Help - baby needs to come out this week!

[Silverfoxlady]

I’m 39 weeks today and because of my age and large baby I was told I could only go to the fancy birthing centre if I give birth this week (mood lighting, temp control and music player). Otherwise I will need to be on the ward (last time was a bad experience with a grumpy midwife and forced on the bed).

So far, I have stepped up my walks to three times a day (but can only handle 15min max as it hurts under bump). Thinking sex (even though grumpy as hell for the last 8 months, and feel like a huge teletubby) and prunes.

I thought about having a sweep, but I have chickened out.

Any other suggestions?

Why not a sweep OP? They aren’t hugely uncomfortable , nothing compared to actually having a baby. With my 2nd I had one at 37 weeks, labour same day- she came next morning!

Thanks for replying.

I am tempted, but I am just a little nervous. You would think I wouldn’t be after 4 children!

I was reading up on it last night (scientific paper) and it said on average it takes two sweeps to start labour in most cases, but can take up to 4. Happy to hear of someone saying it has worked the first time, that makes me a little more optimistic.

I could try and ask the community midwife to do one early in the next three/four days after trying everything else.

Book yourself something really nice and non refundable for the end of the week 😂

Totally this! Maybe a pregnancy massage. Sheer act of paying a deposit should make baby turn up.

Just wanted to say that at this stage fundal measurements and growth scans aren't that accurate, so aren't a great indication of baby's size. Do you have any other risk factors and how far is the midwife led area from the labour ward? Complications can happen in the middle of any birth, so there will be a transfer plan for if they arise. If your heart is set on the midwife led area I'd ask for a meeting with the lead midwife for that unit to discuss your options. It may be that with all the information you decide to use the labour ward in any case, but at least you might feel more comfortable in your choice.

Also wanted to add that in my last two pregnancies I had three sweeps with both and went into labour pretty quickly after the 3rd. They're not the most pleasant experience but didnt hurt, and I was willing to try almost anything! 😂

Sit on the floor in Taylor pose. Good posture. Don’t sit on the sofa. Sit on the floor. Sit on a birthing ball and do the hip circles. Or standing. All fours, hip circles. Pregnancy yoga stuff.

Acupuncture for labour preparation?

Pretty sure you can have a sweep every other day?

I don't normally believe in this sort of thing but with baby number 4 I had reflexology, waters went that evening, I was 12 days overdue though. If nothing else it's a lovely way to spend 50 minutes!

A sweep is a good way to start labour if your body is prepared itself. They're quick too. They won't work if your body isn't ready though but id give one a go if offered.

This 😂

I should do! 😂 Even though a massage sounds lovely.

I mean it's win win. Labour = place you want to go. No labour = nice massage consolation prize to make yourself feel better before the ward.

Thanks for the reply,

I asked the midwife about this myself, wondering how accurate they are, but all three ultrasound size estimates in the last 6 weeks have been consistently high (off the scale stomach size due to suspected late-onset diabetes, est. 9.5/10ib at full term). They keep going on about shoulder dislocation.

So the risk factors are my age, size of stomach of baby, back to back position (as usual for me) and possible untreated diabetes. I had a meeting with the obstetrician and the deadline was set for the birthing centre by her, whereas the consultant midwife said I could always push for my choice after that date. However, I have been to the birthing wards and they tended to be quite inflexible.

If anything goes wrong in the birthing centre, it is just a ride in the lift to the second floor to the ward, thankfully!

Good luck! But honestly, there's nothing that will make it happen if your body & baby aren't ready. Even a sweep is only to get things going if you're pretty much 99% there already. Having said that, walking and sex and dates and spicy food and properly performed acupuncture are not going to do any harm so there's no problem trying. You might want to give nipple stimulation a go as well.

Sex worked for me every time

😊I might have to stop snapping at my other half and put on my most alluring maternity wear!

Sex worked twice for me, both times my contractions started within 12 hours.

Have you been examined at all to see if you’re already dilated? I had a sweep and my waters broke straight after when I got off the bed, I was only 39 weeks (and first baby). I was 2cm, contractions started about 18 hours later

My waters went 12 hours after using M&S “calm” bath salts with clary sage.

I was already 39 weeks, but can’t hurt to try! They smelled lovely.

You have been told you are at a risk of shoulder dystocia but you still want to have the baby at a birthing centre? Please reconsider, shoulder dystocia is a terrible thing.

Half of all cases of shoulder dystocia don't occur in large for dates babies, and midwives are skilled in resolving dystocia in any environment: birth centre, labour ward or home. The methods used to resolve shoulder dystocia would be the same no matter which environment, and home birth midwives have resuscitation equipment if necessary. It's very rare and most cases of shoulder dystocia are minor. There are many valid reasons why somebody would choose a birth centre or home birth despite possible increased risk of shoulder dystocia - choosing those environments to birth in decreases risks of other complications and interventions for example.

To respond to OPs actual question, if I was in your position, I'd second what a PP suggested and ask to discuss with head of midwifery or senior midwife. Often when they say they won't "let" you, it means they won't advise it. I'd ask for clarification and ask to have the risks of delivering post-39 weeks evaluated and fully explained to you.

Also, in case you weren't aware, if you have a suspected macrosomic baby, induction actually increases the chances of dystocia, and isn't clinically advised (NICE guidelines are good on this). Wishing you all the best for your birth OP x

Clary sage, on a tissue, sniff it whilst bouncing on a birthing ball....
Up and down the stairs

You need stairs. Somewhere with lots and lots of stairs, better still if it's somewhere like a shopping centre with a different delightful food place on each floor that you can stop off at for a break.

The movement associated with going up and down steps is recommended if you're being induced for helping to move things along and get baby in the right position and place.

I know you said it hurts under your bump when you walk but if you can stand it then that would be my recommendation.

None of this worked for me. We had sex loads, I spent hours walking up and down stairs, I sniffed clary sage and had clary sage candles, I had curries, I walked loads, I had pineapple, I’d already been doing prunes and raspberry leaf tea… I had three “favourable” sweeps but nothing.

I hope it works better for you but I’d advise mentally preparing yourself anyway! Best of luck.