U.S. Mommies To Be

[Sweet_Mama]

Thanks ladies. Lost the baby and my chances of natural conception. Still have you guys in my prayers.

I'm so sorry, hun. It's not fair. Big Hugs.

more later but i just took this one

Gorgeous!

I had an ob appt today too. What do you think of this? She said that my cervix isn't dilated, but is thinning. And that baby has dropped a lot. She also set up an appointment for an induction for my due date. I had no idea that was procedure! She said I could wait until after the due date, but I just opted for that. I have a growth scan on Monday to make sure he's not too big because she couldn't get an accurate measurement because he'd dropped so much.

I'm trying to make sense of all of that. Does that mean he may be on his way soon? I've been having some irregular, not very painful contractions today. Or does it mean since I'm not dilating at all that I'll need to be induced? So confused!!

I really dislike when doctors start talking induction for no real reason. Why would they even suggest it at 38 weeks as an option when they know anything can happen in the next 2-3 weeks that could give you a chance at a completely normal delivery?

Dilation is when the cervix starts opening up (goes from 1-10) and effacement is when it thins out--it's long at first, usually 3-4 cm then it gets shorter and shorter. It has to do both things to get the baby out. I really don't think it has anything to do with induction being necessary. Like Lisa said, research induction, KNOW what it is exactly, be informed and don't let the doctor tell you how it is (unless baby's health is an issue, of course).

im thinking if mine is going to be blonde it probly wont have much because alot of blonde haired babies are born bald...not all but alot. i was born with a dark blonde though and i think oh was to so we might just have a chance at it having hair haha

You know, My first (not from my current dh) was the product of two blond parents... I was petrified of having an "Elmer Fudd" baby, lmao. I thought for sure he'd be bald with two blond parents... Sooooo... when they said his head was right there and that I should push, the first thing out of my mouth was, "Does he have any hair?" hahahahaha. Yep, I was more concerned with the hair (or lack thereof) than pushing.

 

[Soph22]

Its impossible for them to predict when you will go into labor based on signs unfortunately.. there are women who drop fully, engage, and dilate 1cm, fully efface and then stay that way for weeks, lol! then there are those who have no signs at all and then go into labor and dilate fast etc.

yeah, I guess I know that, I just want there to be a way for them to tell!
It's so frustrating to just be stuck wondering, I know I'm gonna drive myself (and DH) crazy the next two weeks, "is this it? nope. is this it?"

Lol... I haven't had any moments of 'is this it' yet...
Of course I haven't done anything to trigger labor yet. Are you going to be trying some of the 'classic' things? Like long walks, lots of sex etc?

I think I'll start those later this week. I still have some stuff to get done around the house and I'd like at least a day or two of pre baby maternity leave if possible.

 

[JNA]

I'm hoping to avoid an induction because I want to go natural, lol.

As in no pain relief?
Or labor starts on its own?


Either way good luck with labor starting naturally Sop22 and Lisa


Im being a pregnant lady today i,e, lying around watching movies and crying over everything and its not even noon yet.

 

[luckyme225]

missfox- your little girl is adorable

soph- some doctors like to induce on due date out of preference. I would be careful with the induction route out of preference unless you are favorable (dilating/ effacing/ etc) just because if your body isn't ready your chances of c-section increase. Here's a site that talks about bishop scores they use it to see how favorable you are.

https://www.amazingpregnancy.com/pregnancy-articles/173.html

 

[MissFox]

Definitely research induction. Its not what I wanted but I'm still happy it happened esp when dr said Rosie looked like she should have been born 2 weeks before hand. It could have been really bad if I decided to go to 42 weeks but also if you aren't dialated then you can try the cervidil to see if that helps and don't let them break your water right away. Inductions can stall too and breaking your water starts the clock for increased risk for infection. If your water is intact and you don't make much progress (2 or 3cm at first) then you can stop and try again another day.

 

[MissFox]

Well, Rosie had some HORRIBLE gas all afternoon and night so she's currently catching up on sleep (poor thing!) and I have some time to show her off
I can't wait to take her pictures in her easter dress!

 

[JNA]

O shes so precious. I think she looks like hubby in the first one but she has your eyes (from what I've seen in bump pics lol)
I love those short little legs in the last pic

 

[MissFox]

She really has his cheeks! She goes back and forth looking like us but he and I have a lot of similar features too so it's extra hard to say.
Rosie keeps lifting her head up and moving her arms under her chin and resting her chin on her crossed arms. It's so stinking cute!

 

[lisaf]

Beautiful pictures!!

Great advice on the induction. I forgot about the water breaking and the 'clock' thing. Especially since I tested positive for GBS the risk of the baby getting the infection goes up at the 18 hour mark from when waters break Yet they often like to break the waters to 'get things moving' since it puts more pressure on your cervix.

JNA - yep, I want to go without any pain relief. Not to 'prove' anything, but mostly because what I've read and heard indicate its a better recovery, baby is more alert for nursing etc. I also really don't want to end up with a c-section which is more likely with every medical intervention you have. Thats one reason why I hope I don't have to be induced, because its MUCH harder to go without pain relief on an induction (it interrupts your body's own hormones that help you cope with the pain).
Of course as Miss Fox has said.. there are times when inductions are necessary etc. I don't want to be stupid and avoid one, but I'd prefer to give my body a chance to do what it wants/needs to do.

 

[MissFox]

I wantedto go without pain relief too. I made it 8 hours without any pain relief besides DH rubbing my back (baddd back labor!). Then I started getting IV shots to allow me to rest inbetween contractions but it doesn't help with the actual pain. And they are MUCH LESS effective after your first one- so understand that the first one is GREAT but after that they don't help and you can't really even count on it to help when getting the epidural.
Lisa- in terms of being alert- Rosie was so very alert the whole time. She was sucking on everyone fingers while I was in recovery and as soon as I was in the room she was nursing on me, but that isn't always the case.
The clock is a big one- the hospital I was in likes to only give 12 hours after waters breaking before htey start pushing and wanting lots of progress. Of course they were going to let me go 24 with no problems just coming in and talking about how I wasn't progressing fast enough. My mom has had epidurals stop both of her labors completely so it was nice knowing that it doesn't happen to me but at the same time they also don't last more than an hour for me so really it probably wasn't worth the hassle of getting the epi in the first place. I'm really hoping I can do a VBAC for baby No.2!

 

[lisaf]

My only local hospital doesn't allow VBACs yet another reason I'm very very hesitant about ending up with a c-section.

I know someone who I believe had her labor slowed down by the epidural.. and one person who it sped things up for, lol. Its a bit of a crapshoot, but slowing labor is one reason I'm quite afraid of epidurals!

 

[MissFox]

Thats why i put it off for so long but any pain relief can slow it OR speed it up- if stress and tension is holding you back from progressing and relaxing will speed it up then it's good but at the same time I went from 6cm to 9 in 20 minutes right before my epi but went down to 7 and stayed there for a while.

 

[JNA]

I have heard alot of people say the epi slowed the labor process so it is an iffy call.

 

[Soph22]

I heard at my childbirth prep class that the epidural was much less likely to slow down labor as long as you wait until you're dilated between 4-7 cm. My "plan" is to hold out as long as I can- I don't have a lot of confidence in my pain tolerance though, so we'll see.

Thanks for all of the good advice on induction ladies. Definitely makes me think more. I'll revisit my options after the growth scan Monday and then the next OB appt next week. I don't want to be induced of course, but I really don't want baby to be too big either! I was surprised how routine my doctor made it seem. She just wanted to get an induction scheduled in case I need one. seems kinda weird.

 

[MissFox]

My MW started talking induction at 38 weeks but i shrugged it off. Rosie was estimated 7lbs at 37 wees and was a little over 8 at birth. At 39 weeks we talked and we decided on 41 weeks bc of pain and baby size but then fluid was low so we bumped it up a few days.
Soph- contractions werent too horrible til 5cm or so.

 

[Sweet_Mama]

This will be my 6th labor and to tell you the truth I have no idea what to expect. In the past, I've been crying in agony for an epidural at only 2cm dilated and then in a different labor I was at a 5cm and had no idea I was in labor at all. Go figure. They are all so different, of course, you never can tell. I plan on holding out at home for as long as I possibly can this time. We'll see how long I can go.

 

[lisaf]

did your water break earlier with the more painful labors? I've heard that it gets a LOT more painful once the water breaks.

 

[Sweet_Mama]

Well, my water broke at different times with all of them, lol. Or should I say, the doctor broke it at different times (having only had it break once on it's own). The most painful labor (3rd baby-when I was crying at 2cm) it did not break. I had the epi at 3 cm (bless the nurse who probably lied to the doc to say I was 3cm so I can get it) and a couple hours later I was at 4 and the doc decided to break it. I was immediately at 6 and 20 minutes later delivered.

All 3 of MY babies saw the light at 4 cm and made a run for the exit and were born 20-30 minutes later. The 2 surro pregnancies (including the twins) I got to 4cm and 5cm without even really knowing I was in real labor. I'm wondering if this baby (mine, hehe) will be the same as my other 3?

 

[JNA]

I'm wondering if this baby (mine, hehe) will be the same as my other 3?

Haha funny.Your kids like to give you a run for your money lol. I have a feeling my lo will keep me laboring a long time. My body is ready to evict her but I picture her holding on to my uterus for dear life

 

[MissFox]

Hey- I bet if I HAD gone into labor at 38 weeks like my Dr says then I probably would have labored pretty quick since I went from 2cm to 6 in less than 4 hours but IDK. Hard to say though. I'm curious (as long as I get a VBAC) how it goes next time!