Rest or be active to kickstart slow labor?

[Kelticmom]

Hi there,

Looking for some more experienced views if possible - maybe actually just need to get this all written down to get it out of my system! Apologies in advance for the length of the post

I'm having my first baby, am 41+4 wks today based on accurate LMP. I also had been checking my ovulation while TTC and know I ovulate on day 14 of my cycle - have always had spot on menstrual cycles of 28 days.

Anyway, I do understand the 'normal' range of pregnancy for the 'average' woman is 37-42 wks. I'm personally happy enough to let my baby decide when he/she wants to be born so long as the pregnancy continues to be healthy, but as I'm based in Ireland (the birthplace of active management of labour)I'm coming under increasing pressure to allow the induction of my baby's birth.

I really want (so long as I and baby are healthy) to have a gentle, calm, intervention-free birth and have been lucky enough to attend one of the only two midwife-led birth centres in this country (as I am considered low-risk). Their policy however is to transfer me out of their care into the normal 'consultant led care' of the hospital in two days if I haven't given birth by then.

On Monday evening, I was given a VE and told my cervix was very, very favourable (2cms, partially effaced, slightly posterior). The MW was very sure I would birth quickly and easily and most likely that night or the following morning (Tues). I had felt myself I was having a nice, gentle slow early labor the previous week or so. The MW also did a gentle sweep of my membranes. I went home and chilled on the couch and went to bed. During the night I began to pass the mucous plug. No painful contractions/surges at all, just slight crampiness.

On Tues, nothing much happened - surges on and off & crampyness.

On Wed morning (yesterday) I was due into the hospital (CLU) for a scan and a CTG to check babys health - all was fine with babs, the registrar did a (very rough) internal and pronounced I was now 3cms dialated and slightly effaced still. She tried to pressure me into having ARM as she said I was progressing so slowly and not likely to birth the baby naturally. I politely declined and returned to the MW unit, they told me to go home and chill.

Anyway, it seems that my surges keep starting and then stopping whenever I rest. They are not building up in intensity and I am beginning to doubt myself. Last night, instead of resting I walked and walked around the house for hours, up and down the stairs, and had dimmed all the lights and was playing slow music with a good beat which I could dance to with my partner - lots of pelvic rocking and then finally on my birth ball when I couldn't stand anymore from sheer exhaustion lol! The surges were coming really frequently as long as I kept moving - every 4-5 mins - but not building in intensity at all. Finally, I broke down in tears on my DH's shoulder and gave up. They stopped completely!

I'm feeling that the baby must be ready to come if I'm dialating at all, and that for some reason, it must be my body and my own hormones that are stopping the process from unfolding.

This morning, I am totally unsure as to whether I should just do my usual relax on the sofa for the day, hoping it will all kickstart itself - or go for long walks and see if I can get the surges to gain momentum? I'm aware I only have today or tomorrow if the baby is to be born in the lovely calm atmosphere of the midwife birth centre, but to be totally honest that is not freaking me out as much as I thought it would - I'm more concerned as to why my body is not producing enough hormones to actually kickstart active labor - and what can I do about it - rest or be active???

Sorry this has been so long and if I've bored any of you to tears- I didn't realise how much would come out there!

Oh - btw, I have been doing the lots of sex thing with DH and had a couple of reflexology sessions and massages, but haven't gone hugely into all the other 'natural' methods of inducing as I was happy to let nature take its course up till now

[MsBlack]

Remember 'KISS'--Keep it simple, Sweetheart

Simply accept that your body and baby know just what they are doing--and remember that it is ONLY inside the 'managed birth' mindset, that your pattern now is considered 'abnormal' or 'substandard'. I have seen many a normal healthy birth occur after a period just as you are describing.

Simply enjoy this 'labor by intallments', which is actually easiest on you/baby. Believe me, in time you will no doubt be treated to some period of the rigors of active labor! And that period will be relatively shorter, because you are getting part of the work done in advance.

Simply pay attention to what you need, and get it: food, fluids, rest, movement, tears, lovin'....no need to force this, every reason to trust your own senses and intuition right now.

It may come down to making a choice to induce. You are not at that point yet. Be with yourself and baby, enjoy and affirm this time. Choose each thing, one minute at a time as necessary, and let 'later decisions' come later.

Happy, gentle birthing to you!

[Kelticmom]

MsBlack thank you so much for your kind, gentle words. They have come at exactly the right time for me. I have tears reading your post and feel so much more centered and connected again.

I'm off out for a nice lunch with my DH now and will take it from there. I love your KISS approach...I'm sure I will return to read your words several times to keep myself on track and tuned in to my baby and my instincts during this special time.

Take care and know you really helped a mom and baby today

[mrsmaynard]

I fully understand

I don't have any advice sorry, I just want to say I fully understand. I am in the exact same boat you are currently. I am 41 weeks today, have been dilating and effacing slowly over the past 3 weeks to the point that I am now 2cm dilated and 50% effaced, I lost my mucus plug and had a bloody show last Thursday night. I have contractions and cramping every single night, but like you they don't build into anything, I eventually fall asleep and wake up to them all gone, vanished. I have been going through the same insecurities you are about my body not doing its thing, I have been trying so hard to stay positive. It can be tough. The pressure will also be on here for induction if babe stays put beyond 42 weeks. They have already mentioned it. I think what makes it all harder for me is that I am having major major pelvic issues and excruciating constant pain in my Sacroiliac joint and have been unable to get around for nearly 3 weeks now just surviving day to day waiting for delivery to take the pressure off my pelvis.

Anyhow, just wanted to say I understand and wish you the absolute best of luck with your babe making the move soon and pushing on through. I hope and pray you have the labor and delivery you dream of. We are planning a home birth with a midwife on this end.

[flapjack]

For me, there's one question: how would you want to spend your perfect day? If this is the last day before you become a mother, what will make you happiest? Going for a walk, sitting and talking with friends, making love with your partner, any or all of these things? The story of this day is the start of your baby's birth story, so make it count.
I've had a long slow build-up to birth twice, and both times there's been a mechanical reason why this was necessary- my first was born with strong markings that suggested he'd been presenting brow-first until just before birth, and my third had her hand next to my cervix, keeping the pressure off. Something so small, so simple, can cause your uterus to wait off on strong intense labour until the change happens. And it will.

[lovestef]

I was very relieved to read this thread... I'm 40wks and 2 days preg. with my first child and have had regular contractions for about 6 days that get more frequent, but not stronger. I've only progressed about .5 cm since last week.

I'm really hoping for my body to go into a more active labor on its own before I start getting pressure to be induced (my caregiver won't let me go past 41.5 weeks). It's just nice to know that I'm not alone and that this is "normal" for many women. Good luck to you and I wish you an easy, comfortable birth

[Mimi37]

I agree with the PPs that there's usually no need to rush things and you should listen to your body and your instincts.

That said, when my water broke and active labor hadn't started several hours later, my instincts said, "I don't want to get screened out of the birth center, I want to have this baby already" And it was very obvious that when I sat down and rested, the contractions slowed/stopped. And when I walked around, they picked up again. And when I walked uphill, they REALLY picked up. So if the question is simply, "Rest or be active to kickstart slow labor?" -- be active. However, keep in mind that active labor is TIRING and you will need energy then, so you definitely don't want to exhaust yourself trying to get things going.

Good luck to the OP, who I hope is a happy mama by now!