Hello I am 5 days overdue with my third pregnancy. I lost my mucus plug on Saturday, was 70% effaced and super thinned out at 40 weeks. I am not having any contractions yet, but have a ton of pressure, lower back pain, going to the bathroom constantly, and very crampy. MY doc is going on vacation in 3 days and wants me to get things going tomorrow, they are recommending the Foley Balloon- anyone heard of or experienced it?
My first I was induced with membrane stripping and had her ten days early, it was horrible.
My second came 4 days late with my water gushing, and contractions fallowing immediately, labor only 5 hours.
This one feels much more advanced - I honestly thought I was going to be early but now things have slowed down.
I need to decide when is the longest I want to go before inducing. I would prefer to have my doctor present but in my experience the wonderful nurses do most of the work anyway so if he is not here it will be ok. I don't want to wait to long though for the health of baby, plus I am really tired of being pregnant.
Any advice would be great.
thank you, A.
Still no baby now on six days overdue. I know due dates are an estimate of two weeks, but I actually know the exact two day window of conception as my hubby is gone for work most of the time. Thank you all for your advice. I feel better about waiting it out for awhile. The balloon does sound horrible forget that, I had a bad experience my first birth with a chain of interventions from membrane stripping, to citadel, to petocin. I am going to just continue walking, eating spicy, and having sex. Maybe I will pick up some castor oil if I get tired enough. Thank you so much this is an incredibly supportive forum and group of moms!!!
Sounds like you may be in labor - with just back labor! Anyway, if you aren't holding that new babe by now, the 10th is a new moon - maybe that'll help ya along! (full moon would help more - but don't think you want to wait until the end of the month!)
I would try the membrane stripping again. If you are already 70% effaced, it should work very quickly.
I would not do the Foley Balloon. It sounds awful! I'd rather have Pitocin than that!
I was induced at 42 weeks with both of my boys. Honestly, unless there are other complications, I would not induce much before that because due dates can be off. But it sounds like you will go on your own within a few days anyways. I would not let my doctor induce me just because it fit his schedule better.
If you aren't set on having your doctor, I'd wait. Being induced is not really fun. I've had it twice. Sounds like you're pretty close already. Some people just have labors that start and stop, others start kind of like what you're doing through right now with the crampy/low back pain etc. So, you're probably almost there anyway. And, like Jen said, as long as you're being checked weekly I wouldn't worry to much until after 42 weeks.
Though, I totally get wanting to just be done with pregnancy. I have 3 weeks left and want it over now.
Good luck!
I have to agree with Jen C.-- due dates are only estimates. I went 10 days past, had an acupuncture induction and delivered my son about 12 hours later; labor was easy (as in, relatively, right?) in a lot of ways and had a great birth. Our son was healthy and fine.
Have you taken a non-stress test to determine how the baby is doing? If you are having anxiety, that might be helpful to get that information. If baby is fine, little one may just need a bit more time. Sometimes a few days can save you a lot in doctors bills and give babies a better chance outside the womb. I was willing to go fourteen days out (my midwives wouldn't do the home birth past that date) but had scheduled the induction with the acupuncturist when she had time. It worked out fine.
That sounds like my delivery with my daughter (2nd child). She was a week early and my labor lasted about 4 hours once we headed to the hospital. Contractions kicked in at home and when they finally did kick in (after at least 12 hours of crampiness and feeling constipated) they were very regular and never stopped.
With my son, (first child) he was 10 days past due date. Doctor planned to induce on Monday morning if I didn't go into labor over the weekend (so at 12 days past due date?). I just felt a lot of low back ache that whole day before my water broke in the afternoon. I had been having mild contractions and was partially effaced and dilated (according to my non-stress tests)... though I was unaware of any of that and did not feel the contractions at all.
Labor was about 7 hours after my water broke.
No interventions with either.
I would wait a little longer. Honestly, in my layperson's opinion, you sound about ready to go already. And if you are reading this on Tuesday morning, I would be surprised if you aren't en route to the hospital before lunch.
Pack your bag, eat your favorite meal (mine is a great Italian sausage/mushroom pizza and a pint of milk)....maybe a piece of chocolate cake and more milk and go to the ER and tell them I AM READY!
Happy Birthday to you new BABY!
I don't know what to tell you. My neighbor was two weeks late, so they induced her. She labored and labored, only to not be able to birth him, so they had to do a c-section. She wished so much that they would have just done the c-section from the get-go because 24 hours of laboring was so very exhausting.
Ah well - good luck with what you decide. Just know that whatever way you birth is fine as long as you and the baby are healthy.
That kind of induction sounds awful. Without any warning signs of complications, I see no reason for you to be induced. He is suggesting it for his convenience, not for your health or safety of the baby. I know how hard it is to go over 40 weeks, three of mine were late, and one of those was 3 weeks late. When babies are late, there is usually a reason. My 3 weeker was only 7 lbs 7 oz., had he been born on time he would have weighed just over 4 lbs (I know he was late, we didn't get the date wrong, there was no way I could have gotten pregnant after a certain date, so the due date was spot on). Going over 40 weeks does NOT mean the baby is in danger, and I'm with Victoria, I bet you start labor today or tonight.
The waiting is hell, I get that. But many inductions have significant risk asociated with them, if you can avoid it you should. Good luck, be patient. Much love to you.
Even if you know the exact conception date, it's normal to go to 42 weeks gestation. What matters is how developed the baby is, not how many weeks along you are.
Don't do the castor oil. The only thing it does is give you terrible diarrhea and dehydrate you when you need to remain hydrated.
If your doctor is going on vacation then s/he will still have a covering on-call doctor who will do just as well. Just rest as much as you're able, even if it means sitting up propped by pillows. Walk when you feel like it, eat fresh fruit and veggies, drink plenty of water, and remember that all of that other stuff is just old wives tales.
Sorry I don't have a lot of experience but have never heard of a balloon treatment. If he wants to get things going early, what about the usual cervical pill and pitocin? You could start that tomorrow and be done within 24 hours. Only downside is if it doesn't work, you will end up with a c-section. To me that was ok but you might not like that option. good luck!
I had my son about 5 days after my mucous plug came out. It will happen naturally. Unless your water has broken, no need to "expedite" the process. For what it's worth, my doctor told me that I was in labor for a full day before my water broke and I had no idea. Apparently it's pretty common to be having contractions and back pain AKA "labor" and not realize it because you're so busy with "life".
Remember that due dates are just estimates. Babies come when they are ready... or when mama is ready. If you're "done", then go for it. If you're OK to wait a few more days... then wait.
Good luck!
I can't answer your question, unfortunately, but I had to respond to the thought of castor oil and root beer! I think I would toss my cookies on that one! Ugh!
More often than not, inductions are done for someone's convenience, NOT for a true medical necessity. Remember that just because you're tired of being pregnant, doesn't mean that your baby is ready to come.
I, too, think you're probably in early labor without really realizing it, and even if you aren't holding your baby (and probably giggling at some of these "late" replies *grin*), then you will be soon. Hang in there, mama! Give your baby a few more days!
And, mama, YOU do ALL the work. The nurses are there to attend you and support you! :D
drink some caster oil w/ rootbeer you will go into labor pretty quick worked 3 times for me. if its time it will happen. and you won't go thru the stress of being induced.
Unless you've had a fertility procedure where you can pinpoint he exact moment of conception, a due date is an estimate and 2 weeks give or take is completely normal.
The only reason to induce is if the child and/or mother are being stressed.
I'd never do that for the convenience of the doctors vacation schedule.
That you have back pain might mean you ARE in labor already.
By the time you are ready for the hospital, it might move along fairly quickly.
So try to walk as much as you can - do stairs up and down - eat spicy foods - take a warm shower as often as you want (it can help ease the back pain).
Whether it's a few days or another week - it won't be much longer.
Hang in there!
Sounds like you will go any day now. Good luck. My guess would be within 24 hours. Hope I am right.
If you haven't had the baby yet my advice is to take castor oil. The pharmacist can tell you how much to take as I can't remember. I had my first 6 weeks early and the others either 3 days early or 3 days late or around there but my last, the 8th, was 6 days late. I had swollen feet, and all the things you described but no labor. My doctor said to try the castor oil and I had her that night just hours after taking the castor oil. It wasn't that bad really except for taste. I'd try it and if you are 'ready' it will work and if not it won't. I think I'd still be pregnant with that last one if I hadn't taken the castor oil. :-)
If you're set on inducing, why wouldn't you just go the normal methods such as membrane stripping, walking, even castor oil or pitocin? That balloon thing sounds horrible and much worse than any of the other options. With my last pregnancy, I was 6.5 cms dilated and 100% effaced when I walked in for my induction. I didn't want pitocin either and just had the doctor break my water. Baby was born an hour and a half later. You mentioned how effaced you are, but any dilation?
You sound like your in the early stages I would be surprised if you were not holding your baby while reading this by now. :)
Walking a lot worked when I was like that.
I feel for you!!! Once you hit your "due" date, every day past that feels like a week!! My second was almost two weeks past the due date my OB set and that last bit felt like FOREVER. Since your last one came 4 days late, I am guessing this little one will come along soon. Try to be patient. If all is well with the baby, DO NOT let them pressure you into induction methods for their convenience. Keep walking. It sounds like your body is doing a great job getting ready. I second the previous poster, I hope you are holding your baby right now :)
