Experience with Drs/MWs and stress about impending delivery?

eatdrinkstretch

What has your experience been with your doctor/MW's stress level as you get closer to your due date?  Are they generally relaxed with a "babies come when they are ready" attitude or have they started to get more anxious about delivering early? 

Here's the deal:  my due date has been somewhat in flux for all of my pregnancy.  My "official EDD" is January 31st, which was set because my MWs do not want to run into their hospital policy of induction at 42 weeks.  However, based on my conception date and measurements, the MWs have always said that my EDD is probably more like January 24th-28th.  This would put me anywhere from 37w5d to 38w5d today.  For the last three appointments (since about 35 weeks), my MWs have been really anxious about my delivery and although they tell me "babies come when they are ready," they have been pretty adamant that this baby is coming early.  Their anxiety is exhibiting itself in ways that are kind of stressing me out - instructing me not to work, asking me to make sure that my mom (who is our doula) is here as soon as possible.  

So, obviously, this is causing me to be kind of stressed about when I might go into labor.  I have had a really healthy pregnancy (no signs of pre-e or other issues, healthy weight gain although my baby is measuring big) and have not had any signs of labor yet. I was completely prepared to go late (and at peace with that) until the MWs started getting nervous.

My question:  Has this been your experience?  What would you make of these attitudes from an otherwise very laid-back MW practice?

evelyntaylor

For my first pregnancy, I was with an OB office. Thankfully, they were very relaxed about my due date. Baby had been measuring behind by almost 2 weeks and at my 40wk check up there was no talk of induction. One week later I went into labor on my own without any pressure from my OB. Maybe mention to your MW that they are stressing you out. Ask them why they seem so anxious. 

cyprissa

Yeah, I would ask them why they are anxious. My midwives were very laid back until I passed 41 wks. They have to transfer care to their backup OB so starting around 41wks 3 ds they were a bit more stresses and started me with some natural induction methods. I delivered with them at 41wks 6 ds and in hindsight, my due date was definitely a week off. DS was not a 42 weeker, 40 yes, 41, maybe. Good luck and try to stay calm and relaxed. It will happen!