They got to me!! - Page 3

[elmh23]

About the not dialating thing- my daughters labor was really long (68hrs from 1st contraction (every 2-3min) to baby out) and I didn't start dialating at all until about 15hrs before she was born. She weighed in at 7lbs 6oz, so weight had nothing to do with it! Some people just don't dialate until they are in labor!

[Montse]

I canceled my c-section for Wednesday! WOOHOO! I told them I'd wait one more week. I am hoping to go into labor before October 1st. At that point, I'll be 41 weeks 5 days!
Thank you so much for all the support!

[Montse]

Originally Posted by elmh23

About the not dialating thing- my daughters labor was really long (68hrs from 1st contraction (every 2-3min) to baby out) and I didn't start dialating at all until about 15hrs before she was born. She weighed in at 7lbs 6oz, so weight had nothing to do with it! Some people just don't dialate until they are in labor!

I agree with you completely! So many mothers have been telling me the same thing and I've read about this happening too.
I am so grateful for all the encouragement and fantastic feedback you've all been giving me! I have so much renewed strength after reading everyone's replies! Thank you!

[Kellie_MO4]

I canceled my c-section for Wednesday! WOOHOO! I told them I'd wait one more week.

Good for you!
My first baby was born at 38 weeks and was 8 lbs 3 oz... and they called HER a large baby! My 2nd was 40 weeks 2 days, and they estimated him at about 9 lbs the week before he was born (I was going for weekly NST's because he just stopped moving at 37 weeks) ... he was born at 11 lbs 1 oz (after taking a massive poop on my stomach before being weighed) and I only had minimal tearing (like 3 stitches, I think)... I'm 5'6", average bone structure, no GD or anything... YOU CAN DO IT!

[cellarstella]

Way to go! I'm glad you are going with your gut rather than buckling under pressure. While I don't think most c-sections are necessary, I know some are... but given your circumstances and feelings you expressed, I'm glad you got all the anecdotes and advice against it! Sending you lots of labor vibes this week!

[bc1995]

I hope you don't mind me chiming in. I am so glad you postponed your section another week!

My babies have never fully engaged until I was fully dialated. I also had a scan 3 days before ds1 was born that showed him at 8 1/2 lbs. He was 6lb 14oz. They just really don't know. Go with your gut!! Sending easy labor vibes your way.

[PassionateWriter]

Originally Posted by Montse

This whole thing has been insane! Bringing in other doctors from the practice to talk to me, sending me to three perinatologists, getting long NST's, etc. It's just crazy. I have to agree with Dr. Marsten Wagner's line in the Business of Being Born - "if you want a humanized birth, get the hell out of the hosptial." Of course, there are legitimate reasons for birthing in a hospital and I agree that many women and babies are alive today because of medical interventions ; however, they make assumptions about women without really knowing for sure. They treat each case the same - not on an individual basis. This ride has been incredibly stressful for me and I didn't think I would be going through this with a midwife either.
The HCPs I have, are so easy going about c-sections. Maybe they aren't such a big deal and maybe it is a good solution but at the same time, pushing c-sections without a solid, justified reason seems irresponsible to me.

well, unfortunately the MW's that work w/ the doc's are kind of "in the same camp" so to speak. i didnt realize it w/ my first vbac that the CNM was much more hands on than a CPM woudl have been (i was desperate to escape my OB who was pushing for a 3d c/s at 33 weeks). I was very lucky w/ my VBAC but i NOW know that it wasn't as peaceful as it could have been. This time will be different. Its all in the relationship you establish w/ a MW..I have been brutally honest w/ mine and we are on the same page...but others haven't been so lucky and really get med-wives. ;(

Originally Posted by Montse

I canceled my c-section for Wednesday! WOOHOO! I told them I'd wait one more week. I am hoping to go into labor before October 1st. At that point, I'll be 41 weeks 5 days!
Thank you so much for all the support!

good for you. try to relax for now. give yourself until 42 weeks to start worrying again.

more anecdotal evidence, but my babies have always been really really low but i have progressed dilation wise very very slowly. I was cut the first time b/c i went over 36 hours in labor. in a hospital. I was cut the 2nd time b/c of the same issue (of course they called it failure to progress and that equals a knife......but it was really just failure to be patient on their end). I had the same type of birth the third time...but w/ a MW in a birthing center. Of course, she ended up knitting an entire scarf and catching up on all her paperwork while i birthed...completely different than the first 2 times.

dilation prior to active labor doenst really tell you anything. even during labor, its not very useful most of the time. i was very very slow in dilating. thats just how my body births.

but THEY know you dont know how your body biths and are trying to scare the crap out of you.

stay strong and try to relax for a week or so now. s

[spanica]

I'm so glad you were able to make the decision you feel best about. Way to stand up for yourself! You should be proud! Sending natural, non-induced, non-sectioned labor vibes your way...

[Crazybean]

They estimated my 1st to be 10lbs2oz and I gave birth to an 8lb8oz boy at 40 weeks. Do what feels right for you! They had me scared too but I held out.

[moderngal]

good for you!!

they estimated my DS to be 7.5 pounds. He was 9lbs, 6oz. They thought DD would be 8lbs, 9oz and she was also 9lbs, 6oz. They really are just taking an educated guess, IMO. I really believe you make the baby you can deliver. Trust yourself.

[DocsNemesis]

I'm glad you canceled! I mean of course, its your decision, and you must do whatever is right for you but-having had 4 vaginal births and this last one a cesarean, there is no way I would just electively have a cesarean. Its just much harder to recover from. On the same hand, I would totally have one again if I felt it was the right way to go, and I dont feel that I made the wrong decision in having this one, even though Ive thought about it often. What if's suck.

In any case, 9 lbs isnt that large at all. As others have said, I know several woman who have had 10, 11 pound babies with no problems. One was close to 12 pounds!! Also the baby not dropping because its too big is crap-NONE of my kids dropped until I started pushing, none. And they were not that large (almost 9 pounds being the largest).

I had an OB who had been in practice for over 25 years when I had been seeing him. He was extremely busy/popular because A.) he was Harvard educated and well respected and B.) he took medicaid, a rarity for a private practice OB. Anyway, he told me once that womens bodies dont grow babies too big-and if they do, its a rarity and usually as a result of some secondary cause, such as uncontrolled diabetes. In 25 years of practice, he'd never seen a baby too large to be born vaginally.

He also employs the Gaskin maneuver if a baby has shoulder dystocia and has never had it fail. Seeing as I'd assume you are going without drugs, you would easily be able to flip over if the baby gets stuck for some reason. He's even done it with an epidural in. Chances are, nothing like that would happen anyway, but knowing how to deal with it YOURSELF would be a huge help.

Remember, its your body, and your baby. If you chose to have a cesarean, make sure you get things the way you want it. Have you asked about induction instead? I was told by the perinatologist when I had my son that they can insert a folly cathetor and get you dilated to 4cms with it, even with a completely unfavorable cervix. Of course, that could lead to other interventions so I'd try to avoid that as well BUT its preferable to just simply chosing a cesarean imo.

Regardless, good luck and hopefully we'll see a birth announcement soon!!

[cellarstella]

After all this... I can't wait to find out how big your baby actually is!

[New_Natural_Mom]

I was in your EXACT situation. Went overdue and had to induce. I refused the c/s and labored for 22 hours - I ended up needing the c/s because he just wouldn't.come.out. I say go in completely focused on a natural birth, but prepare yourself for the *possibility* that perhaps despite your *best efforts* you may actually end up needing a c/s for a big baby. I actually did. Some don't. It would be better if it did happen that you could accept it and be at peace. I think it would be better for you and the baby.

: for your chosen birth!

[neostudded]

Originally Posted by Montse

I canceled my c-section for Wednesday! WOOHOO! I told them I'd wait one more week. I am hoping to go into labor before October 1st. At that point, I'll be 41 weeks 5 days!
Thank you so much for all the support!

::::

Congratulations, I am SO PROUD OF YOU!!!
I had alarm bell's going off when I read your post.
I could tell you did not want an elective c/s and I can't explain HOW HAPPY I am that you let your baby cook a bit longer. By the way, why are they trying to give you a c/s? I don't get it, to me it sounds like it is "easier" for THEM so they are trying to push it on to you.

The "reasons" they used to scare and BULLY you were F*cked!
I cant believe someone who has training on birth is even using such dumb reasons to bully you. Your body would NOT make a baby to big to push out.

Your baby is not even over due.

Sending lots of labor vibe's

[Motherto4]

I'm not in your DDC but you can do it. They were pushy about my first and ended up inducing me and all that crap. With my youngest I knew what I wanted and I had it. Just stick to your guns if your haveing NST then you shouldn't have anything to worry about. Trust your gut.

[OkiMom]

Not in your due date club..
I had 2 friends that were told they HAD to have an induction at 38 weeks because the baby was HUGE and they were so small. One was estimated at over 10 pounds and the other at over 9. Both babies came out under 6 pounds. One had problems from being forced out before he was ready and ended up in the NICU. Neither one needed to be induced but the doctors scared them into it.
With DD I was told she was tiny, under 7 pounds. She was 8 pounds 9 ounces. I didn't start dialating until I was in labor. She didn't "drop" until I was almost 10 cms dilated and I had been in labor for over 12 hours. Don't let the doctors scare you into doing something you aren't comfortable with.

[nurnur]

so happy for you for making your voice heard and saying NO to their scheduled c-sec. I "tryed" to accept my scheduled repeat c-section with my twins 8 years ago, that led to PPD
they told me CPD w/first babe, cut him out when I was dilated to 6cm ~ he was 10.3....but he could've fit....
then repeat c-sec automatic since I was having twins, I fought with them for a month and then relented(accepted) it
finally after all that I had my biggest baby 10.4 at home!

YOU CAN BIRTH!