Ugh. CNM told my client to "get uncomfortable" or she'll never go into labor.

[DoomaYula]

:

My client is only 36 WEEKS. She's enjoying a really nice uneventful pregnancy, no discomforts, having a good time. Her CNM told her that unless she starts getting "uncomfortable" -- and apparently by that she means physically active beyond her comfort level and getting on the breast pump -- she'll never go into labor on her own, will need an induction, and will have a very long labor.

The hell? Seriously? Is there ANY validity to this?

It must have been a complete fluke that, after 18w of bedrest with my twins, I had an 8 hour labor from start to finish. And also that, after never having a single bh ctx with my last pregnancy, where the most activity I did was go from the couch to my fridge : my labor was less than 2h.

[mamaverdi]

[elspethshimon]

I've never heard of that. One of my friends had a similarly uneventful pregnancy and labored for less than 6 hours.

[mwherbs]

I wonder if she meant it that way?-- I have laughed and told moms something similar when they are very anxious and are wanting a baby to come yesterday, but often they still look like they could carry a baby another month and not be in discomfort-- so it is that they are mentally ready and tired of waiting -- but physically they are built to thrive in pregnancy and can tolerate it much longer and will be fine- oh sure you have to be way more miserable than this before you go into labor--- but not meaning it to be exactly true-- KWIM -- and I would want a mom to be up and walking building endurance for labor and convincing a baby to find the best position ahead of time if possible --
and if I had some back-up docs who induce my clients at 41 weeks I might be a bit more straight with the clients and would say that if possible we want to prepare your body to go into labor before the doc has his way with you...

you could mention to her how this was perceived by the client, so that she can change what she says or does

[DoomaYula]

I asked if it was an offhand comment, or if she was serious, and my client said she sounded serious -- she suggested getting on the breastpump starting now, and doing squats and lunges and more physically active. Client isn't over or underweight, she's pretty "normal" looking and has gained 35lbs.

Client isn't anxious at all, she and her siblings were born at home and her mom went past 42 with all of them.

Hopefully it just came out wrong? This is the same provider who will tell patients that they have a "bad baby" if the baby isn't in OFP. Tactless. Also, same provider who told a very religious client that she needed a pap because her dh could be cheating on her.

And yet, this CNM is the most midwife-esque CNM I've encountered. Le sigh.

[mwherbs]

yes sounds like she has some communication issues--
another way to talk about a pap is that HPV is slow growing and can turn up 20 years later as problem-- also getting a culture to rule out chlamydia is usually a good idea because it is the most frequently missed STD- most women don't have symptoms until they have had it a very long time and about 1/2 the men don't have symptoms-- so a couple could have a silent infection for years without knowing

[DBZ]

One mw I've talked with highly recommends exercise, especially at the end of pregnancy. According to her, if your insulin levels are slightly elevated (I'm not talking GD) it can prevent your cervix from rippening.