Ok, so here's what's going on. I'm 37w5d today. I've had platelet issues since they checked at 30 weeks or so. They were at 120 something then, and then had dropped to 115, back up to 120, but at last check (37w on the nose) they were at 112. If I drop below 100, I risk out of homebirth entirely. I've been taking alphalpha and nettles, but it's clearly not getting me over 130.
With DS1 I was at 1-2 cm, my water broke at 38w5d, 8 hours later I started contractions, 9 hours later he was born. With DS2 at 38 on the nose I was 8 cm (though he was still pretty high), my midwife broke my water and 4 hours later he was born.
We're thinking I should try to get labor going in the next day or two---mainly b/c if my platelets drop again, I'd have to go to the hospital and I really really really don't want a hospital birth. I have no signs of bleeding, so I'm not really worried about that.
I'm currently 3-4 cm, 85% effaced or so, and really low---she said easily at 0 station. My MW swept my membranes a few hours ago, and we'll spend nap time having sex. Hopefully that may kick things off. Tomorrow morning, my MW is thinking we should try castor oil first, and then if needed she could come rupture water or alternatively, we could just have her come break my water.
Do you think I should do the castor oil first? Is it totally miserable? I'm just worried about having horrible diarrhea while in labor....but is that the lesser of two interventions? I've already done two labors with water broken, so I'm not really worried, and I'd have a a full 24 hours to be in labor before we'd start thinking of things like cohosh or pitocin....
I'm kind of leaning towards just having her come break my water, then going on a really long walk, nipple stim etc.
11-11-10 would be a great birthday.
Then we'll go for a long walk and see how it goes. I'm definitely crampy, but I've been that way for a week or so (though not this strong). 
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