Why don't some women go into labor on their own?

Question

Does anybody no why some women don't go into labor on their own? I am already 4 days overdue and haven't experienced any contractions. Maybe a couple Braxton Hicks, but very few. I'm prolly have to be induced sometime next week. I'm on the small side, so could it be because my body doesn't think my uterus is large enough? I've heard of women going into labor way early with multiples because their uteruses are getting too big.

Answer 1

Oh, women will go into labor on their own - eventually if the doctors would leave them alone. But the risks of letting a woman go past due more than 10-14 days usually are high enough that they want to induce before that point, because the placenta starts to degrade, and baby doesn't get as much oxygen & nutrients and the waste products aren't taken away as efficiently as before.

Many petite, small women go into labor on their own, they don't all need to be induced. While the stretch of the uterus apparently does play some role (especially in the case of multiples), there is not enough really known about why labor begins or what triggers it to say any one factor is the cause of being overdue.

It's hard waiting it out when you're overdue. I've been there. But labor will happen soon enough (whether naturally or otherwise). Trust your doctor that they want what is best for a healthy baby and they will induce at an appropriate time if it becomes necessary.

Good luck, and congrats in advance!

Answer 2

It's not the size of your uterus. With my first son I didn't even look pregnant....didn't even start wearing maternity clothes until I was 7 months and went into pre-term labor a month BEFORE that.

At any rate....remember that your due date is a guess based on the baby's size and when you had your last period. It's a guess and that's why the Dr's usually wait until you are more than a few days later before they induce. You very well could go into labor on your own.

And for the rest of my pregnancies...I wasn't dilated or having contractions until the day I went into labor So you could very well be like that.

Good luck

Answer 3

Hi, this is a great question.

The normal gestational period for a human is actually between 38 and 42 weeks, the average is 40 weeks, which unfortunately has generated alot of confusion amongst mothers these days, who think if they are over 40 weeks, they are over due.

this is not the case at all, as every baby develops at a different rate, and it is the baby, when it has finished its development, that signals for birth to start.

The biggest problem amongst all this is the Doctors ignorance in most cases, in believing that Babies are supposed to be born at 40 weeks. This is not the case at all, say for example a baby was induced to be born at 40 weeks on the mark, it may turn out to have breathing difficulties, as the lungs are not fully developed until the last week or 2 of life.

so basically you have prevented the babies lungs from forming completely by having the baby too early.
This will obviously impact the childs growth and development in the future.

Now, some babies are fully developed at 38 weeks, remembering that each baby develops at its own pace, this would be around the 9th month mark, where as 42 weeks would definitely be in the 10 months mark.

42 weeks, is not considered overdue, basically between 38 and 42 weeks is considered full term. this is because it is impossible to correctly estimate the exact date the child will be born, as there are many factors that requiring to be taken into the equation.

pregnancies that continue past this are considered as Over due.
some women have had pregnancies which have lasted up to 47 weeks, and again, this is all because of how the baby develops, i still don't see this as a major problem, as long as the baby is fine, these women are not abnormal in anyway, they just don't fit into what is defined as a normal pregnancy, the baby may just be developing slower then what babies usually do..

There is a semi factual bit of misinformation going around that says a womans placenta starts to break down after 42 weeks.

this is infact untrue, it MAY begin to break down, but it also may not, this is why any babies carried past the 42 week mark will be closely monitored for distress by your dr or the nurse assigned to you.

women should not be afraid that being overdue can result in giving birth to overcooked aka over large babies. as i have said before, the baby's developmental progress in the womb will determine when the child is born. as the woman that reportedly went to 47 weeks had a 9pound baby, as opposed to the 12 pound baby some women are scared would happen.

It wasn't until doctors medicalised pregnancy and birth that women were so worried about being over due,
the fact it, theres no such thing as an over due baby, it will be born in its own time when its ready.

Answer 4

38-42 weeks is the normal time frame. Most women go into labor on their own. If they dont in that time frame they are induced because the placenta starts to lost function after 42 weeks. More and more women are now not willing to go past 40 weeks for some reason, so they are getting induced. They would have gone into labor on their own if they had given their bodies a chance.

I'm 5'3" with a petite frame and had my daughter at 38 weeks. Size has nothing to do with it.

Answer 5

Most women will go into labor on their own. Every women's body is different. Due dates are often not accurate. Many women will go to 44 weeks and still have a healthy baby. Induction is very dangerous and will lead to many complications. For ex. The number one cause of premature births are induction. The baby will come out when its ready. Most doctors want to induce so they can get home in time for dinner or going on a vacation somewhere. Hospitals are really not safe. Homebirth is safe. Women's bodies are perfectly designed to birth a child without dangerous and unnecessary intervention. If you're body knows how to create a child w/o a doctor or hospital it knows how to get it out without a doctor or hospital.
Here's some links to the dangers of induction:
http://www.unhinderedliving.com/downside.html
http://www.unhinderedliving.com/begin.html
http://www.unhinderedliving.com/preterm.html
http://www.empoweredchildbirth.com/articles/birth/whatifs/induction.html
http://www.unassistedchildbirth.com/uc/truth.html
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/cytotech.html
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/inducing.html
http://www.hospitalbirthdebate.blogspot.com/
C-birth Yahoo Group
Remeber Poverty, Intervention, and Fear(Laura Shanley) are the major killers of birth, not because birth is risky. Trust your body Being a woman being pregnant and giving birth is not a disease!!

Answer 6

While it's true that women will go into labor eventually, sometimes there's a reason it's delayed that can be dangerous. Not to freak you out, but my first baby never dropped due to the cord being wrapped around her neck. Therefore, I never went into productive labor. If my doctor hadn't been monitoring me, my daughter would have suffocated before she was born. I know it's not common but it happened to me. I would want a current sonogram done with a clear picture of where the cord was. I'd want to know that the heartbeat was strong and regular. Again, I don't want to freak you out unnecessarily, but if my paranoia were to help you or someone else to avoid a tragedy... Good luck.

Answer 7

well i am very small also....and with my first i didnt go into labor on my own..went 3 days over then got induced....with my second...i think she might come on her own.......but i have no clue why they dont come on their own, sorry.......maybe cuz your body has never contracted before so it doesnt knwo how or somthing....?? lol...

Answer 8

Just be patient, follow the advice of your doctor, and let the baby come into the world when he or she is ready.....