Friend in 38Th Week of Pregnancy

I was wicked sick and coughing like a banshee--the coughing broke my water, but I wouldn't recommend it!

I am a midwife and former NICU Respiratory Therapist. Her doctor is right. There is absolutly no reason at all to do routine cervical checks. They tell you nothing! And they could potentially introduce bacteria or accidently break her water, both of which are not good. She might be dilated. She might not be dilated. She could be 4cm and deliver in two weeks or closed up tight and holding her baby 6 hours later. I have personally seen both occur. I have had three children. I have never been checked nor would ever consent to being checked unless labor was well under way.

Also, at this point in her pregnancy she just needs to relax and not try to bring on labor. Labor will start when the baby is ready. If her body and her baby are not ready it does not matter what she does, labor will not begin and she will just end up frustrated. Most babies don't come until about 41 weeks. This is normal and healthy. If she forces her baby out early she runs the risk of the baby's lungs not being fully mature and the baby ending up in the NICU. Your friend maybe 38 weeks but her baby is only 36 weeks and possibly even 35 weeks depending on when the egg was actually fertilized. It is not worth the baby being born a couple of weeks or even just a few days early if it ends up in the NICU for a week just so mom did not have to endure a few more weeks of pregnancy. Trust me that is not how she wants her baby to start life. The best place for her baby right now is inside her. If she is not in labor then she can know that her baby is just not ready to be born and needs more growing time. Tell her to let her baby have this time. It is vitally important. When the baby's lungs are fully 100% mature they will release a chemical letting the mother's body know to start labor.

My doctor does not check unless there is an issue going on (like possible labor) because of the increased risk of infection. Basically there is nothing they are going to do and knowing doesn't always predict things. With DD I was never checked until I was admitted to the hospital but with DS I was checked early because of preterm labor. I preferred not being checked to be honest.

Tell her to walk as much as she can. I know it is hot but go to the mall and move as much as possible. Helped me with DD.

I am 38 weeks now also. I have not been checked. They have recently found that poking up there too much can increase the chance of infection.

Her doctor is not a lazy quack....just current with the best care.

Normal gestation is 40 weeks unless the baby is showing signs of distress...which they check through fetal heart monitoring at every appointment. I assure you she is going in weekly at this point. After 40 weeks they will probably want to get things moving. But 38 weeks is generally not the time to stress about getting baby out.

Perhaps we have been a little bit brainwashed to think that 40 weeks is now considered "post term". It's not.

They checked me, but from what I understand the dilation and effacement is meaningless until active labor. You could walk around at 2 cm for a week, or you could go from 0-10 cm in a couple hours.

I tried EVERYTHING: hot sauce, driving down bumpy roads, walking, sex, etc. I got a pedicure the day I went into labor though -- The lady rubbed my ankles and calves and said it might start labor. I don't know if it did or it was just coincidence.

I am pregnant with #3 and have never been checked. I asked during my first pregnancy and was told that they could if I really wanted them to, but that effacement and dialation prior to labor doesn't really tell you anything...you could still have weeks to go or about to start labor...but that many moms will put a lot of stake in whatever is said about their "progress" even before labor starts, mentally stressing them out. It also increases the risk of infection, as does checking dialation during labor b/c you are introducing something foreign into the vaginal canal. Sounds like a good, keeping up with current research doc to me!

Ok, I know this is not the best advice... but since I am married, me and hubby had sex up until. I think the last time we had sex my mucus plug released and then about two days later my water broke and I had baby within 2 hours.

Also, as I got closer to my due date * and started feeling pressure & very minor contractions * I pushed, not very hard at all but I pushed a tad everyday. I know I sound crazy but I think it helped.

I also walked, worked, up until....with both of my children and I really think the walking helps. BTW, I'm pregnant with #3 right now so I will be employing these techniques again. :)

My youngest is 1 and my friend is due any day. I was check after month 7 and my friend as well. Granted we go to the same doc, but YES they still do check.

With my first baby, I was not examined at all. I asked at my 38 week appt and was told they'd check the next week. My water broke at 39 weeks so I wasn't examined at all until I got to the hospital. With my second and third babies, I had complications so they started doing internal exams 36 weeks.

doc is a quack, she needs to be checked

My midwife did not check me until 38 weeks, because I begged her to!! Then again at 39 weeks, I begged her...it may be that they don't do that as much as they used to...and to start labor....well, they say do what you did to get into this situation...if you know what I mean ;) (wink, wink) I believe babies come when they are good and ready though. My little guy came 5 days late. Good luck to your friend!

My Dr. never routinely checks for dilatation and effacement until 39 weeks. She was no lazy quack!! It's pretty routine not to now. (Unless their are complications, and they need to be checked earlier.) There is just no need for it, and it can cause other problems. In fact, my Dr. stopped checking me period, because I went into bad contractions every time. That baby needs to stay in until 39 weeks. I know it's full term, but the lungs might not be ready. I'd encourage her to stick it out, and just let it happen naturally. Also, her Dr. will check when it's necessary.

She should be having weekly checkups and they SHOULD be checking each week. One lady went in for a check and was actually in labor! They had to call the ambulance to drive her across the street to the hospital.

Tell her to keep her eye on the prize! I ended up having sciadic issues and was able to talk my OB into inducing at 38w. Some people frown on that. There are several things that can trigger labor. Walking alot while shopping at the outlet malls is NOT one of them and you'll get a stern talking to from your dr. However, taking a nice, slow romantic stroll is recommended.

My doctor checked at the beginning and at the end-week 39. When I was past due, he checked because there was fetal distress. My sister's doc never checked. I think the thought is leave it if all is good. Why have em up there for no "true" medical reason?

Like I said, I was 5 days late and my doc said I had low fluids, and fetal distress but no effacement or dialation. So, I was going to be induced. So, I went to the mall pretty much all day and walked around. Just walked and walked. No joke, 3 hours in the morning. Took a nap. Three hours in the evening. Then that night, at 3 am I went into labor. They said it wasn't progressing fast at the hospital. So I walked more- an hour in the hospital. SO tell her to walk more than she ever walked before!

my doctor checked me every week once I hit 36 weeks. That is crazy that they never checked her.