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38.5 week appointment
So today I had my 38.5 week OB checkup, and not a dang thing has changed since last week! I'm still 1 cm dilated, and my cervix is still pretty thick/firm. I guess one thing did change - he said my cervix is NOT high, and as of last week it was.
I told him I really didn't want to go past my due date. I know a lot of people won't agree with this, but I have my reasons. 1) The baby is measuring big - Liam was 8 lbs 7 oz and that was big enough for me! 2) My anxiety levels go through the roof the closer I get to my due date. I know a LOT of people who have had stillbirths and, while I know the risk is low of that occuring, statistics mean little to me given I was a statistic with our first. 3) I've just been in a good amount of pain the past several weeks. I know I talked about this in another thread, but some days, I feel pain with every single step I take (thank you SPD). He told me he thought those reasons were valid, and he woudn't make me go past my due date if I didn't want to. But he said my cervix also needs to soften up.
He told me some things to try at home (nipple stimulation, dtd, foot massage), and he also stripped my membranes. He wants to see where things are 1 week from today, and then we'll get something on the schedule if needed. We are trying to avoid having to start Cervidil first. But in any event, it sounds like I should definitely have a baby by my due date.
I scheduled induction acupuncture and induction massage for Fridray. I'll repeat at least the acupuncture on Monday. So we will see if that does anything!
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Yikes! We are so close!! I went ahead and scheduled my induction on Monday too. I would love to avoid and induction and I'm hoping I will but I'm a lot like you. I'm scared to go post dates and am much more comfortable not doing that. Who knows, if we get there I may change my mind. But right now I'm scheduled for Feb 11, 40+2 since my doc is on call that day. I want lil miss to keep baking but at the same time I'm scared of the stats. Hopefully, neither one of us has to worry about that! I also have pain with every step now. Right now I'm working to keep her in. I have a report due to the state on Friday and my sprinkle on Sunday. Once we make it past that DH is excited at the prospect of possible having sex...LOL. Sounds horribly uncomfortable but I'm willing. Might also want to try some fresh pineapple and EPO. Both seemed to have worked for me with Piper.
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Girl, we are on the same boat except I am not dilated!
I have a massage scheduled for Friday and I will ask my DH if he would pay a reflexology foot massage for Saturday. My 39w appoinment is on Monday and I hope they can see a progress by then.
My midwife also told me about the dtd and massages, etc. With the exception of walking, she said I could damage my back even more because baby is big too.
A chance of a still born didn't cross my mind until I read your post 
Now I need to really talk with my doctors if nothing happens by Monday.
Good luck to you 
I hope the membrane stripping works (cervadil is a joke! I have had it twice and didn't make a difference at.all!)
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Ouch, stripping membranes is tough. I asked my midwife to do that for me on baby boy #3. what I didn't know is how much it HURTS. And that it usually doesn't do any good, unfortunately. But when you are in pain the way you are, and feeling scared for your baby, I understand trying whatever might help. Are you eating pineapple? I've heard that eating tons of fresh pineapple and help things along. Hang in there momma, induction massage is just one day away....
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Stripping membranes worked for my first son. I was 40+5, 90% effaced, 1-2cm dilated and it put me into labor that day.
It doesn't hurt me, though. It didn't work for my second son oddly enough. I was 3cm dilated with him and ended up induced at 41 weeks.
To avoid induction, I think it might be worth a shot.
You know what usually happens, you will go into labor the night before your induction!
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My OB stripped my membranes with DS as well and that also didn't hurt! But the cervix checks don't bother me either when he does it. My OB is just extremely gentle. I don't know what he does that is different, but I have had cervix checks by some nurses, and I wanted to scream my head off, but with him I don't even feel a thing, not even the slightest bit of discomfort. He does chat with me while he's doing it, so it probably helps to take my mind off things.
I don't think the membrane stripping did anything for me, at least I'm not having contractions, spotting, or anything. But then with me not being effaced, we didn't really expect it to put me into labor - the hope was that it would just help soften things up a bit. I'm sure he'll strip my membranes again next Wednesday, since I'll be getting induced as soon as that night if I haven't gone into labor on my own by then. My induction massage and acupuncture are tomorrow, and I went ahead and scheduled a reflexology foot massage for Saturday. I hope that all of this combined does something.
I'm really feeling down today about it all. I just can't believe I'm not effacing. The dilation doesn't bother me, b/c I know, at least for me, that can change really quickly. But I also know my cervix needs to be favorable for that to happen and for an induction to be successful. I do NOT, NOT, NOT want to end up in a c-section, and now I'm paranoid about doing all this stuff, not seeing any change next Wed., and ending up in a c-section if my water breaks and I don't progress. I will NOT let them break my water - it will break when it breaks. But I worry it could still break on its own and my body won't progress. Of course, when I was in labor with Liam, that was the catalyst. I had been on Pitocin all day long to no avail, and after 12/13 hours was still only at 2.5 cm after walking in at only 2 cm that morning. However, I was 70-80% effaced with him. My water broke, I got an epidural, and 20-30 minutes later I was already at 7 cm. Something similar happened with Madelyn. They started the induction at 34 weeks with Cervidil since my body was in no way ready for labor. I had 2 rounds of Cervidil and then they started Pitocin. After 24 hours of Cervidil plus 20 hours of Pitocin, my OB came in and said he would give us a few more hours, and then we'd be doing a c-section. I got my epidural, and then my OB didn't even make it back before I was ready to push. It seems the epidural is what allowed me to progress that time.
So I do know things can change in an instant, and it seems that's how it works for me. But I just keep thinking, what if it doesn't this time? What if I don't efface at all no matter what we do? What if I walk in next week and, after everything I'm doing (induction massage, acupuncture, reflexology, dtd, EPO, RRLT, squats, stairs, pineapple, etc.) none of that makes a bit of difference? I am just feeling pessimistic about the whole thing right now. So much so, I could seriously cry!
Sorry for whining. I just needed to get all of that off my chest.
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Sounds like you need the epidural to progress since you have some fears about labor. I think it's great that you know that about yourself and can tell the doctors this is what has worked in the past. Just try and relax between now and then 
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It's OK to whine. I've wanted to do that a lot lately, but I just try to keep my mouth shut and smile. Lately when people have asked me how I'm doing/feeling, I ask them if they really want to know.
The only time I've had my membranes stripped was a few hours into my induction with dd. A nurse did it and it seriously hurt. Cervical checks do not usually bother me.
With both of my kids, most of the effacement and dilation happened within 2 hours. Just when they were starting to think that I was going to need a c-section...I was ready to push. Just try to keep in mind (the old cliche) that every pregnancy is different!
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It can be such a scary thing when baby is still inside! I can't even imagine how you are feeling since you have known such loss. All I can say is try to trust that your body will do the work it needs to when the time comes. You have an induction date set so that will be the day if things don't progress on their own. And no matter what happens you will have a beautiful and healthy baby. Try and enjoy the end of your pregnancy and forget about all the stresses. Maybe spend a few days doing something really special with Liam.
I'm keeping you in my prayers mama
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Just remember, in subsequent babies, you dilate first and the effacement may not happen until you go into labor. Same with dropping of the baby. My third pregnancy (surrogacy), I was 1cm dilated and barely effaced and went into labor with her 4 days before my due date. I went over with both of my first two and had more progress with them.
Just goes to show anything can happen.
Hang in there. This is by far the hardest part of pregnancy. So close, yet it still seems so far away!
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Just wanted to hop in and let you know that I'm thinking about you, Heather. I hope that all of the measures you are taking lead to progress next week. Hang in there!
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Thank you ladies so much for the support and encouragement! I am feeling a little better today and am hopeful that today's induction massage and acupuncture will do at least something. Even if it doesn't put me into labor, I am going to stay hopeful that it will at least help things move along a little better so that if/when I am induced, it goes smoothly. If it doesn't, well, I'll cross that bridge on Wednesday rather than stressing myself about it now.
Ozzy - I had completely forgotten about that, but that does make me feel a lot better!
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11/2011
