New Rule
New Rule: An Obstetrician is no longer permitted to say things like: “I would be shocked if you didn’t go into labor within the week…” and “I betcha you won’t make it to next week’s appointment!” or “Make sure your bags are packed AND in the car. You’re going to go into labor ANY SECOND!” …
…Because hey! Guess what? Not necessarily true as I am so frustratingly finding out now, almost exactly a week since my last appointment and no labor to be found.
Yes, doctor. I am in fact still pregnant. Oh so very and completely pregnant, uncomfortable and frustrated with my state of becoming more and more so as the days pass. I don’t think I would mind my end-of-pregnancy days so much if I wasn’t expecting to go into labor “any second” for the past week. The pressure! THE PRESSURE!
Now? I’m waiting by my uterus like its some kind of idiot boyfriend who I know isn’t going to call me anytime soon, even though my doctor promised otherwise. LIAR! LIES! LIAAAAAAR!
It seems that Doc’s crystal ball is a bit on the hazy side…
Okay so my doctor didn’t exactly promise that I’d go into labor. He did mutter all of the above quotes, leading me to believe that OMG, I better hide out in my house so my water doesn’t break at my local coffee-house in front of all my dude-friends, who I’m sure would be anything but stoked to drown in the token pregnant chick’s amniotic fluid!!! Ahhhh!!!
So here I reside, in my humble abode, camped out on my couch, trying to self-induce with spicy food, sex when its available, curious massage techniques and of course, a whole lotta pleading with the bebe inside my belly TO PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, COME OUT!!!!
Of course, if I go into labor in the next 21 hours, docs totally off the hook. As it stands right now? I’m submitting my NEW RULE to Bill Maher.
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All the best to you and the baby, whenever it happens!
I’m half way through my first pregnancy and am very glad for your insights – though not so much looking forward to the waiting game at the end. Although I am comforted by the fact many women go through the first baby and seem happy to have others… Totally beside the point:
Hope it all goes well for you!
my OB told me the SAME thing, and i cried for days because he would not come out and i was just sure that i had a freak baby who was going to live in utero-land forever. i too was promised, “you won’t make it til next week’s appointment, i’m sure of it!” and actually my OB was right, i didn’t make it to the next weeks appointment, only because my water broke like 4 hours before i was supposed to go in. i’m still not giving her any credit for predicting that because come on, 4 hours? bitch, please.
i’m sending your baby “get out of mommy” thoughts from the east coast, maybe they’ll reach you by morning.
Thanks, Sam. Your story gives me hope!! And congrats to you on your pregnancy, Steph!!!
My sister taught me to always carry a jar of pickles while in stores that carry pickles, so if my water broke I could throw that down on the floor and break it. Say clean up in aisle whatever and bolt out the door. Supposed to save the embarassment.
I never broke my water, doctor had to do it for me with both pregnancies. I so wanted to throw pickles down.
Now THAT is crafty.
Oh, isn`t it AWFUL?! My first son was induced, but he was 3 weeks late and I was basically shaking the doctor by the collar saying, “Get this kid OUT or I`ll do it myself.” Of course, I had eclampsia, so I blamed my outburst on high blood pressure.
The second . . . two weeks late, got all the usual “Oh, any day now” from both doctor AND midwife. And the darn kid wouldn`t come out. In fact, what was supposed to be a home birth ended up being in the hospital because my midwife couldn`t put off her gall bladder surgery anymore. And in the meantime, I was having contractions every day all day and dilated to 3 cm . . . for two weeks.
I have no idea if this actually had much to do with the actual event, but I was chugging cups of “labor” tea the day before my son was born. 5 cloves, orange leaves, cayenne powder, peppercorns and lemon juice. And walking. Oh, the joys. You`ve reminded me precisely why I don`t want to have any more kids.
Here`s hoping your little lady will come out soon!
I’m totally feeling for ya. My due date came and went (yesterday) and I wasn’t even dialated at the appt. But today? Totally feeling *something*. You will, too, soon! Maybe our kids will share a birthday
No, it can’t come till the 8 (or 10)…. or what ever date I guest =)
I have a feeling she (or maybe he) will indeed be coming VERY soon!
Amanda
i was due 8/30, but my ob told me that i was going to have a big baby at the beginning of august. i loaded up on pineapple, oregano, and spicy foods then i went to target to try and walk the baby out in a pleasant air conditioned retail environment. yeah. none of that worked and he ended up coming four days past due. he also ended up being 9lbs 15oz (on a vegetarian diet…i still don’t get it).
so yeah…i hope she comes out soon so you don’t have to birth a three month old like i did.
Oy! A 10 pounder! You’re my hero…
I keep checking back to see if you’ve popped her out yet. I guess I’m expecting you to be blogging mid-labour? haha
Might as well enjoy these last few days (hours? minutes?) of pregnancy since it might be a couple more years before you decide to do this again.
I totally feel your pain! I had my first in April and she went 11 days past her due date. I tried everything to induce naturally- spicy food, sex, homeopathics, castor oil (never again! so horrible and no labor). Finally, I went for acupuncture (on advice of my doula) when I was 10 days overdue and had my first labor contraction on the table. She was born the next day- 8lbs 2oz of perfectly healthy baby. The waiting was all worth it. Best wishes and hope your little one arrives soon.
i know what u r talking about. It’s like meeting random friends in the street and they are like, “What are you doing here? are you still pregnant?” and you feel like you are disappointing the whole wide world with your prolonged pregnancy.
I was induced after 2 weeks overdue and it took more than 24 hrs to get the labor started.
Walking doesnt help! Me and my husband would walk for hours.. In the end, I’m feeling just fine, and he is all sore and tired!!!=))
It’s GOING to happen! But you’re right, they really shouldn’t say things like that! It’s like a huge jinks.
Try raspberry leaf tea – the loose tea, not the tea bags. Drink gallons of it. And try evening primrose oil, both taken orally and placed inside the, ahem, birth canal. It contains prostaglandins (also found in semen) which is a hormone that induces labor. Acupuncture and reflexology are also known to be very effective, although not in my case. My midwife did what’s called a membrane sweep, which is a gentle manual procedure where she takes a finger and sweeps it around the neck of the womb to release the hormone prostaglandin and trigger labor. I went into labor the morning after I had my sweep. Good luck!!!
Wow. Your pregnancy flew by…. for me.
How exciting/scared/annoyed/tired/happy you must be!
(ps- I sent you an email a few weeks ago – not sure if you got it.)
Hey all- not sure if anyone reading here doesn’t read GGC over at her original blog, but if not:
http://www.girlsgonechild.net/2008/10/fable-tale.html