So at 36 weeks I posted with happiness, being at 1cm, baby head down, good vibes from the doctor about VBac. Since that appt two weeks ago, I've had no progress. Just left the doctor's office at 1cm, and cervix still thick. I'm feeling discouraged that I'm going to "fail to progress" just like last time, when I got stuck at 5 cm and had a c-section b/c baby was trying to get out. My doctor--surprisingly--asked me if I wanted to be induced next week. I was taken aback, since I got the impression earlier that she would never use pitocin in a VBac attempt. I guess I could get my membranes stripped, but I have to admit hesitancy in this b/c I want my body to do it on it's own--that'll give me a better chance of making it all the way through the process, right?
Any suggestions out there to encourage dilation? Everything I read seems to be about getting your contractions going--which as far as I can tell, doesn't necessarily lead to dilation. I know the contractions will come. I just need to OPEN UP!
And maybe I'm being impatient, but I've hit that point of feeling like my body can't do much more of this pregnancy thing--I am worn out and at a breaking point mentally. HELP!
I'm sorry you're feeling frustrated! Remember, you still have 2 or more weeks to go. A lot of people don't start dilating at this point. I've searched for information and can't find anything about encouraging dilation, which makes me wonder if it's even possible or safe.
Others here will tell you from their experience that dilation does not predict when labor will actually start. You're still early, and 1 cm and thick at 38 weeks is not unusual, and doesn't mean you're far away from starting labor, necessarily.
I would offer the possibility of not getting checked until you're well into labor. It doesn't offer much useful information until then, makes you anxious, (probably not good for dilation!) and it's an invasion to your body which can bring risk an unnecessary risk of infection. It's low if your membranes are intact, but who knows when they are going to break? Every time you are checked, bacteria in your vagina is pushed up higher toward the baby. Have you been tested for GBS yet? If you're positive, I would be very careful about getting checked, that it's only done if expected to yield practical, useful information, if at all, esp. after membranes are broken. But that's just me. I might be a bit extreme.
Patience is hard. I do believe it's the baby who determines when she's ready, and unless there's concern about your or baby's safety, the best thing is to let it happen. However, there are non-pitocin methods for induction, such as a foley catheter method.
I just want to encourage you that I had failure to progress with my first baby also, but I went on to have two VBACs without any difficulty in progressing to full dilation, and without membrane stripping, induction or augmentation. Have faith that things can be different this time around. They truly can. And you can do this pregnancy thing! I totally relate to wanting it to be over. I was so huge with my last baby I was so done that last week. You can do it.
I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged. I know how scary the end of the pg can be when you want a vbac so badly!!!
So at 36 weeks I posted with happiness, being at 1cm, baby head down, good vibes from the doctor about VBac. Since that appt two weeks ago, I've had no progress. Just left the doctor's office at 1cm, and cervix still thick. I'm feeling discouraged that I'm going to "fail to progress" just like last time, when I got stuck at 5 cm and had a c-section b/c baby was trying to get out. Not dilating before labor is frustrating but not something to worry about. I was dilated to a 2 two days before I went into labor (at 42 weeks) and was 4 cm when I did go into labor. "Failure to progress" is really a dr's "failure to wait." A doula can help fight for you when you're in labor if the dr says you are failing to progress. (I know you're almost due, but I wanted to throw that out at you.) Also, one important thing I learned when I was a Bradley natural childbirth teacher is that if a dr wants to intervene in any way, make your decision by asking the following questions: Am I okay? Is the baby okay? If both of us are okay, then why do you want to (fill in the blank). My doctor--surprisingly--asked me if I wanted to be induced next week. I was taken aback, since I got the impression earlier that she would never use pitocin in a VBac attempt. I guess I could get my membranes stripped, but I have to admit hesitancy in this b/c I want my body to do it on it's own--that'll give me a better chance of making it all the way through the process, right? When I was overdue, my m/w tried to strip my membranes but she couldn't reach it enough. By the time that she could reach high enough, the baby's head had already stripped my membranes. Anyway, the m/w told me that you can really only strip membranes once. The first time is effective, but the rest of the time really isn't, so she wanted to make sure that my body was closer to going into labor for the stripping to work. She told me that your membranes are like the little package bubbles you can pop. Once you pop the bubbles, you can't really pop them again. The m/w told me that a hormone is released when the bubbles pop. Anyway, maybe that information will help you decide when you want to have your membranes stripped. (If you decide to be induced, having the dr strip your membranes the night beforehand might help you go into labor on your own.)
Any suggestions out there to encourage dilation? Everything I read seems to be about getting your contractions going--which as far as I can tell, doesn't necessarily lead to dilation. I know the contractions will come. I just need to OPEN UP! Walking, Sex, Sitting on a birthing ball, herbs can all help dilate you. Sitting on a couch tends to keep you closed up more.
And maybe I'm being impatient, but I've hit that point of feeling like my body can't do much more of this pregnancy thing--I am worn out and at a breaking point mentally. HELP I know it's been a long pregnancy and you can't wait to hold your baby. Be patient and know that your little one will come when she's ready.
Please kup. Let us know how you are doing and how your appointments go. We're here to support you!! Sending you elv and going into labor vibes. :-)
My c-section was also failure to progress..and with #2 I had the EXACT same fears as you...what if my body can't do it???? But it surprised me. I went into spontaneous labor 10 days before my due date. My water broke & contractions started right away. I went straight to the hospital...when I got there I was only at 2cm. I was so worried it was going to happen again. 3 hours later they checked me again & I was an 8!!!! Baby was born vaginally w/in 9hours of my waters breaking. I spent about 2 hours pushing. I was happy they put a mirror up so I could see me pushing him out. I didn't believe it until I was DOING it! Don't be discouraged...you still have time. Your body knows MUCH more this time around!
