Update: I still don't know how to deliver this baby

[Deleted]

Original post here: pandce.proboards.com/thread/523908/tell-me-deliver-baby-mm

I'm 38 weeks 4 days. I had a growth ultrasound yesterday and generally measured on track or not more than 4 days ahead. The exception to this is the baby's torso, which measured 40 weeks (she had a hard time getting the measurement so I'm skeptical. Current estimate of the baby's weight is 8lbs 4oz (could be 1 lb in either direction).

Cervix is soft but not dilated. I've had only a few Braxton Hicks episodes.

I'm really not interested in an elective c-section. But should I wait it out or induce after 39 weeks?

Ugh. Someone tell me what to do. I'm tired of being in charge.

[Jalapeñomel]

Why not wait until 40 weeks?

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 11:24:46 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Why not wait until 40 weeks?

The thought is that an induction after 39 weeks would get a smaller baby and reduce the extent of the damage, including re-breaking my tailbone.

[undecidedowl]

If it were me, I would wait it out because I think birthing is usually easier when your body is truly ready. Unless the doctors think there was something about your particular anatomy that caused the trauma, in which case I might induce sooner.

I pushed for 3 hours with DS1 who was about 1 week early. I pushed for 3 pushes with DS2 who was about a week late and weighed 1.5 pounds more.

[dcn]

I would wait until you get closer to 40 weeks. You may go before then!

[zarapipe]

Was #1 an induction?

I would wait. My labor with dd2 who was born 2 weeks later than dd1 was so much easier and shorter. I also think the longer you go the more your body is ready and able to handle labor.

[ilikedonuts]

I would wait. Honestly ultrasounds are notoriously wrong. Plus every delivery really is different.

[boiler717]

I personally would do the c section. If you aren't up for that, I would induce at 39w since you have had vaginal deliveries before.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 11:29:27 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Apr 30, 2016 11:26:18 GMT -5 @idaholakelady said:

The thought is that an induction after 39 weeks would get a smaller baby and reduce the extent of the damage, including re-breaking my tailbone.

I doubt the difference between 39 and 40 weeks in size would mean injury or not. Personally, I'd wait to induce until 40 weeks. 

I kind of agree. At this point the kid is already writhing 5oz of DD's weight.

[ilikedonuts]

You could always wait until you go into labor and see how the labor progresses. If after 12 hours (or whatever limit you want to give) there is no progress, you could ask for the c-section.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 11:36:19 GMT -5 zarapipe said:

Was #1 an induction?

I would wait. My labor with dd2 who was born 2 weeks later than dd1 was so much easier and shorter. I also think the longer you go the more your body is ready and able to handle labor.

My water broke with DD but contractions never started, so I had Pitocin. A semi-induction at 41 weeks.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 11:39:32 GMT -5 swizz said:

Apr 30, 2016 11:29:27 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

I doubt the difference between 39 and 40 weeks in size would mean injury or not. Personally, I'd wait to induce until 40 weeks. 

I would probably wait.

Were they able to give you any indication as to why the injury happened last time?

I think mine was just coincidence and positioning (I had mostly back labor) so size wouldn't have really made a big difference (though she was 8lb at 38w5d, so could have been big if she'd waited longer -- spontaneous labor.)

No indication of why it happened last time. And I've since moved, so different obgyn.

[speyedr]

I've induced at 39w and had a spontaneous delivery at 38+5- both 8+ lb babies. My second delivery was much easier on my body because I went into labor on my own and my body was ready. I would wait.

[dancingirl21]

I would wait. Hopefully labor starts on its own and things progress in the right direction. If not, you can think about induction at 40 weeks.

FWIW, I'm skeptical of growth ultrasounds. I had one at exactly 34 weeks with DS1 and they were predicting he was 6lbs 9oz at that point. He was born at 36w 5d (I went into labor on my own) and he was 6lbs 13oz. So I think they can be really off.

[katiescarlett]

I didn't re read the entire first thread, so this may have been addressed, but did they discuss options for pushing positions? If you were to forego the epidural you maybe allowed to push in a different position that would create a different shape in your pelvis vs lying on your back.

[katiescarlett]

Oh, and I would also be wary of a growth scan at this point. They can be pretty far off either way.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 12:51:58 GMT -5 katiescarlett said:

I didn't re read the entire first thread, so this may have been addressed, but did they discuss options for pushing positions? If you were to forego the epidural you maybe allowed to push in a different position that would create a different shape in your pelvis vs lying on your back.

I discussed it with 2/3 docs over the last 10 weeks of visits. Both basically said that w/o an epidural I can deliver in any position I want. With an epidural I'll have to be in bed. I didn't specify if I had to be on my back or side-lying, which is how my sister just delivered a 9lb 2os baby (but she's 6' tall so bigger hips).

[celiacmom]

Personally if I wanted to avoid a section is hire a doula.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 15:13:52 GMT -5 celiacmom said:

Personally if I wanted to avoid a section is hire a doula.

I had a doula with DD and she was great! But she can't make me go into labor.

[Deleted]

:::kicks the dirt::: I feel like there are no good answers. I was really hoping that yesterday's appointments would prices more convincing information. Like, "this baby is huge and you're 2cm dilated!" Then I'd go for the induction immediately on hitting 39 weeks. Or, "the baby is small, you're high, tight and closed" which would have been a wait it out answer.

Look I'll admit it: I'm scared!

[DarcyLongfellow]

Ug, I'm sorry you're having to stress over this.

I would wait. I had a difficult delivery with DD1, and I was very anxious to avoid repeating what I went through. Part of what probably caused my issues were being induced, so I really wanted to go into labor on my own.

I truly believe that my body being ready had a lot to do with how much easier DD2's delivery was. I know your situation is a bit different since your water broke last time, but I feel like waiting until your body is ready can only help your labor.

And even with an epidural, I'd ask if you have to deliver on your back. My hospital was super NOT natural birth friendly, but even there is would have been allowed different birthing positions as long as I could get into them with the epidural numbing me.

[magpie]

I would probably wait, but I had a long and difficult induction with DD and that colors my perspective. I honestly think that my body just wasn't really ready because my labor just never took off like it was supposed to. I hope all the ladies who have said that it's easier when you're body is truly ready are right...because I don't want to do it that way again! I hear you on being scared...I'm not as far along as you, but I'm also scared of repeating the experiences of DD. If I have to be induced again this second time around, I will seriously consider asking for a c-section.

[pattieice]

I would wait. My deliveries were very different. DS1 took forever and I was eventually given Pitocin, pushed for hours, needed a vacuum assist, and had a bad tear. DS2 was lightning fast and fell out on the second push with no tear.

[AmyRI]

Will your docs let you attempt an induction at 39w, but if it fails, go home and try again at 40w instead of force you into a section?

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 16:35:55 GMT -5 swizz said:

Apr 30, 2016 15:23:55 GMT -5 @idaholakelady said:

:::kicks the dirt::: I feel like there are no good answers. I was really hoping that yesterday's appointments would prices more convincing information. Like, "this baby is huge and you're 2cm dilated!" Then I'd go for the induction immediately on hitting 39 weeks. Or, "the baby is small, you're high, tight and closed" which would have been a wait it out answer.

Look I'll admit it: I'm scared!

I get it! I'm terrified of another delivery and I have negative desire at the moment for a second baby.

You're totally allowed to be scared, and really any decision you make here is the right one -- whatever makes you more comfortable.

On mobile, but will you have another appointment before 39w? Maybe see if you've made any progress on your own?

I'm scheduled for a an appointment next Friday, when I'll be 39/3. I'm going to call on Monday and see if they can get me in earlier in the week to check progress. And do a lot of walking and sex this week to see if anything happens.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 16:36:41 GMT -5 AmyRI said:

Will your docs let you attempt an induction at 39w, but if it fails, go home and try again at 40w instead of force you into a section?

We talked about this a little bit. I think as long as my water doesn't break this is a possibility.

To be clear, I did progress with DD. Just very, very slowly.

[ringstrue]

The size of the torso is not going to affect your tailbone during delivery- only the head. I say you have two routes: induce soon, or wait and schedule a c/s on the due date. Babies do grow 1/2lbs a week at this point, but that's not all head weight, obvs .

Are you having sex? Semen softens the cervix.

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 18:52:26 GMT -5 ringstrue said:

The size of the torso is not going to affect your tailbone during delivery- only the head. I say you have two routes: induce soon, or wait and schedule a c/s on the due date. Babies do grow 1/2lbs a week at this point, but that's not all head weight, obvs .

Are you having sex? Semen softens the cervix.

I actually just told H to get in the shower so we can do it tonight. We're also going for a walk after dinner ;-)

[isabel]

Apr 30, 2016 19:18:14 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I think you have to have sex 3 times in a 24 hour period for it to have any effect on the cervix.

I don't think we had sex for the last 4 weeks of my pregnancy. I cannot imagine having sex 3 times in 24 hours at nearly 39 weeks pregnant. No thanks!

[Deleted]

Apr 30, 2016 19:18:14 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

I think you have to have sex 3 times in a 24 hour period for it to have any effect on the cervix.

Holy shit. I'm not against a glass of wine or beer a week at this point in pregnancy but I can't drink enough to make sex 3x/ 24hours happen. Even when not pregnant.