Seriously - starting labor?

[Kerrie]

I just returned from the BC to find out that if I am still PG next Thursday - I'll be 41 weeks - I'll need to go in for a NST and an u/s. I DON'T WANNA. : I'm thinking that if I'm still PG on Monday I just might try castor oil. The MW checked me and I'm a few cm dialated and 'soft' but closed on the inside of my cervix. Whatever that means. She did stretch my cervix which felt just wonderful and said maybe I'll see you tonight. I did realize today that she can't come on the 23rd since that's my MIL's birthday and wouldn't that be fun to get to celebrate them together? What I find to be the most interesting part is that I'm not 'done' being PG. I want to meet her but I really don't mind still being PG. Strange - huh?

[henhao]

Oh, I'm in a similar boat. At my 40-wk appt, they said for me to come back at 41 wks, to get a BPP at 41 wks 2 dys, and then to come back for an NST in wk 41.

I guess this is good? To keep track of what baby is doing and to make sure she's still getting good nutrients and all?

[Yummymummy74]

Originally Posted by henhao

Oh, I'm in a similar boat. At my 40-wk appt, they said for me to come back at 41 wks, to get a BPP at 41 wks 2 dys, and then to come back for an NST in wk 41.

I guess this is good? To keep track of what baby is doing and to make sure she's still getting good nutrients and all?

I think this is absolutely crazy how they do this.. placentas and babies do NOT have expiry dates... this is a relatively new phenomonen in the arena of Obstetrics.. when I started having babies it was OK to go 3.5 weeks late without any harrassment...or scans or stress this and that

Totally bonkers IMO.. I think that each mama is the best guage of her babies well being..just listen to your body and baby..the deeper you get ensnared into the medical hub bub.. the more colorful the cascade of interventions gets.

Due dates are just estimates.. estimates.. random suspected possible dates.. nothing more.

www.birthlove.com has good articles on being a 10 month mama.

Here is the link http://www.birthlove.com/free/ten_month_mama.html

[henhao]

Next time, I'm lying about my LMP. It is crazy that they count 2 wks before the pregnancy. Really, I'm 38 weeks. The m/w said "Oh, some man invented that idea."

They'll let me go 42.5 weeks.

[mother culture]

What they all said
My 3rd baby came on my grandmothers Bday! It is fun. Soon Mama!

[chiro_kristin]

Kerrie, I totally agree with Marsupialmama... don't let them "make" you do something you don't want to do. Your body knows what's going on... esp since you don't even feel like you're done being pregnant... your instincts are the most reliable finding anybody has. Keep trusting your body and your baby.

She did stretch my cervix which felt just wonderful and said maybe I'll see you tonight.

This makes me wonder... did she sweep ya w/o you knowing? This has happened to so many people I know IRL, and they didn't even know it at the time.

[Amy in NH]

Originally Posted by chiro_kristin

This makes me wonder... did she sweep ya w/o you knowing? This has happened to so many people I know IRL, and they didn't even know it at the time.

I have always wondered if MW did that with Justin. I went into labor within 24 hours after a not-too-comfortable cervix check. Never asked, though.

How about Cohosh? Anyone tried that?

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/natinduc.html

[Kerrie]

Originally Posted by chiro_kristin

This makes me wonder... did she sweep ya w/o you knowing? This has happened to so many people I know IRL, and they didn't even know it at the time.

No she said that she couldn't. I think that's where the 'closed on the inside' came from.

[Quirky]

Aiigh! This is Nabigus--I didn't realize my sister was logged in on my computer and

I (foolishly) went in for post-dates testing without knowing for absolute certain what the potential fallout would be--that was a big mistake. If you decide to do it, make sure you absolutely, positively know what could happen. Will they risk you out/pressure induction/make decisions based on the NST? Does the BC have an estimated weight limit above which they risk you out? How long can you put off the tests and not have your provider freak out? (And if they freak out, can you negotiate something else, like a longer check with the doppler?)

I really wish I'd asked more questions--and I thought I had.

FYI, I did three rounds of acupuncture (the last one on the intense side), and definitely felt stronger contractions. My labor started at midnight after a 4pm acupuncture session.

nancy

[Little Cluck]

oh my! Don't feel done being pregnant? I felt done weeks ago. LOL! and looked done, too.

I doubt I'd go in for the tests myself. We homebirth, though, and the mw doesn't pressure at the end. My last baby was born 16 days "overdue" according to the due date based on my LMP. I thought I knew when I ovulated so I added 6 days to that due date, but he still came 10 days past that.

I sure hope that doesn't happen this time. I'm so tired of the prodromal labor and being uncomfy. It's been going on all week. My due date based on ovulation is this weekend. I'm beggin for an "on time" baby.

[Mama Coltrane]

What exactly is done at a NST? Never had it with DS and probably wont do it with this one either.
- Kerri

[Jaimep]

NST was explained to me as this: They put the heartrate monitor on your belly and put the contraction monitor on you, just like when you are in labor and then they just monitor the baby for about 30 minutes. If you have a contraction or BH it will tell them and they will see how the babys heart rate reacts. That is all it is.

I also was told that if I go to my appointment next week, thursday that they will want to do one on me. blah

[Kerrie]

Nancy - thanks for the thoughts. I've been trying to stay in the moment since this baby could come anytime - one hour from now I could be in labor - so I don't know if it would occur to me to ask those questions.