What Was Your Experience? - Cincinnati,OH

My son assumed the delivery position (low in the birth canal, head down) and I was 3.5 centimeters dialated for 3 weeks before my son finally made his appearance. It was a miserable 3 weeks, but I was only in active labor for a total of 20 minutes. I pushed 3 times and he was out without any tearing or any other problems. During the prior 3 weeks, I also could not get comfortable, but once he came and it was very easy compared to other stories, I did not care about the prior uncomfortableness.

Of course, the weeks of your body preparing does not necessarily mean the delivery will be seemless. On the other hand, I was induced prior to my daughter & my body being ready and the delivery was much harder. It just all seemed to happen to fast and my body was not prepared for it yet. So I am convinced that your body needs the prep time and that amount of time may be different for everyone.

Yup, he's dropped, which means he's in position to be born. (Lots of first babies don't do this.) It doesn't mean it's imminent, though. A belt to support the baby will help, as will (usually) getting on your hands and knees on the bed and lowering your head and shoulders. That takes the pressure off your pelvis for awhile. Good luck. It's almost over.

My son "dropped" almost a full 3 weeks before he was born. Sigh. UNCOMFORTABLE weeks.

Wow, Not only are you from Cincinnati like I am, but I could have written your post almost word for word. I had a girl first and was positive for GD late, around 33 weeks, and with my son, I was 12 weeks and already failed the test. My story differs from yours as they were both c-sections. So with #2 is was planned long in advance. I did look like I was ready to deliver at 37 weeks. He was low, and I had lots of back pain toward the end. Laying, sitting, whatever, nothing helped. They said he was rather large, and I was having a second c-section anyway, so they had me go in at 37.5 weeks to prevent the baby from being an unhealty weight. When I arrived for the surgery, they hooked me up to the monitor, and I was in full fledged labor at 7 centimeters, so he was coming that day anyway! My pelvis was "narrow", and they suggested I opt for the section anyway due to his size. He was 8 pounds and just perfect. (I probably could have pushed him right out) If you're feeling ready, and you think it's better that he come early, beg for an induction at 38 weeks! They won't do 37 anymore.... Anyway it goes, good luck!

My daughter was born 2 days late, my middle son was born two weeks early and my youngest son was born three weeks early. So you never know when they are going to decide to make an appearance. With my daughter she dropped early and my "tail bone" hurt so bad that I could barely walk for three weeks before she was born. But with my other two it didn't hurt like that but they were also smaller babies too so I don't know if that makes a difference or not. Every pregnancy is different to some degree so you just never know. Good luck and hopefully it won't be too much longer.

It sounds like baby might have dropped. Doesn't mean he is coming right away necessarily. On your last u/s was he facing the right way? My DD was sunny side up and when she dropped, she dropped on my pelvic bone and WOW, I didn't think I would be able to handle the pain. And, yeah, you constantly feel like you have to go to the bathroom. GL and hopefully you get some pain relief soon and he is able to stay in for a lil while longer to make sure his lungs are fully developed.

actually I had this with my first, and delivered and just 36 weeks two days after it all started. I think I pushed it along by straining during one of those intense bathroom visits where I thought I had to go and didn't, and well my water broke with a gush. He was fine, 7 pounds 3 ounces and perfectly healthy, and I was only in labor 4 hours. Good luck. While I understand that the goal is a healthy baby, I hope you don't have to remain uncomfortable for to much longer. It gets pretty miserable.

Well...if you REALLY wait til he's ready, it could be another 5.5 weeks! ;) Anyhow, I think one of two things could be going on. Do you know when you ovulated? If not, then your due date could be off by up to 2 weeks. Using your LMP or an ultrasound to determine the guesstimate of "readiness" isn't as accurate as knowing when the pregnancy really started. So, you could be farther along than 36.5 weeks. (FTR you could also be as little as 34.5 weeks, the guess can be off by up to 2 weeks in either way).
Otherwise, it could just be that it's your second. Many women feel their bodies ready in preparation for labor just sooner with subsequent pregnancies. The body just remembers what it was like to open up and give birth and it usually happens sooner than the first.

Don't pay much attention to their guess of his weight. They should have told you that it can be wrong up to TWO POUNDS!!! The later in pregnancy, the more off they usually are:( The fundal measurement and NST are a good idea if you have bad GD, but the weekly U/S don't prove anything and there is a lot of evidence that they aren't nearly as safe as OBs thought they were (kinda like the x-rays every pregnant woman used to get until they realized they weren't safe after all).

Right now there's no medical reason for an early induction (and no, "Big Baby" doesn't count). "Fully Term" doesn't mean his lungs are ready and plenty of 39 week old babies have been induced only to find out their lungs weren't ready. You're just asking for a stay in the NICU when you induce early for no reason. Hang in there! Take warm baths, go swimming if you can, and check into getting a maternity belt that will take some of the pressure off your pelvis and back. There are a few different types made by a bunch of companies.
http://www.google.com/products?q=pregnancy+belt&oe=ut...

Good Luck!!! Hang in there, no one is pregnant forever :)