Dumb Question about Late-Term Pregnancy

Barneso · August 2009

Very stupid question, so brace yourselves.

If a person gets to be 40 weeks pregnant and baby hasn't come... would you have to stay home and/or with someone or can you go out by yourself. I mean, if DH were working, can you go to the grocery store if you're 40 weeks pregnant? If so, what the heck do you do if your water breaks, you've got a full grocery cart (lol), DH is at work, etc.?

Please don't flame me...

mrs_sherod · August 2009

You can go out alone, but depending on your family they may not 'allow' you to do so. I'm thinking once I reach 40 weeks, I'm gonna stay home, I'm afraid my water will break in the market as well.

Alex17 · August 2009

You don't go into labor and have that baby in a matter of minutes (most of the time at least).

If you were at the grocery store, you just leave the cart and get home. If it's too uncomfortable to drive I would call DH or a friend to pick me up.

whit022109 · August 2009

i would be afraid of that happening in public after my due date, plus i doubt ill feel like being out and about! haha!

Tinkx123x · August 2009

yah you can go out by yourself still lol. The scenario described would mean that you would ditch the cart and drive home and get ready. When your water breaks its not like you go into a huge pain right away where you can't move. I think you've been watching too many movies lol

StarryNight39 · August 2009

Of course you can go out alone.

If you're water breaks out somewhere, I would just go home. My water has broken with my @ DC and both times I didn't deliver till 18+ hours after my water breaking.

Barneso · August 2009

All I have to go on is movies... lol. Glad to hear that it's okay to be out and about!

Thanks for the non-flame-filled, informative answers! :P

Anniekins214 · August 2009

A coworker of mine had her water break in front of all her students. At least in a grocery store, it's all strangers. Besides, grocery stores see a lot worse than amniotic fluid on the floor of the store. Trust.

Boizmom · August 2009

Well, I was induced the first two times (@ 37 weeks and 39 weeks) so I don't know. I am not being induced this time though. I would like to think that I will keep doing stuff that I would normally do up until I go into labor. I've heard though that most women never experience their water breaking...that they start with the contractions first and that's how they know they are in labor...most women have their water broken at the hospital. Anyway, I most likely will not venture more than 30 minutes away from my home once I hit the 39 week mark. And my husband works less than 10 minutes away so I think it would be pointless for him to stay home with me. My Doctor has told me that I can continue to do what I normally do (even driving) as long as I am comfortable doing it. When driving becomes uncomfortable that's when I'll stop...same with grocery shopping, etc.

beedale862003 · August 2009

Most women's water doesn't break like in the movies, I think around 20% of women have their waterbreak. The rest have contractions and know their in labor long before their water breaks. Who knows going out to the grocery store maybe just what you need to get the ball rolling.

rhannan · August 2009

You can usually go about your daily activites (within reason, as you'll probably be uncomfortable). If my water breaks in the grocery store, I'd freak, then tell the stock boy to grab a mop!!

I just plan on doing what I've heard my friends have done and just always have my phone with me whereever I go, and have DH on "standby". If I go into labor, wherever that happens to be--he's out the door to pick me up as soon as I call. He's great, and already planning on doing this anyway. People go into labor all the time in different places, and while I am hoping I start laboring at home, I would like to think that I will stay calm and have DH coming to my side ASAP. I can't stay at home for more than a day or 2, I'd go stir crazy so I know I'll risk running errands, etc. up until my EDD.

rhannan · August 2009

kimbarnes83:

Very stupid question, so brace yourselves.

If a person gets to be 40 weeks pregnant and baby hasn't come... would you have to stay home and/or with someone or can you go out by yourself. I mean, if DH were working, can you go to the grocery store if you're 40 weeks pregnant? If so, what the heck do you do if your water breaks, you've got a full grocery cart (lol), DH is at work, etc.?

Please don't flame me...

PS: It's NOT a stupid question I think we've all thought/worried about where we'll be when we go into labor. I know I have!

Timeg · August 2009

At 40 weeks, you'll want to stay home because you're so exhausted. I worked 1 day past EDD. I got to the point where I just couldn't physically handle working and being so tired all the time (and my job, at that time of the year, was a little crazy). Also, very rarely do you hear of a woman's water breaking at the store. It most often happens while she's resting, if it happens at all before you're already in labor. If it does happen, pray you have a jar of something liquid and "drop" it

Either way, carry a cell phone with you and have your DH and a couple friends/family members on alert, just in case.

irubyou2 · August 2009

Contrary to what the movies lead you to believe, even IF your water breaks early in labor, it's more likely to be a trickle instead of a gush. Another thing to consider is that when labor starts, you probably won't have instanly agonizing contractions. If, say, you've got a full cart of groceries and start noticing some mild contractions (which will probably only happen every 10 minutes or so), you'll likely have plenty of time to check out and get home with them before things get intense. I'm a doula, and on more than one occasion I've seen someone rush to the hospital as soon as they start feeling contractions, only to sit around bored for hours before real labor kicks in!

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