@amargaret24 It's actually rare for water breaking to be the onset of labor. Contractions with no other symptoms are a completely normal start to labor.
@BBEA2006 STMs typically don't dilate till they're in labor, so don't be discouraged!
Married DW 08.2013; AI 2x; IUI 6x; IUI #7 05.2015; DD born 2.2016 ; Reciprocal IVF FET #1 on 11.18.2020
Today at 38 weeks I was 1 cm and 50% effaced. She said she could feel the babys head so she nice a low. I had my membranes stripped and she didn't even tell me that's what she was doing when she was doing it but it definitely hurt! She warned me I would bleed but it's more than I thought. Kinda looks like my period. I've been getting cramps so I'm hoping something happens soon. Fingers crossed.
Yikes! Did you know/agree that she was going to do it ahead of time?!
Had another appointment today 37w6d and I am almost 6cm dilated, 70% effaced. I'm not feeling anything in the way of contractions or BH though so.... Also, baby boy isn't quite on my cervix - more to the right side. Dr said if I was 39w she would send me to l&d and break my waters to get things going but will just wait it out for now to see if things progress on their own. So weird and frustrating just waiting around!
My LO is to the left of my cervix, 37+3. Did your doctor make any recommendations to move him?
Everywhere I go people are like "OMG YOURE STILL PREGNANT?!" It makes me feel so bad! And seeing all the birthing announcements and all the photos of the beautiful babies makes me want to cry! My nail lady even ran to the back of my car today asking "Where is she?!" I just pointed to me belly, lol.
Having some pretty solid contractions right now, 39 weeks tomorrow.... Haven't had any bloody show, lost any mucus plug, or had water break but my back hurts so bad and these contractions and requiring my full attention...lasting over a minute. Anyone go into labor without lost mucus plug, bloody show, or water breaking?
My water didn't break, or my plug fall out, until I had already been pushing for almost an hour!
Me: 32 DH: 32
Married 11/24/13
DD1 born 12/24/15
TTC #2 Aug. 16
BFP for #2 11/22/16
Aug17 December Siggy Challenge: Funny Pics of Kids Afraid of Santa
I have been cramping since 5:30am (mostly in the lower groin area, sometimes painful, but also some in the lower back) and having show all day. Wtf where are the real contractions?? I'm worried I won't know what they're really like when they happen!
Completely thinned, 2 cm dilated, and contractions are irregular every 5 to 12 mins so just laboring at home till closer harder contractions. Hopefully that happens this weekend. Due for membrane sweep on the 13th and backup plan of induction on the 22nd. All I know is this laboring at home with no progression for the past week SUCKS. Baby #2 and I'm ready to have her already!
Possible beginning stages of labor? 40+3, yesterday started to get wildly uncomfortable and miserable. I don't think I'm having contractions, but constant extreme lower abdomen/pelvis pressure and dull lower back pain. The top of my belly hurts to the touch and (sorry if TMI) pink tinged d/c. It feels like she might just fall right out! FTM and I don't want to rush to the hospital only to be sent home. At my last appt (Monday) my MW couldn't reach my cervix but could feel her head.
Did y'all have to bring up membrane sweeping to your doctor or did they just do it? My dr is awesome but they're really not great about telling me things ahead of time or anything like that.... For example I didn't know when I was getting the strep B test done until she walked in the room with the swab. I assumed she would tell me "okay next time we will do this test". I pretty much go blind into every appointment and I would have no idea what to ask about if it weren't for this group.
@hellkat92 I'm getting my membranes swept the 13th too. With my history I'm fully expecting that to be my day. They don't like me to go over but I definitely prefer a sweep over full induction so hopefully the sweep works again this time- or labor before that! I'm due 1/16
@Mommyduclos My doctor won't let me go over 39 weeks so that's why I have the backup induction date on the 22nd if the sweep doesn't work on the 13th. My 1st baby I had at exactly 37 weeks and he was perfectly healthy and I had an induction date with him before 40 weeks as well due to my size and the doctor being worried about me being at risk for emergency c section if the baby got to be too big. Baby #2 is already measuring a week larger and has long limbs so lucky me lol. She's dropped but I still can barely breathe since she is still in my ribs lol. I'm pretty nervous about the sweep. My mom had it done when pregnant with my sister and she said it hurt like hell.
@Mommyduclos have you had a sweep before? With my 1st I was stuck at 4 cms even with hard contractions so I had to have pitocin to help me. But still got to delivery vaginally which is all I wanted so I don't mind the aid of meds.
40w and 1 day and think something is happening. Contractions started at 10pm and have been 10-11 minutes apart for last 2.5 hours. In our hypnobirthing class they told us when we get to this point We should have a glass of wine and try to get some sleep. They are not crazy painful or anything but I definitely can't sleep through them. Hoping this is the real deal. Going to wait to see if they get any closer in next hour or two before I wake up hubby. Ftm and trying not to cry wolf but getting excited!
At my 38+5 appt yesterday doctor scheduled my induction for Monday 1/11 due to low amniotic fluid! I'm about to lose my mind! 3 days until I finally hold my little love and I work two of those days, I just wanna stay home and get all the last things in order! Ahhhh!
On 1/6 I was 4cm dilated and 100% effaced. Dr. stripped my membranes and said to eat light and head to the hospital with regular contractions since I was technically in early labor. He suspected I'd be in labor that night or early the next morning. Nothing... started getting some very irregular and only slightly painful contractions last night, but still nothing. My FIL asked if a trampoline would help.
@hellkat92 yes I had my membranes stripped with both my other kids at 39 weeks and both times it worked great. I didn't find it any more uncomfortable than an extra long cervical check. Did it work for your mom? In reading other forums discussing sweeps it seems like they are more painful when your body isn't ready and therefore tend to be unsuccessful, which then doubly sucks because they hurt and don't do anything. I prefer it over the medical induction and I've been lucky. Well with my first I still needed some pitocin to keep things going, my second came out like a firecracker though. At my last appointment she said I was very soft which is really what they need for a good sweep. And the check last week alone gave me some serious contractions so I will be very surprised if my sweep next week doesn't produce a baby very quickly. Hope it works for you!
I can't remember if I posted this or not, but I had an NST on Wednesday and baby's movement was minimal but she passed so my midwife scheduled me for a BPP yesterday and my fluid level was a little low, and the placenta was aging since I'm overdue. I have to do another NST today and then my midwife is going to figure out what we can do as far as natural induction techniques. I think she will probably sweep my membranes.
But seriously wtf. 40+6 and haven't experienced a single contraction. And I know it doesn't mean much, but is it too much to ask for maybe a little bloody show or mucus plug? I haven't had either yet.
@babybluu I can relate. I've not at any contractions, I'm not not dialated at all and baby is super high. Granted baby being high is normal since this is number 5 for me. I go in every two days now for fluid check and NST. I'm 40+5.
@Aanderson812 how does your OB determine that your fluid is low? Ultrasound? I'm wondering how my doc would know if mine was low. I haven't had an ultrasound since 29 weeks.
@maddisonwallace same thing with me I was also blind sided with the strep b test. I had no idea that it was coming. My next appointment isn't until the 19th I'm 37+1 today so who knows what to expect.
@Mamabeagle My Dr. actually said to just keep doing what I'm doing. She said there is enough time and space left that if I try something new and make baby mad he could turn breech on me. I think she was kidding, but it made sense so I'm just going to continue as I was.
Did y'all have to bring up membrane sweeping to your doctor or did they just do it? My dr is awesome but they're really not great about telling me things ahead of time or anything like that.... For example I didn't know when I was getting the strep B test done until she walked in the room with the swab. I assumed she would tell me "okay next time we will do this test". I pretty much go blind into every appointment and I would have no idea what to ask about if it weren't for this group.
I had to ask about it. Mine won't do it until 39 weeks so she didn't do it last week when I was 38/4. I'm not sure if she would have offered at next weeks appointment or not. I love my Dr but I have to ask for information rather than her just giving it to me. She's more of a 'everything looks great and baby is right on track' person. She'll tell me how dilated I am but I had to ask about station, effacement,next steps.
Today at 38 weeks I was 1 cm and 50% effaced. She said she could feel the babys head so she nice a low. I had my membranes stripped and she didn't even tell me that's what she was doing when she was doing it but it definitely hurt! She warned me I would bleed but it's more than I thought. Kinda looks like my period. I've been getting cramps so I'm hoping something happens soon. Fingers crossed.
Yikes! Did you know/agree that she was going to do it ahead of time?!
No I didn't. It wasn't my normal doctor who knows my plan because she was in a delivery. She told me after she did it. I thought she was just doing a cervical check. It kind of bothered me because I'd like to at least be asked bit I hope it helps move things along.
So much up in the air today after my appointment. 40+6 and I'm -1 station with zero dilation and a little softer than I was at 39 weeks. my midwife recommended for me to try castor oil this weekend, and although I trust her, I have a bad feeling about it so I won't do it. But I have another BPP on Monday, and she if my fluid levels aren't higher than 5.6 which is what they were last time, then we won't wait and we will just go ahead and induce when they have room for me. She also said I could choose to be induced whenever I want as it's ultimately my choice. But I don't want to give up on my home birth. But at the same time I kind of do want to be induced. I think Monday I will ask to set up an induction date.
A midwife recommending castor oil? That's interesting. Everything I have read said how dangerous it was and how it increased the risk meconium aspiration. I think you were right in not trying it.
A midwife recommending castor oil? That's interesting. Everything I have read said how dangerous it was and how it increased the risk meconium aspiration. I think you were right in not trying it.
Yeah she had a good reasoning on why she recommends it, something like in 2,000 births she has never had any issues with meconium. But for me it's that there's still the chance and I can't do it. I wish I could, but she also said in her experience that it doesn't work unless you were already about to have the baby in the next 3-5 days. Not sure how true it is, and I know everyone doesn't agree with her and research is against castor oil, which is exactly why I'm not doing it. And also because of judgement TBH lol. I don't wanna be judged for doing it, even if I thought it was the right thing to do. But I could never forgive myself if I caused harm to my baby.
I had my membranes swept yesterday at 40+3 and didn't find it painful. There was an uncomfortable amount if pressure but no pain. I'll ask for another tomorrow at my NST. Baby is measuring small so they want to induce Monday at 41 weeks, but I'd like an intervention free birth so trying to get things started naturally by then.
@babybluu our situations sound similar...I'm 41+1 and had my first sweep Wednesday at 40+6 and nothing (cervix was midline and 1 cm).
Today I had acupuncture and another sweep (1-2 cm, cervix a bit more forward) and I bled immediately during and after and have bled on and off throughout the day and felt like I'm on my period. I lost a good amount of plug last weekend so not sure if I should be hoping to see more plug or show along with this blood or if the blood is only a result of the agitated cervix and nothing to do with labour.
Both the acupuncturist and midwife suggested trying the "midwife cocktail/shake" which is castor oil mixed with apricot juice, water, almond butter and lemon verbena. Apparently the lemon verbena is what keeps the castor oil from being a diuretic/making you sick/problems to baby. I also feel a bit uncomfortable with it because of the castor oil.
After discussing with them they suggested perhaps taking one dose Monday morning and then coming to see them for another sweep (and to be put on the induction list since I'll be 41+4), going to acupuncture again, and then I also have another fetal assessment booked for that afternoon. That way they can monitor me and baby if there are any negative effects (even though none of these professionals have had negative experiences). The one midwife felt in first time moms the first dose doesn't do anything, so then after all these appointments Monday to take another dose.
My doula said to do my research and go with whatever I'm most comfortable with. So I have some research and thinking to do! The research the midwives gave me was a small German study with no negative effects.
Of course we can disregard all this if we go into labour this weekend! Fingers crossed!!!!!
Baby has finally arrived I posted in the birth announcement thread, but will copy it here too. Good luck to all you mamas!!! I'll still be keeping up here when I have time free from baby.
Ella Sloane, born 1/8/16 at 12:56pm. She weighed 7lbs 11oz and is 20 3/4" long. I had cramping and bloody show all day long on 1/7, went to bed that night and woke up to contractions and my water breaking at 1:50am. I headed to the hospital and was still at 1cm. Even though I had a long way to go with contractions, I was already over the pain and got my epidural shortly after arriving. Along with the epidural, i started on pitocin to bring my contractions closer together and get dilation going. As my contractions increased, I had drops in blood pressure while baby had issues with dropping heart rate. Due to baby's heart rate, I kept going on and off pitocin until the afternoon, when I began pushing. My epidural began fading on my left side halfway through pushing, which lasted about 1.5 hours. At that point it was decided that baby's position and my pelvis size required vacuum assistance to deliver. I got an episiotomy but still ended up with a third degree tear (which is very sore right now). Turns out, I was VERY close to needing a c section! I'm so thankful I didn't need one, and I'm beyond glad I got an epidural. Major props to all you mamas who go without pain medicine!! Overall, baby and I are doing great and I'm so thankful I could spend my pregnancy as a part of this community
Besides the meconium thing, castor oil is very uncomfortable for the mom. It's like pooping your baby out. From everything I've heard I would not touch it with a ten foot pole.
Married DW 08.2013; AI 2x; IUI 6x; IUI #7 05.2015; DD born 2.2016 ; Reciprocal IVF FET #1 on 11.18.2020
For those who have already had a baby before, I've heard that real contractions wrap from your back to your front like a wave. Does this happen over your whole uterus or does the wrapping sensation happen only in the lower part?
At 39.6 my water broke at 11:30 pm while I was headed to bed on Thursday night. The contractions started within 20 minutes and were strong and 30-60 seconds a piece every 2-5 minutes within an hour. Went to the birthing center at 5:45 am and was 3 cm. I was in so much pain I begged my midwife to please let me stay and labor in the tub and she agreed. The contractions were beyond intense due to my water breaking before labor. I tried every position imaginable and used gas and air, which helped but didn't relieve my pain. I did like it though! I was 10 cm by 5pm and pushed for two hours to no avail. My blood pressure began to rise and baby showed signs of stress so I was transferred to the hospital at 9pm. I had the most horrendous butt labor (didn't know that was a thing) and couldn't control the pushing during contractions. I got an epidural and pitocin pretty soon after checking in to the hospital since laboring without meds was doing more harm than good, and have been laboring here much more pleasantly for the last 5 hours. Still not ready to deliver, but hoping it happens soon!
Basically my birth plan has gone out the window, but as long as baby gets here safely I do not care! Haven't slept in two nights, so sorry if this post is loopy sounding.
40 weeks in 2 hours! Was hoping to have Bub today, as today is my Mums birthday, who passed away when I was 16! Oh well, I guess Bub is still happy and growing in there! Getting pretty restless waiting for D-Day though. Tried walking, raspberry leaf, curry and sex today. Nothing..
Besides the meconium thing, castor oil is very uncomfortable for the mom. It's like pooping your baby out. From everything I've heard I would not touch it with a ten foot pole.
Yeah I don't care too much about my pooping. Idk why! Lol. If I had to have the shits at this point to get her out I might do it. But the risk to her is too much for me.
For those who have already had a baby before, I've heard that real contractions wrap from your back to your front like a wave. Does this happen over your whole uterus or does the wrapping sensation happen only in the lower part?
The wrapping around for my contractions was in the lower part of my uterus.
Re: Official Labor Watch Thread (L&D questions, concerns, and announcements)
@BBEA2006
STMs typically don't dilate till they're in labor, so don't be discouraged!
Aug17 December Siggy Challenge: Funny Pics of Kids Afraid of Santa
Completely thinned, 2 cm dilated, and contractions are irregular every 5 to 12 mins so just laboring at home till closer harder contractions. Hopefully that happens this weekend. Due for membrane sweep on the 13th and backup plan of induction on the 22nd. All I know is this laboring at home with no progression for the past week SUCKS. Baby #2 and I'm ready to have her already!
But seriously wtf. 40+6 and haven't experienced a single contraction. And I know it doesn't mean much, but is it too much to ask for maybe a little bloody show or mucus plug? I haven't had either yet.
wishful thinking. I am crampy and baby feels hella heavy. but no contractions today.
Make a pregnancy ticker
Today I had acupuncture and another sweep (1-2 cm, cervix a bit more forward) and I bled immediately during and after and have bled on and off throughout the day and felt like I'm on my period. I lost a good amount of plug last weekend so not sure if I should be hoping to see more plug or show along with this blood or if the blood is only a result of the agitated cervix and nothing to do with labour.
Both the acupuncturist and midwife suggested trying the "midwife cocktail/shake" which is castor oil mixed with apricot juice, water, almond butter and lemon verbena. Apparently the lemon verbena is what keeps the castor oil from being a diuretic/making you sick/problems to baby. I also feel a bit uncomfortable with it because of the castor oil.
After discussing with them they suggested perhaps taking one dose Monday morning and then coming to see them for another sweep (and to be put on the induction list since I'll be 41+4), going to acupuncture again, and then I also have another fetal assessment booked for that afternoon. That way they can monitor me and baby if there are any negative effects (even though none of these professionals have had negative experiences). The one midwife felt in first time moms the first dose doesn't do anything, so then after all these appointments Monday to take another dose.
My doula said to do my research and go with whatever I'm most comfortable with. So I have some research and thinking to do! The research the midwives gave me was a small German study with no negative effects.
Of course we can disregard all this if we go into labour this weekend! Fingers crossed!!!!!
Baby has finally arrived
Ella Sloane, born 1/8/16 at 12:56pm. She weighed 7lbs 11oz and is 20 3/4" long. I had cramping and bloody show all day long on 1/7, went to bed that night and woke up to contractions and my water breaking at 1:50am. I headed to the hospital and was still at 1cm. Even though I had a long way to go with contractions, I was already over the pain and got my epidural shortly after arriving. Along with the epidural, i started on pitocin to bring my contractions closer together and get dilation going. As my contractions increased, I had drops in blood pressure while baby had issues with dropping heart rate. Due to baby's heart rate, I kept going on and off pitocin until the afternoon, when I began pushing. My epidural began fading on my left side halfway through pushing, which lasted about 1.5 hours. At that point it was decided that baby's position and my pelvis size required vacuum assistance to deliver. I got an episiotomy but still ended up with a third degree tear (which is very sore right now). Turns out, I was VERY close to needing a c section! I'm so thankful I didn't need one, and I'm beyond glad I got an epidural. Major props to all you mamas who go without pain medicine!! Overall, baby and I are doing great and I'm so thankful I could spend my pregnancy as a part of this community
Basically my birth plan has gone out the window, but as long as baby gets here safely I do not care! Haven't slept in two nights, so sorry if this post is loopy sounding.