XP Almost had baby last night? long

bluerevolution9 · August 2011

I posted this on the 3rd tri board too, but since I am planning a homebirth I was wondering what you lovely ladies here might suggest. So yesterday I was noticing that I was having a lot more braxton-hicks that I usually do. They seemed to be happening all day, but I didn't think too much of it. THen in the evening I went to my yoga class and was having a hard time in class because I felt like I was having so many contractions. So I started timing them. 1 every 5-10 min. (the exact timing was varying slightly). Then I sort of started to get really worried (I am 36 + 3 days). So I left class, called my husband and came home to call my MW. Meanwhile we were timing and by then realized that it was about every 7 min steadily for the past two hours at least, lasting about 2 min long. The midwife took a while to get back to us (she was at a birth) but when she called and I explained what was happening she was like "we need to stop this right away" SHe had me start drinking wine and get in the bathtub. My husband was trying everything he could think of that would make me calm and relaxed. I just felt scared thinking the baby isn't ready to come out yet. I stayed calm, but I knew this wasn't a good situation. I was too uncomfortable in the bath, and I felt like the wine was maybe starting to help as the contractions slowed down to like maybe every 10 or 15 min. I got out of the tub and went to lie down ( I was really tired). I kept drinking water (in case it was dehydration causing problems, but I was sure it wasn't). By the time I fell asleep the contractions had become erratic again (No pattern to them, just every once in a while). So I decided it would be best to go to sleep. I actually slept quite comfortably, and noticed very few contractions at all during the night. I had one when I woke up this morning, and I am hoping that things will just stay mellow today. The midwife felt that as long as we can stop this everything is fine. Baby is moving well, and I feel fine.Has anyone dealt with threatened early labor? Were you able to stop it and go to term? (I know that every situation is different but I am just curios). I have no idea if I am dilated or not, I have never been checked. I am waiting to talk to my MW again today and see what she suggests we do from here. I am just so confused now wondering if I was really going into labor or not last night and what this means for when LO will actually come.

JLG95 · August 2011

I'm really surprised your midwife wanted to stop your labor. 37 weeks is full term. 36.5 weeks isn't usually dangerous. How long does your midwife want you to wait?????

Honestly, I wouldn't try to stop labor at this point unless there was a medical necessity.

I had my son at 36 weeks 2 days. We did have to change my birth plan because of this though. I had planned to use a birth center, but they won't do deliveries there before 37 weeks, so I had to go to the hospital and the midwife delivered me there. Does your midwife not have hospital privileges?????

bluerevolution9 · August 2011

Giving birth before 37 weeks here would mean the baby in the NICU (no matter their state at birth just as protocol) and a birth that would be really intervened with in the hospital. And no, she has no privileges, no home birth midwife where I live can do a hospital delivery. She just felt that it was best to see if we could try to stop the contractions and keep baby in at least a few days more since before 37 weeks is considered premature. And since the wine seemed to help we feel good that Ill make it the few more days that I need to. And who knows, maybe baby will decide to stay in there for a few more weeks, maybe baby will come next week. I think it everything will be fine. It was just a strange experience. DH and I were looking at one another and I was like "is this what its going to be like" it was scary and exciting. He kept talking to my belly telling the baby to stay in a little while longer I guess it worked

jscagcia1 · August 2011

bluerevolution9:
Giving birth before 37 weeks here would mean the baby in the NICU (no matter their state at birth just as protocol) and a birth that would be really intervened with in the hospital. And no, she has no privileges, no home birth midwife where I live can do a hospital delivery. She just felt that it was best to see if we could try to stop the contractions and keep baby in at least a few days more since before 37 weeks is considered premature. And since the wine seemed to help we feel good that Ill make it the few more days that I need to. And who knows, maybe baby will decide to stay in there for a few more weeks, maybe baby will come next week. I think it everything will be fine. It was just a strange experience. DH and I were looking at one another and I was like "is this what its going to be like" it was scary and exciting. He kept talking to my belly telling the baby to stay in a little while longer I guess it worked

I agree with with you on your judgement call on this, bluerevolution9. Even the ACOG has changed it's guidelines on induction, to eliminate inductions before 39 weeks. I realize that in your case, it wasn't an induction however, if even ACOG advises against birth before 39 weeks now than I wouldn't want to have my baby at your stage either. I am 34w 4d and people at work (having no idea) joke with me like "oh are you ready to have that baby yet?" or "Any day now, right?" I'm like, "Um, no....he would be super early and not ready. He needs to bake longer." I'm like you, thinking of have my baby too early makes me nervous because the fine tuning still needs to happen in order for him to be completely ready for the world on his own.

jscagcia1 · August 2011

jscagcia1:

bluerevolution9:
Giving birth before 37 weeks here would mean the baby in the NICU (no matter their state at birth just as protocol) and a birth that would be really intervened with in the hospital. And no, she has no privileges, no home birth midwife where I live can do a hospital delivery. She just felt that it was best to see if we could try to stop the contractions and keep baby in at least a few days more since before 37 weeks is considered premature. And since the wine seemed to help we feel good that Ill make it the few more days that I need to. And who knows, maybe baby will decide to stay in there for a few more weeks, maybe baby will come next week. I think it everything will be fine. It was just a strange experience. DH and I were looking at one another and I was like "is this what its going to be like" it was scary and exciting. He kept talking to my belly telling the baby to stay in a little while longer I guess it worked

I agree with with you on your judgement call on this, bluerevolution9. Even the ACOG has changed it's guidelines on induction, to eliminate inductions before 39 weeks. I realize that in your case, it wasn't an induction however, if even ACOG advises against birth before 39 weeks now than I wouldn't want to have my baby at your stage either. I am 34w 4d and people at work (having no idea) joke with me like "oh are you ready to have that baby yet?" or "Any day now, right?" I'm like, "Um, no....he would be super early and not ready. He needs to bake longer." I'm like you, thinking of have my baby too early makes me nervous because the fine tuning still needs to happen in order for him to be completely ready for the world on his own.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/mcah/Documents/ElectiveDeliveries39WeekToolkitWithErrata-2011-03-15.pdf

star173 · August 2011

It sounds like it was promordal labor, which likely wouldn't have begun real labor. I had it at 37w with DS, and I was SURE that was it. I had regular, painful contractions for 5 hours, then they just tapered off. He was born 2w later.

Oh, and it wasn't in vain. When I got checked at my next appt, I was 3cm.

katcarls · August 2011

jscagcia1:

I agree with with you on your judgement call on this, bluerevolution9. Even the ACOG has changed it's guidelines on induction, to eliminate inductions before 39 weeks. I realize that in your case, it wasn't an induction however, if even ACOG advises against birth before 39 weeks now than I wouldn't want to have my baby at your stage either. I am 34w 4d and people at work (having no idea) joke with me like "oh are you ready to have that baby yet?" or "Any day now, right?" I'm like, "Um, no....he would be super early and not ready. He needs to bake longer." I'm like you, thinking of have my baby too early makes me nervous because the fine tuning still needs to happen in order for him to be completely ready for the world on his own.

I understand OP's reasons for not wanting to go into labor at that point but I have to disagree with you. A baby coming on it's own just before 37 weeks is a lot different than being induced then. The ACOG is not advising against birth before 39 weeks, they are advising against unnecessary induction before 39 weeks. It's completely different. If a baby is born at that point without being induced, it's most likely ready to come out. Most providers, my midwife included, wouldn't attempt to stop labor.

ETA for OP: I don't think your MW did anything wrong. I just had to correct this poster's misinformation. Best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy and your delivery!

katcarls · August 2011

jscagcia1:
jscagcia1:

I agree with with you on your judgement call on this, bluerevolution9. Even the ACOG has changed it's guidelines on induction, to eliminate inductions before 39 weeks. I realize that in your case, it wasn't an induction however, if even ACOG advises against birth before 39 weeks now than I wouldn't want to have my baby at your stage either. I am 34w 4d and people at work (having no idea) joke with me like "oh are you ready to have that baby yet?" or "Any day now, right?" I'm like, "Um, no....he would be super early and not ready. He needs to bake longer." I'm like you, thinking of have my baby too early makes me nervous because the fine tuning still needs to happen in order for him to be completely ready for the world on his own.

https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/mcah/Documents/ElectiveDeliveries39WeekToolkitWithErrata-2011-03-15.pdf

That link is about eliminating elective delivery before 39 weeks. It has nothing to do with spontaneous labor.

jteneback · August 2011

I just want to offer some support and "baby stay put" vibes. I had planned a home birth and my water broke at 34w3d. I hope to make it to 37 weeks next time. Best of luck to you!

LindseyJW · August 2011

that happened to me with my second pregnancy several times. nothing ever became of it, but i swore i was in labor several times and that the baby was coming early.

i ended up being pregnant for 41 weeks and six days.

i also agree with your judgement, OP. i would not want my baby to come out that early. just because someone else's baby came at 36+ and was fine doesn't mean they all are.

i also think that sometimes babies know best and when they need to come out early, they do. perhaps your baby is a little eager and wanted to see what it might feel like! that's what i told myself!

and, FWIW, my now nearly 11mo old DD has done (or at least practiced) everything "early." she moved in the womb early (10 weeks), she held her head early, she rolled over early, LOL'd early, smiled early, crawled early, sat unassisted early, walked early, etc. everything early. that's just how she rolls.

i would continue to do what you've been doing if you experience such practice labor again. nothing you did would keep a baby in that is ready and wanting to come out, so there is no harm in that.

GL mama!

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