[filiadeluna]

I am now <b>41 weeks & 4 days</b>... 11 days past my "due date". I am incredibly sore almost constantly (hips & pelvis). Even though I'm on Short-Term Disability now from work, I can't sleep well at all b/c of constantly having to flip from one side of my body to the other, and turning over hurts pretty badly too.<br><br>
Last time I was checked, which was over a week ago, I was still only slightly over 1cm dilated, and not at all effaced. I had an ultrasound last week, and an NST this week, which went well. I have another NST for this Thursday.<br><br>
I have had contractions on & off for a couple of weeks now. They nearly always occur around 2am or so, and recur two or three times over a couple of hours. Then they just stop. It doesn't happen every night, either. It could be two nights in a row, and then I'll go three or four days without anything. I didn't have anything at all last night.<br><br>
I'm really worried. If something doesn't happen before Saturday, my Midwife is going to induce me that morning. This is what I've been trying to avoid the whole time. She will start me out with cervidil, but if that doesn't work after several hours it's on to a small dose of pitocin. If I have to get pitocin, I fear it will be too painful without an epidural. I am afraid that if I am induced, I won't be able to get up and walk around like I would have been, and especially not labor in the tub. More than anything, I am sooo fearful of the whole thing leading to a c-section.<br><br>
I know that technically going beyond 42 weeks can be safe, but my husband is adamant that he does not want me to wait beyond that time, based on what the Midwife has said. I really like and trust my Midwife a lot, and she knows that an induction is the last thing I want, but based on hospital policy she has to go ahead and induce me at 42 weeks, or I'll have to find another care provider.<br><br>
I've tried EVERYTHING to get labor started: sex, nipple stimulation, accupressure, massage, walking, stretching, bouncing on the birth ball, EPO, spicy food, pineapple, etc. Nothing is working. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[Malva]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">s:<br><br>
Castor oil? I threw it up but it worked anyway with my second pregnancy.

 

[mama to 2 girls]

Hi...I am not in your ddc but I just wanted to ask if you have tried reflexology....it didn't work the first time but we tried again with some Clary Sage oil and I went into labor that evening. I see you tried accupressure but have you tried accupuncture....it worked for my SIL for her 4th. She also used castor oil for her 3rd child but she said she wouldn't do it again. I was spared the details. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/wink1.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="wink1"><br><br>
I was in the same boat...if I had went to 42 weeks I would have had to transfer care to an OB. I was 41 weeks and not dilated at ALL...not even soft....and reflexology worked much to my suprise...he was definitely ready at a little over 10lbs.! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> 's

 

[fuzzypeach]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> I hope your little one comes before they induce you, and/or that you can convince your DH and MW to wait a while longer... and if you can't avoid it, hopefully an induction will go smoothly for you... they don't always go horribly.

 

[paula444four]

Hugs.<br><br>
oh and I read on a midwife thread that walking the curb can help open the pelvis...like one foot on the curb and one foot on the street.<br><br>
I feel for you. blessings.

 

[Altair]

If there's no way you can avoid hospital induction, then I would do caster oil a day or 2 before. If you're not favorable for induction, then neither is going to work, but it may be worth trying something more natural first. Are you having a HB if things go before 42 weeks?

 

[juliav]

Hey Luna, don't know if you remember me from TTC, but I just wanted to let you know that I had a premature rupture of membranes (3.5weeks early). .It was a high tear in the amniotic sac so I was just "leaking" small amounts of amniotic fluid. All this to say that my midwife had to induce me due to risk of infection. I was given an IV drip of oxytocin and I laboured and delivered with no pain meds. My midwife told me to be prepared because induction can be more painful. But to tell you the truth, since it was my first I had nothing to compare it to and I found myself realizing that this was normal to me.<br>
Don't stress (induced or not, stress will make it harder)...it is totally possible to have a med-free induced birth! Good Luck...you must be getting so excited!!

 

[JenMidwife]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2"> mama<br><br>
I'm lurking from the April ddc, but had to post w/ some <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2"><br><br>
My midwives really encourage castor oil prior to a medical induction... 2 tablespoons of castor oil blended in to a chocolate peanut butter milkshake.<br><br>
Good luck <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/hug2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Hug2">

 

[Just1More]

Not in your ddc but wanted to say that cervical changes don't neccessarily mean anything. I went from zero dialated and less than 50% effaced to baby in 6 hours. I had no early labor symptoms or any clue that labor was starting. So, try not to stress much...it could still happen and totally unexpectedly.

 

[mom2tatum]

First I'd say, do what you feel is best for you. but, if I were in your shoes with that kind of pressure with a first baby, I would try in order:<br>
1. acupuncture, reflexology - sometimes at one place they'd offer all.<br>
2. enema<br>
3.castor oil (that pb choc shake doesn't sound SO bad)<br><br>
and all starting now, probably...just to be safe with the time you're dealing with.<br>
Also, though, don't worry. At 42 wks induction, your body will probably be more ready than at 41 to take it well and go on maybe fine without pit or a low dose of it where you'll be ok without meds.

 

[3for_me]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">: I am only 5 days over but this is my fear too <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">:

 

[lanielayne]

I understand your fear too. I was there with my first 2 births. Induced with #1 cervidil then pit. I did go without and epi but it was very hard. I think they gave me too much pit so I would be talking about that with the mw if it were me. With #2 I had a homebirth but was so worried about going over we started nipple stim a couple days before my due date. We were doing it all the time. We were literally sitting on the couch watching TV while dh stimulated them. It is pretty funny looking back on it now. I went into labor on my EDD. Keep trying!

 

[liseux]

Hi! I'm also not in your ddc , I'm from April, but..I used to lurk on TTC all the time & have been pulling for you.<br><br>
I just wanted to add to what others have said, pitocin doesn't have to be too bad. My mom was induced 4 times with full pitocin inductions and never had any pain meds. I also had pitocin with my first and didn't find it worse than my second, where I had no pitocin. It may take only a little & then they may back off on it too. I hope you avoid induction, but if you don't, it can be doable. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[Multimomma]

Me too, almost the exact same post, same due date, I've dilated more but fat lot of good that does. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"><br><br>
what else can we do? I've done it all too, not the castor oil and cohosh, just not in my realm of comfort, they aren't regulated and can't be taken back. We've started vigorous cervical massage. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[filiadeluna]

Thank you, everyone!<br><br>
To explain a bit further, I have been planning a hospital birth all along, but it's with a Certified Nurse Midwife. I would have loved to have a home birth, but I cannot afford one at this time unless unassisted, which DH would be totally against. The hospital birth with a CNM is covered 100% - not even a single copay or deductible.<br><br>
Anyway, as for Castor oil, I'm afraid it would make me vomit rather than do much else. I did buy some Borage oil capsules today, though, so I'm thinking since those are more potent than Evening Primrose, maybe it will get things moving. I've taken three capsules orally, and from what I read online you can insert 4-8 of them vaginally too. I also bought some fiber laxative pills, so I took a couple of those to help clean me out. LOL.<br><br>
I can't afford acupuncture, etc. Long story, but DH's hours have been cut way down at work due to the economy, and I'm on maternity leave, but I won't get paid as much as I usually do.<br><br>
Anyway, thanks for all the ideas & reassurance. I guess I just felt rather depressed at the idea of being induced. I feel like I should be able to trust my body do its thing on its own, and I feel like if I have to feel induced I will have let myself down... like I will be less of a woman or something. Obviously that's not true, but I feel like after all the talk I've done to friends, family, and coworkers about how I want everything to be 100% natural, I will be a "failure" in their eyes and just prove to them that it couldn't be done. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"><br><br>
Anyway, I'm going to try some more nipple stim tonight, drink tons of water to get the fiber down, bounce on my ball some more, etc.

 

[mom2tatum]

I guess you've got yourself another full time job, now, huh? Labor inducer. Get on with it and let us know how your doing!

 

[filiadeluna]

^LOL.<br><br>
I have another NST later today, and I am seriously considering asking my MW to go ahead and sweep my membranes at this point. I know it may not do much of anything, but I would rather go ahead and take a risk with that than risk being induced on Saturday. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad"> This babe does not want to leave the womb.

 

[Erdbeer]

Ugh, that sucks. I kept noticing your name when we were both posting in the "baby's not here" thread. I delivered at 41 weeks and 1 day and I know several people who delivered between 10 and 15 days late. My midwife was also willing to fudge my dates by a few days if I went way overdue, because I had plenty of amniotic fluid and my cycles had been somewhat irregular.<br><br>
If it's any comfort, I had a midwife appointment 8 hours before my baby was born and was told my cervix is posterior and therefore probably not dilated (midwife could not reach it) and I am not in labor, even though I had been having slight contractions on and off for about 18 hours. I had no signs that the baby was coming, like bloody show or mucous plug.

 

[filiadeluna]

^ That's good to know. I just wonder if it will happen that way for me or not. I have been 1cm dilated for WEEKS now, but haven't actually been checked for about a week-and-a-half now. I wasn't effaced at all last time she checked, though.

 

[Xiaguan]

Luna~<br><br>
I have been thinking about you! I know that you will do great no matter what! I have had my membranes sweept if you body is ready it really does not feel any worse than an internal. I have also been induced with 3 of my 6 each time for leaking amnio fluid. Those were harder than my non-induced but I was able to go drug free with each one(so it can be done!) I wish there was amagic wand we could wave & send you into labor! Something that Mavis told me the day before I had Seth was I think important to the whole labor. She & I were talking about my fears: MY DH's fear of Not getting to nthe hospital on time, not getting antiobiorics for the GBS+, my lack of a doula for the first time. She reassured me that none of that was life or death<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> & that if that is all that was holding me back to let it go! there was nothing I could do at that point in the game except try to get there on time<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"> by leaving ASAP I thought I was in labor. She really helped calm me(which was saying alot since I thought for sure I was in labor that day 2/12) I found inner peace, got some sleep & out he flew the next am~ Could you MIL have something to do with any extra stressors?<br><br>
My wish for you is to find inner peace & for a speedy & safe delivery!<br><br>
Blessings!<br>
Melissa