Visiting maternity ward starting labor???

[cidercat]

My husband has this theory and I'm wondering if anyone else experienced this. I visited a friend (in the hospital) who had just given birth. 3 hours later my water broke, 3 hours after that contractions started, and 3 hours after that, my son was born (in the same hospital I had visited 9 hours earlier, no less), 2 weeks before his EDD (BTW).

DH thinks that my visit to the maternity ward got the hormones going and kick started labor. He thinks it is akin to women who live together or are close friends cycling together. Any thoughts?

[mntnmom]

i t happened to one of my friends with her first. She freaked out. She couldn't be in labor, she "hadn't read that chapter yet!!".

[hapersmion]

I didn't visit the maternity ward, but my water broke about 6 hours after I heard that my friend had gone into labor. Both babies were 8 days early.

hapersmion

[wombatclay]

I wish it had worked that way for me! I went a little over 42 weeks and had a number of friends who gave birth in the weeks before me (including one "due date buddy"). I visited our local hospital's birth wing SO many times that I knew all the nurses and when I finally arrived in labor it was a bit of a joke!

But it does make sense...in fact, I was supposed to doula for a friend but since her due date is only a few days before mine I don't know if it will work out. I sort of think that if I DO attend her birth I'll find myself birthing as well!

[MommytoTwo]

I doubt it. Women who are together a lot often do have cycles that are in sync, but they are together frequently or for long periods of time. I think its was a coincidence.

[Snork]

I work in a maternity ward. I have had 5 babies since working there, and all have been very overdue even though I work till 39 weeks - long shifts, overnight, very busy.

I guess it didnt work for me.

[cidercat]

Originally Posted by Snork

I work in a maternity ward. I have had 5 babies since working there, and all have been very overdue even though I work till 39 weeks - long shifts, overnight, very busy.

I guess it didnt work for me.

I thought it was probably coincidence, but DH keeps bringing it up. Next time he does, I'm telling him about you!

[mamanurse]

From my experience on an LDR&P unit, it seemed it was either feast or famine. Either our unit was full of women in spontaneous labor or only a few patients in labor. We always thought it had something to do with the moon or weather.

[amyb15]

Quite possibly. Your hormones + mine are affected based on your thoughts and heart!! wow, interesting experience though

[Cinder]

Hmm, I'm not sure, I visited the maternity ward so many times to get them to stop labour. It would make sense though!

[Snork]

Originally Posted by cidercat

I thought it was probably coincidence, but DH keeps bringing it up. Next time he does, I'm telling him about you!

But on the other hand, I'm not very typical. The OBs I work with used to be concerned at my literally running up and down the wards till 39 weeks pregnant, climbing up beds and lifting patients and equipment.....one even tried to give me a medical certificate at 36 weeks to make me stop work so I could rest and grow a "healthy baby". Poor man. He didnt know me at all back then. I have 10 - 11 pounders, very healthy. So much for the research that says nightshift and heavy workloads = small babies.

[Snork]

Originally Posted by mamanurse

From my experience on an LDR&P unit, it seemed it was either feast or famine. Either our unit was full of women in spontaneous labor or only a few patients in labor. We always thought it had something to do with the moon or weather.

Absolutely it does. We get lots of PROMs on full moons, particularly 36 weekers. And we are inundated during electrical storms. Its so well known that the doctors in SCBU clear out the beds as much as they can when a storm is predicted, ready for the influx, and all the hospitals in our region communicate so we know who has how many beds available.

[ericswifey27]

Originally Posted by Snork

Absolutely it does. We get lots of PROMs on full moons, particularly 36 weekers. And we are inundated during electrical storms. Its so well known that the doctors in SCBU clear out the beds as much as they can when a storm is predicted, ready for the influx, and all the hospitals in our region communicate so we know who has how many beds available.

That's really interesting! It was pretty quiet when my son was born, no storms either that I remember

[jillmamma]

Originally Posted by Snork

Absolutely it does. We get lots of PROMs on full moons, particularly 36 weekers. And we are inundated during electrical storms. Its so well known that the doctors in SCBU clear out the beds as much as they can when a storm is predicted, ready for the influx, and all the hospitals in our region communicate so we know who has how many beds available.

Hurricanes have the same effect! I live in Houston, about 5 hours from New Orleans, and the day Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans was the day I went into labor. DD was born at 1:27 the next morning. I even was able to get out of there earlier because they said they needed the space with lots of moms going into labor due to the hurricane. I think it has something to do with the barometric pressure change giving things a kick start if your body is already getting ready for labor anyway.

[khaoskat]

Originally Posted by wombatclay

in fact, I was supposed to doula for a friend but since her due date is only a few days before mine I don't know if it will work out. I sort of think that if I DO attend her birth I'll find myself birthing as well!

OMG - I am in a similar situation. I met someone and we became friends. I found out I was prego and she is going to be my Doula. I estimate my EDD to be no later than 10/22 (my first cycle after full term still birth back in Oct - so cycle is off track...LMP puts EDD at 10/12, but hpt and symptoms, and when I think I o'd tend to go more towards 10/22).

My Doula/friend just found out she is prego and is due 9 days after my estimation of EDD.