What to expect...

[rugbywife]

tomorrow is my 38/39 week appointment…should be my 38w but I am half way through the week.  But I do know I am getting an internal…what is likely to happen? Pain??? Lol.  I know, in light of what is yet to come, I can't imagine it will be that bad…does everyone get a 'sweep'?

[JayhawkGirl]

Internals didn't bother me too much - kind of like a bad pap.

[Saudade]

Apr 2, 2014 16:48:43 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

tomorrow is my 38/39 week appointment…should be my 38w but I am half way through the week.  But I do know I am getting an internal…what is likely to happen? Pain??? Lol.  I know, in light of what is yet to come, I can't imagine it will be that bad…does everyone get a 'sweep'?

Basically she will check the state of your cervix. It's pretty uncomfortable due to how deep she has to go. Depending on her fingers (long and lean, sausages, etc) she might have to dig a little bit and that's when it gets uncomfortable. I didn't find them uncomfortable when my CNM did it but when the nurse with fat stubs did it, it was a lot worse. 

I never had a sweep.

[changedname]

Ok, brace yourself. At my 39 week appointment the OB "measured" my dilation. It's uncomfortable but not too bad.

Then he suddenly decided to do a stretch and sweep. It is definitely a bit painful and I bled a ton afterwards. Take a pad with you. I didn't have one and had to run into whole foods to get toilet paper. I don't want to scare you (but actually reassure you) I thought the S & S hurt more than labour. Just try and do yoga breathing through it. It is very very quick. I feel like I was more sensitive down there than I was pre pg.

I was cramping and bleeding all that night to the point where I thought I was in labour but nothing happened (I was induced at 41 weeks in the end).

Good luck!!!

[changedname]

where are you giving birth? Joe Brant? Once you have had your baby, let me know if you join any of the moms groups around here. (momstown etc). I'm going to a La Leche League meeting tonight, will let you know if it is good.

[rugbywife]

Apr 2, 2014 17:14:25 GMT -5 changedname said:

where are you giving birth? Joe Brant? Once you have had your baby, let me know if you join any of the moms groups around here. (momstown etc). I'm going to a La Leche League meeting tonight, will let you know if it is good.

I am at Mac…I think I will join momstown for sure…let me know how La Leche League goes!

And you have me TOTALLY scared for tomorrow now, omg!

[VillainV]

I didn't find dilation checks too uncomfortable, but the membrane sweep was a little bit. My midwife definitely asked if I wanted it done or not -- I didn't do it at 39w but did at 40w. If your cervix isn't ripening then the sweep might not do much. I started having contractions on my ride home from my membrane sweep (but then again, my midwife has a reputation for having really effective membrane sweeps!)

If you don't want to be swept, just make sure you tell your doctor not to do it. He/she still might recommend it for one reason or another -- the only real risk is infection, but that's a risk any time you have an internal exam.

[bananapancakes]

I just had mine today and I didn't find it too bad. I was super nervous going in as well. She measured my dilation and cervix length (just using her fingers). Put a finger through my cervix (I'm 1-2 cm dilated and 50% effaced) and did the stretch and sweep. She was also able to feel the baby's head. It was uncomfortable but not really painful. I was actually laughing when it was over and said, "That was it". I did do deep breathing through which may have helped a tiny bit. Good luck!

[bananapancakes]

Oh, and I did bleed a tiny bit after but just a few spots on a panty liner.

[curbsideprophet]

I did not have an internal (they would have done it if I wanted, but I did not see the point). No membrane sweep either.

[thatgirl2478]

I never got 'swept' - I think it depends on your Dr.

I would imagine that they would start checking for dilation soon.

[flgirl]

I didn't find the internal check to be that unpleasant. I only had a membrane sweep once and I guess I would call it unpleasant but not painful. And you may bleed a little after. Didn't work for me. I still had to be induced.

[changedname]

Apr 2, 2014 18:25:11 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

Apr 2, 2014 17:14:25 GMT -5 changedname said:

where are you giving birth? Joe Brant? Once you have had your baby, let me know if you join any of the moms groups around here. (momstown etc). I'm going to a La Leche League meeting tonight, will let you know if it is good.

I am at Mac…I think I will join momstown for sure…let me know how La Leche League goes!

And you have me TOTALLY scared for tomorrow now, omg!

See, no one else seems to bleed or cramp like I did so I think I had bad luck. Added to the fact that it didn't even work! Good luck, you will be fine!

[rugbywife]

K, it wasn't brutal at all - probably because I am either super loosey goosey (lol) OR because I am only 1cm dilated and her head isn't even engaged. Doc did a 'sweep' to try to get things moving but I can't imagine it will make much of a difference if I am 1 by 2 cm…although she says I am 'softening up'. I feel like a piece of fruit at the grocery store, lol.

So she said sex. My gf mentioned using primrose oil but the doc was like, WTF? Will do raspberry leaf tea though.

[rugbywife]

Apr 3, 2014 10:38:02 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

Why is your doctor even mentioning things to speed it along when you are 11 days before your due date?

Well, I am measuring 41 weeks at 38 weeks, so there is that. But I don't think she wants to speed things along, she just mentioned that sex can help soften the cervix.  

[rugbywife]

Oh, I should add, I brought up the primrose oil because a friend mentioned it and I wanted to check with the doc, so that was all me…not because I want to speed things up, just because my friend said you could start taking it as of week 37 and seeing as though I am midway though 38 I thought I would ask about it. The doc had no idea what I was talking about, my friend had a midwife too though so maybe it is more of an alternative thing.

Anyways, I am not in a rush per se, but that doesn't mean I can't drink some raspberry leaf tea, lol.

[bananapancakes]

I asked my midwife about the evening primerose oil and she actually recommended against it. She says it often "works" by encouraging your water to break but does not necessarily start labour so you have broken water, no contractions, and may face an induction.

I started drinking the raspberry leaf tea at about 37 weeks on the advice of my midwife. It does not speed anything along but apparently it "tones" your uterus which may make the pushing stage of labour a bit easier. I find that after I drink it, my uterus gets "twichy" like how my quads would feel after a long run. My midwife said that my uterus felt very firm yesterday which is probably partly thanks to the tea.

[bananapancakes]

Apr 3, 2014 11:12:18 GMT -5 bricco said:

rugbywife - I totally hear you. On the one hand, I'm content and feeling pretty good and there are still things I want to get done before the baby comes.. but on the other hand, let's meet our babies!

I think the hardest part is the not knowing when, don't you think? If I had a definite "he's coming on April 19th" or whatever, I think that would be world's easier to deal with.. a true countdown. But this whole "well, he can come any day now and be totally healthy!" for weeks on end? KILLS ME!

Yep, this is where I'm at. Any day now but just more and more waiting and wondering...

[rugbywife]

It's ok Jennyanydots, I did sort of read your post as a bit judgey but that's not a big deal…I know a lot of people are sensitive about people trying to speed things up. Truly not my intent, although I would prefer NOT to go too far over 40w if possible, given what my feet feel like now, lol. But she will be like her mother, stubborn and independent, and do as she pleases, lol.

I didn't know we were close - that is cool!

[rugbywife]

Apr 3, 2014 11:41:33 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

Apr 3, 2014 11:26:43 GMT -5 rugbywife said:

It's ok Jennyanydots, I did sort of read your post as a bit judgey but that's not a big deal…I know a lot of people are sensitive about people trying to speed things up. Truly not my intent, although I would prefer NOT to go too far over 40w if possible, given what my feet feel like now, lol. But she will be like her mother, stubborn and independent, and do as she pleases, lol.

I didn't know we were close - that is cool!

Don't worry, I think that any pregnant woman who says they don't mind going past their due date must be lying! I totally expect women to want to speed things along, I just was surprised at the doctor end of it.

And you are delivering at Mac, right? I used to live almost right across the street from there. I would cut through the hospital every day to get to and from campus. It is a great place.

Yep! I live just outside the area but am high risk so I get to go there - they are so nice there, I feel really lucky. 

[vtdiamond]

Apr 3, 2014 11:43:51 GMT -5 bricco said:

Apr 3, 2014 11:24:00 GMT -5 Jennyanydots said:

I remember trying to trick myself into thinking that my real due date was 10 days after, because I knew they would induce at 10 days post-due date. Didn't work. Still started climbing the walls once my real due date came and passed!

For now, I've convinced myself he'll come on Easter Sunday.  It's the ONE date that I think I would hate for my kid to have for a birthday..

1) it's a holiday this year
2) it's 3 days past my due date
3) it's Hitler's birthday and the anniversary of Columbine
4) it's a pot-smoking holiday

So yep, that's the day he'll come. LOL.  That's what I tell anyone who asks me when he's coming. LOL.

Now watch me go past that and be so freaking mad. LOL.

My anniversary is on 4/20, it's not totally a bad day

[rugbywife]

My ideal date is April 14th. I think my due date is April 13th but I keep telling people the 14th because at one point it was the 14th. Anyways, here are my reasons:

- The 14th of the 4th month of '14…LOL…
- DH only gets like 3 days off…so he could take the 14th, 15th, 16th BUT then it is long weekend for the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th here…so he would end up with 7 days off!!!
- It's reasonable to think that she could come at 40w1d.

The downfall is that it would screw Easter plans up…I don't know if I will feel up to a family shin dig like 4 days after giving birth, and I love big meals! Lol, priorities!

Edit: GAH, my plans are ruined…it needs to be the 15th to get those days off…I was looking at the calendar for 2015!?!