[amazing_love]

Just a warning.. this is going to be a little long....

Yesterday was my 40 week appt and lets just say it didn't go as well as i was hoping. I've pretty much made no progress. I'm 1-2 cm dilated (this is the only little difference), still 50% effaced, -1 station, and cervix is posterior. She seemed most concerned about me being posterior. I'm still not sure how I feel about her saying this, but she decided to give me her opinion which is that she doesn't think i'll go into labor on my own, "without some type of help" is how she put it. She said she wouldn't make me do an induction next week but that she doesn't recommend going past 41 weeks & 6 days. She said she would use a balloon catheter to dilate me to a 4 and then hope my body did the rest. I know pretty much nothing about this instrument so i need to do some research, but from what i HAVE learned i don't know whether that would actually help with the posterior position which is what she seemed so concerned with anyway. I've decided to try nipple stimulation and natural techniques in an attempt to help ripen the cervix and bring on labor, but really am not sure if that will help with the position of my cervix. I'm a bit confused as to what i can do. I felt like i still had a little time for Camden to come on his own but now i'm feeling a bit rushed.

My doctor discussed doing the catheter next thursday, but i'm thinking about telling her i want to wait until the following monday (or sunday if she'd actually be willing to) just to give my body a little more time to go into labor on its own. She said she starts getting concerned around 42 weeks because the placenta typically stops working as effectively and the chance of him "going poo" in there increases as well. It's just so hard... i want my baby to be healthy but also give him a chance to come when he's ready and not push him. I'm feeling somewhat discouraged now and "trying" not to let it worry me but it's hard!

If anyone has any information on a posterior cervix, balloon catheter, or better yet any stories of babies coming on their own after 40 weeks I'd appreciate it!

Thanks for listening!

[szczepanski]

Nolan was 5 days late.

I didn't have cervical checks because I didn't want to get discourage. They are NO INDICATION of progress that can be made and will be made by your body.

Do not get discourage! You will have your baby - try and stay positive, and I know it is super hard to not get discourage when you feel like you are at the finish line and NOTHING is happening. Think positively and remember that babies are born when they are ready and he might just need a few extra days of baking.

I didn't have cervical checks prior, but once I went into labor it was over. Some women don't make any progress until active labor - I went from 3 cms to holding him in less than 4 hours. 5cms to holding him in 11 minutes.

It may seem silly, but talk to Cameron and tell him you are ready for him to come out and you are just waiting for him to arrive. I know it seems like a lot of women on JM just don't go into labor...but it is actually pretty rare! Have faith in your body, it's about to do something even MORE amazing than carrying and growing little Cameron around for 9+ months!

ETA -

Posterior position - spend a lot of time on your hands and knee swaying your hips to convince him to turn around.

[midnight_starr]

Sorry hon I have no advice.. I hope he comes soon!!!! Have some sex, walk a lot and go eat some eggplant parmesan!!

[bittersweet]

I'm sorry you're feeling like this. While I don't have experience with any of the things you are going through, I just wanted to offer some support.

If you do end up getting some help to go into labor don't feel bad about it. You will be perfectly fine. The important thing is to have a healthy baby and mama. As a pediatic nurse, I've taken care of the babies who get very very sick from inhaling their poo (something you are at higher risk for going post-date). Most don't get sick from it, but the ones that do can get VERY sick and require a type of heart/lung bypass for a while. Knowing and seeing this was enough to scare me into getting an induction for myself if I past 40 weeks. Not trying to scare you, but be open minded and trust your Dr is going to advise you to do what is best. With their guidance and your natural instinct on what you should do, I'm sure you will have a pefect little baby in your arms soon!

[**Jenn**]

Try not to worry Krista, the average length of a first pregnancy is 41 weeks and either 1 or 2 days so you've got time.

Have you tried using evening primrose oil? You can take it orally as well as vaginally (place it right up next to your cervix) and that should help your cervix get more ready. My cervix was posterior at my appt. and I went into labor that same night with Lila. I would ask to get my membranes swept before trying the catheter. I've had it done with both Lochlann and Lila and both times I went into labor that night. Its something that won't help you into labor unless your body and baby are ready. So if he doesn't come on his own by 41 weeks 6 days maybe try that first? If anything it'll buy you another day or so.

The only thing I can add is, if it was "dangerous" to go past 40wks, women would not be allowed to go past 40+1day. They don't do internals here in the UK so I have no idea how dilated I was at any point. I went into labour on my own at 40+5days, and it came from no where, I had no signs or symptoms. I went to bed as usual and was woken up at 3:10am but "something", I laid for 10mins and had what I realised was a contraction. They came every 10mins thereafter until they got closer together etc.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, try not to feel rushed. Trust your body and if you wish to wait, then wait. Don't let the docs push you to induce. I firmly believe walking helped me along. Fresh pineapple is supposed to be one of the "helpers". I did nipple stim as well, I used my breast pump each night before bed. Not sure if that was a factor or not. Try not to stress as it wont do you or bubby any good either... easier said than done, I know.

Didn't some of the girls use EPO capsules to help ripen the cervix?? I'm sure Bre did as well as others?

[ScottishBrit]

Originally Posted by midnight_starr

Sorry hon I have no advice.. I hope he comes soon!!!! Have some sex, walk a lot and go eat some eggplant parmesan!!

Im sorry Krista! Apparently it's just to cozy in there! I agree with Amy...walk...walk...walk...They told me they were gonna induce me on a Monday ( then changed it to tuesday ) on my last Friday apt. So ALL day Sat I walked like crazy!!!!! My Contractions started that night. I hope something works for you soon!!!

[**jessie**]

Try not to worry. You will have your precious little boy one way or the next. Didn't you say that you and your doc were fine waiting until 42 wks for an induction? 41+6 is only a days difference. You could easily have him on your own by then and if not, and your doctor is worried, then why not try the dilation? I know I was talking with the head of pediatrics here and he said babies actually get smaller the closer they get to 42 wks and especially if they go over, because the function of the placenta begins to sharply decline. If it were me, I would go ahead and schedule the dilation and then do everything like walking, sex and spicy food in the meanwhile to try to kick start things. I would not use EPO... it has been associated with higher incidence of interventions during labor.

[Frozendesire]

I was dialated to a 3 for weeks! With no more progress then that. Haha. Curtis came on his own 12 days "late". My water broke and 5 hours later he was born. He just had to take his time.

A first timer usually goes past 40 weeks, if not by a a few days to a week or so! That's VERY common, although inductions are pushed and that "wrecks" how common it is!

Don't feel discouraged He'll come when he's ready.

Oh ya! I was going to be induced the next morning so I cleaned and cleaned and scrubbed my floors and bathtub and did tons of walking... then my water broke on it's own! I really think it was from all the stuff I did.

[amazing_love]

Thanks. It makes me feel better hearing that he still has a chance to come on his own. I just found it surprising that my doctor actually said to me "well if he's gone past his due date then he's going to need some sort of help" It kind of surprised me because i would think she's seen plenty of women go into labor on their own after the EDD. Unless she just thinks there's something else specific with me that makes her believe my body won't. *sigh*

Jessie, my doctor wants to do it on thursday which is 41 weeks & 4 days. I think she chose that day because she doesn't want to do it on the weekend maybe? I might just be being petty but i guess i thought those extra couple days *could* make a difference.

It seems that being active doesn't do much for me. I walked quite a bit last weekend and ended up having LESS contractions than usual I'm thinking this weekend i might spend a whole day at the mall just walking and see if that works though. We've also been DTD frequently.

Maybe i should just try to not let any of this get to me, stay positive, and convince myself he WILL come on his own. I think i'll go do a work out.. maybe that will help?

[~*Bethy*~]

Remember were on babys time, not the doctors. I would also suggest the pro on your cervix. I'll be starting my oral rounds tomorrow and then inserting them next week as well as still taking them orally. Even if it doesn't feel like its doing much, get out and walk. Rolling on a birthing ball also helps a lot!!!

What the balloon does is inflates you to a higher cm than what your currently at. They pretty much inflate a balloon to stretch your cervix. After a few hours they take it out and usually break your waters. Failed on every one I know who's had it done to

[ANGWife]

Well, I had a pretty eventful weekend before Henry came. Sat., we walked around the mall 3 times and went to a baseball game (lots of cheering and getting excited), then on Sun. I went for a pedicure.And my water broke 12am Monday!

Seems super impossible, but try to relax. Get a pedicure, manicure, have DH give you a backrub/footrub, get your hair done, take warm baths with lavender.... Not only is it great me time but it may help labor along.

[Bre*n*Will=Reid]

I don't know anything about the balloon catheder but I wanted to share this with you....

I went in for my weekly appt at 39w 5d. The week before, I had been 1cm, 85% effaced and 0 station. At the more recent appt, I was 1cm, 75% effaced and -2 station. I UN-progressed. I went as far as telling my in-laws to now fly out that weekend and to wait until the following weekend because I just KNEW I was going overdue.

I went intocfnlabor THAT NIGHT! It was totally out of the blue. I was prepared to wait another week, but it just happened.

That being said, I do somewhat suspect that my OB stripped my membranes during the appt without telling me....I was really crampy afterwards and bled a lot more than normal. Hmm.

I can imagine how frustrating this is- feeling like you have to choose between letting him come when he is ready and protecting him from going "too overdue". My OB wouldn't have let me go over 42 weeks either.

I hope he decides to come soon! You're doing great mommy.

[Chelnae6]

I agree with getting your OB to strip your membranes. Since you're already dilated they should have no problems doing so.

Go to or watch as many funny movies as possible. I swear the night after I went to the movies (a very funny one) I started having back labor. I was already doing EPO and RLT and bouncing on my ball. My cervix was all set and ready, it just wasnt dilating lol. I do think that bouncing on the ball helped to get Lani's head down and my cervix anterior.

[Miracle]

My baby was sunny side up. I was checked at my doctors appointment- not progressed at all- I think I was in the -2 station. I went into labor on my own only a couple of days later. I was only 40 weeks and 1-2 days.

I hope he'll come on his own soon for you!!

[..Penelope..]

I didn't get cervical checks, but I bet I would have got similar news to yours at my 40 week appointment if I was. The doctor even felt my belly and said that Logan had to drop a whole lot more before he could come. I went into active labor at 9 o'clock that night. When I arrived at the hospital after 6 hours of active labor, including atleast an hour of contractions that were 3 min apart and 1 min long, I was still only 1 cm and 100% effaced. After an hour of walking the hospital halls, I was 3 cm. Then an hour later, I was 10 cm!!

Try to remember that your body knows what it is doing, and chances are that you will go into labor before an induction is necessary. Mine was scheduled, and I didn't come close to it!

Good luck! Sending you lots of progress and easy labor vibes!

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

I have no advice! I have never heard about the balloon thing but it sounds better then any meds. Try raspberry leaf tea I heard that helps. ((HUGS))

[*krista*]

I don't really have any story to share, obviously, and nothing to add beyond what has already been said... I just wanted to say I hope he comes soon! You WILL go into labor on your own!

[Mars]

(((HUGS)))

Some ladies swear by Eggplant Parmesan.

[Adriana's Mommy]

I don't know what to tell you.. I was in the same situation as you with both of my kids.. But I had to have my babies by 39 weeks because I had Gestational Diabetes.. I was induced and both times my kids were not even engaged in the birth canal aka floating around.. I worked on my feet (10 hour shifts) up until the day I was induced, no progress.. I did everything I could think of to speed it along and nothing worked..

What you can do is ask for no pitocin and see if they can manual break your water.. With A.J, the nurse push on my belly to lock A.J's head in the birth canal, while the doctor broke my water.. Once they broke my water my labor progressed.. So fast, A.J was born 3 hours later.. With my daughter, they waited for my water to break on it's own, and with pitocin I was induced for 32 hours..