On Friday, I hit 39 weeks pregnant and will be checking back in to the hospital for a second attempt at inducing labor. The first attempt, last week, was unsuccessful.
I’m still dealing with nausea from HG, although it has eased up a bit. If I don’t go anywhere and take it easy, I can manage with two 50mg tablets of dimenhydrinate, but I still get incredibly motion sick in the car and have to take an addition two if I want to go anywhere.
Because the baby is so big, the doctors wanted to induce at 37 weeks. We ended up waiting until last Wednesday to check in to the hospital for the induction. I knew there was a possibility that it wouldn’t work, but was hopeful. The first day of medication gave me fairly light, regular contractions, which built over the second day to being pretty strong contractions every 2 minutes by the second evening. When the doctors examined me, however, my cervix hadn’t lowered or effaced at all and as soon as the medication ran out, the contractions would begin to subside.
I came home Friday, still having strong contractions about every half hour, but they gradually stopped and there have been nothing more than Braxton-Hicks contractions since.
I felt decent Friday morning, but by Friday evening I felt the two days of contractions in every muscle in my body (and most painfully in my cervix, which I’m sure was battered and swollen after two days of being pressed upon by the baby’s head). Even my arms and legs were sore, which I found surprising. I had problems sitting and standing and even rolling over in bed, on Saturday, but by Sunday I was feeling well enough to venture out for a large ice cream sundae (although I demanded an ice cream shop that we could park directly in front of - no walking for me!).
I’m back to “normal” now, I suppose, and feel ready to give it another go. The doctors all tell me this time should work, that the second induction is almost always successful when the first fails. I’m not sure what will happen if it doesn’t work. The OBGYNs at the hospital say they won’t let the pregnancy go beyond my due date. The baby’s head size is off the charts, so I’m a little nervous and hoping the birth won’t be too difficult and I’ll have a quick recovery.
I hope you’ll keep me in your thoughts on Friday and this weekend and that I’ll have some great news to share next week.
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I will definately keep you in my thoughts!
Have you tried natural inductions methods? There are all the usual- long walks, lots of sex, spicy food, and castor oil. Materna Tea and Birthing Tea are great for getting the uterus ready for birth and can sometimes bring on labour. Even if they don’t I find it relaxing to have a cup of tea each day at the end of the pregnancy.
Did the doctor try sweeping the membranes or giving you Cervadil ahead of time? These can help greatly and are less invasive than having to have an IV drip.
Good luck!
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Hello,
I have posted once on your site, but check it often. I am due next week and still suffer from nausea and occasional vomiting, but have felt much better in the last 4 weeks than I have in the previous 8 months. I have been reading your posts and found comfort in them. Thank you for all you have given me. While I do not know you personally, I think of you and wonder how you are. You will be in my thoughts on Friday. I wish you well and can’t tell you how much you have helped me.
@christina: I’ve tried many natural induction methods. I’ve been doing reflexology and acupressure to try and induce labor, plus I’m half Thai, so spicy foods are just part of my diet. The doctors said because my cervix was so high and closed, a membrane sweep would have been somewhere between hard and painful and impossible.
@christal: Thanks for commenting, it means a lot that writing about my experience is helpful to others. Good luck with your birth.
Mother is great!Waiting for the Birth is emotional and well-being!…
It just keeps getting more interesting with this pregnancy huh??
I am glad you are close to the finish, and I hope everything goes great this week! Hugs
Good luck and I hope everything goes well. It’s a really charming/hard nine months…just hang in there, keep yourself safe, healthy, and the miracle will happen soon!
- Anna
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