weeks or a bit beyond, then I will start thinking about it. I will get a NST/BPP though once I hit 42w2d. That is for my OWN mental stability. This baby may be trying to tell me something & I need to listen.

My midwife is totally cool with me going past 42 weeks, but she would prefer if I do the u/s stuff too. No pressure though. She went almost 43 weeks with 2 of hers (she has 4).

[Magistra]

I've been walking, working on a couple pressure points, and eating spicy foods (though I'd be eating those anyway). I've already had two NSTs, mostly because I've had several protracted episodes of contractions without hitting a pattern and my baby's movement pattern can get a little odd after those. My OB will start doing those regularly at 41 weeks 1 day.

Besides general impatience, I'm concerned about this baby's size. We were headed to 8+ pounds 5 weeks ago and he's clearly very long (fully engaged and still kicking me under the ribs, and I'm 6' tall).

[boigrrrlwonder]

Originally Posted by Magistra

Besides general impatience, I'm concerned about this baby's size. We were headed to 8+ pounds 5 weeks ago and he's clearly very long (fully engaged and still kicking me under the ribs, and I'm 6' tall).

How do you know the baby's weight? Ultrasounds can be a pound off when estimating weight.

That said, my DD was 9lbs. I had a relatively easy labor. In fact, I didn't make it to the hospital, because I didn't believe I was far in labor because it didn't hurt as much as I thought it would. It took me less than a half an hour to push the baby out, even though at no time I was trying to push the baby out - my body just did it for me; I didn't even know I was really pushing until I felt the baby's head starting to stick out of my vagina. I did tear, but I think that has more to do with giving birth in the backseat of a car than anything. The point of this story is that a larger baby doesn't necessarily mean a harder birth. Try to stay relaxed.

[Magistra]

I'm going off of size measurements rather than weight--at 35 weeks, his torso put him at 41 weeks. All indications are that he probably hit my first son's size at around 37 weeks (8 1/2 pounds, 22 inches), and that birth was very difficult for everyone involved, for reasons that are not at all clear. From all indications, he should have come right out, there was no evidence of anything being caught, and both he and I went into distress. There's a family history of difficult births (including second and later births) going back at least 3 generations, so I also have that bit of anxiety.

That and I'm exhausted from nearly 3 weeks of contractions and no sleep.

[mymary]

Originally Posted by Gray's Mommy

This baby may be trying to tell me something & I need to listen.

What could your baby be telling you???? For me, I am so confused. One good day, one bad(mentally).

I am confused. I realized today that I am NOT IN CONTROL. I will just keep saying that to myself, but I get so scared really. It's a fine line between just waiting patiently and going further with high intervention procedures. Is it just my fear propelling me to be close to submitting to an induction in a hospital or is it my baby's slower movements? Do I really think something could be deteriorating in there? That is the fear. I dont want to go wrong either way.

[mymary]

Originally Posted by Magistra

That and I'm exhausted from nearly 3 weeks of contractions and no sleep.

You guys, seriously do you think there is something going wrong with me or dysfunctional? THis is my third pg and I have been having ctx's for about 2 weeks. Mild ctx's. They do not get stronger. Just the same ctx's over and over again. I dont remember having this with my first two. I am now 41 weeks 3 days.

I just cant help feeling like something is NOT triggering!!!!!! Just need a little advice or truthful reassurance.

Thanks.

[Neldavi]

I'm still pregnant. I'm only 40weeks 4 days, but like a couple other people I was so sure I was going early. Plus, this is my third baby and I've never made it to my due date before. Go figure. I'm 5 cm and 80-90% effaced, and have been for at least 2 weeks. Tons of contractions that go nowhere.

I not particularly anxious to have the baby, but we're due to have a huge snowstorm starting Friday night, I'm planning a homebirth and the midwives are far away. So, having the baby tonight or tomorrow night would be a lot less worrisome for me, as far as considering the midwives getting here. I'm not up for castor oil yet (I'd think about that as I got close to 42 weeks or so) but I am doing some evening primrose oil on my cervix today and tomorrow .. it's harmless, in any case.

Hang in there everyone!

[Neldavi]

Originally Posted by mymary

You guys, seriously do you think there is something going wrong with me or dysfunctional? THis is my third pg and I have been having ctx's for about 2 weeks. Mild ctx's. They do not get stronger. Just the same ctx's over and over again. I dont remember having this with my first two. I am now 41 weeks 3 days.

I just cant help feeling like something is NOT triggering!!!!!! Just need a little advice or truthful reassurance.

Thanks.

Having lots of mild contractions in late pregnancy is definitely normal, and different babies can certainly take differing amounts of time. My friend just had her fourth baby who took longer than any of her other babies (41 weeks, 2 days) and was born at only 6 lbs 2 oz. All her other babies were at least 8, 8 1/2 pounds. So this latest baby obviously needed that extra time.

It's so hard waiting, especially with outside pressure, but you're not officially postdates until 42 weeks, and even then, some babies may just need that time. Do you know exactly when you conceived? Could it have been later in your cycle?

I don't know what your care provider situation is, but kick counts certainly can't hurt and are non-invasive. And again, lots of mild contractions are normal, and they do increase with subsequent pregnancies.

[Magistra]

Originally Posted by mymary

I just cant help feeling like something is NOT triggering!!!!!!

This is how I've been feeling too. My contractions have changed a little bit--slightly more intense, slightly longer--but remain nowhere close to regular. While my baby is still moving enough, it's less than before, and it tends to be a flurry of movements after several contractions, almost like it's in reaction to them. I want him out, he seems to want out, but it feels like something isn't moving forward enough to let this happen.

[Helensmom]

Mymary,

Are you working with midwives or an OB? Are you trying for a homebirth or planning to deliver at a hospital?

For me, I'm doing a lot of interventions because I had a c-section before, so I can't even be induced! My OB has me scheduled for a repeat c-section on Friday. I'd really like to have a vaginal birth, so I'm anxious that I haven't gone into labor on my own yet.

What does your care provider tell you? Are you able to go the full 14 days late? My OB is only allowing me 10 days--I'm AMA (42) so I guess that's her main concern.

I feel frustrated because due dates are really only an estimation yet at the same time they are taken so seriously...it doesn't seem fair. I know that I could cancel my c-section appointment and wait it out longer, but it would be against the wishes of my OB, who I really like and trust. So then I feel guilty like I'm putting my baby in danger for not getting the c-section...

Regarding induction, it is possible to be induced and then go the rest of the labor naturally or at least vaginally. It didn't happen for me, but I know it's possible! I was induced with my first (she was 10 days late). They gave me cervidyl (that tampon thing) and by the next morning I was in labor with heavy contractions I had never experienced before. I asked for an epidural, they broke my water, and then my daughter's heart rate decelerated, so they said I needed an emergency c-section. So, the way I look at it is one of those interventions caused the deceleration which caused the c-section...but it's impossible to know if it was the epidural or breaking my water. I don't think it was the induction itself though.

Yeah, I wish I had waited a couple more days but with that OB (a different one) she wanted to induce me on my due date! I wish, wish, wish I had used a midwife and a different hospital for the first birth, but hindsight is 20/20. I'm very happy with my new hospital choice and new OB because they're letting me at least try for a VBAC. I'm just discouraged now that it seems like it might not materialize...

Sorry, MyMary, to ramble, I just wanted to say I know how you feel! It's hard to wait...

Hang in there!
-Linda

[TSomm]

Just checking in... I was due the 27th so I'm past as well.

My midwife discussed the natural induction methods with me at our last visit, but she wants to wait the full 42 weeks before we even start trying those things. And I'm with her - my cycle was always longer and wonky to begin with so I'm sure I didn't ovulate the perfect 14 days after LMP.

I feel for those of you who are being pressured to have your babies. I'm sure I'd be in a completely different mental state if I knew I had an impending c-section looming in the near future.

Good luck mamas! NONE of us will still be pregnant in March, right?

[Gray's Mommy]

Originally Posted by mymary

What could your baby be telling you???? For me, I am so confused. One good day, one bad(mentally).

I am confused. I realized today that I am NOT IN CONTROL. I will just keep saying that to myself, but I get so scared really. It's a fine line between just waiting patiently and going further with high intervention procedures. Is it just my fear propelling me to be close to submitting to an induction in a hospital or is it my baby's slower movements? Do I really think something could be deteriorating in there? That is the fear. I dont want to go wrong either way.

The way I am seeing it, if I don't have this baby by 42 plus weeks--I want some type of u/s to see if I have a cord issue, alignment issue, or whatnot. I am not worried about fluid levels though. If there is something "abnormal" then I can start discussing the different options for birth. I am not going to worry about the results at this point though. I am trying very hard to surrender by mind, body & soul to this baby. S/he is calling all the shots.

I'm not even slightly engaged--head is just floating away My midwife is in no hurry to induce (natural or not) at all. I love having no pressure from her!

As for weight, she was estimating around 7 ish pounds...m/w was just doing basic palpitation on me. Again, for me that is a HUGE baby, but I could push s/he out.

I am not even having any regular contx., just BH. They come & go. I know when we DTD, but I have idea when I actually conceived. The only time you know that is if you do something like IUI or GIFT or IVF. Otherwise it is just an estimate. I think that is another reason why my m/w is so cool with everything.

Anyways, another ramble from me...