Rock and a Hard Place

[PapayaMom]

Let me preface all this by saying, I REALLY like my OB she is down to earth, believes and has had natural births herself a huge proponent of breastfeeding and we are pretty much on track with everything. She is willing to stand by my birthplan and I am confident that she will do so. She will definitely be the one delivering me and believes that since we spent the last 9 months building a relationship that it is in my best interest that she is the one who is there when it's time. And I couldn't agree more, I think birth tends to go much smoother when you can trust your provider.

So now the tricky part. She is going away Friday evening of Memorial day weekend and will be gone through Monday. My EDD is the 22nd so only a 3 days after my due date she is out of town. I am really stressed about it as DD#1 was 8 days late. So my options are to just go with the flow and have someone I don't know or trust be the one who is there if it happens while she is out of town, allow some form of intervention, she had mentioned that my cervix is superripe and if I did want to all she felt would be necessary would be breaking my water. I, of course, am trying to stay away from any intervention but am wondering which would be worse.

This is all compounded by the fact that I am READY to be done. I guess I should just hold out hope that this little one comes out before next friday on her own. But it's just nagging away at me.

Guess it's time to stock up on pineapple/spicyfood/eggplant and go for bumpy rides etc

[christyc]

Yikes! Hopefully things will happen while she's still in town! *fingers crossed*

[aran]

Since it's very important to you to keep the interventions mininal and to be with a provider you can trust, a milder intervention would be membrane stripping... then you could start the bumpy rides, breast pump, etc. Just a thought. Good luck.

[JanB]

I feel your pain, because while my OB isn't going anywhere, my doula has an unexpected commitment that will take her out of town for four days the week after my due date. Now, my other two babies both came early and I've been having prodromal labor already, so I am hoping it won't be an issue, but it's still worrisome. I really love my doula and don't really want to have to deal with her backup doula at the last minute, you know?

But I think what I've decided to do is to just go with the flow and let things progress naturally if it comes to that point. I'm taking EPO orally and will probably go on long walks -- if my due date approaches I may consider having my membranes stripped but I think that's about as far as I would want to go. (Of course, with diabetes, I may be looking at a medical induction if I go to 40+ weeks anyway but that is a whole 'nother story, and so far my OB hasn't mentioned anything, so..)

Good luck with your decision -- hopefully you go into labor soon so it's not an issue.

[Jilian]

I'm a Doula and my last client has this same dilemma. She went with a membrane sweep and scheduled an induction. She showed up for her induction already in labor and did not have to be induced.

If it were me I would opt for a membranes sweep and try other things like sex and nipple stimulation. If you are close to going into labor then these things should help give you the push you need. If you are not close to going into labor then even breaking your water isn't going to force you into labor. If your body is not ready to be in labor then breaking your water is just a cascade of interventions waiting to happen.

Good luck! I hope you go into labor on your own and everything works out for the best It sounds like a really hard decision.

[Sunflower223]

Hopefully things will work out for you. I would definately try a membrane sweep before anything else and the many home methods (nipple stim, walking, sex, bumpy rides, spicy food, etc). I hope that things happen for you before this week is over, sounds like they could.

[VOBetz]

I'd do it too. I'm all for waiting for the baby to decide when its ready. However, I think its much less invasive to do a membrane sweep or have your water broken than to have to deal with an OB you've never met.

I'd try the natural stuff first though - then move on to the other stuff. One step at a time too - don't hop right into pitocin. KWIM?