41 weeks and 5 days, looking for ways to get things moving.

[GravyElbow]

I'll be 42 weeks on Tuesday, I'm starting to worry about merconium and other drawbacks of going over due. Also I'm not even dialated 1 cm and haven;t lost mucus plug.. all though my cervix is flat and soft.
My midwife is suggesting Castor oil on monday ( I'm aware this may bring on merconium). I told her i would be doing all the natural things i could this weekend... So far i've done
EPO
Sex
orgasms (2-3 daily)
pineapple
vindaloo curry (very spicey)
Prunes
Black and blue Conhosh (sp?) in the bead tinture form
Walking! Stairs!

So does anyone have any helpfull tricks or exercises to help me get things moving?
I'm pretty worried about merconium... if anyone could shed some light it for me i'd appreciate it!

[pamamidwife]

Meconium is not an issue at all. It's not uncommon in postdates babies, it's not a sign of distress unless it's accompanied by poor fetal heart tones.

I think the biggest risk with hurrying your body and your baby along is a long prodromal, on-off labor resulting in something you may not want.

I usually recommend homeopathic Caulophyllum and Cimicifuga - it's gentle and there are no side effects. If your body is ready, it will work.

Forcing your labor based on a calendar date is not always the best movement.

I currently have a client that was due on October 30, so I totally know where you're coming from. however, nobody stays pregnant forever - and your baby/body could be waiting for something important that you're not privy to.

[TanyaS]

Just a few months ago I finally gave birth 17 days after my EDD. It's hard going past that arbitrary date. Talk to your baby. Trust in your body. You will go into labor. Enjoy your last days being so close to your baby. I wish I had relished it a bit more, as dd is likely my last baby.

[DannysMomma]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

I currently have a client that was due on October 30, so I totally know where you're coming from. however, nobody stays pregnant forever - and your baby/body could be waiting for something important that you're not privy to.

I'm just going to jump in and say how nice it was to stumble across that phrase randomly... b/c I'm starting to wonder myself!

To the OP, I don't have any advice per se, but I am mighty impatient myself and have been *thisclose* to breaking out the herbals and homeopathics. Been having lots of sex though, and nursing my toddler extra (which he seems to enjoy), and have noticed more regular patterns in my pre-labor contrax, but nothing noteworthy. It can be frustrating.

I have to keep telling myself I won't be pregnant forever.... and I thought I'd just offer you a supportive hug!

oh - PS! My ds was born 3 weeks "overdue" - and that was after an induction (they were worried about his heartrate), where we drained his jacuzzi... he was MAD as hell, too..... but I tried everything *but* castor oil and he just wasn't ready. Babies are usually pretty good about knowing when their time is. He just didn't want to get out of the hot tub.

[umami_mommy]

nipple stumulation
squating
getting on hands and knees and gently rocking
if your belly is really protruding, you can try using the rebozoo trick of binding your belly to help baby move into a better position
a chriopractic adjustment with a doc who does prenatal work, esp webster
acupuncture and moxabustion

are you close to risking out of a homebirth?

in desperation i would try castor oil and sweeping the membranes amd AROM before a hospital birth.

[gentlestrengths]

The castor oil only works if you're really ready to go, and so I always think - "what's the point" since if you're ready to go - you'll JUST GO! =)

Squatting with contractions is my favorite thing to do at the end (and I have gone over in 3 out of all 3 of my pregnancies!).

I also drink an unlimited amount of red raspberry leaf infusions (since my second pregnancy) and I think that REALLY helps. I always notice a difference in my contractions when I start really downing it. And I bleed next to nothing after the birth too, which I also attribute to the huge amounts of RRL infusions. If you want and don't know how to make the infusions, just say the word.

[twogreencars]

I'm 41 + 2 and had a long talk to my midwife yesterday about castor oil and meconium. That is a MYTH that the former leads to the latter. Post-term babies are more likely to have meconium - the castor oil does NOT lead to it, just as when you have diarhrea when pregnant - your baby does NOT also have diarhrea!

Here's some suggestions:
-a chriopractic adjustment with a doc who does prenatal work, esp webster
-acupuncture and moxabustion
-massage incl. pressure points/reflexology
-bouncing on a birthing ball
-marching up and down the lanes of a swimming pool (opens your pelvis for baby to drop more)
-Evening Primrose used as a vaginal suppository and also orally
-think about what might be stopping you from going into labour - is there any unfinished business you need to deal with? is there something you're afraid of which is stopping you?

Hope this helps! PS - I'm doing most of the above and it has really been helping!! (not the castor, yet!)

[GravyElbow]

Well i did the castor oil... but not until i had a huge conversation with the midwife... her point of view was that i wasn;t dialated and i haven;t had any contractions and she wanted to seem some progress...
Well, it's 5:21 and I am having menstal like cramping every minute or so.. and lots of pressure.. hopefully this is the start of it.

The regime for the castor oil was a bit wierd.. they had me take it at 5pm, 6pm, and 7pm.. and i was up for most of the night... and now have hemmroids!

I would have like to let things progress naturally.. but my midwife told me my placenta may not be so healthy, merconium.. yada yada yada

well lets hope this crampy feeling leads somewhere... wish me luck and healthy baby!

[Meg_s]

I tried epo and sex and walking.. don't know if they helped. I tried a little castor oil the day before and the day of labour.. but don't know if the castor oil really did anything except finally give me a nice normal bm. I was constipated throughout the preg. I talked to the baby a lot telling him it was time to come out now.

[Phoebe]

Castor oil worked for me with my first baby. It started out with the menstrual like cramping. I'm surprised you were advised to take it in the evening though. I have always been told the moring is best because of the diarreah. Try and get some rest. My labor was very very long and didn't rest when I should have. I transferred after 36 hours.

I'm sorry I'm not trying to scare you or anything...just please try and rest up. I cannot stress how important it is...or at least how important is was in my labor.

Good luck!
Keep us posted!

[chrissy]

acupuncture!

wishing you an easy labor mama.

[Nan'sMom]

I went 41 weeks, 5 days, but I had a calm midwife. I was not comfortable doing castor oil, and preferred to think that the baby would come when ready. If you are worried, you can get a biophysical u/s done...I was thinking about it.

Good luck

[pamamidwife]

Originally Posted by Phoebe

Castor oil worked for me with my first baby. It started out with the menstrual like cramping. I'm surprised you were advised to take it in the evening though.

Morning is nice because at least you've gotten a full nights rest, but night time is when our natural oxytocin levels are highest.

[mamaverdi]

Originally Posted by pamamidwife

Nobody stays pregnant forever - and your baby/body could be waiting for something important that you're not privy to.

I think once you get to the stage where you are just sobbing that you will be the first person to be pregnant forever, then your baby is about 2 days away.