What to do?? Help!!
MollyAnn11
member
So, my dr says I'm 37 weeks and 3 days today but I had an ultrasound and the ultra sound says the baby is 39 weeks and one day today....I'm not dialated but my cervix is soft. I am in so much pain, hip, pelvis, sacrum, back and now knee too (even though I'm going to PT!!) that it's getting harder and harder to take care of my very active almost 11 month old! And forget about the house, my husband has been cooking and cleaning after working all day.
I was told today that they wont change my due date and that they can't induce me til I'm 41 weeks prego (that would make baby about 43 weeks) I have no medical reason for them to induce me...no high blood pressure, excessive water ect. The ultrasound tech believes the baby is 8.5lbs to 9lbs right now. I know I'm not a dr but the bigger the baby gets the more likely I'll have to have a c section, so is that not a medical reason??? Besides me becoming less mobile everyday.
Is it stupid of me to change drs so late in my pregnancy? I don't think I can wait four more weeks, we can't afford a nanny and family tries to help when they can, my husband can't stop working for a month to help. And since the baby is 39+ weeks I know he'll be healthy and everything. I'm stressing out and I can't do anything about it! Any advice or thoughts would be nice!
Re: What to do?? Help!!
My good friend was induced at 39 weeks because her Dr. said her baby was measuring over 9 lbs. He only ended up only weighing 7 when he was born.
My understanding is that it is only during the first half of pregnancy that gestational age can be determined accurately because it's only during the first half that all babies grow at the same rate. After that, they start developing at all different rates and that's why you can have full term babies born at all different sizes.
I think all the ultrasound is telling you is that you're going to have a big baby and that he/she is measuring LIKE a 39 week baby, not that it IS a 39 week baby. Your baby will come when it's ready. To induce too early because of a late pregnancy ultrasound could probably cause more harm than good for your little one.
The gestational age that you were given during the ultrasound is a reflection of the baby's size. They determine the gestational age by measuring different parts of the baby, namely the head circumference, the thigh bone length, and the total length, among a few other things. It is not accurate in late pregnancy because every baby does grow differently. Ultrasounds are approximations of the weight, and like someone else said, can be plus or minus a pound on average. It is not the size of the baby alone that determines starting labor, but the size of your pelvis in relation to the size of the baby. If the baby is determined to be getting to large for your pelvis, then they would induce. Not just because it is a larger baby.
Changing DR's this late in pregnancy can be detrimental. Most insurances wont cover it and most OB's wont take you on. Also, if your due date set at the beginning of the pregnancy is the most accurate due date, so you are only 37 1/2 weeks. Not 39.
As for the hips and discomfort. It can be difficult. I have a progressive bone degeneration disorder in my right hip. The pain can be agonizing and there isnt anything they can do. So I do understand. However, there is some minor things you can try to see if they help. I set myself a timer, I am up for about 20 minutes at a time. Just enough to unload the dishwasher for instance. Then sitting back down. Make sure you have support when you sit, I use pillows to keep my pelvis in the right position when I sit on my couch. Usually I am sitting for about 20-30 minutes. Then I do it again, get up for about 20, reload the dishwasher, put in a load of laundry, pick up toys, anything you feel you can do. But limiting your time up can help with the pain. Because you are limiting the time you can decrease the pain while still getting things done. There are also support belts for late pregnancy that can be of help.
It can be extremely difficult with little ones already at home. On the weekend with the help of your husband, try to make a weeks worth of breakfast and lunches for your little one. Something you can put in the microwave. That way it is easy for you, but still can be healthy for the little one. Use baby gates or furniture to keep the toddler in a room with you. You can take a few different bags (like diaper bags) and fill each one with different toys, activities, and snacks. They have short attention spans, but you can switch bags as needed and it is something new each time. I would do three bags. By the time they play with all three and are back to the first one, they are interested in it again.
I do feel for you in this. It isnt easy. But, it is only a short time. You have already been through 37 weeks. There is only a few weeks left and then you can start to heal. You can do it!
Guessing the baby's weight at the end via ultrasound is notoriously inaccurate. I put no stock into it, and definitely wouldn't induce because of it. A doctor friend of mine explained it, the ultrasound tech measures the femur then the age is based on averages. And it really depends on the baby's position (if they are not facing straight on, the femur can appear shorter) and how good the tech is.
It can be pretty rough at the end, I know I am having a lot of hip and back pain. Plus I have had a cold for the past three days and it sucks not being able to take Nyquil! If the pain is bad you can take regular strength Tylenol. I use a heating pad for my back, if you don't have one then fill a cloth bag with dry rice and put it in the microwave for about 1 min 30 sec. I surround myself with pillows both on the couch and in bed and it helps to take some of the pressure off my joints. Good luck!