Starting to lose faith in my body, help!

[sesta]

It's been over 32hours since my membranes ruptured and nothing!: Where are my contractions? I've been having weeks of off/on contractions and now that I really need them they are no where to be seen?

I am under OB/hospital care (much to my dismay) as that is my only chance to VBAC (midwives can't touch me here after having 2 c/s's). So far they have been 'pretty' good about things and fairly hands off. I haven't had a vaginal exam yet but I did have one 20 minute NST just to make sure baby was tolerating the stress of my membrane rupture OK - which she is. I had the NST late last night and they told me to return this morning to talk about my 'options'. The first nurse who saw me last night, at the hospital commented right away, "Are you sure you want a VBAC??" GROAN!: That did not do anything for my mood and I left the hospital very pissed.

Why do I feel like my body is failing me? Where are my contractions? How soon after rupture am I supposed to start having them? I'm bouncing away on my birthing ball and am using a manual pump - my first start at trying to induce naturally as up until now I haven't done anything. These hospital people are starting the scare tactics, rupture over 24 hrs leads to infection yada, yada....

They did offer a low dose of pitocin, carefully monitored, to help get things started if nothing else but I am not comfortable with that as that increases my risks. I want to do this on my own!:

Thanks for letting me vent, I'll try and keep positive now.

[time4another]

[HomeBirthMommy]

Oh that sounds awful. I'm so sorry you're dealing with this.
I know there are some homeopathics out there you can try, but I'm not familiar with the names. You could try asking on the "I'm Pregnant" or "Birth and Beyond" boards.
You can also try accupuncture. I believe there's a place in one of your toes that supposed to help.
Good Luck and I'm really proud of you for standing your ground.

[Sanguine]

hey... good luck... sounds like my doula's first birth, which was supposed to be a home birth and wound up being a hospital delivery after 3 days of waiting for labor after her membranes ruptured... I don't remember all the details, but I do know she now has a happy, healthy 14 year old daughter who is driving her nuts, so it ended well.

If you can (and I know it's hard) try to separate your frustration with the hospital peoples' attitude from your feelings about your body. That was a big problem for me yesterday. Not that it's not ok or understandable to be frustrated with your body... you don't need one more thing to blame yourself or feel bad about for ... but I was lumping everything together and making it all worse!! Can you put a picture of 'bad nurse' on your dartboard?

[maciascl]

As hard as it is TRY to relax! I know, I know...but that may be all your body needs. I am sending you lots of ctx vibes & positive thoughts.

We all want to give birth a certin way & it really sucks when we don't get taht for what ever reason. But no matter how it ends up happening, just remember that it is still your childs birth & you will still have your baby when it is all said and done. That being said I will be thinking about you & wishing you the birth you desire. : : :

[CrunchyKat]

I'm hoping that you've had that baby already and everything went the way you planned it. If not, I'm sure you have a happy, healthy, and beautiful baby in your arms so it doesn't really matter anyway.

[Mrs_Hos]

Some ideas from a mama who hasn't been in your shoes, so this may or may not help...

One--turn off all phones or any connection to the outside world. The hospital can't come to you and it would be nice to know that the 'threat' of c/s isn't there if they can't 'get you'...
Two--realize that your body hasn't 'really' done this quite this way before (I'm assuming since you've had 2 c/s)...just have confidence that it WILL!
Three--a friend of mine had a 50hr labor at home before delivery--her 1st had been a c/s...having said that, there was no threat to the baby or whatnot.
Four--as you probably know, after your waters release your body will continue to 'make' waters for the baby--as long as there are no vaginal exams, the baby should be safe from infection (I say SHOULD)...especially if you stay in your own home where your body 'knows' the bacteria. Again...no exams...
Five--It is SO easy for us to say, but relax. See about getting everyone out of the house but you and your belly...then focus on the 'inward'...tell your baby you are ready...tell your body to start labor...don't even think of c/s or scare tactics...inward focus and 'hypnotize' yourself into a state of relaxation...
Six--don't worry yourself about running all over town to find a health food store to buy something to help urge labor along. The act of finding the stuff may increase your stress which will do more for delaying labor than the benefit of actually taking the stuff (this is coming from a very PRO-homeopathic person!) If you have someone who could pick it up, drop it in your mailbox and leave, then that would work...but you don't need anyone hanging around at the house 'distracting you' from your 'work' of telling your body to get it going --while relaxing!

I REALLY hope some of these suggestions help you. Remember--you are no different than the other mammals out there--your body works the same, you just have an advanced brain--let that brain HELP you and not deter your body. Let go, and let it all happen.

[sesta]

Can I just say THANK YOU so much! I am feeling much better and optimistic right now.

I just had an appt. with my OB and she is willing to let me go up to 4 days with the ruptured membrances! I'm on day 2 today, so 2 more days and hopefully things will start moving by then. That being said though she would like me to be monitored at the hospital by a NST every morning and evening and to make sure I don't contract a fever. To avoid a pit drip and/or C-section I'm willing to do this compromise!

Thanks again for all your encouragement, after meeting with her I feel like a lot of pressure has been lifted esp. since I was getting alot of negativity by the on call dr's and nurses at the hospital. My OB even said she'll be personally calling the on call doctors and instructing them not to be badgering me when I come in as I am well informed and determined.

[maciascl]

Originally Posted by sesta

Can I just say THANK YOU so much! I am feeling much better and optimistic right now.

I just had an appt. with my OB and she is willing to let me go up to 4 days with the ruptured membrances! I'm on day 2 today, so 2 more days and hopefully things will start moving by then. That being said though she would like me to be monitored at the hospital by a NST every morning and evening and to make sure I don't contract a fever. To avoid a pit drip and/or C-section I'm willing to do this compromise!

Thanks again for all your encouragement, after meeting with her I feel like a lot of pressure has been lifted esp. since I was getting alot of negativity by the on call dr's and nurses at the hospital. My OB even said she'll be personally calling the on call doctors and instructing them not to be badgering me when I come in as I am well informed and determined.

WOW!!! That is awesome!!! I wish there were more OBs like that out there. I am so happy to hear this.

I actually was thinking about your post & came back to suggest talking to your baby & doing some visualisations. Maybe even some positive affirmations too. Also to suggest some extra vit C & Echinacea to help avoid an infection. Oh yeah maybe a glass of wine this evening to help you relax too

[CrunchyKat]

WOW you are a very lucky woman!! My MW wouldn't even let me go past the 3 day mark and I had to be induced at the hospital

Anywho, you've got lots of time so I'm sending you (((((LABOR VIBES)))) and wishing you a happy, healthy delivery!!

[clovergirl]

Originally Posted by sesta

Can I just say THANK YOU so much! I am feeling much better and optimistic right now.

I just had an appt. with my OB and she is willing to let me go up to 4 days with the ruptured membrances! I'm on day 2 today, so 2 more days and hopefully things will start moving by then. That being said though she would like me to be monitored at the hospital by a NST every morning and evening and to make sure I don't contract a fever. To avoid a pit drip and/or C-section I'm willing to do this compromise!

Thanks again for all your encouragement, after meeting with her I feel like a lot of pressure has been lifted esp. since I was getting alot of negativity by the on call dr's and nurses at the hospital. My OB even said she'll be personally calling the on call doctors and instructing them not to be badgering me when I come in as I am well informed and determined.

wow is right! it's awesome that your OB is willing to be so relaxed. maybe i missed it, but are they 100% sure your membranes ruptured? are you actively leaking fluid? if not it's possible that it was a hind leak that resealed itself... which would give you a lot more wiggle room timewise, IMO.
my only words of wisdom to you are to get some rest now while you can. take a hot shower and relax with a glass of wine (if you're comfortable drinking). you never know when labor while start!

[rocky]

That is great news.

With DS 1 my water broke at about 7am on Monday - born (at home) on Thursday morning at about 7am - exactly 3 days later.

For the first 24 hours nothing. We actually had friends over for dinner - and I cooked. Midwife suggested getting some sleep by the time night rolled around, rather than tiring myself out. The next morning still nothing so midwife suggested acupuncture. I had an acupuncturist come to my house around noon on Tuesday. He came back several times in the next days and was present at the birth. I hated the acupuncture, found it very uncomfortable - but nothing else was getting labor going. I still don't know if it helped but baby did eventually come out - posterior, back labor and all...

With DS2 I was still nursing DS1. Again my water broke at around 7am - this time what I think helped was nursing DS1. At one point I got fed up, knew that nursing could help - had felt contractions while nursing him prior to this during labor - and just let him nurse away. I was 10 cm dialated when all was said and done. He was born about 24 hours after my water breaking - oh yeah - posterior, back labor and all...

In retrospect I wish I had just pumped the first time around (since there was no one to nurse). This is all very much on my mind because although I am now still nursing DS2, I don't want the kids present at this birth (coming up any day now) and will pump if I need help getting the contractions going.

Hope that was somewhat of a help.
good luck!

Rocky
DS1 10/01 DS2 11/03 and waiting for DD due sometime in September.