About to pop

Little James Dean or Olivia Monroe is still hanging out at the Uterus Motel.

I went to the doctor today. Like he said a week ago, I'm still expected to go into labor at anytime!
If I don't give birth before my next appointment (Wednesday, March 5th), then at my appt. we'll pick an induction date.
I'm still only 1 cm dilated and the baby is in the right position (head down), but I haven't dropped yet.
For those who don't know, dropping is when the baby lowers in the bottom of the pelvis, ready for delivery. According to the Mayo Clinic "all knowing" book (awesome book), in first pregnancies, this usually happens 2-4 weeks before labor... but obviously NOT in my case :)

There are -9 days until your due date on February 17, 2008.
You are 289 days pregnant.
You are 9.5 months pregnant.
You are in your 10th month of pregnancy. (huh?)

If your labor is induced, there are a number of ways this can be done:

1 - breaking your waters - puncturing the amniotic sac, which means your waters leak out. This can often stimulate contractions. This procedure is sometimes known as ARM, for Artificial Rupture of the Membranes, or amniotomy;

2 - giving you a pessary ( l suppository) of hormone gel, which delivers labor-inducing hormones to the cervix; or

3 - giving you a drip of oxytocin which puts the hormone directly into your bloodstream to stimulate labor.

Induced labor can sometimes mean your contractions come on quickly and intensively, and this may make it harder to cope with. So when deciding whether this option is for you, you may want to take this into account. You may end up needing more pain relief as a result.

A baby that's gone more than a week or so over the 'official' due date may have dryer skin which tends to flake. This is because the vernix that would normally cover the skin has stopped being produced.

`Up to 10% of pregnancies are not delivered by 42 weeks...[and only a small number of pregnancies that go past 42 weeks have problems. In fact, about 95% of postterm babies are born without problems.` --American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG, 2005)



from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/inducing-labor/PR00117


Why would I need an induction?

Your health care provider may recommend inducing labor for various reasons — primarily when there's concern for your health or your baby's health. For example:

* You're one to two weeks beyond your due date, and labor hasn't started naturally.
* Your water has broken, but you're not having contractions.
* There's an infection in your uterus.
* Your baby has stopped growing at the expected pace.
* There's not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the baby.
* Your placenta has begun to deteriorate or separate from the wall of your uterus.
* You have a medical condition that may put you or your baby at risk, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Rarely, inducing labor is a matter of practicality. If you live far from the hospital or you have a history of rapid deliveries, a scheduled induction may be best.

There's an important caveat, however. If you've had a prior C-section, you may not be a candidate for labor induction. After a prior C-section, inducing labor increases the risk of uterine rupture. This rare but serious complication — in which the uterus tears open along the scar line from a prior C-section — can cause life-threatening blood loss, infection and brain damage for the baby.
MORE ON THIS TOPIC

* Overdue pregnancy: What to do when baby's overdue

How should I prepare for the induction?

Before the induction, your health care provider may help prepare your cervix for labor.

If your cervix is beginning to thin and soften, your health care provider may gently separate the amniotic sac — which surrounds and protects your baby — from the rim of the cervix during a physical exam. This procedure, known as stripping the membranes, may encourage labor to begin on its own.

If your cervix isn't thinning or softening, your health care provider may use synthetic forms of prostaglandins — the natural chemicals that trigger contractions — to get things started. Sometimes, the medication is given the night before a scheduled induction. It may be applied as a gel to the cervix, inserted as a l suppository or tablet, or swallowed in pill form.

As another option, a small balloon-tipped catheter may be placed in your uterus. Water is injected through the catheter to expand the balloon. This irritates the uterus, causing it to soften and open your cervix somewhat. Another technique is to place small cylinders of dried laminaria, a type of seaweed, in the cervix. The cylinders draw in water and get thicker, which slightly dilates the cervix.

Your health care provider will tell you when to report to the hospital for the actual induction. You may be asked to avoid eating or drinking for several hours before your arrival.
What will happen during the induction?

If your amniotic sac is still intact, your health care provider may start by making a small tear in the sac with a thin plastic hook. You may feel a warm gush of fluid when the sac breaks open. The rupture will increase prostaglandin production, which typically leads to contractions.

In addition to triggering and often shortening labor, breaking your water gives your health care provider a look at your amniotic fluid. If it contains traces of fecal waste, your labor may be monitored more closely.

Medication is often used to provoke contractions as well. The most common choice is a synthetic version of oxytocin — a hormone your body produces at low levels throughout pregnancy and at higher levels during active labor. Oxytocin is given intravenously, through a catheter inserted into a vein in your arm or on the back of your hand. Your health care provider will use an infusion pump to control the dosage of medication you receive. The dosage may be adjusted throughout the induction to regulate the strength and frequency of your contractions.
How long will it take?

That's tough to predict. It depends on how your body responds to the medication. If your cervix needs time to ripen, the induction may take two to three days. If you simply need a little push, you may be holding your baby in your arms in a matter of hours. Induction typically takes longer for first-time moms and women who aren't full term.
Will it hurt?

The procedures to induce labor don't hurt. However, induced contractions typically become more regular and frequent from the beginning than do those of a naturally occurring labor. If relaxation and breathing techniques aren't enough to control the pain, ask for relief. Your health care provider may recommend narcotic analgesics, an epidural block or other options.
How will induction affect my baby?

Medications used to induce labor may cause strong contractions. Your health care provider will keep a careful eye on your baby's heart rate throughout the induction. If contractions are too frequent or last too long, the dosage will be decreased.
What if the induction doesn't work?

That depends. Rarely, an induction may be discontinued and attempted again in a few days. But once your water has broken, there's no turning back. If your health or your baby's health is at risk, a C-section may be needed.
What about recovery and future pregnancies?

The issues that led you to have an induction may require special care during recovery. Otherwise, you'll experience the same physical and emotional adjustments to life after pregnancy as you would with a natural labor. If you have a successful l delivery, there are no implications for future pregnancies. If the induction leads to a C-section, your health care provider can help you decide whether to attempt a l delivery with a subsequent baby or to schedule a repeat C-section.




from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/signs-of-labor/PR00083


Signs of labor: Know what to expect
Every woman's labor is unique. But understanding the typical signs of labor can help you know what to expect as your due date approaches.

On television, babies are often born with a rush of emotion and swift action. The mother doubles over from the pain of a single contraction, and the baby appears before the commercial break.

In reality, labor usually begins less dramatically.

No one knows for sure what triggers labor — and every woman's experience is unique. But understanding the typical signs of labor can help you know what to expect as your due date approaches.
Lightening: Adjusting the pressure

One of the first signs of labor may be a sensation that the baby is settling deeper into your pelvis. This is known as lightening.

The baby's new position may give your lungs more room to expand, making it easier to breathe. On the flip side, you may experience pelvic discomfort, and increased pressure on your bladder may send you to the bathroom more often.

For a first pregnancy, lightening may occur weeks or days before labor begins. For subsequent pregnancies, it may not happen ahead of time. For some women, the changes are obvious. Others may not notice a thing.
Effacement: Ripening of the cervix

Your cervix prepares for birth by softening and thinning, or effacing. You won't feel this sign of labor happening. Instead, your health care provider will check for signs of cervical change with l exams.

Effacement is often expressed in percentages. When you're 50 percent effaced, your cervix is half its original thickness. Your cervix must be 100 percent effaced, or completely thinned out, before a l delivery.
Dilation: Opening of the cervix

Your cervix will also begin to open, or dilate. Your health care provider will measure the dilation in centimeters from zero to 10.

At first, these cervical changes may be very slow. In fact, some women are dilated 2 to 3 centimeters for days or even weeks before labor actually begins. Your progress isn't a good indicator of when labor will begin, but rather a general sign that you're getting ready for labor. Once you're in active labor, expect to dilate more quickly.
Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug

During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus blocks the cervical opening to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and open, this plug may be discharged. You may notice stringy mucus or a thick discharge. It's typically brown and sometimes tinged with blood.

Losing the mucus plug is among the telltale signs of labor, but it's not a guarantee. Labor may still be a week or more away.
Nesting: Spurt of energy

You might wake up one morning feeling energetic, raring to attack dust bunnies under the couch, set up the crib and arrange your baby's outfits according to color. This urge to clean and organize is commonly known as nesting. No one knows for sure, but it may be a primal instinct that hearkens back to a time when physical preparation was necessary for a safer childbirth.

Nesting may begin months before your due date, but the instinct is usually strongest just before delivery. Do what you must, but don't wear yourself out. Save your energy for the harder work of labor ahead.
Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks

The amniotic sac is a fluid-filled membrane that cushions your baby in the uterus. Sometimes the sac leaks or breaks before labor begins. If this happens, you may notice a trickle of fluid or a more obvious gush.

If your water breaks at home — or if you're uncertain whether the fluid is amniotic fluid, urine or something else — consult your health care provider right away. He or she will evaluate you and your baby to determine the next steps.

If the amniotic sac is no longer intact, timing becomes important. The longer the membranes are ruptured, the greater the risk of developing an infection. If labor doesn't begin on its own, your health care provider may need to induce your labor.

In the meantime, don't do anything that could introduce bacteria into your . Sex isn't a good idea if you think you might be leaking amniotic fluid.
Contractions: When labor pains begin

During the last few months of pregnancy, you may experience occasional, painless contractions — a sensation that your uterus is tightening and relaxing. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions. They're your body's way of warming up for labor.

As your due date approaches, Braxton Hicks contractions may become stronger or even painful. Eventually, Braxton Hicks contractions will be replaced by the real thing. To tell the difference, ask yourself these questions:

* Are the contractions regular? Time your contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. Look for a regular pattern of contractions that get stronger and closer together. Contractions that come at least every five minutes are likely to be the real thing. The contractions of false labor will remain irregular.
* How long do they last? Measure the length of each contraction by timing when it begins and when it ends. True contractions last more than 30 seconds at first and get progressively longer — up to 75 seconds — and stronger. With false labor, contractions vary in length and intensity.
* Can you stop the contractions? True contractions continue regardless of your activity level or position. In fact, they often grow stronger with increased activity, such as walking. With false labor, you may be able to stop the contractions by changing your activity or position, lying down or even taking a walk.
* Where do you feel the contractions? The pain of true contractions tends to begin high in the abdomen, radiating throughout the abdomen and lower back. With false labor, the contractions are often concentrated in the lower abdomen.

Expect false alarms

The boundary between your body's preparation for labor and the actual process of labor isn't always clear. Some women have painful contractions for days with no cervical changes. Others feel only a little pressure or a backache as the cervix gradually dilates.

Don't hesitate to call your health care provider if you wonder whether you're in labor. Preterm labor can be especially sneaky. If you have any signs of labor before 36 weeks — especially if they're accompanied by l spotting — see your health care provider for an exam.

At term, labor will nearly always make itself apparent. If you arrive at the hospital in false labor, don't feel embarrassed or frustrated. Think of it as a practice run. The real thing is sure to be on its way!