Doc appointment today - anxious (Update #10)

[luckydog]

I have a doc appt later this morning (shadow care; planned homebirth). Wish me luck. I'm very nervous - I've been researching postdates and postmaturity ever since I got up this morning in preparation for this appointment. I'm 41w5d today. I know this is NOT going to be fun. I was SO hoping I wouldn't go this late and be faced with this problem. :

I have to say based on my research though that my OB has been amazingly low-key about me going over 40 weeks. She hasn't breathed a word about induction and it seems most docs start in on that at 41 weeks (and ACOG recommendation is 42 weeks end of pregnancy, end of story).

I'm expecting her to order a BPP today and I'm okay with that. It would do me some good mentally to see my Jakey. And I don't begrudge my doc her need to CYA and seek reassurance. (Personally, my intuition says all is well - the boy is still very active and also spins very freely still from LOT to ROT and OP, usually depending on my position. I think he has plenty of room, isn't too enormous [I was more uncomfortable with DD3 than with this pg so far and she was born 8#12 at 41 weeks] and probably has plenty of amniotic fluid, given the vigor of his movements.)

Also, I think labor is coming. I couldn't begin to pinpoint a day or anything, but I can tell my cervix is ripening more all the time - LOTS of increasing CM (it's insane!!) and I'm having increasing bouts of contractions that are more frequent and intense. Some of them are starting to get my attention.

My midwife put it well the other day - she said, "most likely you will slowly progress until finally the uterus "loses it's grip" and labor starts full force." And I can tell by the signs that indeed things are progressing in that way. I'd be far more concerned and stressed if I had NO signs of labor at this point. (But I'm still a little concerned and stressed, of course - mostly because I know so much and am, after all, a product of my culture...)

I can easily buy time through the weekend, assuming all remains well with the baby. And, depending on how today goes, I think I will starting getting a little more aggressive with at-home induction methods. Cohoshes for sure. Perhaps tomorrow the big guns... membrane stripping/castor oil.

Anyway, I'll let you all know how it goes. <sigh>

[~Demeter~]

Bee... I'm glad I had the bpp yesterday. It eased my mind so much, I wasn't aware how stressed *I* was about the baby. I hope that things start up soon for you... maybe Sage's appearance will trigger something for Jakey. I will be thinking of you this afternoon and sending labor vibes your way while I'm going through it.

ETA: I wanted to tell you how much I admire your strength and the faith you have in your body.

[jee'smom]

good luck, sweetie!

[Dreamer]

I completely agree with Nic that the faith you have in your body is phenomenal, Bee!!! I completely understand where your worry is coming from (it seems like every dr's appointment you have, you come back flustered! Whereas the mw's appointments are much more calming and confidence building for you)... I'm glad you've done your research this morning, hopefully they'll just ask to see you back early next week... The truth is: THIS KID IS GOING TO COME OUT. I would ever-so-politely remind the OB of this little factoid. : They DON'T stay in there forever, yk?

I'm sending you some kicked-in-the-nuts labor pangs!! I'm ready for all this waiting and worrying to be over for you. (((BIG HUGS))) & Update us when you get back!!

Alayna

[jee'smom]

Originally Posted by Dreamer

I'm sending you some kicked-in-the-nuts labor pangs!!

:

[pilllowhead]

It's only just sinking in with me that the more times you give birth, the longer it might take, especially for someone like me.
DS: 4 days past due and born 33 hours after waters went
DD: a week past due and born 2 1/2 days after waters went

The midwife said that the pattern of the second was more like a third baby: no pattern to contractions then finally picking up at the end. Somewhere I got the idea that the more labours, the faster and sooner they come but no, you are nice and ripe and open Bee and your body is just not panicking and getting tight, when this thing happens you will be so ready that Jake will just shoot out. I too admire your strength in this, you really remind me that we should have a due month and not panic.
You're my hero right now and if you're ready to be more aggressive about getting things going then you have every right to avoid the methods that the medical profession will only use if you don't!

[Lissybug]

Perhaps you've already had your appointment by now. Hope things are well with you and Jake.

[phathui5]

How did your appointment go?

[wheatie]

good luck, mama!

[luckydog]

Update

Thank you all for your support and encouragement. It was exactly what I needed to help me stay positive as I went in for the appointment. Just got back from:

1. OB appt
2. Spicy lunch at Mexican restaurant
3. Mall walk

I feel so much more relaxed!! I was so worried, but my OB was fabulous at this appointment. She noted that I'm in great health (I'm seriously amazed at how generally good I feel for being this pregnant actually!), Jake looks wonderful on the NSTs and per my reports of lots of movement and position changes. She didn't want to order an ultrasound/BPP unless I felt like I needed it - and I don't really just yet.

She was generally unconcerned and ordered another NST for tomorrow and another again on Monday or Tuesday. I also have an appointment scheduled with her on Monday morning. She was a teensy bit concerned about the size he might be getting to, especially considering that DD3 was 8#12 at 41 weeks, but I told her I really don't feel like Jake is even that big yet. Even at almost 42 weeks I'm not as uncomfortable, nor as large, as I was with her. Also her daddy is 6'6" and she takes after him - she's always been very tall for her age, so I think her birth weight was driven more by that genetic legacy.

I was so impressed by how low-key the doctor was. Yay! Part of it, I think, is that induction is not an option for me as far as she is concerned. She won't hook me up to any amount of Pit since I'm a VBAC. I can completely respect that. Induction of mamas with scarred uteri is a big part of what has made VBAC so damn hard to come by these days in the first place. Unfortunately, of course, that means if Jake needs to come out ASAP at some point for a medical reason, it will be straight to c/s.

Oh, I did have another vaginal exam - my request - not much change since the midwife did one on Tuesday. BLAH. She didn't exactly strip my membranes, but it was a rougher exam than I had from my midwife. No action as a result though.

Now this doctor actually has an acupuncturist and reflexologist who keep office hours at her practice. She hasn't been particularly impressed with the results of acupuncture for kick starting labor, but she has observed good results with the reflexology, so she recommended a session of that if I was interested. Hell yeah! I talked to the reflexologist before I left the doc's office and she's coming over this evening. We'll see what she can do. Again, I'll keep you posted!

[pilllowhead]

That's great Bee, you really have things in perspective and a good team around you!
I must say that I had accupuncture last time, twice or 3 times and I enjoyed it. This time I had reflexology and I loved the woman who gave it me, she came to my house 2 days after my water broke, said she would try to hit all of the cervix and uterus points and by that evening, my contractions had started, I don't know how much of that was her but I'm happy to give it some credit,
Good luck!
I would imagine that if you are out of the running for pit you also wouldn't do castor oil? When I told my mw I was thinking about it she said don't as it can cause some distress to babe and meconium in the waters. I know others might have a different opinion but if you need it not to be too forceful, that's my two cents!