40 wks, not dialated or effaced

[jillybean0216]

Hi,
asking a ? for a friend who's niece is 19 and due tomorrow. went to dr. today, had an internal and is not dialated or effaced at all. they're starting non-stress tests tomorrow and if all remains normal, they're inducing next thursday. i've kind of befriended her thru her preg. as she wants to bf and planned to have a natural birth. she's young, and on public assistance because of no ins., so she's just a # at the clinic, and not getting very personal care. i'm sure they'd flip out if she walked in with a birth plan! her mom arrives from CA tomorrow. i don't know her, but i'm told she's kind of crunchy too so i'm hoping she'll be a good advocate.
so...any suggestions for getting this young'n dialated and effaced at all to avoid all the medical intervention?

Thank you!

[Kanga]

she might just need more time...

Speaking from experience... both my kids just needed to go to 42 weeks. Pretty much on the dot. Fortunately for me I was with care that wouldn't induce until 42 weeks, so they just squeaked out right before the induction buzzer

See if you can convince them to wait until 42 weeks to buy her more time. As long as everything is fine, there's no reason to go with an induction before then.

Then, sex (semen is a natural prostoglandin), lots and lots of walking, spicy foods, hands and knees arching and flexing the back, a good night of dancing with lots of hip wiggling...

Also, just before the induction, have the OB (gently) sweep her membranes. Blood on the glove is a good sign when they do this, so tell her not to freak out if that's what she sees.

Maybe some professionals can give some more concrete advice...

[Maggi315]

sounds like she needs another week or two. tell her to do herself a favor and not show up for the next visit! Don't even go near the doctor until 42 weeks, that way if they want to induce, they'll have to schedule in a few days!

Easier said than done, most women just blindly do what they'll told, but an induction with nothing going on is going to be long, painful, result in an epidural and then most likely a c=section, that's the way they normally happen!

[moodymaximus]

it is a good idea to avoid the biophysical profiles as well--they are largely inconclusive adn inaccurate and can be interpreted either way. in many cases they are a very fast move towards an emergency c-section without any reason for it.

remind her that the average length of first pregnancy is 41 weeks 3 days, and that 40 weeks is a completely arbitrary number!

[alegna]

Totally normal. Remember that first babies AVERAGE around 41 and a half weeks gestation.

-Angela

[kltroy]

Her kid may need to cook longer - and it may not. My SIL went in on Monday or Tuesday (this is a couple weeks ago) - she was 39+ weeks - and was 0 cm, 0%. Saturday of that week she went into labor. Went to the hospital at 9:00 that night and was 1 cm. Went back home, tried to sleep. Went back in to the hospital at 4:00 AM and was complete - and had the baby 1.5 hours later, completely intervention free, on her due date.

Some women's cervixes change very quickly - you just never know until your body does its thing.

[rnchrista]

Originally Posted by jillybean0216

Hi,
asking a ? for a friend who's niece is 19 and due tomorrow. went to dr. today, had an internal and is not dialated or effaced at all. they're starting non-stress tests tomorrow and if all remains normal, they're inducing next thursday. i've kind of befriended her thru her preg. as she wants to bf and planned to have a natural birth. she's young, and on public assistance because of no ins., so she's just a # at the clinic, and not getting very personal care. i'm sure they'd flip out if she walked in with a birth plan! her mom arrives from CA tomorrow. i don't know her, but i'm told she's kind of crunchy too so i'm hoping she'll be a good advocate.
so...any suggestions for getting this young'n dialated and effaced at all to avoid all the medical intervention?

Thank you!

This has nothing to do with dilating and effacing, but let her know there is a volunteer doula program through the Center for the Childbearing Year program in Ann Arbor. They have free doula services for low income moms. It sounds like this could be very beneficial for her.
www.center4cby.com
If for some reason they can't get a doula for her this quick, PM me and I'd be willing to talk and try to work something out with her.

[SublimeBirthGirl]

I would never induce just for being past my due date (AVERAGE is 41 weeks and a day!), and I would have to have a real medical reason to try to induce on an unfavorable cervix. It is very likely if she induces she'll end up with a c-section. Google Bishop's Score and send it to her.

I was basically not dilated or effaced at all at 39 weeks with my 1st. When I arrived at the hospital, 15 hours after PROM, 41 weeks and 4 days, I was the same dilation as I'd been at 39 weeks. 12.5 hours later or so, my daughter was born vaginally. It sounds like she has no made a wise choice in care provider. If she's open to information you might want to mention that it's never too late to switch, but if she can't find anyone to take her, she can still decline an induction. 42 weeks is still NORMAL.