WWYD? Accupuncture to bring on labor.

[olien]

I am 39wks 5dys. I went to the OB, had an internal & NOTHING is happening..

I am 1cm dialated & cervix is soft, but it is high & to the back. Also babys head is high & def not engaged yet. Dr said she doesnt think I will have the baby this week.

I am so uncomfortable, especially running around after my 20mo DS. I am going to explode - at least thats how I feel

I am thinking of going to the accupuncturist on Thurs - my EDD - to see if she can get things going. Should I wait a few more days? She is in on either Thurs or next Tues. I just dont know if I can wait until Tues to feel like I am doing something to get the ball rolling here.

I know when the babys ready she will come, but I just cant take it. Wow. I wasn't like this with #1 thats for sure. BTW, I have a non stress test scheduled for Fri.

Any suggestions?

[MaerynPearl]

be patient. find ways to get your mind off it and let yourself rest.

my experience is... if baby isn't ready to come, they aren't going to come and trying to force them to is going to hurt much worse than being patient and letting baby come when they are good and ready.

[tri31]

I tried accupuncture to induce my labor. I also was very uncomfortable, I would have needed to give my body more time. I was having good contractions after my treatment, but they stayed irregular. Two days later I lost my plug. That day my midwife induced me at the hospital. Maybe another treatment would have kicked things up? Unfortunately I was in to much pain, so I didn't. The contactions that I was having when I got to the hospital looked good on the monitor, the pain was really tolerable. That was not my fate, though. Pitocin makes for hellish contractions. Best wishes

[olien]

Tri31: were you at or past your DD when you did the treatment?

I think I may wait until Sat & go to her partner then. That way I can see what the Dr has to say on Fri after the stress test.

[BlackSheepPDX]

I had two rounds of acupuncture after 41 weeks, and didn't have any dramatic results where I'd say "OMG don't do it too early." I say, it can't hurt, and it will make you feel like you you're doing SOMETHING.

[3 little birds]

I was getting acupuncture for anemia and the doc gave me some extra needles to "just let baby know it is ok come out". I immediately started contracting, which let up when the needles were removed. Later in the evening contractions started again. My water broke in the morning and baby was born a few hours later. I am pretty sure I was at least 40 weeks though.

[tri31]

I was 39 weeks. According to the ultrasound due date. 40 according to my last lmp

[MamaMonica]

Moved to Birth and Beyond

[laughingfox]

I had it at almost 41 weeks.
It made me headachey, nauseous, and fatigued, without giving me a single contraction. I was going to tough it out, but I looked so bad that they took the needles out of me and sent me home without even charging me for the service.
I didn't have the baby for over another week.

If you want to feel productive, there are always the little things you can do without interfering with your body quite as much- eat eggplant, eat pineapple, have a spicy meal, go for a walk, etc.

[zoebird]

i don't see any reason to consider induction methods at this point. no reason to get things going, you know? you are in no danger, the baby is in no danger, and so i would wait it out.

if i were at 41 or 42 weeks, then sure, i'd likely start various things (and acupuncture would probably be one of them). but, 39 and 5? i wouldn't worry about it. particularly if your doctor isn't worried about you going over 40 weeks EDD.

[Sagesgirl]

Originally Posted by zoebird

i don't see any reason to consider induction methods at this point. no reason to get things going, you know? you are in no danger, the baby is in no danger, and so i would wait it out.

if i were at 41 or 42 weeks, then sure, i'd likely start various things (and acupuncture would probably be one of them). but, 39 and 5? i wouldn't worry about it. particularly if your doctor isn't worried about you going over 40 weeks EDD.

I've got to agree here, and also throw in my usual spiel: dilation or lack thereof prior to the start of active labor doesn't mean a single thing. You can go tomorrow closed up tight (and remember that with second and subsequent babies, they frequently don't drop 'til the last second, so the baby being high right now doesn't really have meaning either), and you could go a week or two dilated to a 3 or 4.

[olien]

Originally Posted by laughingfox

If you want to feel productive, there are always the little things you can do without interfering with your body quite as much- eat eggplant, eat pineapple, have a spicy meal, go for a walk, etc.

Thanks for these tips. I didnt know about the eggplant/pineapple.

Originally Posted by zoebird

i don't see any reason to consider induction methods at this point. no reason to get things going, you know? you are in no danger, the baby is in no danger, and so i would wait it out.

if i were at 41 or 42 weeks, then sure, i'd likely start various things (and acupuncture would probably be one of them). but, 39 and 5? i wouldn't worry about it. particularly if your doctor isn't worried about you going over 40 weeks EDD.

You are right. I think I am nervous bec with #1 I went for the NST at 40wk 1dy & the heart beat was irregular & they wanted me to get induced immediately. (I didn't tho) So this time I am nervous. It will be the same 40wk 1dy again when I go for the test on Fri.

Originally Posted by Sagesgirl

I've got to agree here, and also throw in my usual spiel: dilation or lack thereof prior to the start of active labor doesn't mean a single thing. You can go tomorrow closed up tight (and remember that with second and subsequent babies, they frequently don't drop 'til the last second, so the baby being high right now doesn't really have meaning either), and you could go a week or two dilated to a 3 or 4.

Didnt know this. Thanks.

OK. I changed my appt. Instead of tomorrow I made it for Sat. I will have had the NST by then so I can get a better picture of what is happening. I will be 40wk 2dy. If the test shows all is well I may even make the appt on Tues when the accupuncturist I usually see is in & who knows maybe the babe will be ready on her own before then.

[snarky]

No harm in trying it. I had acupuncture at 39w6d (as I had high blood pressure, was hoping babe would come naturally) and it did absolutely nothing. I was medically induced at 40w5d.