Getting a Little Discouraged

[diamond lil]

I was due on Monday. I know I can't expect the baby to come on that exact day, but I had an appointment to see my doc today and have my membranes stripped. I thought for sure this would get things moving along.

I am not even fingertip dialated! She couldn't do it. She did say that my cervix is nice and soft, but I was hoping for a little more progress. I am going to continue raspberry leaf tea, walking, sex, and will consider castor oil.

I was really hoping to give birth sometime this week. I'm just not having any contactions. I feel so terrible that I'm so jealous of you ladies who are posting progress.

[lizzylou]

I was due this past weekend, so I can relate. I haven't had much of anything going on. Even if you weren't at all dialated earlier today, just remember that things can change very quickly.

My mantra has been "maybe tomorrow..." Just take it one day at a time.

[robertandenith]

get goldenseal drops... trust me

[~Megan~]

First babies usually don't come tilll after 41 weeks. It is so very hard to wait though!

[becomingme]

Hang in there, mama. The waiting is hard, I know. I'm trying to stay busy to keep my mind off of it.

I get calls from friends who already have kids and they suggest trying to enjoy this time before the baby arrives, but that's so much easier said than done. Still..try to keep yourself busy and focused on other things as much as possible.

Take care,

nk

[AKA_PI]

Aw, don't get discouraged. Just when you least expect it, it will happen. That happened to me at 39 weeks and 5 days.

[bettie cracker]

Originally Posted by robertandenith

get goldenseal drops... trust me

Can you elaborate on the golden seal drops? How much? How often? etc. Does it help with dilation? Contractions? thanks!!

[greenmom4]

I had no signs of impending labor. I wasn't significantly dilated or effaced, didn't have any bloody show or loss of mucus plug, etc. But when it was time, it was time and 8 hours later I had a baby! Don't let lack of "signs" get you down - they just don't mean that much in the end... Hang in there!

[redebeth]

Originally Posted by greenmom4

I had no signs of impending labor. I wasn't significantly dilated or effaced, didn't have any bloody show or loss of mucus plug, etc. But when it was time, it was time and 8 hours later I had a baby! Don't let lack of "signs" get you down - they just don't mean that much in the end... Hang in there!

Just had to say yeah to that!

Also I want to add that I think Mamatolea said something in a post after she had her baby, that she felt she might have had an easier labor had she not fiddled to get labor going. I'm paraphrasing her badly, so i apologize if I got it wrong, but I got a lot out of what she said so I want to give her credit.

It struck me then, that I will have the best labor and birth if I wait until the baby is in just the right place, locked 'n loaded so to speak. Trying to get it going early might not be the best thing for labor or baby. I have completely taken that to heart and am willing to wait as long as possible for this baby to be ready! (To a point, probably, kwim.) Good luck!

[Surfer Rosa]

things can happen really quickly-so don't worry about how much you're dilated (or not). with my first i went 5 days over, and after 2 days over early labour, was only 1cm dilated...however, 3 hours later, i was 5 cm, and another 5 hours later, i had a baby in my arms. i went 9 days over (ack!) with this one, but went from 0-60 in 5 hours...so it can happen super fast.
it sucks going over your due date-i totally commiserate! try to enjoy the last few moments of near sanity though-rest up, treat yourself to something nice, and hang out with your partner. these are all things you'll wish you did more of!
good luck!

[hatfieldsarah]

Maybe you should take evening primrose oil?

[LivingforGod]

I had my membranes srtipped and it ended in a c section. I would use the natural ways instead of letting you ob strip your membranes. Good luck!!!

[*Isra*]

Let babies choose their birth time, not doctors. You've come this far mama, your little one knows better then any doctor when she's good and ready. The median time for first-time moms is 41w1d. Maybe she needs this extra time to get in the perfect position to make labor easier for you.

[diamond lil]

Thank you so much, to all of you, for the kind and encouraging words. I really needed them! In fact, I printed them out so I can refer to them when I am feeling down.

I want this little one to come when she is ready, not because I have people asking me/calling everyday. I know everyone is excited too, but I after reading your posts, I am confident that she knows when she wants to be born and I am fine with that.

[jennykilbo]

Just want you (and anyone else who is dealing with being past due) to know that I sympathize with you so much that I almost don't know what to write... I never prepared myself for the mental struggle that going over 13 days would do to me. I was so scared of not being able to birth with a mw after 42 weeks. I did castor oil 3 different times and it never worked; my mw kept suggesting doing an enema. I got so angry at the implication that if I didn't have a bunch of poop stuck inside me somewhere that I would have had a baby already. I cried and cried for days. I know how miserable you are. I hope you are able to find a place emotionally where you can just get comfortable and be willing to wait and watch with peace. Yeah, wayyyy easier said than done, but it was the first thing dh and I talked about after she was born - "I wish I hadn't worried so much. Everything went perfectly."