Baby Update: Due Dates

[mmcnealy]

Well, now this is interesting...

Dr. A changed my due date to August 3rd at my last prenatal checkup.

Today I saw Dr. H, and he didn't agree with her date change. He thinks I just have a big baby and it should stay the 18th, as originally determined by the California doctor.

So, this makes determining when I am really overdue just that much more interesting.... Not that I have to worry about this yet, but its something to keep in mind. Dr. H says that if I do end up two weeks overdue according to the Aug. 3rd date, I can contest the induction and ask for more time due to the earlier ultrasound. Hopefully that won't be necessary and the baby will just decide to come on its own, when its good and ready, but not too late.


Other than the due date confusion, everything else looks good. Weight, blood pressure and baby heart rate are all doing well.

Comments

[ornerie.livejournal.com]

it seems to me that if you're ok and babies ok, they should be able to take as long as they like? sure, it doesnt fit into schedules as well ;) but as long as all the stats look good, does it really matter?

from what I'm told inducing is not all that hot for you or for jr and should be avoided if possible...

(but then my only experience is on the farm or watching friends go through it :))

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

A lot of doctors will induce as a matter of course after 42 weeks. It gets tricky when the due date is unclear.

Induction isn't great, but past 42 weeks, the risks go up for the baby. Certainly, most are ok, but docs are usually a bit overcareful, it seems.

[ciorstan.livejournal.com]

Having had one with induction and all kinds of interventions-- and one without, I can say that there are pros and cons to either way.
I should mention that with my second kid I woke up at 2:30 am feeling "weird" down there on the morning of the day I was calculated to be a week late and scheduled for induction at 7:30am anyway-- and when we hit the hospital at 3:30 am, I was already dilated to 8. She was born at 5:30 am that morning. "Weird" was this sort of tight feeling-- like my basketball-sized belly tightening and turning rock hard all over for a little bit, then relaxing. It did not hurt at all. I SLEPT through most of that labor.

Marion, you can kill me now.

The ferocity of contractions when induced is indeed rougher on the mom and rougher on the baby. It is harder for the mom to concentrate/focus on getting the child out, because it hurrrrrrts more. On the other hand, if mom's blood pressure is shooting up due to toxemia and she's showing pitting edema on all extremities, that's definitely the way to go; that's why I was induced with my first.

Labor, when triggered naturally by the body, is wayyyy easier on the baby. This is why precision in knowing the due date is important. Plus, during the last two weeks or so of pregnancy, all the baby really does is pack on weight. Naturally, the bigger the child, the rougher on the mom in terms of healing from labor.

[ciorstan.livejournal.com]

It did not hurt at all.

Well, more accurately, it didn't hurt until 9 through 10, the latter half of 'transition,' which is defined as dilating from 8 to 10. One starts pushing at 10.

Kirstin arrived with six pushes simultaneously with the doctor-- but then, I was pissed and beside myself with irrationality because the doctor still hadn't shown up with orders for any GOOD DRUGS and it HURRRRT.

Do not expect to be sane while in labor. ;)

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

I can only hope to sleep through most of the early labor contractions. I've had a few Braxton-Hicks and they really don't hurt, yet. Just a tight feeling and then gone. My friend K, who's due in mid-July, has some which are a bit more painful.

I'm pretty sure that it will all work out and I won't need to be induced. My mom knows a couple of tricks and Dr. H is known as the witch doctor for something he does which helps trigger the body to start labor within 24-48 hours.

Speaking as a former childbirth instructor:

[marymont.livejournal.com]

No, B-H contractions don't hurt. Often the only way you can tell you're having B-H contractions is that your tummy gets hard.

Generally, you can assume that your labor will be the equivalent of all those menstrual cramps you didn't get for those nine months. However, most women find that they don't get menstrual cramps after giving birth. I know I didn't ever again.

A tea made with capsicum and blue cohosh will help bring on or strengthen contractions, but only if the body is otherwise ready to go.

The best trigger, however, is nipple stimulation. It encourages the body to produce oxytocin, which is the natural hormone that is in Pitocin, the drug they use to induce.

From what I have been able to determine, castor oil doesn't do anything except make you feel vile.

Once you have indeed gone into labor, keep moving around.

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what Dr. H said, although its standard practice to induce at 2 weeks over the due date because of possible complications and stress to the baby. At least here they don't have a policy of inducing the week after the due date like some friends of my sister-in-law had done.

My mom knows some tricks to start labor, so does Dr. H. He's known as the witch doctor for some procedure which consistantly triggers labor within 24-48 hours. I'm sure it will all work out.

[ciorstan.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you're in good hands.

The most fun way of inducing labor is, erm, jumping your husband. There's a natural hormone/chemical in his stuff that can bring it on.

[jillwheezul.livejournal.com]

Baby will come when ready :) I'm so glad you are doing well and I so want to know the little one's name. Since you are careful not to tell, it must be a secret.

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

The baby will either be a Natalie or a Henry. I know what the sex is, but I'm not telling anybody. :) Matt really wants it to be a surprise, so that's what its going to be.

oh how fun

[friendlytornado.livejournal.com]

Both names are adorable! Good for you for keeping little mcnealy's brand (F or M) on the down low.

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

Good names! Not that I'm biased towards Henry or anything. :-D

[chargirlgenius.livejournal.com]

The later you go, the less accurate the sizing, and the date. I'd stick with the due date from the early u/s, when deciding whether to induce. If things are running late, can you get an u/s to make sure that everything is ok, and try to avoid the induction?

[mmcnealy.livejournal.com]

That's pretty much what Dr. H said, as long as the baby is happy and not stressed, then they will go by the Aug 18 due date.