Re: anyone else been over due?

May 13, 2001

why wouldn't they induce labor...ie: pitosin?

~N

anyone else been over due?

I was due May 6th, I am miserable, and if she doesn't come out on her

own by Friday, I get a c-section, and I really don't want one.

Help!!!

May 13, 2001

I was due May 6th, I am miserable, and if she doesn't come out on her

own by Friday, I get a c-section, and I really don't want one.

Help!!!

*****

Hi!

I know that inducing at 41 to 42 weeks is commonplace these days, but a

C-section? I would certainly ask your doctor to explain her/his reasoning!

My first child was 10 days " late " . I went into labor and delivered vaginally

with Nubain - no epidural. A gorgeous 8 pound boy.

My second child was even more reluctant - 14 days late. I went in for an fetal

health assessment on Day 14 and the doctor took one look at me (and, I suppose,

at my slightly elevated blood pressure) and asked if I was having contractions.

I replied " Well, sure, but what else is new? " (I'd had 3 weeks of very

convincing Braxton Hicks contractions!) He said " You're in labor. " I said, " OK,

sure.... I'm going shopping. " Two hours later, I asked my mom to check out our

purchases while I waited in the car. We went directly to the hospital and Ben

was born about 4 hours later. Again, no induction, no epidural, no problems in

birth, no signs of true post maturity in the 8 pound 5 ouncer. (He was soon

found to have a severe heart defect, perhaps he needed the extra time and weight

- God knew best, I think.)

My third child was induced one day before her due date because I was developing

preeclampsia. I was induced with prostaglandin inserts (no pitocin, yippee!) and

it took about 7 hours for her to arrive. This was with a totally unripe (no

effacement, no dilation) cervix. Obviously she was planning on hanging around

for a while too! Again, vaginal birth, no epidural.

Number four is now on the way, supposedly due 7/29/01, but I ovulated early....

I tell everyone it's 7/29 officially, but not to expect anything until August.

But maybe with the tight space (I had a tummy tuck with my WLS), this little

fellow will tire of the overcrowding and will come a bit earlier than his sibs.

Point is, being " late " can be a natural pattern for some of us. Due dates can be

off. Babies have their own rhythms. Doctors are quick to point out the risks of

letting a baby go far past their due dates, but they are.... let's say.... often

less eloquent in discussing the potential drawbacks of inductions and C

sections. There are several tests that can be done to assess fetal health and to

determine if the baby is faring well. Seems that would be a prudent step prior

to any intervention. You can also ask (and read) about natural labor " induction "

measures you can do yourself, like nipple stimulation. Information on natural

induction techniques can be found at:

http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/index.html (Please note that this is a

midwifery-oriented site.)

I do not like giving advice, but feel compelled to say " educate yourself quickly

and ask your doctor some serious questions. " Two books I recommend are:

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

by Henci Goer, Rhonda Wheeler

(NOTE: This book challenges many standard medical interventions, so if you do

not really want to know of the possible pitfalls of medical model birth

management, don't read it. It really WILL make you think. A large portion of the

book is the bibliography and summation of hundreds of research articles which

back up the author's text. My husband, a physician, found the references to be

sound, most of them are peer-reviewed, reliable scientific journals.)

The Birth Book : Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and Satisfying Birth

by , M.D. Sears, Martha, R.N. Sears

(This couple has many children - 7 I think - and they've had many different

kinds of birth experiences personally, in addition to their medical expertise. I

found it to be quite fair and balanced in matters regarding interventionist

versus natural birth management. It is an excellent resource for anyone.)

If you are interested, but can not find these books locally, you can order them

today from amazon.com and have them shipped overnight. That should leave you

enough time to read the relevant chapters and to weigh the information in your

own mind once you have talked to your OB.

Good luck!

Pam T. in California

May 13, 2001

Don't sweat it, girlfriend! You just want a healthy baby... and if you

have to have her by C, just remember that you've already undergone a

much more difficult surgery than that, and you DID survive it. LOL

-Kris

wrote:

> I was due May 6th, I am miserable, and if she doesn't come out on her

> own by Friday, I get a c-section, and I really don't want one.

> Help!!!

>

May 13, 2001

Try a big salad with lots of garlic, oil and vinegar.

Lyssa

anyone else been over due?

I was due May 6th, I am miserable, and if she doesn't come out on her

own by Friday, I get a c-section, and I really don't want one.

Help!!!

Children are a reward from the Lord.

Psalm 127:3

May 14, 2001

I had a previous c-section 7+ years ago and for some reason he

doesn't want to give me the drip.

> why wouldn't they induce labor...ie: pitosin?

> ~N

> anyone else been over due?

>

> I was due May 6th, I am miserable, and if she doesn't come out on

her