Could it really be possible that I may never go into labour? That my body just CAN'T do it...

[paranoidmummy]

Ok, so I am currently overdue with my 2nd baby (40+10 by private dates, 40+1 by NHS scan and 40+4 by my own dates! - all very confusing in itself!). With my 1st baby I went 6 days overdue before having a hindwater leak followed by NO contractions. They induced me on the drip at 8 days overdue which ended in an emcs for failure to progress.So I NEVER ever started contracting on my own...

This time around I have been determined to have a vbac but I am now really starting to question my body's ability to actually do this . Is it true that some people just won't go into spontaneous labour???

I have had numerous false alarms and some quite painful, regular contractions. However my midwife came to do a sweep yesterday and could barely reach my cervix . It was 'very posterior', 'closed' and 'thick' BOO HISS BOO

I have tried EVERY single natural trick out there but obviously nothing has made the slightest bit of diff . I had acupuncture and reflexology as well which didn't do anything... my reflexologist said my uterus appeared soft and ready which really cheered me up and made me think things were imminent but no.. nothing.

Please don't get me wrong, I know this is hardly the biggest problem in the world and I thank god I have been lucky enough to carry a baby to full term and not to have it prematurely or anything. I suffered two miscarriages prior to conceiving this baby so I really am grateful to reach this stage.

I am just seriously wondering now if it may be that my body doesn't know 'how' to go into labour. i know it may sound ridiculous but my midwife did seem to imply that some people would never go into labour without medical intervention . I have an appointment with my cons on thurs for a cervical assessment and to book in for an 'elective' (hardly!) caesarean. Now I am starting to wonder if I should book it for sooner rather than later. I am just holding out for something that will NEVER happen? Any experiences or advice will be greatly appreciated.

Sorry for such a rant, I'm just very confused!!!!

PM, Have you tried evening primrose oil? I can't remember if you said so on our thread or not.
I'm sure it's that that has ripened my cervix.

i can't be induced ruby as previous cs . so its either do it by myself or out come the scalpels!

have been using epo vs. every day except yest as i was embarassed it might fall onto mw when she was doing sweep!!! have you been using capsules or direct onto cervix?

Oh paranoid - I know EXACTLY what you mean.

I was hoping for a VBAC and had a cs at 42 weeks.

Come on girl - you can do it. I have evry bit of faith in you and will be expecting regular updates.
xxx

Both PM, I've been putting two capsules in at night and taking two orally three times a day, also have been putting ten drops of black cohosh under my tongue about 4/5 times a day.
I wouldnt go near the blue cohosh though as it seems to have been related to birth defects, too little info IMO.

I do believe that some women do not naturally go in to labour until 42 or even 43 weeks. It is almost like that is term for them.

When I was 39 weeks with my second I felt convinced that it would never happen and was talking about induction, (went in to labour naturally first time) but in the end he actually arrived 3 days early. I could not believe it when I was in labour and for quite a while thought it was a false alarm. I think that it is natural to feel as though it is never going to happen, especially when you know that the only alternative is a cs. You do really need to try and think of something else and relax. Oh so easy to do when two weeks feels more like two years!

Will be watching and keeping fingers crossed for you Paranoid.
I went over with dd (40+9 by nhs dates, 40+20 by mine!) Again v. posterior cervix and even after 18 hours of induction - nada!
As she was in meconium they did cs and it was fine.
Am wondering what options I have though if I do get pg again (ttc now). Didn't know induction would not be an option due to possible rupture...

Paranoidmummy - Are you ready to have this baby? With DD I know I went into labour several times and got spooked and it stopped. She finally came out the catflap after I got pre-eclampsia after watching my blood pressure rising and rising as each consultant appt got closer. Perhaps you need to plan something entirely inappropriate to your situation for Thursday so you an be sure to miss it because you have giving birth?

I had lunch with a friend yesterday who was induced with baby number one and spent 36 hours in labour. Baby number 2 came in an hour she didn't even realise she was in labour and gave birth on the loo with her husband holding his son's head in one hand and the mobile phone in the other with the ambulance service bashing on the door! She honestly believed she'd never go into labour naturally - she was 9 days overdue and felt entirely normal until that one hour! So there is hope for us all

I have no medical knowledge and have been induced early twice so dont know the answer to your question.

But my own personal opinion is that left alone of course at some point your body would kick in and try to force your baby out.

Of course the longer you are left beyond your due date the greater the risks to you and your baby

I know you would like to do it yourself but just remember any birth that delivers a healthy baby and mum is a successful delivery ...

good luck with the birth

Of course you will go into labout You are not 'overdue' yet really, as term is 38-42 weeks. I sometimes think that giving women a date causes all sorts of unnecessary worry.

It's not for everyone, but I declined induction (with consultant support) and went into labour naturally at 42+4 and DS was born at 42+6. He was in superb condition - Apgar scores 10 and 10. Placenta was a wonder to behold by all accounts - not that I looked!

You may or may not go into labour by 42 weeks, though the odds are that you will, but whether or not you get a CS at that point, don't think that your body can't do the job it was designed to do. It can. Believe that and do try and relax a bit. I don't believe it will make the baby come any quicker, but it will make you feel better while you wait If I could have the waiting time again, I would eat lots of chocolate, put my feet up and read/watch DVDs all day long. You won't get the chance again for a while...

That'll be labour, not labout, dur.

Hi Paranoid,

Sorry you're still here . Yes, DS2 was gorgeous but my placenta was apparently very ropey. The upside was breastfeeding was a doddle - I had milk straightaway.

Do what is right for you - wait if you are feeling good, book the CS if you need to, be rude to the next person who says, "Are you still pregnant?" (I got that a lot!).

i know ruby, a c section really isn't the end of the world and as long as my baby is healthy that's all that really matters. I just want to give my body the best chance to have this one naturally.

oh morespam, i'm so sorry it didn't happen for you . was your cs elective in the end?

thanks vs, i have been using the evening primrose oil 'inserted' on its own so may get some capsules today. any more news with you? I'm just as excited/nervous for you as i am for myself!!

I totally agree with 42-43 weeks being 'term' for some people, its just if baby is measuring big now then i know that in 2 weeks they'll try to push me into a caesarean as it will obv be even bigger by then. as i said my hcps don't have much faith in me pushing this one out!

Jackstini - some trusts will intervene and induce with vbacs BUT it really does increase your risks of rupturing to a level that i personally wouldn't want to try out! please keep your fingers crossed for me! I'll look out for your bfp post!

wmmc - i feel like i'm totally ready but whether i have some sort of mental block subconsciously is another question. i'm getting myself so ridiculously worked up over this that it makes me wonder. I feel so so emotional and like i could just cry at the drop of a hat. i've remained pretty active as well through the whole preg but now i just don't feel like doing anything! i just want to hide away from real life until i have had my baby. i don't know if this is normal or if i'm starting to go crazy! i can't even sleep cos all i can think about is going into labour!!! i feel like i'm going barmy!!!

thank you frasersmummy and nineunlikelytales... it really does help to hear people reaffirm that i DO have the ability to do it! I am just so so desperate for it to happen!

thanks 1066 HOPEFULLY by the end of the day I won't be here!!!

i think its been exacerbated as my sil had her baby last night. I am OVER THE MOON for her and so so excited. Its just that she was due after me and was going for a vbac too, which she got and now it makes it even more real and makes me even more anxious. is it wrong that i feel really really jealous tho?

Course it's not wrong to feel jealous, every time I see on our Ante-natal thread that someone has had their baby I think 'Why can't that have been me!' am still really happy for them though.

Also a CS may not be the end of the world but that doesn't mean it can't be really really disappointing not to get your VBAC, specially when your heart is set on it.

xx

I feel the same as you@paranoidmummy. With my DS, even by conservative estimates I was 15 days overdue (19 days overdue by my own dates) when they tried (and failed) to induce me. My cervix didn't dilate a single cm and I never had a contraction - it was straight to section for me . Now pregnant with baby no.2 and have little confidence in my body to do things 'naturally'.

I was induced at 41=4 with my first. Had a "normal" birth. Second was induced 3 times over 4 days - NOTHING (at 40 weeks, slight raised bp). EMCS.

3rd, went to 42 weeks (agreed to daily monitoring) her resting bp was raised and even higher with braxtone hicks, so I had an emcs.

She was perfect when she was born, nothing amiss at all, I guess I wish I had waited a bit longer (I had a shocking cold and this could have affected the results).

Relax and find a lovely safe warm dark and comfy place at home and reeeeeest.

Still watching.....

Paranoidmummy

If it helps you to know, I went to 42+3 with my last baby and 2nd vba2c, my first vba2c was 11 days post term.

Why not just enjoy your time and wait?

I have never heard of someone being pg for 11 months

by her dates my mother was 3 weeks over with my db

My dh resorted to putting an outgoing message on the ansa phone saying that no baby had arrived and we would let people know when it put in an appearance

I will keep my fingers crossed for you PM - thanks for the info.
Can completely understand you being a bit envious of SIL - hope it will be your turn v soon...
Will be testing tomorrow (3 of us mners on the 2ww doing it together!)

still here... still very pregnant... still grumpy!!!

my sil is home with her little one though . she sounds so so cute... she's dinky

PM - tested this morning, BFP!!!!
Sending you labour vibes!

Fantastic news jackstini!!!!! you must be over the moon! that's lifted my mood immensely... big big big congrats

hi paranoid, glad to see you still have your sense of humour...and your bump

congrtulations jackstini

Thanks PM - yes I am!
Hope you are being left alone to just do your thing - do you have to go in for monitoring at all - have they given you a 'd-day' when they want things to happen?

I find out tomorrow jackstini. I spoke to my m/w today tho and she said that, as long as I am happy with it, I can go by my latest due date (that only makes me 3 days over ) which gives me as long as poss for things to happen myself. unless i feel something isn't right in the meantime I think that may be the best thing. Trying to just forget now how far over I am by the other dates I have and concentrate on this!

I reckon my cons will try to book me in for a c section on mon/tues but i'm going to hold out until next fri if i can...

HOPEFULLY i will not even make it there tom and baby will make an appearance today!!! (hopeful hopeful emoticon)