A week ago I was 2 cm, 70% effaced.  This is the longest I've ever been pregnant!  My dr said he would induce at 39 weeks if the baby has not arrived by that time.  At this last appt...I don't know if I understood him correctly...but I believe he said if I've progressed enough by my next appt (next week Wednesday) he send me to the hospital (I would assume for induction)????  I wish I had asked him to clerify, but he ran out of the room so fast....

Also, I've never had any contractions (false labor, Braxton Hicks, etc) with any of my pregnancies except for a few hours before my babies arrived.  So, no contractions this time yet either.

Does that sound like something that is likely to be done??

 Maybe he will just break your water to get labour started

I'm not sure what he had in mind. 

mom of 3 princes:

 Maybe he will just break your water to get labour started

That is probably it though.

I just don't want this baby to be so large that she has trouble getting out.  I've never had a c-section and I'd prefer not to at this point, if it can be helped.

you sound pretty far along.  At your point, I'm usually having contractions, at the hospital and given some Pitosin (sp??).  Have you ever had your membranes stripped.  With my first, I was only a day late and my doc did that in his office and sure enough by tht evening I was having full blown contractions and delivered the next day.... Keep us updated!

I hope this isn't a stupid question - Does "membranes stripped" mean water broken?

My water broke on it's own with my first, that was the first sign of labor for me, and my son was delivered 3 hours later.

With my 2 and 3, my water was broken at the hospital after contractions had begun.

#2 took two hours

#3 took about four hours

 No membranes striped is not the same a breaking water. Actually i never thought about that but that would probably put you into labor too.

I googled it to give you a good definition.... LOL ...(i'm no good at explaining anything medical)

Here is the best explaination i could find: "What your doctor is talking about is essentially just an aggressive pelvic exam in which he will feel around just inside your cervix where the membranes ("bag of water") are attached to its rim. By running an examining finger around the inside of your cervix, he can separate the amniotic sac from where it's stuck there"

No, I actually went in not really knowing what it meant and I still don't really know what exactly he did, but he stuck his big fat hand up there and I'm guessing maybe loosened the cervix or something.  I just remember it being uncomfortable...not really painful but just very uncomfortable. It only took a few seconds. He didn't have any "tool" or anything either.  I used to be the type of patiend that didn't ask many questions, so I'm not sure what exactly he did.  But many people have mentioned having their membranes stretched/stripped too.  But he didn't break my water or anything like that.  Anyway, that did the trick cause I had contractions thta night and they progressed by AM and I went into labor...

Thanks for the explanantion...I was just about to google it myself.  Like I said, with my first I was 26 years old and just not the type of patient to ask many questions.  NOw I ask a TON but didn't need it for DS2 so I forgot all about it.

threeboneg:

Does that sound like something that is likely to be done??

Yes, sounds perfectly reasonable to me. Many doctors will just send you straight to the hospital to start pitocin if you have progressed enough. Sounds like your body is progressing well enough that it shouldn't be a difficult induction, if it comes down to that. So sounds like next Wednesday you will be meeting your baby! I hope I'm that lucky too!

As Mom of 3 Princes said, having your water broken would probably do the trick too, but I'm pretty sure they will only do that if the baby is well engaged, because otherwise the risk of cord prolapse is too high. If the baby is too high and the water is broken the cord can be swept into the birth canal and get pinched by the baby's head, cutting off the baby's life suply (that is why I would be terrified to have to have my water broken, and I'm greatful mine broke on its own both times.)

My guess is that you will be started on pitocin. I'm so excited for you!

Shantewa:

As Mom of 3 Princes said, having your water broken would probably do the trick too, but I'm pretty sure they will only do that if the baby is well engaged, because otherwise the risk of cord prolapse is too high. If the baby is too high and the water is broken the cord can be swept into the birth canal and get pinched by the baby's head, cutting off the baby's life suply (that is why I would be terrified to have to have my water broken, and I'm greatful mine broke on its own both times.)

My obgyn felt the baby's head (through the opening in the cervix and of course through the placenta) when he checked me.  She is very low.

twokids:

Have you ever had your membranes stripped.

No, I've never had my membranes stripped.  Gosh...that doesn't sound too pleasant.

threeboneg:

twokids:

Have you ever had your membranes stripped.

No, I've never had my membranes stripped.  Gosh...that doesn't sound too pleasant.

 WELL THAT IS WHAT I HAVE HAD DONE AND VOILA....WITH BOTH DS3 AND NOW WITH DD IT TOOK 5 ATTEMPTS WITH DS3 AND 2 ATTEMPTS WITH DD...HOWEVER LET ME WARN YOU.....I HAD A NORMAL PINK MUCOUSY DISCHARGE WITH DS3 EACH TIME UNTIL I HAD THE NORMAL MUCOUS PLUG SHOW...BUT THIS TIME I HAD LOTS OF BLOOD CLOTS AND BLEEDING INSTEAD.....SO A VERY GORY START TO MY LABOUR....BUT APPEARANTLY IT CAN BE NORMAL AS SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON EACH PREGNANCY AND EACH WOMAN YOUR CERVIX IS SURROUNDED BY LOTS OF BLOOD VESSELS AND THE USUAL LINING OF TISSUE..WITH MEMBERANES BEING STRIPPED SOMETIMS THESE BLOOD VESSELS GET STIMULATED AND FILLED AND CAN CASUE WHAT I HAD THE REALSE OF THEM WHICH CAN BE SCARY....I DIDNT HAVE ANY PAIN THOUGH....I WOKE UP WITH NO PAIN WANTING TO GO TO THE LOO, INSTEAD I GOT UP AND RELEASED SEVERAL HUGE BLOOD CLOTS....THEN HAD SOME MNIRO LIKE A LIGHT PERIOD BLEEDING...THE LABOUR PAINS DIDNT START UNTIL ABOUT AN HOUR LATER....SO I WOUD ASUME IF YOU YOU HAVE EITHEER A SHOW OR BLOOD CLOTS AND PERIOD...LABOUR IS IMMINENT WITHING AN HOUR OR SLIGHLTY MORE...

MEMBRANES STRIPPED DOES NOT HURT AT ALL..IT FEELS A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE LIKE YOU WOOULD DO WITH A SMEAR TEST BUT IT DOESNT HURT AT ALL.....

ANYWAY, I AM GALD I HAD MINE DONE IT SAVED ME FORM GETTING INDUCED....I WOULD DO IT AGAIN IF EVER NEEDED TO....IN THE FUTURE....

LOVE YAS

 just thinking of you and wondering how you are doing????

Our baby girl is here!  I've posted in the Birth Announcements section!