I'm 40 weeks pregnant and not dilated. No progress with effacement either (I've been 50% for 3 weeks) and...

Question

doctor wants to induce me next Friday (I'll be 41 weeks then). I'm worried about being induced because I hear it is more painful, more risk of cesarean (I've already had 2 surgeries in the past year and a half and I DON'T want another!) They have not even done a nonstress test or an ultrasound to check the baby. It is just routine for them to induce at 41 weeks. Will this be ok? Should I trust my doctor?

Answer 1

Being induced might sound scary but its really not that bad, I was induced with both of my babies. If they use potocin, that can make your contractions harder then normal sometimes but other then that...it was not a big deal at all, both of my labors were very fast, 3 hours start to finish with one and 2 hours with the other one! Also keep in mind that your due date isnt going to be exact, the doctor can be off by a week or two either way, so I wouldnt freak about being 41 weeks! Good luck to ya, hope things work out wonderfully!!

Answer 2

After 42 weeks the placenta starts to lose it's function and it's very dangerous to the baby. You might want to ask for the tests you listed and ask to wait a few more days before being induced. Either way, you are well on your way to having this bbay, so hopefully it'll be a quick labor. I was 100% effaced and dilated to 2 for 2 weeks, and when I went into labor I had a 2 hour labor start to finish. Good luck.

Answer 3

Honey there is not much else that can happen. Did they strip your membranes? I had to be induced and I was soo disappointed. But I got over it. They cant stay in there much longer than that, its harmful for both of you. Just relax. Inducement does not mean a c-section. Its just regular labour but a bit supercharged. Ask for a check and see if you can hang on. Maybe you are not as far along as they think. But if you need to be induced it just means you can see the baby a little quicker.

Answer 4

i was 41 weeks, and started bleeding, so i was induced and at the start i was only half a cm dilated.by a few hours i was fully dilated. being induced isnt bad, your just in hospital right from the start. i didnt need a ceasarean either. dont worry about it at least you know your baby will be with you soon

Answer 5

It is more dangerous for a post term baby to go passed 42 weeks. If you are adamant about trying to wait it out for spontaneous labor, discuss with your doctor. Post term deliveries are also associated with longer labors and increased risk of forceps use and vacuum extraction. There are also increased risks of vaginal birth trauma, c-sections are twice as likely, and the baby can begin to lose placental function, as well as decreases in amniotic fluid and oxygen. Research the information on post-term pregnancy, and weigh the risks of induction vs. post-term before you make any decisions. Good Luck!

Answer 6

I have been induced with both pregnancies and there is no greater risk for c-section than with natural labor do what doc says for the health of your baby

Answer 7

walk....as much as you can.....take castor oil..that's how I got my daughter here.....

Answer 8

Well this is what my sister did to induce/ bring on her labor at 37 weeks, i did at 39 weeks and my cousin did at 37 weeks and it worked for all 3 of us!! its a recipe from scalini's a restaurant in ga that guarentees if you eat this meal you will go into labor in 48 hours! it worked great for my sister and hey look at the plus it wont harm the baby, and if for some reason it doesnt work then at least u will have a great meal!! and if u r a sceptic here is the # to the restaurant call them and ask [phone] and [phone] and if that doesnt soothe ur mind google it!!
Ingredients

3 medium sized eggplants
1 cup flour
6 eggs, beaten
4 cups fine Italian bread crumbs, seasoned
Olive oil for sauteing
8 cups of marinara sauce (recipe below)
1/2 cup grated Romano cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 pounds of mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 cups of ricotta cheese
Directions

1. After you wash the eggplant, slice them into 1/4-inch thick slices. You may choose to peel the eggplant before you slice it. However, you may want to leave the skin on since it contains a lot of vitamins.

2. Place the eggplant slices on a layer of paper towels and sprinkle with a little salt, then cover with another layer of paper towels and hold it down with something heavy to drain the excess moisture. Let them sit for about an hour.

3. Working with one slice of eggplant at a time, dust with flour, dip in beaten eggs, then coat well with breadcrumbs.

4. Saute in preheated olive oil on both sides until golden brown.

5. In baking dish, alternate layers of marinara sauce, eggplant slices, ricotta, parmesan and Romano cheeses, until you fill the baking dish, about 1/8 inch from the top. Cover with shredded mozzarella cheese, and bake for 25 minutes in a 375 degree oven. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.


Scalini's Marinara Sauce

Ingredients

2 Tablespoons of chopped garlic
3 Tablespoons of olive oil
8 cups chopped tomatoes (fresh or canned)
1 cup onions, chopped
1/2 cup of fresh chopped parsley
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
1/8 cup of fresh chopped sweet basil
Pinch of thyme
Pinch of rosemary
One teaspoon salt
One teaspoon black pepper

Directions

1. Lightly saute the onions in olive oil in large pot for a few minutes.

2. Add garlic and saute another minute.

3. Add tomatoes and bring sauce to a boil, then turn heat low.

4. Add remaining ingredients, stir, cover and let simmer for one hour, stirring occasionally.


Before you proceed, we should warn you that there is very little hard scientific evidence relating to either the effectiveness, or the safety, of any of these methods. The studies that have been done tend to be small and evidence is difficult to verify: if labour is due anyway, how do you know whether it was the curry you ate last night that actually brought it on? On the safety side, talk to your doctor or midwife at your next check up before you try any of these methods. This is particularly important if there are any complications in your pregnancy.

Nipple stimulation

Nipple stimulation is the gentle rubbing or rolling of the nipple to encourage the start of contractions. The theory is that oxytocin, a hormone that causes contractions, is released in the body when the breasts are stimulated.

Is it safe?
Nipple stimulation has been reported to produce very strong contractions and for this reason you should use it with care. However, a study of 719 women found that there were no problems of this sort following nipple stimulation.

Does it work?
The study mentioned above was thought to be too small to draw concrete conclusions from, but did show a significant benefit from nipple stimulation: 37.3 per cent of women who had tried it went into labour within 72 hours as compared to just 6.4 per cent of those who had not.

How do I try it?
The idea is to simulate the suckling of a baby so you need to massage the whole areola (the dark area around the nipple), not just tweak the nipple. Place your palm over the areola and move in a circular motion, applying a firm but gentle pressure. This may need to be continued for some time. The usual recommendation is 15 minutes of continual stimulation on each nipple each hour for several hours.

Castor oil


There are reports of castor oil being used to bring on labour as far back as the Egyptians, though how it works is poorly understood. The most commonly given explanation is that it acts as a powerful laxative, and when it stimulates the gut it also stimulates the uterus and so "kick starts" labour.

Is it safe?
Nausea is likely to be the immediate effect, followed by a bad case of diarrhoea and there is a risk that you will become dehydrated. For this reason, we would NOT recommend taking castor oil.

Does it work?
A study of 100 overdue women found that 57.7% began active labour after a single dose of 60ml of castor oil, as opposed to 4.2% who received no treatment. Another small study found that taking castor oil had no adverse affects on mother or baby. Neither study was of a large enough scale to be conclusive.

How do I try it?
This is one we would NOT recommend but, according to a survey of midwives, 4 fl oz of castor oil mixed with orange juice is the usual dose. It is revolting (very oily) to drink though some suggest that making it fizzy by adding ½ teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda helps. A second dose can be given 12 hours later.

Sex

Sex as means of getting labour started is thought to work in three ways: firstly the movement may help to stimulate the uterus into action; secondly, sex can trigger the release of oxytocin, the 'contraction' hormone; thirdly, semen contains a high concentration of prostaglandins which help to ripen, or soften, the neck of the womb (cervix) ready for it to dilate when labour starts.

Is it safe?
Sex is safe as long as your waters have not broken. Once this has happened, making love may increase the risk of infection. You should also avoid sex if you have a low-lying placenta or have had vaginal bleeding. Men often feel uncomfortable making love to their partners with a baby so obviously in the way but the baby will not know what is happening and will not be harmed.

Does it work?
Not enough studies have been done but, if nothing else, it will take your mind off the waiting.

How do I try it?
At this stage in your pregnancy sex is easier said than done. Try spoons, with your partner entering from behind or use the bed as a prop: your bulge isn't an obstacle if you lie on your back at the side or foot of the bed with your knees bent, and your bottom and feet perched at the edge of the mattress. Your partner can either kneel or stand in front of you. Alternatively, giving your partner oral sex may work better. It is thought that prostaglandins are absorbed more efficiently through the gut than through the vagina. (Note: you may prefer to keep this piece of information to yourself.)

Eating pineapple

Pineapple contains the enzyme bromelain which is thought to help to soften the cervix and so bring on labour.

Is it safe?
There is very little available research. Each pineapple contains only very small amounts of bromelain so you would need to eat as many as seven to have any effect. The most likely side-effect of eating large amounts of pineapple would be a severe case of the runs.

Does it work?
There is some debate about the role played by bromelain on prostaglandins, which soften the cervix to prepare it for labour. Some studies actually suggest that bromelain inhibits prostaglandin activity while others think the opposite. Regardless of this, eating large quantities of pineapple is likely to stimulate the gut and bowel and, as with castor oil, could kick-start the uterus into action by that means.

How do I try it?
The pineapple must be fresh: bromelain is destroyed by the process of canning or juicing.

Homeopathy

Homoeopathic remedies use highly diluted versions of more potent substances to treat the body. Pulsatilla and Caulophyllum are two commonly used homeopathic remedies used to stimulate labour.

Is it safe?
Homeopathic remedies are very safe. The Faculty of Homeopathy have researched their use in labour and not found any incidents of damage caused by them. The worst damage homeopathy can do is nothing - that is, the wrong remedy has been prescribed and is therefore ineffective.

Does it work?
There is plenty of anecdotal evidence from patients who found that homeopathy is helpful, but this has not been researched in a systematic way. One trial into caulophyllum found no difference between the women who took it and those who didn't, but the method of the trial was not thought to be reliable.

How do I try it?
Contact a registered homeopath (The Society of Homeopaths has a list). A Homeopathic Birth Kit is available from Helios Pharmacy which includes 18 remedies and a mini-guide.

Herbal: blue cohosh and black cohosh

Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosus) are herbs which should not be used in early pregnancy but are often cited as useful in bringing on labour.

Are they safe?
There are no scientific studies available. Many anecdotal reports suggest that they are safe to use in the final stages of pregnancy. However, we have also come across two reports in which the use of each of these herbs during pregnancy may have been a contributing factor to birth defects. Herbals are much stronger than homeopathic remedies and so should always be used under professional guidance. Given that there is a question mark hanging over them, you may decide that it is better to avoid these herbs entirely.

Do they work?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that they do, but there are no scientific studies to back this up.

How do I try them?
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists can help you to locate a qualified, registered herbalist near you.

Eating curry

Spicy food is often suggested as a means of bringing on labour. There are no scientific theories relating to this, but it may be that it stimulates the gut and bowel and so encourages the uterus to get going by that means.

Is it safe?
Spicy foods can cause heartburn and, if you are not used to them, irritate the bowel. For this reason you should probably not order a vindaloo if you are usually more of a korma girl.

Does it work?
There is no evidence either way though many women swear by it.

How do I try it?
Order a takeaway. This is not the time to be slaving over a hot stove.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture involves the insertion of very fine needles into specific points of the body. According to traditional Chinese philosophy, this stimulates the energy within the body to restore balance and boost healing.

Is it safe?
Studies into this are limited but all show that acupuncture is safe for mother and baby.

Does it work?
The limited studies that have been carried out so far suggest that acupuncture may be effective. Anecdotally the evidence is much stronger.

How do I try it?
You need to find a qualified practitioner. The British Acupuncture Council has a searchable list. You will probably need treatment daily until you give birth.

Red raspberry leaf

Raspberry leaf can be taken as a tea or in tablet form. It is often mentioned alongside other methods for bringing on labour. This is a myth.

Is it safe?
It is very important not to use raspberry leaves until the last three months of pregnancy because of their stimulating effect on the uterus.

Does it work?
There is no evidence to show that red raspberry leaf will encourage labour to begin. However, an Australian study has shown that it will speed up the second stage of labour and reduce forceps delivery.

How do I try it?
If you want to help to prepare the uterine muscles for labour start with one cup of tea a day or one tablet and build up gradually to a maximum of four cups of tea or tablets daily. The tea can be sipped freely during labour, too. The tea and tablets are available from health food stores or from herbal suppliers.

Walking

The explanation appears to be that the pressure of your baby's head pressing down on the cervix from the inside stimulates the release of oxytocin, hopefully bringing on labour. Also, just being upright gets the forces of gravity working for you, encouraging the baby to move down onto the cervix.

Is it safe?
Yes, but you should be careful not to wear yourself out. Labour can be exhausting and you don't want to use up all your energy before you have begun.

Does it work?
There is, as yet, no evidence. If your baby has not 'dropped' or is still high in the pelvis, walking is thought to encourage your baby into a better position so that labour is more likely to start on its own.

How do I try it?
This is not the moment to take up power walking, particularly if you have not done much exercise earlier on in your pregnancy. A gentle stroll is probably the best you will be able to manage.

And finally:

Here is a selection of other methods (some of them a little bizarre) that other mums are said to have found helpful. There is no evidence for any of these and frankly we are not convinced!

• Blowing up balloons: the theory is that the build up of abdominal pressure encourages labour to start.

• Bouncing on your birth ball or driving your car down a bumpy road would seem to put the same faith in shaking things up a little.

• Get a weepy video and have a good cry.

• Wear your best knickers (sod's law will ensure that your waters break in them).