A little discouraged...

NCgingermama · December 2012

Alright, so I know my LO has to come out at some point, but I am getting discouraged here. My doctor said yesterday that he should come right around my due date, if not later. I am not dilating like an early delivery mom would be, but I know he is very, very low and head down. Anyone in this boat with me? I'm at 37 weeks today. I can't wait to meet him, and I am tired of this preggo crap already. I may be shooting myself in the foot, but I haven't even packed a bag yet... I just don't see a need. sigh

financialdiva · December 2012

Listen, a majority of FTM's deliver around 41 weeks. Do not pay attention to all these posts on this board about everyone thinking they are going to deliver early bc they are already dilated, or feeling crampy, or have random urges to pack their hospital bag. For most moms, it means nothing and they are setting themselves up for disappointment.

Hang in there mama and try to enjoy this time before your little one arrives. You won't be pregnant forever! Hugs.

buttabean14 · December 2012

I feel like I could have written this post, as my dr. told me the exact same thing. No dilation , a little effacement at 37 weeks. He said that I was the in line to deliver on time. I'm really getting emotionally and physically exhausted from pregnancy. Not to mention having a pumpkin with legs still rolling around in there.

NCgingermama · December 2012

Thanks y'all! financialdiva: you said just what I needed. I guess I am jealous of all the "what if this is labor?" posts. I
haven't had any complications so far, so I guess I am lucky...but it's hard not to get emotional because I did conceive by IVF. We worked so hard to get him here and now I am being whiney because of impatience. Thanks for the encouragement.

Allison546 · December 2012

Yep, sorry. 37 weeks is a bit early to be feeling "discouraged."

jobiann · December 2012

I would love to meet my LO already as well, I've said 38 weeks would be awesome but realistically I'm just joking about it because I know FTM's typically go after 40 weeks. Plus, I know my sleep will not improve with a newborn and I'm sure there will be some uncomfortable recovery time too.

DH and I have been focusing on each other the last several weeks because we know it will NEVER be the same. We've spent several nights a week on "date" nights, trying to get extra cuddle time in and just appreciating each other because pretty soon it's going to be ALL ABOUT the baby.

Hang in there, we all have days like this. (((hugs)))

sbevmc09 · December 2012

Your baby will come out, no one is pregnant forever. A lot of moms go past their EDD. It doesn't mean anything. Normal human gestation goes to 42 weeks.

Also, a lot can change quickly. You could go from no labor signs to baby coming tonight for all you know. It's so hard towards the end when you're just ready to be done and you're waiting for any sign that labor is starting, but you just have to take a deep breath and trust in the process and enjoy these last few weeks. Baby WILL come, just try to relax.

drpayne · December 2012

financialdiva:
Listen, a majority of FTM's deliver around 41 weeks. Do not pay attention to all these posts on this board about everyone thinking they are going to deliver early bc they are already dilated, or feeling crampy, or have random urges to pack their hospital bag. For most moms, it means nothing and they are setting themselves up for disappointment. Hang in there mama and try to enjoy this time before your little one arrives. You won't be pregnant forever! Hugs.

This... and why on earth doctors continue to make predictions like this is totally beyond me. The truth is they don't know. I was 3 cm for a month last time and still went 9 days late. As PP said, try to mentally prepare to go to 41 weeks - that's the norm.

Being pregnant with a toddler is whole different story... makes me wonder what I whined about last time Big Smile when the only one I had to worry about was me. There is far less resting now, that's for sure, especially when kids are sick. Hang in there.

this decaf life · December 2012

financialdiva:
Listen, a majority of FTM's deliver around 41 weeks.

This. I wish doctors would stop routine checks so early [without medical reason] because it doesn't mean a ton and really in general our LOs just aren't quite ready yet so there is no reason to feel discouraged.

jobiann · December 2012

sbevmc09:
Your baby will come out, no one is pregnant forever. A lot of moms go past their EDD. It doesn't mean anything. Normal human gestation goes to 42 weeks.
Also, a lot can change quickly. You could go from no labor signs to baby coming tonight for all you know. It's so hard towards the end when you're just ready to be done and you're waiting for any sign that labor is starting, but you just have to take a deep breath and trust in the process and enjoy these last few weeks. Baby WILL come, just try to relax.

(Uhg, I cannot bold from a quote apparently...ANNOYED!) Praying my LO doesn't decide to come early in the next few days, we are under a blizzard warning and our hospital is 30 minutes away (on clear roads). Keep cooking LO, you can come out and play when the weather is nicer!

brianabrad · December 2012

I agree with all the other ladies. It totally stinks and can be such a mind f*** when a doctor tells you that you "may" go early. I've been mentally preparing this entire pregnancy to go to my due date or later. Even when people would tell me stories about never seeing a due date and this and that I just continued to imagine going to that EDD. However, thats not to say I'm not getting excited and hoping baby girl might decide to come a little early. I think we all have days and moments like that.

mallrat147 · December 2012

I keep hoping they have my date wrong because the baby is so big. I had my last doc appt on tuesday and she is measuring 7.11lbs. EDD is in 20 days but im crossing my fingers that she comes before then. No sign of dialation yet but my cervix is thinning from the pressure of baby being in position. Some women don't dialate until the day they deliver so you never know! But at least with only 3 weeks to go, they wont let you go too far past ur EDD!

ShandaB · December 2012

I agree with pp that things change so quickly. With DS I was 1cm dialated when my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart so your doctor in no way can make an accurate prediction on when you'll go into labor. There are also people who walk around a few cm dialated and nothing happens. Don't be discouraged this early. LO will make an appearance soon enough. Hang in there.

shellylovelee · December 2012

drpayne:
financialdiva:
Listen, a majority of FTM's deliver around 41 weeks. Do not pay attention to all these posts on this board about everyone thinking they are going to deliver early bc they are already dilated, or feeling crampy, or have random urges to pack their hospital bag. For most moms, it means nothing and they are setting themselves up for disappointment. Hang in there mama and try to enjoy this time before your little one arrives. You won't be pregnant forever! Hugs.

This... and why on earth doctors continue to make predictions like this is totally beyond me. The truth is they don't know. I was 3 cm for a month last time and still went 9 days late. As PP said, try to mentally prepare to go to 41 weeks - that's the norm.
Being pregnant with a toddler is whole different story... makes me wonder what I whined about last time when the only one I had to worry about was me. There is far less resting now, that's for sure, especially when kids are sick. Hang in there.

This is exactly what I was thinking. Grrrrrrr! Trust me those last few weeks will creep by anyway even more so if you take to heart what your doc said. My mom was visiting and had to change her flight TWICE because little man wasn't in any hurry. I ended up agreeing to be induced at 41w5d and even after 24 hours of active labor he still wasn't in a hurry. I burned by birth plan and relented to the pit...four hours later he was in my arms. Finally.

shellylovelee · December 2012

mallrat147:
I keep hoping they have my date wrong because the baby is so big. I had my last doc appt on tuesday and she is measuring 7.11lbs. EDD is in 20 days but im crossing my fingers that she comes before then. No sign of dialation yet but my cervix is thinning from the pressure of baby being in position. Some women don't dialate until the day they deliver so you never know! But at least with only 3 weeks to go, they wont let you go too far past ur EDD!

I would take this with a grain of salt too. I see a round of docs in my OB practice and all of them over guessed his weight. Even at 13 days "late" when he was born he was still under 8 lbs which is what they said he was at 38 weeks.

Starfish02807 · December 2012

it's very hard when you are ready!! The best thing for your baby is to go a full term. When they are a little bigger and full term they are healtheir and most importantly they sleep better. I was 42 weeks with my first two kids. Obviously being in my last month I am anxious and can totally relate with being ready, try to spend time doing things you wont have time for, snuggle your dh, get a pedicure, clean your bathroom, organize a closet, go see a movie. It will be weeks/months before you will have time to tend to these things again.

SEWF · December 2012

I'm very uncomfortable, but I want him in there as long as he needs to be to be healthy.

My doctor said that the universe made the last few weeks so uncomfortable so that you'd be more willing to actually go through childbirth. He said, "This is probably the only time in your life you'll look forward to pain."

TofuMama7 · December 2012

With my last pregnancy I was carrying low and 3 cm dilated for almost 3 weeks (had my son at 41 weeks 6 days), one of my friends wasn't dilated at all for appointment after appointment and then was 4 cm at her 39 week appointment and had her baby the next day. So don't get discouraged by a lack of dilation (or too excited by the presence of it) while it's fun to know things are starting to progress, every pregnancy is different and you could progress in spurts or go quickly all at once. GL! I know the waiting at the end is the WORST!

dulcemariamar1 · December 2012

I feel your pain. For over one week, I have been having a lot of contractions, some of them are really painful. But they never become regular enough to go to the hospital, just enough to keep me up at night.

The Dr. told me that it could be hours or days. A week has gone by, so I am just going to assume that I am going to go past my EDD.

leller00 · December 2012

None of that stuff means a thing. With my first I went at 39 weeks 6 days, no forewarning whatsoever. I woke up having contractions one day had my bloody show and the rest is history. So don't feel discouraged, I mean I didn't even notice a single BH with that pregnancy. Also the best thing for baby is to be born as close to 40 weeks as possible

jeggomyeggo · December 2012

SEWF:
I'm very uncomfortable, but I want him in there as long as he needs to be to be healthy.
My doctor said that the universe made the last few weeks so uncomfortable so that you'd be more willing to actually go through childbirth. He said, "This is probably the only time in your life you'll look forward to pain."

OP: My doc said the same thing yesterday. Expect to be due between 40-41 weeks. The night before, I had 5 hours of "practice" labor, so I was hoping something was happening. I wanted to be checked because next week is Christmas and we hope to drive a few hours for family. I've had a super easy pregnancy and things are just starting to get uncomfortable. My older sis told me the bolded above and I've been hanging on to that.

southernbelle19 · December 2012

financialdiva:
Listen, a majority of FTM's deliver around 41 weeks. Do not pay attention to all these posts on this board about everyone thinking they are going to deliver early bc they are already dilated, or feeling crampy, or have random urges to pack their hospital bag. For most moms, it means nothing and they are setting themselves up for disappointment. Hang in there mama and try to enjoy this time before your little one arrives. You won't be pregnant forever! Hugs.

jessrenee11 · December 2012

I had my DD at 37 weeks and I cant imagine going over that this time!! The unknown is driving me crazy lol

lindsey913 · December 2012

Allison546:
Yep, sorry. 37 weeks is a bit early to be feeling "discouraged."

This. And remember the baby is better off cooking as long as possible--babies born closer to 40w are better eaters, sleepers and have less health issues at birth (even compared to 37 weekers). I know it's hard when you're uncomfortable and anxious to meet your baby but try to be patient.

AppleJacks81 · December 2012

Yeah, I was a 41 weeker FTM too. I was never dilated nor did I show any signs of labor. Never felt a natural contraction, no losing mucous plug, no back pain, no water breaking.....none of the usual stuff. I was induced and ended up with a c-section. Don't be discouraged, I tried to look at it this way - the longer they are still inside babies, the "older" they will be when they are born. You never know if this will buy you a few weeks of less colic, sleeplessness, volacanic spit ups, or whatever else is to come.

gplove94 · December 2012

sbevmc09:
Your baby will come out, no one is pregnant forever. A lot of moms go past their EDD. It doesn't mean anything. Normal human gestation goes to 42 weeks.
Also, a lot can change quickly. You could go from no labor signs to baby coming tonight for all you know. It's so hard towards the end when you're just ready to be done and you're waiting for any sign that labor is starting, but you just have to take a deep breath and trust in the process and enjoy these last few weeks. Baby WILL come, just try to relax.

All of this

zonagirlie · December 2012

buttabean14:
I feel like I could have written this post, as my dr. told me the exact same thing. No dilation , a little effacement at 37 weeks. He said that I was the in line to deliver on time. I'm really getting emotionally and physically exhausted from pregnancy. Not to mention having a pumpkin with legs still rolling around in there.

Sorry to sound crass but suck it up. Baby needs this time. 39 weeks at least, ladies. SUCK IT UP! Baby needs you to go the long haul!

carteramariec · December 2012

I've decided my doctor predicting when I'll give birth is no better than the local weatherman telling me when it is going to snow. In fact, the weatherman may be more accurate.

I've been walking around dilated and almost completely effaced for weeks...still pregnant. And my doctor said she'd be surprised if I made it to Christmas. Riiight. Just try to keep busy and focus on the holidays. You'll be at 40+ weeks before you know it!! At least that's what I keep telling myself

NCgingermama · December 2012

Appreciate all the good vibes from the vast majority. It has been interesting to see all of the opinions throughout the day. I am going to go with a little piece of advice my grandmother gave me and take all of this with a grain of salt, so I am taking the good with the bad here. A little commiseration never hurt anyone. We commiserate all the time on here. So, yes, we'll trudge along and suck it up. What other choice do we have?

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