I don't mean this question to be abrasive or rude but, why does it seem that everyone wants their baby to come early? Is it a FTM thing? I am on my third and I want him to stay in as long as he needs. My youngest is 7 and 7 years ago you never heard of membrane stripping or inducing early. Am I just out of the loop?
Re: Why is everyone in such a hurry?
I'm sure the moms that say they want their babies to come early (as in 37 - 39 weeks) want their babies to be in there as long as needed too. They just hope that they are one of the lucky ones who's babies only needed 38 weeks vs 42 weeks.
With that said, membrane sweeping is only going to encourage labor IF your body (and baby) are ready for it. I had my membranes swept 3 times with DD1 and it didn't work any of the 3 times!
As far as inducing early unless medically necessary - I don't understand.
Now that this is my 2nd pregnancy I am kind of hoping she hangs out past my EDD, simply for the fact that I know it's going to be hectic having 2 under 2.
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Nobody said we want our babies to come before they're ready. I didn't say I was going to ask them to perform a csection this week. I've had a perfectly healthy pregnancy with no signs of preterm labor thank God. The baby is more than likely quite large and it's very important to me to avoid drugs during her birth. I of course want her to be 100 percent ready to come...and I know that labor is not going to begin before it's time. Things like walking, raspberry tea, membrane stripping are all perfectly safe ways of ENCOURAGING a ready body to go into labor.
I personally am not a fan of any insinuation that I want this baby to come early more than I want her to come healthy. It was an innocent question...one which will obviously be ran by a dr. since she would be the one performing the procedure anyway.
My question was not meant to be an accusation or insuation that you wanted an unhealthy baby or were trying to control an uncontrolled situation, I am fully aware how different everyone's situation is. I was just curious because all the interventions and options were not available when I had my children 17 and 7 years ago. I was just curious and I don't think that trying to have a dialog with other women calls for a *eyeroll*. Sorry to offend. I was hoping someone could clue me in.
I've seen more 2+ time moms saying they want LO to come early than FTM's. I see way more FTM's saying "Ahh I'll never be ready I don't want LO to come ever."
Personally, I want LO to come whenever she is ready to. Do I hope that happens to be sooner rather than later? Absolutely I hate being pregnant. I have back problems and can't stand for longer than 10 mins. I can't do anything and hate being a wastiod on the couch. Of course LO's health is more important but if she decides she is ready before my due date (which is technically about a week later than it should be.) I will be more than happy to have her on the outside.
It's amazing the advances in medicine in those 17 years
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I have been different with each pregnancy...with my first I was pretty patient and was delighted when he came on his due date...with my second, I wanted that child out of me so bad it was crazy (I gained way too much weight and I was miserable). He came two days early but I wanted him to come two weeks early. With this one I have been having major nausea and heartburn so my weight gain has stayed low but I'm miserable. However, I now have two boys who run around the house being crazy and hitting each other most of the day so I am in no hurry for #3 to arrive...he can cook in there as long as he wants.
DISCLAIMER: Ask me this question again at 38 weeks and you may get a different answer
I don't mean to be snarky or rude, either, but I have to agree with the first poster; this question constitutes an "eyeroll" response from me as well. Why is everyone in such a hurry? Back pain. Being achey all the time. Insomnia. Are those reasons good enough for you? Lol.
I, for one, don't feel that I'm in a "hurry" by keeping my fingers crossed that my son will make his appearance any day now at 39 weeks. Having said that, I don't intend to have my membranes stripped or anything like that, either, because I believe he'll come when he's good and ready. I'm just tired of feeling miserable and I'm anxious to meet my baby. That's why I'm in a "hurry", personally.
I'm a FTM being induced this week at 39 weeks *if and only if* her lungs are ready. My hospital won't induce unless they check the lungs with a lung maturity amnio. I also have medical reasons for induction because my fetal medicine specialist does think the baby is quite large and the head and shoulders are measuring in the 90th percentile.
Personally, I am so ready for her to come because I am so uncomfortable. My pelvis hurts to badly that I can barely cross my legs at the ankle, much less at the knee. I've got a lot of low pressure, BH contractions and cramping...plus I've started to lose my mucous plug. I'm just ready and I think my body is getting there too!
I'm on my third and I am just done. I want to be able to walk without pain, be able to chase my kids around and not have shooting pains in my crotch, but thats just me.
DISCLAIMER - Not saying I want him to come NOW, but anytime after 37 weeks is juuuust fine.
Malakai - 8.3.09
Ezra - 12.1.11 ASD
Posting from an Android sorry for any errors
THIS.
Certified Veterinary Technician / SAHM
I can see both sides of it. I, too am a 3rd time mom and know the *reality*
that lies ahead with a newborn, however this pregnancy has been horrible compared to my others and I know it's only going to get worse over the next 8-10 weeks until I deliver.
Brayden (5 1/2) born 12.28.06
Hailey (4 1/2) born 2.25.08
Taylor (8 Months) born 12.26.11
Well, I had my membranes stripped with DD1 at 41w and at 41w4d because I didn't want to be induced...which I was...and it didn't work.
I had it done at 40w with DD2 because I was trying to VBAC and they would c-section at 41w and I had to go into labor on my own. It worked, I guess, because I went into labor that night.
But I know what you mean. With #1, I was so scared that I was happy she came so late. With #2, I was freaked out about not having more time with DD1 so I was happy she didn't come early.
I don't really get it either. It seems like 39 weeks is the new 40, and 41 is the new 42. I really don't consider myself "overdue," and neither do the midwives I see. It's just as normal (and closer to the average for a first time mom) for me to still be pregnant at 41 weeks as it would be for me to have a two week old.
We're all uncomfortable, me included. But personally, I don't see the value of requesting or agreeing to medical intervention simply because it's available.
Personally, I would not stay with a practice who "didn't want me" to or (somehow) "wouldn't let me" go past 41w1d without a legit medical reason. I would rather stay pregnant another week than be induced.
OP- Sometimes it's not what you ask but HOW you ask. I think that's what caused the eyeroll.
For me, I've been told I'm a likely candidate for induction- that my Dr. doesn't want to leave LO in there past my EDD due to a couple of medical reasons. I would so much rather he comes naturally, and if that means a couple of days before my full 40 weeks, so be it. If he comes on his own- then that will mean HE is ready, so it's not about me.
Selfishly, I'd love him to come the Friday before Thanksgiving, because DH just started a new job and only has about 3 days of PTO thus far, so a Friday birth would mean DH doesn't have to take time off to be with me in the hospital, and we'd get the holidays to extend his time at home. Will I purposely induce to accomplish this?? God no. But if I got a vote, that's what I'd vote for.
Something that my doctor told me was that at 39 weeks babies actually don't get any bigger, and some of them start to lose a little weight. I was completely shocked by this! This came up because I was talking about wanting to avoid induction due to the higher risk of csection, but was also concerned that if I did go closer to the 41-42 week mark would it be possible that the baby would be so big by that point that a csection would happen anyway. I had never heard this before, and I am not trying to sway either way....I do not have strong opinions on the induction debate....but just wanted to put in here what my doc said about the whole size thing.
Because being pregnant is not that much fun. Sure, there are some women who say they love it. BS. YES, it's great to be able to bring new life into the world and it's an experience I would never want to take back.
But do I like these things. NO: peeing when I sneeze, falling alseep in meetings and drooling, vomiting 2-3 times per day, nasal congestion, peeing 4-5 times per night, not being able to sleep, gaining weight, swollen feet, swollen hands, pregnancy skin, heartburn, not being able to enjoy a glass of wine, not being able to fully chase around my toddler without needing a 2 hour nap, being bitchy to my husband....need I go on?
Pregnancy is hard on a woman, physically, mentally and emotionally. I think most of us just want this part to be over, especially towards the end, and to hold our babies!
Luckily i have no control over when she gets here...the doc will decide what is best, but i am really struggling with the idea of how much life is going to change for me when she arrives, i am a single mom and this is my third baby(please don't judge you have no idea what the circumstances are) and know that it is going to be a HUGE financial and emotional and physical struggle although well worth every second..I am worried my little man who is 5 is going to not adjust well at all and my 8 year old is really going to feel as though she is "replaced" bc it is a girl..
On the flip side, i am extremely uncomfortable and in pain 24-7 and so tired and hormonal that it will be nice to feel as though i have control of myself and my emotional reactions to things, be able to get off the couch to help my kiddos and sit on the floor to play a game with them or color without the excruciating pain it causes me now...
So in all i have a lot of preparing still to do getting stuff washed and organized and preparing myself mentally and emotionally for the journey ahead...if she comes early GREAT, just not unhealthy and no complications, but if she doesn't, It is only 7 weeks of torture left..LOL
Also i just wanted to mention that i have heard about MANY situations where they let a baby go to 41 weeks and the baby ended up too big and csection was required along with miconeum problems and other issues related to being OVERDUE as well, so it think it really is a double edged sword and thank goodness docs have the overall say:)
Who doesn't want their baby in their arms as soon as possible? I'm sure any woman would gladly have pregnancy cut down to 20 weeks instead of 40.
Of course I hope to give birth at week 37 instead of 42. Doesn't mean I'll go drinking a bottle of castor oil, and sweeping my membranes every night now.
Also, 7 years ago, they DID have all of this going on. My friend gave birth to her first 8 years ago and yes they had voluntary c-sections and inductions and intervention and sweeps and whatever else you can think of.
Yeah!
I'm just excited and can't wait to meet my little Teency! When she's ready. Which will hopefully be after Halloween and before Thanksgiving.