Due on Friday and No Signs of Labor

RELAX!!! I was two days over due with so far my one and only. She was due Feb. 13 2008 but labor didn't start till around 3 am the 14th and I didn't have her untill 2:04am the 15th. I know its hard to wait but it pays off. I honestly would just wait for labor to happen on its own instead of planning an induction. but each person's preferences are different. also just depends on if it is an easy pregnancy or life situations call for a planned delivery. lucky for me I didn't have to plan much.

Try not to stress over it too much, I know it's hard! I felt the same way when I was waiting for my 3rd child to be born! Try to savor some 1on1 time with your 2 children or your husband. I was induced with my 3rd child and had his birthday scheduled. I did worry that I could go into labor before the due date. I was 3cm for 2 weeks and 4cm for 1 week, some contractions, but not strong enough either. Like you, my first 2 labors were great, but my 3rd labor was the best ever, no pain, easy and over in 1 hour! Best of luck to you!
V.

S., I understand what you are going through...the only thing I can tell you is to turn the ringers off your phones and stop answering calls. You are stressing and you shouldn't let "has the baby come yet" get to you as well...let friends and family know this is a stressful time and when labor starts or baby comes they will be notified.

I was as anxious as you are now with my first born...lol..even went around jumping up and down telling him to "get out" that "an eviction notice" had be served...didn't work...he took his own sweet time and boy was it painful! 26 hours...ugh.

My second one was cause for concern because we were guessing she was at least 10lbs (actually 10.65 at birth) and the Dr. didn't want to wait any longer because he was afraid of something going awry so he suggested induction. As much as I wasn't thrilled about Petocin I was relieved to find they did a gradual drip...it's not like they turned it up full speed and said, "here ya go"...it was a low dose with gradual increases every hour until my body took over...once my body took over they turned off the drip and we were rocking...very quickly I might add...we started the induction at noon. By 1:00 the contractions were going pretty good and I thought I ought to go to the bathroom one last time before I can't make it there myself...WHOA mistake! Took me another 30 minutes to get off the toilet because the contractions were one on top of another and had gone from a 3 in intensity to an 8. Finally made it back to bed and they checked me at 2, I was only 3 cm so they said "wink, wink we'll call it a 4 at 2:30 and give you the epidural" and then left the room...my husband went out looking for them at 2:15 saying we weren't going to make it until 2:30...well the nurse took her time getting to me until a tech yelled at her...I was fully effaced at 2:30 and baby was coming and fast...Gabby was born right at 3.

There are pros and cons to every measure and you can second guess yourself to death. But the bottom line is YOU need to reduce your stress and anxiety. Go with your gut woman and do what you feel is best for you. You're a tough cookie having been through this twice already. Either find a way to keep your mind occupied with thoughts other than baby and let nature take its course (and please don't go exercising to induce labor...I walked for 8 hours a day trying with the first one and was exhausted by the time I got to labor) or decide you are going with the induction...The induction can be intense but the best thing about it is that much like a c-section, you can schedule it and control the timing of when it is going to happen...which might help alleviate your stress over who is going to take care of the 2 at home while you and hubby are going through labor.

I wish you and DH all the best of luck and well wishes. I am sending you calming thoughts in the hopes that it will help you through this trying and exciting time. Please let us know what you have and what their name is when he/she makes their arrival...:)

Why is your Dr. so dead set on when you have your baby? That is STUPID! Unless there are signs of distress or you are developing complications, there is no medical reason to induce beofre 42 weeks! My first son was born at exactly 40 weeks. My second was born at almost a full 42 weeks. Babies come when they are ready. I had the kind of contractions you are talking about for weeks before my youngest was born. He came when he felt like it. He took 26 hours to get here. Most professional organizations do NOT encourage induction for reasons other than signs of complications because of the increased risk of labor complications and c-sections. Make your doctor give you SOUND medical reasons for induction. You have a choice. Research the information online. You may be surprised at the stats. Most babies are born AFTER their alleged due dates. an average of 3-7 days. I have never experienced induction. I believe in trusting my own body. What I have heard and read is that a natural labor is much much easier than an induction. Also, inductions can end up in a c-section because they are often ineffective. They can produce contrations that are not strong enough to dilate and efface, so they keep increasing it and then it ends up causing contractions that cause you and the baby distress. Pitocin is a medication often used. I took a birthing class with my first child and part of our "homework" was to research the pros and cons of pitocin and cytotec. The information is overwhelming. I really encourage you to look at ALL the available information. I know many peopke are tempted to look at information that promotes the use of these medications, but look at it all and make an informed decision. Your doctor cannot force you to be induced. If he threatens to fire you, no big deal. If you show up at the hospital in labor they have to treat you anyway. Your doctor only delivers you if you go into labor during office hours or he happens to be on call that day, so your chances of your doc being the one that delivers you with spontaneous delivery are less than 50% anyway. Also, looking at it from a total devil's advocate position, if there are no problems to prompt induction, the dr. wants to do it for his convinience.(sp?) They like to induce Mon and Tues and occasionally on Wed. Even with a c-section (of which your odds increase with induction), you are out of the hospital by Friday. Hmmm. You have to do what you feel is best, but the Dr. doesn't always tell you that you have a choice. Good luck. I hope you go into labor before you make that decision!

Oh you poor thing...the waiting game sucks!!! I just had my 3rd and hopefully last baby 8 weeks ago, so I can totally understand how anxious you must feel at this time.

Good luck and congrats on the baby :)