Update thread 07/07

[Halfasianmomma]

Good morning ladies. Any news on the birthing front?

I've been up since 4 a.m. woken up by DH's mad snoring and my anxiety over this induction crap. I once again tried to "convince" my body that it was time to give birth, but no luck. Lots more movement last night, some of it even a bit painful...maybe this means something?

NST in an hour. Will update later.

[halaroo]

Good morning! Nothing new here either. Pretty strong contractions yesterday evening again, about 10 minutes apart, that totally disappeared when I went to bed. I'm getting really frustrated here! My c-section is 3 days away now. I was certain I was going to avoid it. The only good thing about the wait is that I get to spend more alone time with DD. She was such a joy yesterday!

Let us know how the NST goes.

[kltroy]

Hey Maya -
keeping my fingers crossed for you on the NST and fluid levels thing - (I'm assuming they'll check that too?) With any luck they won't send you straight to L&D like they did me - but even if they do, keep in mind it will almost certainly turn out FINE. My birth ended up being awesome despite some initial panic and worrying.

[christinespurlock]

I guess all three of us are still here.

Maya.. I bet your nst will go well. I feel like I'm looking into every little sign to see in labor is on the horizon too.

halaroo...you still have 3 days. Maybe drawing your birth might help. I don't know I'm out of ideas for myself too.

me it's not even 8:00 am in time and I'm eating cholate cake. It's was the baby's birthday cake that my mom baked on Friday when everyone thought I was in labor...

[Halfasianmomma]

Awww christine...you *should* treat yourself to some chocolate goodies. This week, you have every excuse/right to have whatever yummy stuff you want. You totally deserve it!

halaroo...I'm sending all my labor vibes and energies in the hopes that your bellybean decides that today is the day to greet the world. (there's no smiley for frowning real hard in concentration, but you get the gist!). And drawing your birth (or writing about it) might be very liberating...

As for me, NST went fine, just as I thought. Fluid levels are normal though a tiny bit lower than before, and baby is very comfortable in there at 140 bpm, moving regularly and doing great. Heck, she's even in the right position (LOA). Honestly, they (the hospital staff) is more paranoid about the well-being of the baby than I am. As soon as anyone looks at my chart and sees that my EDD was June 27th, the first question out of their mouthes is "so when are you being induced?". : Gotta love that.

My next NST is scheduled for Thursday, right before my appointment with the nurse that heads my team. Depending on those results, I guess we'll be "deciding" what happens next...the induction they wanted to schedule was supposed to happen Thursday night, but I really don't know what I want to do about it. I don't want anyone "negative" there with me, so I'm going to ask my doula to come along (or DH, if she can't make it). All the external pressures around me (my parents, my doctor, my neighbors, hell even my grandmother who was a midwife in Viet-Nam) tell me I should go ahead and induce, and I'm just so torn up about it...Last night, I kept imagining all sorts of arguments with the doctor and trying to pinpoint exactly what I feel/want for this birth. All of this is such a blur in my brain, maybe I too need to write a long convoluted journal entry to figure out what I want to do and make peace with it. I don't want to riddle myself with guilt for choosing or not choosing this induction; I've got enough stress on my plate as it is....

Anyhow, that's my rant of the day.

[halaroo]

I'm gald everything is normal with your NST. With DD, I was set to be induced the day after I went into labour naturally. It can still happen for you! You and I sound very much alike - our bodies just need to bake our babies a little longer than average. Go with your instincts and don't let anyone make you feel bad about your decisions.

I was supposed to have an ultrasound again tomorrow, but I cancelled it. I just had one last week, and honestly, if I'm not in labour yet, I'd rather spend the day with DD, not driving all across town. Since the c-section is scheduled and they can't induce me, what's the point in wasting everyone's time?

I actually have visualized and meditated on my labour and birth several times already. Maybe writing it down is the next thing I have to do.

[kltroy]

I'm glad your baby passed the NST with flying colors! Keep positive here - she will be here before you know it, and in the mean time you can be confident that she's healthy and happy inside. If it were me, I would just keep myself busy, head to the NST on Thursday (assuming you make it that far) and if everything looks great on Thursday there's no reason not to just schedule *another* NST for the following Monday and skip the induction.

A while ago I actually pulled THE article that is used as justification for inducing at 41 weeks now, to see what the real risk of going post dates was.

Norwitz ER, Snegovskikh VV, Caughey AB.
Prolonged pregnancy: when should we intervene?
Clin Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jun;50(2):547-57. Review.

I posted some of the plots online HERE.

Personally, I found this to be quite reassuring (feel free to print and shove in your OB's face on Thursday). Especially the plots on the right. (Look carefully at the y-axis).

Anyway, hang in there!!! ELV

[*Karen*]

HAM - I'd tell them that you won't consider it until at least 42 weeks. You are only 41+3, right? Lots of first time moms go to at least 42 weeks. Geez, why are they so paranoid?!

[elisheva]

Originally Posted by halaroo

I'm gald everything is normal with your NST. With DD, I was set to be induced the day after I went into labour naturally. It can still happen for you! You and I sound very much alike - our bodies just need to bake our babies a little longer than average. Go with your instincts and don't let anyone make you feel bad about your decisions.

I was supposed to have an ultrasound again tomorrow, but I cancelled it. I just had one last week, and honestly, if I'm not in labour yet, I'd rather spend the day with DD, not driving all across town. Since the c-section is scheduled and they can't induce me, what's the point in wasting everyone's time?

I actually have visualized and meditated on my labour and birth several times already. Maybe writing it down is the next thing I have to do.

I've been stalking your DDC and sending everyone good labour vibes!!! Halaroo, I'm sure someone has asked you this before, but why do you have to go along with their scheduled c/s? Maybe you could get it rescheduled for Monday and have an NST instead on Thurs... Sending vibes that you'll go into labour before Thursday, but do know that you always have a choice.

[halaroo]

've been stalking your DDC and sending everyone good labour vibes!!! Halaroo, I'm sure someone has asked you this before, but why do you have to go along with their scheduled c/s? Maybe you could get it rescheduled for Monday and have an NST instead on Thurs... Sending vibes that you'll go into labour before Thursday, but do know that you always have a choice.

I feel like we've pushed it back as far as we can already. I will be 42 weeks on the day of the section, and that's after some fairly generous play with my numbers. My ultrasounds and LMP all put me at 42+1 today. We messed a little with the numbers so the OB would push back the c-section as far as possible. If the OB had scheduled the c-section any early, I would have postponed it. I risk losing my midwife if I don't get the c-section when scheduled and I really want her for postpartum care. Anyway, it's not something I want to do, but I really feel like I have no other options. I was certain I was going to have this baby by now. Thanks for your thoughts though!

[elisheva]

I understand, halaroo. Sending even more good vibes your way!!!