Add me to the STM struggle bus. I've been in early/latent labor for 3 weeks! It's gotten me to 4cm and 70% though, so hoping for a fast labor like last time, I just wish it would let up so I can actually do things or send me into active labor already!
I think this baby has dropped! I can feel his little feet way lower today, and at my appointment yesterday they said my bump was measuring the same as last week which could mean baby is lower in the pelvis... Although they did also seem slightly concerned - the resident did the first measurement and the doctor came back in after and re-measured to make sure...she said they'd pay extra attention to the bump size next week...(anybody have experience with the uterus measuring the same week-to-week this late in the game? And if so, what were the reasons for concern?) Otherwise, my care team seems completely disinterested in checking for dilation/effacement at 37+3... I didn't ask but wondering if that's just not routine in their practice *shrug*
@canucklehead123 they don't even do a fundal on me week to week or comment on it if they actually do one - personally I find the bump changes extremes throughout the day depending on what position he's in so not sure how much an external measurement would really tell my drs. @zande2016 I'm still working too to maximize leave, everyone keeps telling me I should just stop now 2 weeks before CS, but honestly...yes i want to punch everyone at the office, but if I wasn't working i'd be going OUT OF MY FREAKING MIND or would be doing things I really shouldn't around the house and getting injured. Like i could see myself totally trying to paint DD's room by myself 36 weeks pregnant with SPD and bulging discs and a step ladder - because i'm that dumb and just cannot sit still when there's shit to get done.
@canucklehead123 mine was the same for 2-3 weeks! There’s like a 2 week margin of error for fundal height measurements, I wouldn’t put too much stock in it.
Jumping in to the discussion here (see my intro on the introductions page!), but one of the things I've found it hard to wrap my head around is just how I'm feeling in the grand scheme of things. Like, I feel huge, I'm dealing with some sciatica that flares up every now and then, I really miss having my full range of motion, etc., but luckily I've avoided swelling and various other common complaints. For this reason, MH keeps remarking "For being so pregnant (I'm 41+4), you don't seem that uncomfortable!" And I'm like, "Please don't interpret a lack of complaining as me being comfortable!" On the other hand, I'm sure I could be feeling much worse, but as a FTM I have nothing to compare it to. Granted, I think the psychological burden of being so overdue is much harder right now than the physical stuff.
@perhapsitalian the psychological aspect has been the biggest kick in the pants for me. My first came 8 days early, spontaneously, after 7.5 hours of labor. Now I’m 3 days late, but I feel more like 2 weeks late and defeated.
I was very anti-inducement with my first, but I asked my doc today about scheduling a date. We're going to wait until my 40 week appt (40+1), but will then schedule something between 40+2 and 41 weeks. I've had no cervix changes in 2 weeks so I personally think my scar tissue will prevent spontaneous labor. Unfortunately, I'm almost dilated to 2 cm which means I don't qualify for cytotec, which is what put me into active labor with DD. So, the new inducement plan would be to check into the hospital in the morning and then have my water broken and chill for a few hours to see if that puts me into labor. If it doesn't, she'll do "a whiff of pitocin" (which I told her I would rather avoid). I didn't think to ask about cervadil, but I'm guessing I can't do it if I can't do cytotec.
Did a membrane sweep today, but right afterwards she told me that she's out of town this weekend and the on call doctor is a man in another practice that I've never even met! She doesn't think I'm going into labor on my own, but I'm definitely hoping that I don't now! Geez louise.
@acunamatada, I've been trying to prepare myself for going late enough that I'll need to be induced because my mom was two weeks late with me and my brother, and her mother was two weeks late with her and my aunt, etc. So I feel dumb because I knew this was likely, but I still just feel so down about it.
I didn't start to lose my MP until earlier this week, and I haven't had any other signs of labor. At my 40+4 appointment, I was only 1.5cm dilated and 50% effaced. I have another midwife appointment later this afternoon, and I'm fairly certain we'll be scheduling an induction for tomorrow because she said their policy is not to let you get past 41+5 and I just feel so upset about it, and then also feel ridiculous about how upset it makes me. I guess it's that I don't like the feeling that my body doesn't know what to do, and that I'll be denied the experience of a spontaneous labor. Defeated is exactly the right word. I really didn't think I'd feel so emotional about it, but I do.
@perhapsitalian welcome to the board! I totally understand I was induced at 41 +5 with both my pregnancies and am just expecting to go that long this time. With my second, I wasn't sure if it would be my last so I was super down that I wouldn't experience spontaneous labor. This time, again, not sure if it will be my last so I really want to go into spontaneous labor as well and have asked my docs to let me go all teh way to 42. THe mind eff of being that late is no joke, I totally feel you! I burst into tears because both times they scheduled my induction I wasn't even dilated or anything so I felt like my body just would never do this on its own! I hope you miraculously and spontaneously go into labor in the next day or 2! It sounds like you are in the same boat I was...my docs induced on 41+5 both times because they couldn't induce on a weekend due to only having on call surgeons around to do c-sections so by the time the following monday rolled around I'd be over 42 and they weren't ok wtih that.
@smashjam, thanks, it's good to be here and finally be out of lurkerdom! I was considering asking my midwife today if she'd let me go a couple days longer given that I've had two good biophysical profiles in the last week showing that baby is doing well, but I think you're right that the weekend won't work and Monday is too long. It's probably more productive for me to just come to terms with it and take comfort in knowing that the end is in sight.
@MichelleAG05 I don't understand why 2 cm puts you out of ripening? I was at a 2 cm with DD when they started my induction at 41w and they used a cervadil which shot me straight into active labor.
@perhapsitalian I completely understand - felt the same with my first - it's completely natural feeling but that doesn't make it any easier though. Not letting someone go into 42 is pretty standard and based off the national OB board - as is not letting someone induce before 40 or CS before 39 without medical reasoning. With my first I walked around at 2 cm for a month and then got induced at 41 on the dot due to holiday weekend timing. I'm sorry they're not giving you more planning/adjustment time, but i'd say from my circle of friends/acquaintances spontaneous labors (especially FTM) aren't as common as they used to be - most of my friends were induced at 41 (like me), had scheduled CS for complications, or were induced right after office visit due to low/leaking fluid.
@perhapsitalian and @SmashJam I totally feel the same way. I am so bummed when I think that I might have to have an induction. My dr is going to give me until 41+5 before we have to induce, and I really hope she comes on her own!
Meagan Married 6.12.10 DS 11.8.12 Baby GIRL! due 7.4.18
I don't understand either @gingerbride26. I probably should have asked more questions, I was just annoyed with myself for not being prepared with my questions and my desired date ahead of time. And really, I'm just super cranky so I just dropped it knowing I would have one more time to talk to her about it more.
@MichelleAG05 pssh I see like 1000 specialists a month and I still never manage to get all my questions in - even if i bring a list - especially when their throwing me curve balls :-D add pregnancy to the mix and you're just f'd. If you have one more appointment I'd just wait - otherwise I'd totally call the nurse line and say you had this question after you left. Do you see the same OB or a different one next time? Sometimes I pit them against eachother :-P
Well, just got back from my midwife appointment, where she said I was at 2cm and 90% effaced, but "easily stretched to 3cm" when she did a sweep. I told her about how I wasn't feeling that good about needing to be induced tomorrow, and she said there was still a decent chance of going into labor tonight based on the exam and sweep. Really trying not to get my hopes up, and instead trying to focus on the fact that no matter what happens, my little boy will be born soon. @gingerbride26, MH asked why I didn't push her and ask to hold off on the induction given how I feel about it, but I agree with you -- there are good reasons for these recommendations, and I've always had limited patience with people who think they know better than the medical community at large, so I have no interest in pushing the boundaries.
@perhapsitalian Welcome! I totally get the emotional roller coaster that comes with being over due! I'm a STM but was induced with my daughter at 41 weeks. It sounds like you're making progress though!
I had an appointment with my OB today, I'll be 39 weeks this weekend. I'm almost 1cm lol. I wanted a membrane sweep, he said he'd do what he can and did a sweep. Otherwise I'm feeling totally fine, still hopeful to go on my own but whatever.
@runsomewhere, thanks! And fingers crossed for you to start progressing as well.
I've been incredibly fortunate throughout this entire process -- we conceived fairly effortlessly, and I've had a pregnancy completely devoid of complications. I've often joked that I must be my midwife's most boring patient. I have so much to be grateful for, this feels like such a silly thing to whine about. Thanks, all, for the support!
@perhapsitalian it's not silly, it's perfectly valid and understandable to be bummed about needing to be induced, but agreed that it's not worth the risk of pushing things til Monday when you'll be post term. I personally cried alllll the tears when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and found out I wouldn't be allowed to go past my due date. I was induced with my first for other medical reasons and all I wanted this time was to let my body do it on its own, without being induced or needing any meds. I still have all my fingers and toes crossed to go into labor on my own before my induction on 7/12, but if it doesn't happen, I think I've at least come to terms with it - whereas a couple months ago I was an emotional wreck and cried every time I even thought about it. So I totally get where you're coming from. Honestly at 3cm and 90%, if baby is low enough, breaking your water may be all you need to go into labor, I'd ask about that as an option. Good luck!
Add me to the miserable STM club. With my first, I didn't get reaaaally uncomfortable until I went past my due date, and I think that was more mental than physical (I went into labor on my own at almost 42 weeks). This time I just feel so awful. Extreme swelling, unable to breathe, pain in my pelvis... I just hate everything
@zande2016 I just got back from my 37 week appointment. I'm measuring 36 weeks ad well. OB said this is because baby has dropped even more. When she did a cervix check, I'm now 70% effaced, 1cm dilated, and -1 stationed (term for babys head being so low??). She didnt seem concerned about the tummy measuring as the same as last week. Ob wont do a membrane sweep until 39 weeks.
Fx ladies! The end is near, even if it feels like a trillion light years away.
I might be trying it this weekend, not tonight because I don't want to really kick start anything overnight and not get any sleep. I plan to use my manual breast pump.
eta: mentioned this plan to DH and he was like, "nooo! leave them alone!" and then pretended to grab his nipples and exclaim, "ah! contraction!"
@flockofmoosen3 I've thought about doing that, but I've also heard it can bring on stronger contractions, so I keep being a chicken about it. Is there any truth to that?
As we’re lounging on the couch watching tv I keep manually stimulating my nipples - nothings happening. And my H keeps looking over at me and seeing me do it but he hasn’t asked why or commented. It’s like he thinks this is completely normal
@noideawhatshesdoing today my OB told me that the nipple stimulation will help the pituitary release oxytocin, which can trigger contractions. She said it's short-lived though, so if the body isn't ready, things fizzle out pretty quickly after you stop stimulation, and pumping continuously won't improve things either. She talked about it a lot but didn't mention that the contractions would be stronger than normal. Honestly, breaking water seems like the most effective means to get labor going strong per my OB. That's her first step in an induction, well before introducing pitocin.
@noideawhatshesdoing I know if you’re trying to VBAC (I am) nipple stimulation with a pump shouldn’t be done unless you’re in hospital hooked up to monitors because it can cause strong contractions and increase uterine rupture risk.
Went in to the doctors today and had high blood pressure (162/98), so I'm at the hospital. They gave me something to loosen my cervix, with plans to start pitocin in the morning.
With my first, pitocin was started quickly. This loosen-cervix-medicine is a complete pain in the ass. First they shove it as far up as they can get it, slightly more painful than a cervix check. Then they put some tampon feeling thing in. You've got to lie back for 2 hours, which is where I am now.... I cannot wait to turn off of my back!
All in all, by the end of the weekend, I'm excited to know I'll see my little one. Much better than the STM wait in pain game.
Had something going last night, I felt incredibly off and had a lot of pain that I couldn't tell if it was painful movement or contractions until I had one big long BH that had some pain associated with it, which was the first time that had happened. I was waiting for another one but I guess that was the grand finale, because I started feeling more normal after that and it didn't happen again. I got some shit to do between now and 39 weeks so I didn't push it, lol.
Re: It's Labor Time!
@zande2016 I'm still working too to maximize leave, everyone keeps telling me I should just stop now 2 weeks before CS, but honestly...yes i want to punch everyone at the office, but if I wasn't working i'd be going OUT OF MY FREAKING MIND or would be doing things I really shouldn't around the house and getting injured. Like i could see myself totally trying to paint DD's room by myself 36 weeks pregnant with SPD and bulging discs and a step ladder - because i'm that dumb and just cannot sit still when there's shit to get done.
Did a membrane sweep today, but right afterwards she told me that she's out of town this weekend and the on call doctor is a man in another practice that I've never even met! She doesn't think I'm going into labor on my own, but I'm definitely hoping that I don't now! Geez louise.
I didn't start to lose my MP until earlier this week, and I haven't had any other signs of labor. At my 40+4 appointment, I was only 1.5cm dilated and 50% effaced. I have another midwife appointment later this afternoon, and I'm fairly certain we'll be scheduling an induction for tomorrow because she said their policy is not to let you get past 41+5 and I just feel so upset about it, and then also feel ridiculous about how upset it makes me. I guess it's that I don't like the feeling that my body doesn't know what to do, and that I'll be denied the experience of a spontaneous labor. Defeated is exactly the right word. I really didn't think I'd feel so emotional about it, but I do.
@perhapsitalian I completely understand - felt the same with my first - it's completely natural feeling but that doesn't make it any easier though. Not letting someone go into 42 is pretty standard and based off the national OB board - as is not letting someone induce before 40 or CS before 39 without medical reasoning. With my first I walked around at 2 cm for a month and then got induced at 41 on the dot due to holiday weekend timing. I'm sorry they're not giving you more planning/adjustment time, but i'd say from my circle of friends/acquaintances spontaneous labors (especially FTM) aren't as common as they used to be - most of my friends were induced at 41 (like me), had scheduled CS for complications, or were induced right after office visit due to low/leaking fluid.
DS 11.8.12
Baby GIRL! due 7.4.18
I've been incredibly fortunate throughout this entire process -- we conceived fairly effortlessly, and I've had a pregnancy completely devoid of complications. I've often joked that I must be my midwife's most boring patient. I have so much to be grateful for, this feels like such a silly thing to whine about. Thanks, all, for the support!
Ob wont do a membrane sweep until 39 weeks.
Fx ladies! The end is near, even if it feels like a trillion light years away.
I might be trying it this weekend, not tonight because I don't want to really kick start anything overnight and not get any sleep. I plan to use my manual breast pump.
eta: mentioned this plan to DH and he was like, "nooo! leave them alone!" and then pretended to grab his nipples and exclaim, "ah! contraction!"
With my first, pitocin was started quickly. This loosen-cervix-medicine is a complete pain in the ass. First they shove it as far up as they can get it, slightly more painful than a cervix check. Then they put some tampon feeling thing in. You've got to lie back for 2 hours, which is where I am now.... I cannot wait to turn off of my back!
All in all, by the end of the weekend, I'm excited
to know I'll see my little one. Much better than the STM wait in pain game.
Had something going last night, I felt incredibly off and had a lot of pain that I couldn't tell if it was painful movement or contractions until I had one big long BH that had some pain associated with it, which was the first time that had happened. I was waiting for another one but I guess that was the grand finale, because I started feeling more normal after that and it didn't happen again. I got some shit to do between now and 39 weeks so I didn't push it, lol.