I defintiely experienced less baby movement in the last weeks of pregnancy, most markedly with my son (third). I remember being worried and concerned about it with him in particular, but all turned out quite well and he’s been making up for it for the four years since. I’m glad you’re seeing your doctor today. I hope you get a great report and assurances that all is well.
No necessarily. I am short and had a macrosomic baby (11.5 lbs), I also had a lot of fluid. The baby kicked the living crap out of me until the last day, however, it felt different the last couple of weeks (she was born by emergency c-section because I developed pre-eclampsia).
I wouldn’t worry if I were you (I know, like you’d pay attention to me), the vast majority of babies are born healthy nowadays.
BTW, a couple of days before our baby was born I woke up in the middle of the night and didn’t feel her. Nothing whatsoever. I went to the bathroom (always woke her up when sitting), had something to eat, walked around, etc. and the baby didn’t move. So I woke up my husband and told him that the baby hadn’t moved in hours, by then it was nearly 6:00 AM. We got dressed and rushed to the nearest clinic (took us about 10 minutes all in all), as soon as they put the gel on my tummy to check her heartbeat she kicked. :rolleyes:
I was sent home with the advice of taking it easy and a pat on the back.
Well, although I don’t feel comfortable with it, I’m being induced on Tuesday. My cervix is so posterior it can’t even be felt - no progress whatsoever - and I’m two weeks early. There’s a 50% chance I will need an emergency c-section anyway.
At least I have 6 days to try to get my literal and figurative house in order.
Wish me luck!
Luck!
Hey, you know all about WhyBaby and me. In all honesty, the c-section wasn’t that bad. Don’t be too worried if they whisk the little one off to the NICU to keep an eye on him for a few hours or even days - when the pregancy’s been scary, sometimes they’re a little overcautious with the wee one at first, and almost all c-sections get taken to the NICU. And two weeks early is nothin’, developmentally.
Hopefully, the worst thing that’ll happen is you’ll be slightly embarrassed that your huge, healthy baby is hogging a bed in the room with all the teeny-tinys!
The baby will definitely be in NICU for at least 24 hours because of hospital policies with diabetics. I’m okay with that - my hubby will go with the baby to keep an eye on him/her until I’m able to go to the NICU myself. Knowing he’ll be able to be there even if I’m recovering from a section will put my mind at ease. I know in addition to low glucose levels there’s a higher incidence of jaundice and respiratory distress in infants of diabetics, so I’m expecting that.
I’m not overly worried about the 38 week thing, just aware that early induction with no cervical progress often leads to a section. I just hope that if they make that call, they do it relatively early.
Their policy is to give formula if baby doesn’t breastfeed in the first four hours (completely outdated and ridiculous according to everything I’ve read and the breastfeeding clinic director). I did find out that I can tell them not to use a bottle, however. I know some babies don’t experience nipple confusion and have no issues switching back and forth, but I don’t want to take any chances. My doctor says feeding via tube won’t hurt the baby and might make things less difficult later.
I’m kind of stunned right now. I knew that I would be scheduled for something between 38 and 40 weeks but it was very abstract before. Chances are, the Cervadil on Tuesday will not be enough on its own and I will go home and return Wednesday for amniotomy or another dose. So potentially September 7th or 8th, this baby will be born. Can’t really wrap my brain around it.
Absolutely. In fact, gavage (tube) feeding is really easier for the nurses, because they can just hang the feeding and walk away to do something else. There’s a vast anti-breastfeeding conspiracy 
in some hospitals, though, so you might want to send your hubby down to the NICU to stand guard over the baby and make sure no one approaches with a nipple! (Seriously - they gave WhyKid sugar water via bottle despite all the orders I gave not to.)
Also, consider asking at admission for a breast pump to be brought to your room while the baby’s in the NICU, as it will take them (in my experience) several hours or even days to get it to you. Start pumping right away, and have your nurse or hubby bring the colostrum you get to the NICU. They can give that to the baby via bottle or tube, and it’s the best, best, best medicine right away. (You may only get a few drops - send down even those few drops! I felt ridiculous and threw out the first few cc’s, 'cause I thought it wasn’t enough to bother with. Turns out there’s over 5 *million *antibodies in each mL of colostrum! :eek: ) Even if you only need to pump for a day before they can get the baby to you to breastfeed, it’s better to get the nipple stimulation right away. But if you can’t, don’t dispair - nature’s given us at least a two-week window to get milk production started. It just might be a little harder.
And your baby CAN have your colostrum and milk right away, as long as they’re not giving you anything too weird. Demerol, Dilantin, Vicodin, Tylenol, Ibuprofen, etc. are all just fine for breastfeeding babies.
I know if I end up with a c-section, there may be a considerable delay before I can see the baby (I will only be permitted to enter the unit once I am able to be transported easily via wheelchair), and the baby won’t be able to leave the NICU (even if it doesn’t have any complications). Yup - I’m definitely having hubby stand guard to make sure they know what our wishes are.
I was thinking of bring my manual (Medela Harmony) pump with me, just in case. Not sure if my milk will even come in while I’m there, but it can’t hurt, right? Colostrum production has already started. I wouldn’t have thought to have any brought to the NICU. Good idea!
I saw her (via wheelchair) about 5 hours after the birth. So it may not be as long as you fear. (I wasn’t particularly *happy *about getting into a wheelchair, and I wasn’t all that chipper, but I was able to do it!) It could have been sooner, but there was a lot they had to do to stabilize her before I could see her.
(And, uh, I meant Dilaudid up there, not Dilantin. Sorry, I was a little out of it while I was on it. Good, good stuff. I highly recommend it. 
)
Been there, done that. I insisted they left the baby in my room, dammit if I was not going to have my daughter by my side after the 8.5 months of carrying her. Unfortunately, because they wanted to make sure that she wasn’t macrosomic because of gestational diabetes, they gave her formula, which has wrecked havoc in my breastfeeding plans (I started a recent thread about it).
Our little one had very mild jaundice, but that is common in born-before-term babies. No respiratory distress whatsoever though. She was basically just a healthy big baby.
Just don’t worry more than necessary. Your baby will be alright, I am sure.
Just checking in to say hi to everyone. Hope y’all are doing well!
I especially wanted to wish Cyros all kinds of good luck. I just read that you’re going to be induced soon. I am keeping everything crossed for you! (Oh, and your 37 week picture is fabulous 
)
HubZilla , Anya is just lovely!
I also wanted to say how great it is to commune with all my fellow pregnant Dopers. I don’t know anyone in my area - let alone anyone pregnant - so our “Preggo” threads have really kept me sane and informed. Thanks everyone!
Shana
Thanks for the luck! My husband took that picture - he’s getting lots of practice with our little digital camera in preparation for the monkey.
I’d like to second that. I have no support in this area (except my husband of course) and hearing from other pregnant women and other women who have gone through this or have special expertise has been so valuable.
Shana, keep us posted on your progress! I think our babies will be born around the same time too!
I’m glad this thread has progressed a little farther than my last preggo-themed effort.
I have a friend who has the same due date as I do, and apparently there are a LOT of pregnant ladies in my city who are due in late November too. (It’s going to be a busy maternity ward!).
I am also planning to rejoin the prenatal yoga and prenatal fitness classes that were suspended for the summer, and start pre-natal classes as well. I am usually not a “joiner” by any means, but I am really enjoying the whole pregnancy experience and I find it fascinating how everyone’s experiences are similar yet different.
I remember reading a while back that the pregnancy-related message boards were kind of annoying, especially for those of us who are used to the SD, and unfortunately it seems true. I am so glad that we have the Straight Dope to keep in touch …
(Wow I guess I’m feeling a little mushy today … crazy hormones!!!)
S.
I am not enjoying this attempted induction. I’ve had two 24 hour doses of Cervidil so far. Nothing. Zero progress. Totally posterior cervix. I think I’m just non-responsive to the drug and I’m finding the multiple visits to the hospital and check-ins to be a huge pain in the ass.
I think the baby resents the early eviction notice. I’m not crazy about it either.
Ah Cyros , I’m glad you posted here! I was just thinking about you and wondering how the induction was going…Sorry it’s not progressing. That sucks!!
Will they give you Pitocin if the Cervidil doesn’t work? Well, keep us all posted if you can…I’m sending good baby vibes your way!!
I’ve now had THREE doses of Cervidil. The 2nd fell out at 7:30pm last night and I got the third at 9:00pm. Spent three more hours being monitored. Now there’s a new timetable for checking in - had to have a telephone assessment at 3:00 am. I’m not sleeping at all now - I’m exhausted. Really screwing up my eating / insulin / testing schedule too. Even if something were to happen at this point I don’t have the energy to be of any assistance.
They won’t give Pitocin if the cervix isn’t favourable. I have no idea what the next step can be. I’m not crazy about having any more cervical ripening agents since multiple doses of cervidil have not been studied, nor can I find any studies on switching to another product after having multiple doses of another.
I never wanted to be induced, but since it was supposed to be a safety issue because of the gestational diabetes, I really didn’t have a choice. At this point if nothing happens and it truly is risky to wait, I hope to God they just do a c-section.
Time is ticking away.
Thanks for the baby vibes - hopefully I’ll get some good news today.
Cyros- I have a feeling they’ll go for a section if they want baby here any time in the next few days. There’s only so much you can do to move things on if baby and cervix aren’t co-operating.
Don’t be afriad to let your team know exactly what you are willing to put up with, and if another round of prostaglandin pessaries is going to drive you nuts you go ahead and refuse them!
Best of luck, and hopefully you’ll have a cute little bundle in your arms very soon.
Congratulations and good luck to all the expectant parents and recently created parents
I’m an expectant father, fingers are crossed for the little tyke, due in January.
The Mum’s 44 just this August 27th so there are risks and concerns, but the tests so far are all good and its kicking and swimming around all over the place.
Sadly the Mum’s getting some disapproval from her father and she has another daughter who’s expecting even sooner (her grandchild will be older than her son/daughter!) so there’s a lot of pressure on her. I’m helping financially and practically when I can, but there doesn’t seem to be much hope of being with the mother as a couple after the kid’s born.
But on the upside, the health of child and mother is ok so far, so there’s a lot still to be optimistic about Despite everything, the idea of being a Dad is enormously appealing…
Good luck, Cyros; it sounds like you’ve been through hell, so I hope you get some resolution one way or another very soon. I’ll be thinking good thoughts for you.
Good luck with your little one, Pushkin; I’m sorry things don’t seem to be working out between you and the mother, but I’m glad to hear you’re there for her and the baby regardless.
I’m at 32 weeks now. My little fellas are still hanging in there–they’ve dropped, though, so it won’t be too many more weeks now (eep!). I’ve got another appointment with the perinatologist today to check on my gestational diabetes; I’ve gotten it almost completely under control with the diet, though I’ve had a couple high readings, so we’ll see whether they want to put me on medication or let me continue with what I’ve been doing.
Hope everyone else is doing well!
Your feeling was right on the money! I went in today for reassessment and monitoring and for the third time had no progress. We discussed the possibility of more Cervidil or of starting Prostin, but ultimately decided to proceed with c-section.
I’m tentatively on the schedule for tomorrow evening (the OR schedule was full, so I’m on a waitlist of sorts.)
Now, of course, perhaps the threat of surgery will inspire the monkey to arrive on its own. Best laid plans and all that.