Almost 40 weeks an nothing is happening!!!

[littleonetoluv]

My due date is Thursday May 25th. I am almost 40 weeks and I am only 50% effaced (have been this way since 35 weeks) and absolutley no dialtaion the doc says my cervix is closed tight. Baby has not moved down at all. I havent even had contractions really.  I have tried walking, sex is out of the question because dh is not interested, So doc says we will see how things go, at next appoinment and talk about a possible c section. And before anyone jumps all over the why doesnt she induce you question, she said she would induce but if the baby is not giving any signs of moving down she doesnt want me to be in labor for 48 hours ( neither do I)  and then have it end up in a c section anyway. This is my first and I didnt really ever fancy the idea of pushing her out into the world. A cousin of mine has had a vaginal and a section, and she said she would choose the section over the natural, the healing times for her were about the same. I think I could handle my stomach being cut open and stitched back up versus my vagina being torn or cut and stitched back up. No matter how my baby gets here it is not going to be pleasant either way. So I am trying to get myself prepared mentally for however it is going to happen. I guess I am trying to see how bad it is recovering from a c section versus a vaginal.

[AndiJ78]

A lot can change in a week. By next week you could be dilating, heck by this time next week you could have delivered vaginally.

I do agree, however, that inducing when the signs point to no changes is foolish. My best friend's sister just went through all of that. She was dilated a centimeter or two and moaned and complained enough that to shut her up her doc agreed to try induction. Well, hours of pitocin later nothing happened and she was sent home as no cervical changes were made and baby showed no signs of distress. She ended up going into labor on her own 5 days later.

I think that your doc may have another agenda though. You still have two weeks before you hit the 41 week mark and an awful lot of changes can take place. I would be very hesitant if my doctor had suggested a c-section so quickly, especially with my first. I had a rough vaginal delivery with my first, but my second was a breeze (with the exception of the cord issues) and look forward to delivering vaginally with this next one.

Part of getting pregnant is facing the fact that you may actually have to work to deliver them. Despite a 6 week healing time with my first, I have not had any lingering issues. And 3 weeks PP with my second I was sexually active again. I would easily take a vaginal delivery over the risks of a c-section anyday.

Andi

[cutiemama]

I wasn't dilated at all at 39 weeks, nor was I dilated at 40 weeks. At 41 weeks we went for the induction and I was given 2 rounds (6 hrs apart) of the protaglanden gel to soften my cervix before administering the pitocin. Even with the pitiocin my labor was 18 hours from the time I got it to delivery (the whole process was 32 hrs) but I'm glad I delivered "naturally" vs c-section despite the long labor.   I too look forward to delivering this baby vaginally and holding him/her in my arms right away.

[lucky mom of 2]

I had a c-section with my first because she was breech, and attempted a vaginally after c with #2, but ended up in labor for 10 hours and another c-secion anyway. The c-sections aren't that bad. The worse of it is the next morning when they make you get out of bed. The pain is bad. But by the second day I felt great and belly was sore for about 2 weeks, but i still did all my normal activities. There are risks though. Infection, etc...
I am trying for a 3rd which will be a section, no choice 3rd time around. I do like not having to worry about the vaginally tears, but either way you have a recovery.

[lucky mom of 2]

You can hold your baby very soon after section, I was awake and enjoyed the whole experience both times. I nursed my babies within about 1 hour after the births with no problems.(Besides sore nipples) which do get better, give it time if you choose to breastfeed.

[AndiJ78]

Another thing to think about is hospital policy for future deliveries. Despite the risk being fairly low for uterine rupture during a VBAC, our hospital will not allow VBACs so one section means only sections from then on out.

Again, aside from just asking people online, you really should research it, look at medical websites, educate yourself on the risks associated with sections. Within an hour after delivering my second I was up and in the shower, the vaginal tearing is not a guarantee and can happen in varying degrees anyway. With my second I had one stitch, was discharged within 24 hours and the day after discharge was out grocery shopping with baby and my toddler in tow. A few days after that I was back after the holiday weekend taking finals and giving a presentation. I nursed both boys right away, was very alert for their deliveries and felt wonderful knowing that I dug down and worked to get them out. I was induced with both, neither labor, including pushing, took more than 24 hours. I had pit for less than 4 hours with each.  

Don't let your doctor push you one way or the other. Give your body some time to work how it is supposed to, why rush things unecessarily?

Andi

[Liza55]

I am just about 35 weeks pregnant and have asked for an elective c-section from the beginning. I have read all about both and have never doubted my decision. I am a surgical nurse, so the OR and surgery is definitely my controled little comfort zone. Every time I check in a female patient who has given birth, we end up chatting about their experience. I can honestly say about 98% of the women say they would take c-section anyday,especially those who had previously done a vag birth. I have so many reasons for my choice. I know recovery requires really taking it easy, not lifting heavy things, and dealing w/ incisional pain (which you can get pain relief from). However, vag or c-sect, not once did I think my first couple of weeks would be anything but rest and soreness. My friend who just delivered vag. keeps telling me of the agony of being swollen shut down there, with terrible hemorrhoids, so that just going to the bathroom is excrutiating. Pass, thanks.Plus my sister swears your never quite the same down there. I'll take the abdominal scar, thanks.

[cdenisec]

My first was breech and I delivered naturally with a great dr.  My second was also breech but different dr. insisted on c section.  Having done both, the only good thing about a c section is morphine!

[mandymoo1983]

go the natural labour 100% in my experience.

[Alyceea99]

I have had three successful vaginal deliveries and all of them were different.  With my last born on April 16th, the baby never dropped.  I was induced with her.  When I went in to the hospital was only 50 percent efaced and had dilated to a 2 but baby was still way in there.  They could not even feel her head when they checked me.  They actually did an ultrsound to make sure she had not flipped over breach as she had done to me at 37 weeks and then turned again in week 38.  I was in labor with her on Pitocin for about 18 hours and then the Dr finally broke my water. (I chose not to have it broken sooner as she did that with my last one and the labor was horrible)  She said the baby still had not dropped and was concerned.  Well needless to say 30 minutes later I pushed out a beautiful 8 lb baby girl in three pushes.
  My point is that you need to go with the natural route.  Everyone is different and so is every pregnancy.  My baby never dropped thus causing me to dialate very slowly.  With my second she was -2 when I started pushing.  I guess maybe they just have big heads!  :)

[jgirl34]

Dont think delivering vaginally is something so terribly bad lol. I had no stitches, teraing, or cutting me with 3 babies! I healed up right away and was at the grocery store the next day. It's not as bad as what ppl may say. Everyone is different, don't think that you are going to get the bad end of things. It's an emotional time right now, just try and hang in there. Like the other ladies said, alot of things can happen in the next week. Good luck and I hope she arrives soon!!

[AndiJ78]

It is sad that so many opt for sections, even worse that docs are going along with it. There was a news story not that long ago stating we now have the highest c-section rate in US history and it went on to discuss the long term implications of elective c-sections. They are "fine" if you do not want a large family, but with each section, you weaken that area, the risk of adhesions is high, and you run the risk of uterine rupture.

The way I see it, you wanted to get pregnant, right? Toughen up and deliver your baby as nature intended. It is one thing to have to have a section for medical reasons, but I think it is bs for docs to allow elective sections. Screw comfort zones, you are about to be a mother, comfort zones go out the window,lol! Rest with a newborn...ha!

Andi

[mommyoffour]

When I was pregnant with our first son,I had to have my water broke and I was in HARD labor for 36 hours and even tried for 3 hours to push him out, but he just wouldnt come, so the DR did a c-section (@ 12am) and after  he took the baby out, he could see why I couldnt push him out, he was a 9lb10oz baby and his head was just too big to come out.

My second son, I had to have my water broke with him and  7 hours later I delivered a 9lb 4oz baby NATURALLY.

My third son, I was having contractions (while christmas shopping on Dec 22) ,went to DR and he broke my water with him as well,On Dec 22nd around 4pm, and at 3pm on Dec 23rd, I delivered him Naturally too.

With my fouth son, My DR didnt give me a choice whether to try naturally or have c-section. He said that now (back in 2202) that once you have had a c-section you have to have all the rest that way.So I got to pick the date I wanted him to be born and didnt have much pain after the c-section, the worst part was they couldnt get my temp up for several hours, it was very very low, and when my husband came into the recovery room, I didnt know who he was or where I was at. That was the worst part about it.




Good luck and hope all goes well with you..




Ohh... and I am now 3 weeks pregnant with #5 (just hoping this one I can carry to term without any complications as I have had my tubes tied, during my c-section of our last son 4 years ago.
My HCG  on 5-22-06 was 284 aqnd the DR said that was in the normal range and go back 5-30-06 for another HCG test and U/S...