This blog entry is specifically for our pregnant patients that are 36 weeks and greater.
As you approach the long awaited arrival of your newborn, you are most certainly starting to become overwhelmed with emotions. Excitement, exhaustion, fear and anxiety, impatience and of course love. You get to the point that every phone conversation is started off with “No, I am not in labor” and you feel like a ticking time bomb as family and friends, and even strangers, constantly ask about your well being. Another common emotion is disappointment when that date you have been counting down to comes and goes without any sign of an end in sight. If only we had a crystal ball to tell us when our baby is going to arrive.
So since we do not have a crystal ball, all we can rely on is statistics. Did you know that only about 5% of women actually give birth on their Estimated Due Date (EDD). 90% of patients will deliver between 38-42 weeks of pregnancy. That leaves 10% of patients prior to 38 weeks gestation.
Did you also know that although 38 weeks is considered full term pregnancy, your baby’s brain continues to develop until 39 weeks. Because of this crucial development, it is not recommended to induce or augment labor in women under 39 weeks unless there is a medical condition that poses more harm than benefit. That being said, we would like to review some guidelines that should send you to L&D to hopefully reduce some questions and concerns you have during that last month of pregnancy.
If you are overdue and are looking for ways to get the ball rolling, so to speak, here is a good rule of thumb to consider- if you have been doing something during the entire pregnancy and you are still pregnant, it will likely not cause labor to start. For example:
Walking- Gravity does help bring the baby’s head lower but walking for hours or long distance does not cause labor. Many patients do notice that their contractions are more frequent when walking but if they space out when you rest then it is not active labor, it is just uncomfortable. It is also important to keep hydrated with exercise and activity.
Sex- You have all heard that what got you into this will get you out of it… well, unless you have a desire to have intercourse, there is no need to force yourself into sex. It is true that semen has prostaglandins in it to help soften the cervix and that orgasm releases Oxytocin and can lead to contractions but it rarely leads to active labor.
Mexican food- Eat it if is sounds good, otherwise it will just cause heartburn and possibly diarrhea.
Castor Oil- DO NOT DO THIS- it will give you awful diarrhea and cause you to become dehydrated. You will then get to make a trip to the hospital for hydration and likely be sent home with false labor.
When to go to the hospital: (no need to call the office or exchange first. The hospital will contact us once you are evaluated)
- Vaginal bleeding- like a period, or if you are experiencing pain associated with bleeding.
- Decreased fetal movement- if your baby is not moving, go to the hospital ASAP. If the movement is decreased but still present with at least 10 kicks an hour then call office for evaluation.
- Spontaneous rupture of membranes, even if you are not having contractions- if you think you water broke or are leaking fluid then you should go to Labor and Delivery for evaluation.
- 5-1-1- Rule: At term (actually after 36 weeks). When your contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each for an hour consistently and increasing in strength/intensity. If your contractions are irregular- ex. 5 mins then 8 mins then 6 mins then 12mins… especially if this is your first baby, you still have time. This is usually early labor and can last up to 30 hours without being abnormal.
We look forward to meeting your little one and we are honored that you have chosen us to provide your care during this incredible time of your life.
ShareSEP