okay time to discuss how to go into labor!!!

[mom2ariana]

hey ladies just got back from the doctor and i'm not dilated!! so frustrating!! i am 50% effaced and the baby is -2. SOO... since i'll be 36 weeks on thursday, i want to try to start walking and stuff to get me dilated. i know shes not gonna come out until she is ready so i'm not worried about putting myself into preterm labor...i just want to be dilated for my next appointment...i'll take all the suggestions i can get. besides power walking and sex, what else can i do to dilate and bring her down? also any stories of not bein dilated at 36 weeks and still going before the due date?? that would really help me out because right now i'm discouraged it will take another month and i'm ready to meet my baby.
thanks!

[Limonada]

As someone who was 0cms dilated, 0% effaced right up until 41 weeks with BOTH pregnancies.....and was induced TWICE, I have to agree that it doesn't sound like your body is ready....although at least your cervix is starting to efface :-)  Even though you're likely past the "danger zone" being 36 weeks, I'd advise not going out of your way to try and force dilation.  I know you're so eager and ready to meet your little one - been there! - but dates can be off sometimes and it's better that he/she come when ready.  In a normal, healthy pregnancy, you're still a good 4 weeks off from talk of induction, if that worries you....

[Melka76]

I wish I could give you my secret on how to dialate :) -  I know that they say orgasms start contractions which lead to dialation - and the most powerful contractions are self induced... hmmm... let me list all the things I am not allowed to do and maybe if you do them things will progress..

No steps
No sex
No vibrators or self manipulation (or as the nurse said so delicately.. Nothing in your vagina!)
No nipple stimulation
No bearing down while trying to have a bowel movement
No anal sex as that can create a strong orgasm or strong bowel movements
No walking, standing or sitting for long periods of time

NO FUN!!!  (I added this one!)
Good luck....
Mel

[cocacolapanda]

I was 3 cm dilated when I was 36 weeks, and I had my baby exactly at 42 weeks.  I was actually still 3 cm dilated when my dr stripped my membranes a second time the day before 42 weeks.  Some women could be dilated and take forever to get into labor, others go into labor when they aren't even dilated.  

Walking and sex are the big ones.  We have an exercise ball that I used when I was pregnant, at about 38 weeks that was the only thing I could sit on that was comfortable.  You can get them pretty cheep if you decide you need/want one (Many also come with DVD's that can help get you back in shape after the baby too).

Good luck!

[Ashelen]

no I never even heard of stuff like that when I was pregnant the first time, but I'm sure I would have tried it (and I'm 99% sure my doctors would have OK'd it...they were very hippy-ish, lol). I won't try it this time around because I realized that I was lucky she stayed in until 40wks because she was the perfect size (if she had come out any earlier she would have been on the small size...any later and she would've been too big, she tore me up as it was)....but who knows when I'm 37wks this time and losing my mind maybe I'll change my mind about that LOL.

I do know that I did a lot of walking and a lot of sex to try to get it going and I really think the walking helped near the end, but I don't think any of it helps when they're not ready. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try I know I sure as heck will LOL

[mom2ariana]

it's not mean at all you're right LOL..baby isn't even coming down much yet. ugh and here i was thinking that i wouldn't make it to full term haha ya right. lol. but anyways no i don't have a birthing ball i WISH i did.. i would bounce on it day and night. i might even sleep on it if i had one.
what about the more drastic methods like evening primrose and stuff like that? i wouldn't ever try it without asking my doctor first but i'm just wondering if you ever asked yours and what they said?

[Ashelen]

I know this sounds sooo mean but I definitely don't mean it that way....but with those numbers it sounds like your body isn't even THINKING about labor yet, lol. But that's okay things change really fast in the last month. it's ENTIRELY possible to be completely closed and then give birth a few days later.

aside from power walking...sex....do you have a birthing ball? that helps align them in your pelvis sometimes. Ask them at what point are they willing to do a membrane sweep because usually once you're full term that becomes an option...

but just remember, even "full term" isn't really "full term" for most first pregnancies. they're considering revising the way first pregnancies are treated and actually making "full term" be considered 40wks instead of 36....so try to hang in there. the longer she stays in there the better it will be for everyone. i know you hate hearing that and i remember how much i wanted to punch everyone who told me "just hang in there it'll happen" but sad to say that's the truth.

you can walk and have sex and do everything and if she's not ready it just won't matter one bit...so hang in there honey I really hope things change fast for you once you hit 36wks but don't get too discouraged. I think that was my problem..I heard "full term =36/37wks" so every single day past that I was going crazy wondering why I hadn't gone into labor yet....but my daughter was just the right size at 40wks so I'm glad she didn't come any sooner.

hang in there and walk walk walk...sex sex sex...try it all, lol.