Baby not descending....

Asantusa1 · May 2014

Today was my 38+3 appt. I am 0 dilated and the baby is very high. Despite cramps, BH's and all he remains sky high.

Doc stated my risk of c-section is higher given baby's location and my pelvis.

He questioned if I would schedule c-section or wait it out but alloted to the fact that if I do go into labor I have a 50% chance of c-section anyway. He won't induce unless there is some progress. He also won't let me go past 41 weeks. Also baby is not big but actually measuring small 5-6pds.

We elected to wait a week to see if there are any changes. What would you do?

I'm worried and nervous.

gutsysneakers · May 2014

Wait it out! So much can happen in the next 2.5 weeks!

Don't feel pressured - this is YOUR birth experience. If baby is healthy and placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. look great - than I would wait it out.

In the meantime, try sex and lots of walking. Would your doc do a membrane sweep at your next appointment? Or a stretch and sweep?

usernewname · May 2014

Jcrewgirl85 said:
Wait it out! So much can happen in the next 2.5 weeks!

Don't feel pressured - this is YOUR birth experience. If baby is healthy and placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. look great - than I would wait it out.

In the meantime, try sex and lots of walking. Would your doc do a membrane sweep at your next appointment? Or a stretch and sweep?

This! If you don't want to go a certain route don't feel pushed to do it! Baby never dropped for me until I was 10 cm dilated so lots can happen in the meantime! A birthing ball might help too!

sthomas1222 · May 2014

Jcrewgirl85 said:

Wait it out! So much can happen in the next 2.5 weeks!

Don't feel pressured - this is YOUR birth experience. If baby is healthy and placenta, amniotic fluid, etc. look great - than I would wait it out.

In the meantime, try sex and lots of walking. Would your doc do a membrane sweep at your next appointment? Or a stretch and sweep?

This. I don't know where your doctor is pulling these stats from but there's just no way to know any of this ahead of time. Go to a chiropractor trained in Webster's technique.

Do these:

https://spinningbabies.com/techniques/activities-for-fetal-positioning/pelvic-floor-release

https://spinningbabies.com/techniques/activities-for-fetal-positioning/rebozo-sifting

jenb_99 · May 2014

This was my situation with my first, and I always say I wish I'd just gone ahead and opted for the c-section instead of wasting a week and a half on triage visits for prostaglandin treatments and then being admitted an extra night ahead of time for Cytotec and Pitocin, only to end up in surgery anyway. DS's head was too large and my pelvic opening was too small and not positioned correctly; it was anatomically impossible for me to have him vaginally.

But...I only see that in hindsight. I was determined not to have a c-section and my doctor never ever pushed one. She left it completely up to me and didn't even try to scare me with stats. She even offered to let me labor for another 24 hours if I chose to, since her on-call shift had just started when she came in to break my bag of waters.

So while my body is grateful for the c-section, I'm grateful for the overall experience and for the ability to try it my way and not rush into surgery.

So if you really don't want a c-section, I'd say give it some time. Express your desire to try for a vaginal birth and research your options (cervical ripening via prostaglandins, chiropractors and spinningbabies as PP mentioned, etc.). A c-section doesn't have to be scheduled ahead of time; it's always an option. If you go through a few hours of labor and it's determined that vaginal birth isn't in the cards, you can still have a c-section but at least you'll be satisfied that you got to try it the way you wanted to.

Good luck with whatever you choose, and remember that in the end all that matters is taking home a healthy baby!

Asantusa1 · May 2014

Thank you everyone. I have been doing the yoga ball, squats, lunges, walking, sex... To try to get baby to descend. I guess my fear is making the wrong decision and jeopardizing baby health. I.e waiting too long and labor stress on baby is high,( pelvis bone I'm told is tilted) or not trying labor and c-section risks are higher.

I don't think doc was pushing one way or another he just gave me a done of info I guess based upon my pelvis and baby location And progress thus far.

I will look into other options

Thanks

kb2bkk · May 2014

Asantusa1 said:

Thank you everyone. I have been doing the yoga ball, squats, lunges, walking, sex... To try to get baby to descend. I guess my fear is making the wrong decision and jeopardizing baby health. I.e waiting too long and labor stress on baby is high,( pelvis bone I'm told is tilted) or not trying labor and c-section risks are higher. I don't think doc was pushing one way or another he just gave me a done of info I guess based upon my pelvis and baby location And progress thus far. I will look into other options Thanks

38 weeks is barely full term, and most medical studies suggest full term can go up to 42 weeks without putting your baby at additional risks (in a healthy pregnancy). If overall you have a healthy pregnancy, I would most likely wait it out, at least until the 40w mark. A lot can happen in 2 weeks, so try not to worry.

awknyc · May 2014

I'm 41+ weeks, so I would suggest waiting it out. My baby is still very high but my doctor thinks that she will not drop until I go into active labor. I requested to have my membranes stripped at my 38, 39 and 40 wk appointment, but the baby was so high and I was only dilated 1cm that my doctor said she couldn't even do it. When I finally hit 41 wks, I started dilating, had my bloody show and contractions started. If you want to deliver vaginally, I don't see why your doctor wouldn't let you wait until it becomes medically necessary for a c-section.

jsaffer01 · May 2014

I'm in the exact same boat as you. Except I'll be 40wks tomorrow. When I went in for my 38wk appt the baby was still really high, I had no dilation and my cervix was still really hard. The doc did an ultrasound to find out the position of the baby, and the baby was head down but still had so much room to move around and do things. Then at my 39wk appt again I was still really high, no dilation and the cervix was still extremely hard.

We talked about what happens next. My doctor also doesn't like it if her patients go beyond 41wks. So I have my 40wk appt on Thursday and I'll have an ultrasound again to determine the growth of the baby and how much fluid I have. And after the results of the ultrasound she'll determine if I'll be induced or if we'll schedule a c-section. She also doesn't think being induced is actually going to progress into much, so why put me and the baby in that much pain and stress. I have come to terms that I will be okay if I got a c section. Because I am now at a point that I just want this baby out.

If I were you, I would wait until at least 40wks before deciding on what to do, because you may actually progress.

sthomas1222 · May 2014

And remember dilation/effacement really means NOTHING. Here I sit at 4cm 70% effaced. That was a week ago... Still pregnant. You could go into labor tonight, I could make it to 42 weeks... It truly does mean nothing at all.

Crazijewel · May 2014

You are still early! At 41 weeks Get a non stress test. My sister went 12 days late with a perfectly healthy little boy. Her dr wanted her to have a c/s but she insisted on waiting and she was right! Too many drs go right to a c/s. I understand when they are medically necessary, but most aren't.

jjones59 · May 2014

My doctor pretty much told me the same thing today, I'm nervous now too, I wasn't before until today. I've been having contractions and cramping since week 34. I am dialated at 3, (well as of last week, I denied a check today, just wasn't feeling up to it). But she said since the size of my pelvis is tiny and he's a bigger guy, that I will probably look to a c-section but we won't do that until I've hit my due date.

I'm with you on the nervous part, but I have to put my trust that the doctor knows what they are doing and that LO will arrive safely.

eliak · May 2014

I also think you should wait a little bit more. Last week on my 39 week app. I was a big fat zero and baby was not engaged. I've been walking for an hour every day in my living room and today on my due date baby's head is engaged and doctor said he'll be here in the next 2-3 days... So don't worry... Everything will be just fine. Even a few hours can make a change!

sthomas1222 · May 2014

jjones59 said:
My doctor pretty much told me the same thing today, I'm nervous now too, I wasn't before until today. I've been having contractions and cramping since week 34. I am dialated at 3, (well as of last week, I denied a check today, just wasn't feeling up to it). But she said since the size of my pelvis is tiny and he's a bigger guy, that I will probably look to a c-section but we won't do that until I've hit my due date.

I'm with you on the nervous part, but I have to put my trust that the doctor knows what they are doing and that LO will arrive safely.

There's no way to know until you try. Seriously. I would never opt for a c/s for this reason. It's just not indicated. True CPD is extremely rare.

jjones59 · May 2014

@sthomas1222 she's going to start with the vaginal birth but knowing that the option is there that I may end up with a C-section. Its not what I want to opt for, trust me......

MIZZOU527 · May 2014

Wait it out. DD, DS and soon to be DD all were high until day of. No mention of c-section for any.

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