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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How to AVOID going into labour????

25 replies

MrsTittleMouse · 09/10/2006 08:20

OK, I realise that this is the complete opposite of how I'm supposed to be feeling right now at 39 weeks , but I want to AVOID going into labour for the next week, as DH is out of town for most of it, and it would be very difficult to get him back quickly.
Obviously without DH I'll be avoiding sex for the duration , and I know not to eat fresh pineapple. Any other ideas?
I haven't had a show yet, but I dropped 4 weeks ago and am having some serious BHs along with a strong desire to wash the skirting boards. Could I be close?

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lulunaticmama · 09/10/2006 08:25

you could be! - keep telling yourself you are not ready until 40 weeks...ask the baby not to come.....i didn't go into labour until had crossed everything off my to do list - so i think psychologically, you could talk yourself out of it! keep visualising next week as baby week...and cross your legs...!!!!! and take it easy...

CarolinahowlingattheMoon · 09/10/2006 08:28

I bet you won't go into labour until he gets back

(the skirting board thing is a bit concerning though, tbh - do you have a back-up birth partner just in case? Is this your first?)

PrettyCandles · 09/10/2006 08:46

Psych yourself into it. Talk to your bump and ask it not to come yet. Be really clear in your mind that you don't want to go into labour until after a certain event, and then, when that event happens (ie something to do with your dh being back at home) talk to your bump again, thank it for its cooperation and tell it to come now.

That's what I did, and it worked (OTOH, it meant that I went to 41w, which isn't huge fun either!).

No guarantees, but there is anecdotal evidence that this can work.

ledodgywizardrobespierre · 09/10/2006 08:48

I do think thinking/talking to yourself about when you want the baby to come works sometimes (I realise alot of people will disagree). With both my children I believe I went into labour when I was ready and felt like I almost controlled it iyswim.

TuttiFrutti · 09/10/2006 09:10

Er, sorry to disagree with everyone but I don't think there is anything you can do. The onset of labour is something that just happens to you, and any effect of thought processes is very limited at best.

It's a bodily function - imagine if you really needed to wee, but wanted to avoid it. Actually that's a bad analogy because I reckon you have MORE mental control over urination than you do over the start of labour, but you get my point.

CarolinahowlingattheMoon · 09/10/2006 09:16

but there's quite a lot of anecdotal evidence about people not going into labour until their dh is available, or until guests have left or whatever.

It's well known that stress can slow down labour (adrenalin works against oxytocin, so labour progresses fastest when you are relaxed).

My sister had a very fast second labour at home (the baby beat the MW!) while her ds1 was having a nap - he woke up to find he'd got a new brother . I'm convinced it wouldn't have happened so fast if he'd been awake.

ledodgywizardrobespierre · 09/10/2006 09:28

My second one was very quick (40 mins). I knew I had to finish the historian and pack my hospital bag before I could go into labour and I didn't start labour until this was done. I was also very conscious of leaving dd with MIL for any length of time whilst her daddy was with me in the hospital. I'd actually said to people before, that ideally i would like to start labour about an hour after dd went to bed , go to the hospital and have it all over by the time she wakes up so she'll wake up and her daddy's back home and that's exactly what happened!

2Babies0Bumps · 09/10/2006 09:29

you cant not go into labour!
when the baby is coming, it's coming.
it doesnt care what you are doing or where you are!

ledodgywizardrobespierre · 09/10/2006 09:33

You see I know that's true but with both babies before I got any pain I knew I was going into labour very soon it was something about by mind set, I just knew it was probably instinct. I also knew I would not go overdue with either of them especially my first when every one was teling me that people mostly go over with their first ...both of mine were 3 days early.

rubles · 09/10/2006 12:14

My experience is very similar to ledodgy's and as a result I am very interested in the amount of power the mind has over these things. It was spooky the sort of control I appeared to have had over it. My m/w reckoned I was a witch. And there is lots of anecdotal evidence of babies coming the moment the crucial elements are in place.
However, there must be a limit to that, because there are also plenty of stories of babies coming when nothing is in place.
MrsTittleMouse - I would recommend that you try to use your mind to convince your body that it is not the right time. It can do no harm can it? Maybe carry on as if you are not going to have a baby any time soon, all to try and convince yourself that it is not going to happen. Doing normal things and making appointments that you want/have to meet over the coming week. Make a hair appointment and have a spray on tan the day before dh comes back.

dueat44 · 09/10/2006 12:51

When I went into labour at 30.5 weeks, I was told to drink lots of water by one nurse, and some red wine by another (it had worked for her).

One of them did the trick!

lulunaticmama · 09/10/2006 13:52

agree with ledodgy ,rubles and prettycandles

as i said in my first post , i only went into labour when i had crossed everything off my list that i wanted to do before the baby came.... forewaters went an hour or two after had done my last errand.....so baby started when i was ready imo!!

the mind is extremely powerful...

Original poster

MrsTittleMouse · 09/10/2006 16:24

ARGH!
Well, if adrenaline will slow down the labour process then I'm quids in. I've just been to the midwife and the little angel has bloody turned almost back-to-back again!
After all the work I did to get her facing the right way!!! So now I'm REALLY not ready for labour, because I had psyched myself up for a normal delivery, and I just can't face a back-to-back labour.
I could cry to be honest. Just when I felt that things would be OK with the birth. Doesn't help that I was waiting AGES to see the midwife, making me late for the dentist, who told me on the phone that they couldn't wait for me and if I didn't turn up on time then tough, and then I tried to fill in my maternity allowance benefit form, but I don't have half the documents they want because I've been working in the USA. And the benefits line is busy so I can't get through to anyone.
Not a good day.
Oh bugger, I wish that DH was here. I can't even get in touch with him to have a moan because he's interviewing for a job right now. Rats, now I am crying.

OP posts:

Original poster

MrsTittleMouse · 09/10/2006 16:25

PS And I'm 4/5 engaged. Is there any chance of her turning now?

OP posts:

PrettyCandles · 09/10/2006 20:00

Yes, she can still turn. Babies can turn even in labour. My first was either 4/5 or fully engaged when I went into labour, don't remember which, but he was facing my right side,as he had been for about 1m beforehand. Yet the labour was perfectly normal and he ended up coming through facing the correct way. My second barely engaged at all until labour began, but was facing completely inwards, and again labour progressed perfectly normally and she came through correctly.

Scrubbing those skirting boards may help your LO reposition herself again!

lulumama · 09/10/2006 21:01

Mrs tittlemouse - my OP baby was 3/5 engaged and turned in labour and once she did,my labour went off like a rocket!!! and it was a VBAC! so don't stress.....sit on a gym ball and google optimal foetal positioning

and relax......

Toady · 09/10/2006 21:02

Get on your hands and knees now!!

Yes babies can turn in labour. and yes OP babies are usually more painful in labour but they will come out even if they are star gazing - they just need more time.

belgo · 09/10/2006 21:07

My first baby turned during labour into a better position, my second dd was born 'star gazing', totally naturally. Birth is painful whatever! Please don't be scared that the baby's in the 'wrong' position, there's a very high chance it will turn again, and even if it doesn't there is still a chance you can have a totally straightforward birth!

lulumama · 09/10/2006 21:10

star gazing - what a lovely expression...

lulumama · 09/10/2006 21:10

star gazing - what a lovely expression...

lulumama · 09/10/2006 21:10

star gazing - what a lovely expression...

lulumama · 09/10/2006 21:10

star gazing - what a lovely expression...

lulumama · 09/10/2006 21:10

god , not that nice i had to post 5 times !

Toady · 09/10/2006 21:36

Yes, I was born a stargazer, still am really {walks off with head in the clouds as usual}

Original poster

MrsTittleMouse · 10/10/2006 08:09

Thank you for all the kind comments. I have calmed down a little now.
[]
If this baby doesn't turn back the right way, it won't be through lack of trying, I got the ball and the beanbag out again last night and spent the evening watching telly on my front/side. I'm going to an aquanatal class today too, which is supposed to be good for positioning babies properly.
Keep your fingers crossed for me!

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