38 weeks 5days....I asked this question yesterday and no one seemed to really read the question.?

Question

I had a doctors appointment yesterday. When he checked me, he said that I have not dilated and my cervix has not even begun to soften. Meaning, that it is really not favorable. He told me that more than likely I would need to be induced and would probably end up having an emergency c-section. He said that if I wanted to just have a scheduled c-section that he could do it Monday [39 weeks and 3days]

Please understand that he is leaving this totally up to me and is not saying that I have to have a section. I can wait to see if the baby will come on her own. However, I have had no BH and do not feel her dropping at all. (According to the doctor, she is still VERY high)

What I want to know is if any one has been in this situation where nothing is progressing and if they were able to deliver naturally. If you did deliver naturally. were you induced or did baby finally decide to come on its own?

Answer 1

At 38 weeks 5 days I wouldn't abandon hope of a natural delivery by any means. Up to 42 weeks is considered "normal" so you have a long way to go.

If the baby is comfortable and you are okay then I don't see what the dilemma really is.

My sister was right on 40 weeks last month and had no signs of labour, but did go naturally herself at 41 weks and 3 days and gave birth the next day, so this is fine.

I think your doc is jumping the gun a bit saying you will likely have an induction and emergency c-section. I mean you MIGHT, but give mother nature a shot.

Hang in there.

Answer 2

Ive never been in this situation, but I may be soon I am 36 weeks the already stopped my labor when I was 34 weeks and 3 days and it has helped but I'm still having contractions I'm only a dimple dilated and 50% effaced(more than you but its not changing at all).They thought that I would deliver WAY before 34 weeks so it's a miracle that my baby is still in my uterus. Ive been having some bad ,but not really bad contractions,so they said they might have to induce or give me a c-section my doctor talked to me about the risks with both . Personally the risk of a C-Section are alot less then induction to me (but that's just me) talk to your doctor or a nurse over the phone they can tell you the risks and you can make a decision that is best suited for you. Every person has a different opinion so the only thing I can tell you is ask as many questions and make the decision that's best for you. Good luck and congrats!!!

Answer 3

I am a mother of 2. My first child was just like this. This is what I did: I scheduled a date to get induced that was 2 days after my due date just in case I didn't start on my own. Nothing ever happened, even after having my membranes stripped. Getting induced helped everything happen for me. I had to wait until my water broke for things to really get moving. I'm not quite sure why you'd need a c-section unless the baby is to large or if you or the baby are in danger. Otherwise you could just get induced and try to deliever naturally and if there is destress, they can always do a c-section. I think today to many women and doctors are to quick to just a c-section going natural. It's a serious surgery and should be taken lightly. I think you will be just fine. And just so you know, when I had my second child, she not only did I dilate and soften early I dropped a whole month before the due date...not comfortable. It may be normal for first time moms to do what you are doing. Good luck.

Answer 4

Forty weeks is full term so, you're really not even there yet. Of course, your doctor knows best. That being said...The baby is, of course going to be high and and the cervix still firm because she is not ready to come out yet. At any point however, your water could break and things could start happening. I personally would not want to opt for surgery, if its something that has to be done, that's one thing...but, to go into it knowing you have a choice is another. I was induced all four times, mostly because of convenience, ie. it was around Xmas or I was living far away from the hospital I was delivering at. I delivered 3 of the four within 12 hours of being induced, the last time I delivered 7 hours after they started the induction. I have never felt the baby 'drop', fyi.

Answer 5

The doctor told you that you may need to be induced but would probably end up with an emergency c-section. What reason did he give you for the "emergency" c-section? Nothing you have written here would indicate this should happen. If everything is OK with you and your baby and your doctor gives you a choice, I would wait a few days and see what happens naturally. I would also choose an induction (with an epidural) over a c-section if given the choice. Best of luck to you and baby.

Answer 6

Wow! The same thing happened to me. Okay so, I was nervous because I didn't dialate at all and I still was induced because I wanted him on a certain date. So they told me that he was still really high after trying to drop him so they had me push down on my stomach, of course not hard, but I just put pressure on it for a while. Anyways, the doctor was threatening a c-section because it had been a while but the baby's heart beat was still fine so it was still up to me. After a few hours, he wanted to do a c-section and I was getting nervous because I didn't really want one. The nurse told me that the reason why he wanted to do a c-section on me was because he wanted to go home and eat dinner. The nurse said the baby's heart beat was fine. So I just kept pushing down on my tummy. Finally he was able to come out happy and very healthy. Sorry for the novel, but the moral of the story is....nothing was progressing and I still could have him naturally. However, if the baby's heartbeat would have dropped they would have had to do an emergency c-section on me. I think you could chance it but, if they do emergency c-sections, you might not get numb so you will feel everything.

Answer 7

I was in the same predicament, but I had preeclampsia, and was in danger.

They tried to induce me for 3 days in the hospital. What a waste. After all that $$ spent, I wasn't dilated any more than before, and only effaced 60%. They still did a cesarean.

If you are healthy, I'd wait and let the baby come out on her own, or at least wait until you get to 40 weeks, then try induction for ONE day, then do the cesarean if the induction didn't work.

Answer 8

First of all I'd like to say congratulations on your baby, not long to go now... My first daughter was born 3 days past my due date, but I never had a single BH and no signs that she was even likely to come, my doctor saw me the morning of my daughters arrival, and nothing was happening, he said to me... i'll see you back here same time next week, he didn't think she was likely to come any time soon, by that afternoon though my waters had broken and I was in full blown labour, exactly 10 hours from the time my water broke I was holding my baby girl. My advice would be to wait a little longer and see how things progress before commiting yourself to a c-section, if you need it then so be it, I have never had one but the other mothers that I shared a ward with seemed to be in alot of pain, and found it much harder to recover, I was up and walking around within minutes of having her... good luck, I hope it all happens soon for you.

Answer 9

id say get induced but dnt shedule c section let them induce you with cervidal or what ever and see if you can have your baby this way but when u baby is so high there is a good chance you may need c section any ways. I was induced twice and took 23 hrs the first time and then with my son i got to only 4cm in along time i had emergency c section due to hbp.
but the docs told me that when baby isnt ready the inducing meds still cant always get baby to come.
take care

Answer 10

My baby was in position but was still high--My cervix wasnt soft and i was only a fingertip dialated (not even a 1 yet) but due to high blood pressure and protein in my urine, I was induced at 36 wks and 2 days.

It took 14 hours and 24 minutes before my baby arrived...and i really started to progress in the last few hours. My dr had just come in and told me she wanted to do a c-section because it had been 12 hours and i asked for more time..next time she came and checked me, I was a 9 and then a 10 and then feeling like i had to crap (it was time to push)

I say go for the inducement before the c-section---and just tell whoever is going to be in there that you dont want to go any longer than so many hours before having to go with a c-section.

Good luck and congrats!! sending you some labor vibes!!