[elyag]

Hi! I am hoping I could get some second opinions to see what my other options are. I am having a hospital birth with a midwife and I will be 41 weeks tomorrow. My cervix has been soft, 60% effaced since 39 weeks but I am not dilating at all. My sweet baby has been at -2 station since about 36 weeks and has not moved down anymore since then. My midwife had offered to strip my membranes last Monday but couldn't since I was not dilated. I went in yesterday morning for a Prepidil treatment and it did give me a few contractions after it was applied but nothing since then. I am supposed to go in for another application tomorrow and to see my progress from the first application. My midwife said I will have a regular appointment on Monday (if my baby hasn't arrived) to discuss my options from there and maybe schedule yet another application of Prepidil. She told me that they will have to induce me either next Thursday or Friday (will be 42 weeks next Friday) if my baby hasn't arrived by then. But she has said that she will try and help me out as much as possible to aviod that though. I'm horribly frightened of Pitocin and would like to try and avoid it.

She has told me that if I could get the baby to drop down lower that having that pressure on my cervix would help me out. I think I am doing everything to help my baby in order to avoid a Pitocin induction. I'm walking everyday, doing my squats, pelvic tilts, using the exercise ball, having lots of sex (almost too much

), visualization and I've even used some of the old wives tales of eating spicy foods, eating pineapple...etc.

I'm not willing to use castor oil at this point though since there is a risk of the baby pooping.

Can someone suggest some options on what I could do to help? And how to approach the upcoming week? I'm trying to remind myself that the due date is just a date and that it really means nothing and that it is very common that first time mothers go this far past their "date." But I'm starting to get worried since I haven't even dilated on my own and not even having any signs that labor is anywhere close.

Sorry so long! I appreciate your help and any advice you can offer! I'm starting to get pretty bummed out.

:

 

[Synchro246]

Well, there is solice in the fact that no woman has been known to be pregnant forever (OK except for some REALLY unusual circumstances that DONT apply to you).

I wonder what position the baby is in. Posterior babies can be a reason for lack of engagement and for slow to start labors. I wonder if www.spinningbabies.com is up yet. If yes it's a good source for helping get your baby in optimal positioning.

 

[elyag]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro246 Well, there is solice in the fact that no woman has been known to be pregnant forever (OK except for some REALLY unusual circumstances that DONT apply to you). I wonder what position the baby is in. Posterior babies can be a reason for lack of engagement and for slow to start labors. I wonder if www.spinningbabies.com is up yet. If yes it's a good source for helping get your baby in optimal positioning.

Hey that makes sense! I know that she is head down but I do feel alot of her kicks right in front at the top - right under my ribcage - so it does feel like she is posterior right now. She moves around so much though - sometimes I can tell her back is actually facing my tummy - it's gets hard right in front all up and down my tummey and her butt sticks up in the air right into my ribcage.

She is in this position almost at least twice a day. She always moves back to the posterior position though. After reading some things on Spinning Babies though... maybe her chin isn't tucked as well? I'm going to keep reading. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[JanetF]

My thoughts are DON'T DO IT. You can't be induced if you're not there

Dates are NOT a medical problem and no one can know how long a baby wants to cook for. Labour will only commence when your baby is fitted up for life on earth so to induce your baby means forcing a premature baby earthside, risking surgery and having a sick baby and sick mama. Babies come on their birthdays and don't let anyone tell you differently. Nervousness on the part of a careprovider does not mean you are obliged to risk yourself to their interventions. Stay home, avoid the hospy and just turn up in strong labour when there are fewer possible interventions anyway. Your mental health, your physical health and that of your baby may depend on it.

 

[Godiva]

I agree with the pp. Dates are NOT a reason to induce. First of all dates are soo frequently wrong. Even if you are positive of your dates, there is more risk in inducing a baby rather than waiting for him/her to come out on their own. Placentas do not shut down at 42 weeks +1 day, meconium is rare and even if it is present it is NOT a sign of distress unless the baby has aspirated it. Is YOUR baby healthy? Are YOU healthy? If so, please do not induce, there is so much more risk in that and with an induction your risk of a section is also greater. I had a perfectly healthy (slightly wrinkly

)baby born at 45 weeks. My placenta was functioning perfectly, no meconium. Anecdotal I know, but when I was going late, I looked at risks of letting her cook vs risks of induction and the risks of cooking are greatly less than using drugs or surgery to remove a baby that just isn't ready.

 

[hippiemom]

I third that. Dates have little to do with it. It is your health and that of the baby that indicate if an induction is necessary. And true induction where the cervix is longer and closed is so tricky and unpredictable IMO... different than augmentation of a woman whose cervix is effaced and dilating.

You are doing everything right mama! Not much more to do except get relaxed as best you can. Tension over "when will I go into labor" is quite exhausting... part of your job now is to rest up for the work that will surely come soon. Changes can happen quickly, so be ready, be rested and in a good frame of mind.

 

[alegna]

I would never agree to an induction without medical reason, and 42 weeks is not medical reason. Since I see you're in Houston I expect I know which midwife group you're with and honestly they are medwives. I would never birth with them. I agree with pps, don't show up. You don't have to agree to anything.

-Angela

 

[aisraeltax]

i have to agree to avoid the induction. if you go that route, they are that much closer to a c/s. i don't mean to scare you, but it really is such a slippery slope once they start the procedures.
if you aren't there, they can't induce you. so just don't go. and really, your baby will come when he/she is ready.
do you have a Doula? i know it seems late, but it may not be too late to find one.
good luck on your birth,
rach

 

[JanetF]

Induction information.

World Health Organisation's document "Care in Normal Birth: a practical guide"
http://www.who.int/reproductive-heal...ical_guide.pdf

Suspect Diagnoses Come with Biophysical Profiling
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/biophysical.asp

Elective induction of labour.
http://www.hencigoer.com/articles/elective_induction/

Big baby: is induction of labour necessary?
http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregna...,,8nbq,00.html

 

[elyag]

Thanks so much for everyone's advice! I agree with all of you actually. And I completely understand all about the higher risk of a C/S once you start medically intervening.... it just starts to snowball after that. I never understood why they would induce someone when both the mother and the baby are doing perfectly fine. I had a NST this past Monday and the baby is doing GREAT - she's so happy in there! Also, in my situation, it wouldn't even be because of a big baby (not that a big baby is even a reason to induce b/c it's not) right now my baby is right around 7 pounds. I've only gained 17 pounds total this whole pregnancy! I've made a point to eat right and excercise regularly ever since I found out I was pregnant. So that's not even a concern at all. She just mentioned the word induction to me the other day so at my appointment on Monday I was going to talk to them about it and see if we can't try and at least hold off as long as everything is okay. Plus, I still have a week left - maybe she'll decide to arrive anytime before then - there's lots of hours within a week!

alegna: Yes you probably do know what group I'm talking about. The midwife group at the Women's Specialist of Houston? I really wanted to birth at a birthcenter but I live on the West side of Houston and the closest birth center is in The Woodlands almost an hour away. Didn't want to have to drive all the way out there especially in Houston traffic while I was in labor since I want to labor as long as possible at home. I live in an apartment and I wasn't comfortable having a home birth - our walls aren't the most sound proof.

Again, thansk for everyone's advice! It has made me feel alot better as far as wanting to avoid an induction. Hopefully, it's something I'm worrying about for nothing... she might decide to arrive within the week. I hope so.... I'm ready to hold and admire my beautiful baby girl!

:

 

[Finch]

Good advice from the others, you can refuse the induction, tell them you'll agree to NST's until you deliver on your own, but no induction as long as mom and babe are fine.

 

[Synchro246]

I'm curious how her positioning is. . .keep us posted. I wonder how the things on spinning babies work for you.

 

[TanyaS]

Be sure to read this link on the hazards of induction. It's got a ton of info that I wish I knew before my labor was augmented with pitocin and started the long line of interventions to a c/s:

http://www.motherfriendly.org/Downlo...fact-sheet.pdf

Quote:

First-time mothers have approximately twice the likelihood of cesarean section with induction compared with natural onset of labor. This risk is due to the procedure itself, not any reason that mighthave led to inducing labor.

 

[alegna]

Yeah, figured it was that group. Honestly I know quite a number of women who birthed with that group and only ONE didn't end up with a section. Not scientific by any means, but still scary. IMO they're no better than the average OB and there are better than average OBs around.

You're going to have a fight on your hands. They will threaten to transfer you to the OBs. In labor you will be on the clock. They look for reasons to section.

Stand strong mama!

-Angela

 

[aisraeltax]

i just don't understand why they don't leave women alone. i was so used to being poked and prodded with my last OB that when i went to my MW, i have to admit i felt a bit "ignored". not ignored in the sense that she didnt talk to me, but she didnt want to get me up on the table and look at me all the time, didnt want to have an u/s done again, or anything else. she always just felt by belly and the baby felt fine.
btw, i had a VBAC after 2 c'/'s, was over 35 and he was LATE!!!!! about 3 weeks later than my first 2. AND, if i had stayed with my OB, he would have performed the c/s the first week of December (05). my baby was born Jan. 1 2006. i just shutter to think of him being brought into this world 3-4 weeks earlier than he was ready. i don't mean to hi-jack your thread, but it really is YOUR decision.
oh, and i drove an hour away happily!

there was no way i wanted to be close to home in case anything happened to me. the hospital in my area would not have allowed my MW in with me and their c/s rate is through the roof!!!!!
good luck! im sure you will be holding your baby soon!
have you looked into the methods of "helping things along"...walking, sex, etc. hey, even if they don't work, walking is good for you and well...DTD is fun if you are up for it!

 

[lrlittle]

I wouldn't agree to the induction. They make me so mad! (I've had my own experiences with them. I could go on and on...) You and baby are FINE and they insist on induction WHY?!?!

I know it's hard and not what you'd planned, but I would seriously consider finding someone else (do not tell them that until baby is born) or just waiting to show up when you're in labor. I left them at 39 weeks. IMO the option they've given you is much worse than the hassle of finding a new provider.

I hope baby comes soon!! Good luck to both of you

 

[MamaTaraX]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JanetF My thoughts are DON'T DO IT. You can't be induced if you're not there

: I'm sure I say that at least once a week around here

IF for some reason you do feel compelled to induce, at least ask for an overnight one w/Cervadil or something along those lines and request no pit until contractions are well established (at wich point you can re-evaluate and say no to the pit since your contractions are established) I'm not a fan of inductions, but that's my induction advice

Namaste, Tara

 

[elyag]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Synchro246 I'm curious how her positioning is. . .keep us posted. I wonder how the things on spinning babies work for you.

I tried a few different things (the inversion most specifically from Spinning Babies) and I "hula-hooped" sitting on my birthing ball after that for a few good hours yesterday along with extra long walking, etc. and IT WORKED! I had an appointment this morning and now she's at a -1 station just after one day!!!! YEAY! So I'm going to keep this up everyday and hopefully, she'll go even lower. I could even tell that she had repositioned herself - the pressure from her head felt different this morning.

I'm still not dilating. No progress on the effacing either. But techinically, I still could go into labor anytime though right? I'm just taking one day at a time and hoping for the best. They didn't mention to me anything else about the induction and of course, I didn't bring it up...

They were a little concerned about a spot while monitoring the baby... her line was dipping down a few times. But they are just having me come back in this Monday and are going to watch it closely. She was fine except for those few spots.

Thanks for everyone's help! Everyone has been such a great help!