I am 38 weeks pregnant and I have a feeling something is not right?

Question

I started having contractions about 5 days ago, I was 1cm dialated when they started, on the 3rd day of contractions I was 1 1/2cm. The contractions have since stopped completly. And the baby has stopped moving. It is very hard to feel him when he does move. I have had some bleeding and a lot of mucus. I know that is my mucus plug but it was a lot more blood than what my dr said their should be. My dr does not seem to care at all about how I am feeling. She was going to induce origionally but now has said no. What could the problem be and what can I do to get contractions started again? Or to get my water to break?

Answer 1

you know your body if you are concerned go to the er. I made the mistake of waiting with my first one when I knew something was not right and almost killed him and myself. Granted yours is probably not that bad but you know you better than anyone else. Think on the bright side they will probably do a sono or atleast listen to the babies heart then that will help calm your nerves. Good Luck!!!

Answer 2

If you're really worried about it, call your doctor back and ask to have a non-stress test done. I think that's what it's called. It's where you go to the hospital and they hook you up to a fetal heart monitor and give you a button. Every time you feel the baby move, you push the button. This will go on for 30 minutes to an hour.

The heart monitor will be printing off a sheet with a line indicating the baby's heart rate, and when you pres the button, it will also print an arrow on the sheet. The nurses are looking for whenever there is an arrow, there should be a slight increase in the heart rate.

To do this at home, drink a glass of orange juice, or something similar, and then lie down on your side. For the next 30 minutes to an hour, count how often your baby moves. There should be at least 15 movements per hour.

If you call and your doctor still blows you off, you can always go to the ER. They will check you out and be sure everything is okay. You know what is normal for your baby, and if you feel something is wrong, you have every right to see a doctor about it.

That said, is there a chance that your baby is less active because he has dropped? What that means is that his head is now engaged in the birth canal and he cannot move around as much anymore. He's about as big as he is going to get, so there is no longer much room.

To try and jump start contractions, you could try intercourse (as long as your water has not broken or began leaking), walking, nipple stimulation, or eating turkey (my mom and sister in law swear that's what did it for them).

Good luck!

Answer 3

First off, if you are really worried you could always go to the emergency room and they could do an ultrasound to make sure all is ok. Secondly when you are further along the baby doesn't have much room to move, as long as you are feeling movement that is good. I was about 2 cm dialated for at least three weeks before I finally went into labor with both my girls. I had false labor once. Oh and as far as the mucous plug, I had a lot more bleeding then I expected too. It really scared me, but all was well. But it sounds like things are getting ready to happen, and hopefully your little one will come within the next two weeks. Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 4

That seems strange that your doctor isn't worried about that. Slowed fetal movement can sometimes be a bad sign, but sometimes they can slow down a bit I suppose when they near delivary time. When my mucus plug broke there was a bit of blood but not much at all. You might get a second opinion, maybe go to a different hospital or something and see a different doctor because that would concern me also.
As for the contractions i'm not sure because I never really had that problem. My daughter was 4 weeks early and I was 4 cms dialated when I got to the hospital. You might try sex, spicy food, castro oil like that stuff that they put in babies bottles back then to stop belly aches, or sometimes taking a nice poop can help also because it stimulates the cervix when you push.

Answer 5

From experience as a mother of 4 (all 100% natural, no med's, midwife delivered), don't do anything to get contractions started again. However if you are 38 weeks and are bleeding, and it seems to be more than just a pinkish tint and your Dr. won't see you, I would suggest going to the ER. It's better to be safe than sorry in a pregnancy.

As far as movements of the baby being harder to feel, this is normal. Closer to the end of the pregnancy the baby has less and less room to move around in, and once they are engaged and in position to be born, they seem to move even less. I freaked out with my frist 2 when they did this.

Also, I don't reccommend having an induced labor unless it is absolutely medically necessary. My last one had to be induced because of my contractions totally stopping 5 hours after starting and my water having had broke on its own 7 hours earlier. At 18 hours with no improvement in contractions they gave me pitocin and had my contraction coming every 1min 30 seconds and lasting for a full minute. Keep in mind I did this with no epidural, and no IV pain meds...I was ready to kill my midwife after 30 minutes of this.

Answer 6

The hospital once told me to stimulate movement in the baby drink some juice (like apple or orange) and lay on one side, you should feel the baby move within 20-30 minutes. If still nothing call the hospital or doctor, don't worry about bugging them, that's what they get paid for. Just remember the baby is getting big and in an itty bitty living space, so the movements often start to feel more like pushing later in pregnancy. If all is good and you want to stimulate contractions. Nipple stimulation! Iknow, I know but it does work, until you stop. Just keep with it, it'll get things "moving".

Good Luck, and I hope you have a healthy beautifull baby.

Answer 7

I'm with the rest of the crowd...if you feel something isn't right, have it checked out. As for the contractions, it's quite possible they were Braxton-Hicks (I had many bouts of pretty severe false contractions during my first pregnancy); and it's not all that uncommon for momma's-to-be to be walking around dialated a couple cm at this point. Advice on how to get contractions started again...I tried everything (that sounded safe) with my second child; in the end, she came when she was dog gone good and ready--nothing I did helped get things started; it just made me tired and frustrated.

Answer 8

If this is your first child, this is normal you could be in labor for almost 2wks. If you feel worried and you feel that something is wrong go to the ER. Only you know your body. As far as the baby not moving that is normal when it is time for labor.
Have sex(ONLY if it comfortable for you and no pain) I know this sounds weird but it helps. Did it with both of my kids.

Answer 9

I would go to the hospital and have it checked out. Its your body, your child, your choice. If you feel something is wrong get it checked for the safety of yourself and your child...and for peace of mind.

For some women it is harder to feel the baby moving toward the end due to cramped space. But this could also be a sign of something else.

Good luck with everything!

Answer 10

Be careful , this sounds like what happened to me with my second baby . If you feel like your doctor is not concerned , then I think you might want to visit the ER , especially if you feel the baby is not moving and you just have that feeling something is not right. GO!!!