39wk appt

[KristyDi]

So I had my 39 wk appt today. I'm pretty happy. I have finally started to dilate some. About 1 cm.

Knowing that my official EDD is Monday and that my body is just starting to look like it's moving towards labor, I asked about how soon they would start wanting to induce me. The dr, who is one in the practice I haven't seen very often and so doesn't know me as well, misunderstood and started telling me that my best chance to deliver vaginally was to avoid induction etc. I clarified that no, I wasn't asking to be induced, but how long I could avoid it without them pressuring me. She said that 2 weeks post dates they'd start wanting to consider it, which is what I expected.

I was happy that she was trying to talk me out of induction when she thought I was wanting it. She even wrote on my chart that I didn't want to be induced unless medically necessary.

So my body is moving towards delivery, Yay! And I have a little more than 2 weeks until I have to start negotiating against induction.

[lilkat]

That's great! Nice to know that you're progressing well Even nicer to know that your doc is NOT induction-happy. A bunch of the hospitals in my area have "must induce at 41w" policies, and I know THREE 1st time moms who have had 41w inductions in the last 4 or 5 months that led to c-sections... :

[DBZ]

OMG there is a doc who isn't induction happy??? I'm glad you are going there then! Hopefully you won't need to worry about it.

[RosemaryS-F]

Congratulations!

[alijased]

I really like my OB too. I met with her for my 40 week yesterday, and she said she would recommend not even doing the membrane sweep. She said that unless you are really a day or two away, it won't do anything.

She had a really good thought process that I would like to share:
She looked at me and said "you are still smiling", "when you can't stand it anymore and in constant pain, labor will be a relief to you". That is why women who get induced too early think labor is the most painful part and ask for drugs.
So lets hear it for painful/uncomfortable final weeks!
ha ha!

[ELKMama]

Alija - I just had someone say to me that I must not be THAT close because I was still smiling! I actually feel I might be pretty close and I think I'm smiling because the excitement is balancing out the discomfort...

Oops - and meant to also say to Kristy that I'm glad the OB was in synch with you and that you won't feel pressured to induce for a while (and hopefully never!).

[KristyDi]

Thanks ya'll!

I visited the school I used to teach at yesterday and someone mentioned that I couldn't be that close to delivery because I didn't look exhausted and uncomfortable enough yet. So I guess that "if you're still smiling..." line of thought is pretty common.

[FoxintheSnow]

Thats great!

My ob isnt induction happy either. He told me at our 1st appt "i dont do elective inductions before 41 weeks and prefer to wait it out."