I feel like my body is failing me.

chelseymat · September 2011

I am so depressed. 39 weeks and nothing. No contractions, the baby hasn't dropped, I'm not dilated at all, and my cervix hasn't even softened. This is the same thing that happened with DS1 which lead to a failed induction because after 12 hrs on pitocin I had no contractions and never dilated at all. Seriously. I've been crying off and on since my last ob appointment. Why won't my body work like everyone else's? My ob is fine with letting me go to 42 weeks but that never mattered last time. I feel like everyone else an have a vaginal birth but me

chicsub · September 2011

Those dang internals will mess with your head, I'm sorry! I refused to do them this time until I was 40w b/c with DS I was totally closed up and DS was floating at my 40w appointment. FWIW, I felt very discouraged that I felt nothing at 39w this time, but at 39w6d I started to feel contractions and the next day I had them check me and I was 3-4 cm (could stretch to 6), 90% effaced with a bulging bag of water. It only takes one day to go into labor! GL!

McMother · September 2011

I'm sorry you're feeling so down about yourself Left Hug .

Your body is not failing you. Spontanious labor takes time, and it's just that: spontanious. You could go into active labor today, or it could be at your 42 week point? Try to stay positive. Get yourself into some good positions for the optimal positioning of the baby (try SpinningBabies), drink plenty of water, stretch efficiently everyday, and try to tie up any loose ends (nursury, other children, childcare arrangements, pre-cooked/frozen meals, ect.) before you do go into labor.

Good luck! I'm so envious of your upcoming VBAC!! I can't wait until it's my turn Geeked

nosoup4u · September 2011

Aw, hang in there! I know it's easier said than done. Both of my kids were slow coming out - I didn't start labor until 41 weeks with DS1, and 41.5-42 weeks with DS2. Waiting to go into labor is one of the hardest things I can think of, quite honestly!

Try to remind yourself that this is a different pregnancy, and will be a different labor. It'll happen!!

novilise · September 2011

At 39 weeks, my cervix wasn't doing anything either. I was kind of trying for a VBAC, but had a RCS scheduled for week 40.

In a last ditch effort, I did try to stimulate labor before my c-section at 40w 2 days. And...apparently it worked! Maybe it was coincidence, but I doubt it.

Now, I wasn't totally sold on a VBAC and didn't mind having a c-section, so my reasons for trying to stimulate labor were wanting the baby to go through some labor and kind of choose his own birthday, so I would know he was ready. So I was happy. I did get the RCS because even though in labor my cervix still wasn't doing anything and I do have a really narrow pelvis. (And again, I just didn't have the emotional connection and push for a VBAC.)

But, the point is! ....maybe if you try to stimulate labor (things like nipple stimulation, intercourse) then maybe it will happen!

I hope it does!

lmjt · September 2011

I'm feeling the same way. Today is my due date. Everyone on my month board seems to be having their babies, and I'm the only one on the clock. I have GD this time, and that just adds to the problem. I was supposed to have a RCS on Tuesday if the baby didn't show up by then, but I got the OB to agree to give me another week. I feel good about having the opportunity to wait the week, but at the same time I just keep wondering when its going to be my turn.

blf722 · September 2011

Hang in there. Believe in yourself. Your body is not failing you, your baby just feels that he or she needs more time and that is very important. I was in the same boat. No dilation, no nothing at like 39.5 weeks. 41 weeks my water spontaneously broke. There is hope. Take this time to relax, you can do it!

cchill01 · September 2011

You still haved plenty of time! Don't lose faith. Things can change in just an hour.

jen5-03 · September 2011

I'm sorry. Feeling like your body is failing you really sucks. I definitely went through that with infertility treatments and with my c/s.

For my vbac baby, at 40wk my cervix was so high and tight that I felt like the OB was in there up to his elbow trying to reach it. 0% effaced, 0% dilation. No soft-spot on the cervix, nothing.

On my due date I went with my family to the zoo, it was crowded so I dropped them off at the gate and had to park far away. I walked a mile to the zoo and then walked around for a couple hours. I never even had a BH contraction.

The baby dropped hours before labor started. A few hours after I felt the first "is that labor?" twinges, I was at 3cm.

Your current lack of progress is NOT an indicator for success or failure. It just isn't.

(And if you get past 40wk, here's a fun thing to do... go to the park and strike up a coversation with strangers. Watch their expression when you tell them you were due a week ago. It's hilarious and they obviously expect a baby to fall on their feet when you stand up.)

bugabean · September 2011

It is working like everyone else's. It's so unbearably normal to have nothing happening at 39 weeks, I honestly don't even know why they do internals then.

There was nothing at all happening at my 40 week appointment and I went into labor the next day. It means NOTHING.

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