The best thing to help labor along is patience! Trust me after having 1-3 contrax an hour every hour for a week with the first one and for 2 weeks with the second I know all about patience!
Just out of curiousity, with your last prodomal labor experience did you have any effacing or softening even though you didn't dialate? Contrax do that too, and they can also affect the baby and positioning and many other things that are actually "moving" your labor along even if you don't know it.
If you want to be proactive I think one of the best things to look into is cranial-sacral therapy or acupuncture. Both operate on the idea of alignment and putting your body/energy/baby in the proper alignment to stimulate labor to begin.
As for your doc, I want to second what others have said. You have the right to say no to any procedure. Especially if there is nothing showing any immediate harm to you or your baby. (i.e. fetal decels on a monitor, maternal high blood pressure, etc.) Keep reminding yourself that pregnancy, labor, delivery are all normal natural occurances, not medical events to be managed.
One thing that has helped me to get over the need to know when the baby will come is to say to myself I am due end of May beginning of June. Rather than June 1st!
I know the OB's approach and the MW's approach to birth is so very different, and that is part of what is behind the advise and information you are getting. MW's are a lot more relaxed about women going postdates and much more willing to let go and let the woman's body and baby do what they are going to do. OB's are taught to problem solve and for some OB's everything is a problem!
Blessings,
Nichol
BTW, take what I and others say with a grain of salt too, only you can make the right decision for you and your baby. ONLY YOU.
Just out of curiousity, with your last prodomal labor experience did you have any effacing or softening even though you didn't dialate? Contrax do that too, and they can also affect the baby and positioning and many other things that are actually "moving" your labor along even if you don't know it.
If you want to be proactive I think one of the best things to look into is cranial-sacral therapy or acupuncture. Both operate on the idea of alignment and putting your body/energy/baby in the proper alignment to stimulate labor to begin.
As for your doc, I want to second what others have said. You have the right to say no to any procedure. Especially if there is nothing showing any immediate harm to you or your baby. (i.e. fetal decels on a monitor, maternal high blood pressure, etc.) Keep reminding yourself that pregnancy, labor, delivery are all normal natural occurances, not medical events to be managed.
One thing that has helped me to get over the need to know when the baby will come is to say to myself I am due end of May beginning of June. Rather than June 1st!
I know the OB's approach and the MW's approach to birth is so very different, and that is part of what is behind the advise and information you are getting. MW's are a lot more relaxed about women going postdates and much more willing to let go and let the woman's body and baby do what they are going to do. OB's are taught to problem solve and for some OB's everything is a problem!
Blessings,
Nichol
BTW, take what I and others say with a grain of salt too, only you can make the right decision for you and your baby. ONLY YOU.
