We've had several phone calls and chats begin with "So where's the baby?" (and one that included the delicately uttered, "I'm not even going to ask about the baby!")... so I thought I'd post a memorandum to the effect of "Baby is taking his/her sweet time in making an exit!"
And that is totally fine with us! Unlike our pregnant friend due a few days before us, we're not really in the "BABY, PLEASE TO BE GETTING OUT!" stage yet.
I was very wrong about a June baby, but that's hardly surprising -- our due date isn't even until tomorrow, and first babies are on average 10 days past their due dates.
This morning we had a midwife appointment - Stephanie's cervix has dilated a bit more, perhaps at a bit more than 1 cm. We found out that the midwife from last time totally didn't write the cervix check info down from the last appointment, and also, is apparently not very good at measuring, because effacement today is at 3cm as assessed by a midwife who actually held her finger next to the tape measure for reference. She was able to get her finger through the cervix, though, so progress!
The midwife also swept the membranes (separating them from the cervix gently during the cervical check) which releases prostaglandins and sometimes helps move labor along. We'll see if it does anything... may not do anything whatsoever, certainly hasn't caused anything to happen today.
Edited to add: No, there was no reason whatsoever other than us being maybe a bit impatient. It's a pretty low-key intervention and so we decided that having considered the benefits and risks, it would be prudent to trust the joint maternal intution and just do it. It wasn't painful and didn't break Stephanie's waters... meaning it ranks slightly below 4 mile walks in our hilly neighborhood in efficacy, so far. Curry hasn't done anything yet either, but that won't stop us from trying curry or walks again (perhaps tomorrow).
So, to recap: no cause for alarm. We are excited to welcome our July baby who is apparently taking after me in being fashionably late rather than his/her other mum (which would be just a bit early to be sure to be on time). :)
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Our baby was a week late, and it was the second membrane sweep that (maybe) got labor going. Good luck with everything!
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know that the membrane sweeping actually works for some people! I'm very optimistic!
ReplyDeleteThe chief problem with 2 weeks late is that then ALL the relatives (both sets of grandparents and two uncles) will all be visiting at the same time. If the baby makes an exit in the next week, then we can have staggered relative visiting, which I think would be a lot easier for all of us.
Your advice is definitely welcome!!
I'm sure you've done lots of stuff already, but the list we tried (unsuccessfully) included lots of walking, nipple stimulation, spicy food, evening primrose oil, orgasms, bouncing on the yoga ball, accupressure points... that might be everything. But like I said, it was a vigorous second membrane sweep that got the bloody show and actual contractions started. Sometimes these babies are stubborn :)
ReplyDeleteWe haven't tried evening primrose oil... I think if we're making a trip to the pharmacy, we'd probably reach for the big guns, aka castor oil.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice! Our membrane sweep was very gentle so we'll see about whether we will end up doing a second one next week.