Help With Contractions, 3 Days Now

gypsyatheart · Mar 25, 2004

Hang in there, sweetie! I feel for you, with a 9mos old at my feet! I have to tell you, as an L&D/NICU nurse, women contract for weeks before actually delivering! This is nature's way of preparing you for the "big event". What I can't understand, is why your MD wants to induce? Is there some medical reason, like the others have mentioned? If not, I highly reccommend that you let nature take it's course! Pit is not fun, much harder than natural labor....had Pit w/my 1st...not a good experience!

Either way, good luck to you...it won't be long now! :)

I hope that someone can help me with my problem I have been contracting for 3 days now. I am just past finger tipped and my cervix is very soft. My OB told me that if I continue to contract that he was going to induce me. I wanted to try something natural before taking oxy. I heard about red raspberry tea, I have drank one cup and I think it has been about 1 hour I dont know how long it will take to work, or if it will. I am 38 weeks along I have numerous fibroids, I was going to have a cs but I have a fibroid right at the area of where incision will be. This is my first baby I am scared and i feel guilty for drinking that tea but my contractions have subsided. PLease HELP!!!

edib1 · Mar 26, 2004

Went to the OB today and I am dilated to 2cm. The OB striped my membranes today,

how long do you think that it will take to go into labor, and how active should I be?

Rocky_Mtn_Emt · Mar 26, 2004

I am not a nurse yet either but I am a mom to a now two year old and I have been involved with quite a few L&D's IMHO DON'T let them induce you unless there is a serious medical reason! that baby will come when it's ready! I had ctx every 2-5 min the last month of my pregnancy and not just BH either yes I was a first time mom and went to the Hosp they put me on the monitor and I was every two minutes but they didn't know what to do with me as I wasn't changing much but I was having hard regular ctx needless to say I went home and was induced 3 weeks later 1 day before my due date for no real reason except the Dr wanted convenience and said the baby would be better off outside well 28hrs later of pure hell (I will spare you all the details) of pit non stop no rest, and no epi I had a beautiful baby girl.

I will never be induced again unless that baby is in serious danger it was horrible! it also raises your risk of C sec. From the two types of labor I have seen the natural way is the best not to say it doesn't hurt but it's not near as bad as pit.

I also did all the things to bring the baby on, castor oil,tea,nipple,sex,shower,rough roads,sex. nothing worked it will come when it is ready, and after it was all over I wished I was still pregnant, and that I had taken the time to really enjoy it instead of trying to get it all over with and get the baby here.

Good Luck!

as we used to say "labor dust" coming your way!!!!

BRANDY LPN · Mar 26, 2004

Went to the OB today and I am dilated to 2cm. The OB striped my membranes today,
how long do you think that it will take to go into labor, and how active should I be?

There is no way to tell exactly when it will be but, it will be soon maybe not tomorrow but you are at the end you can hang in there. We all know you are miserable and excited and just ready to get on with it, but please do not let them induce you with out good reason, you will go into labor when the baby is ready. You can be as active as you feel like as long as you rdoctor hasn't put you on any specific restrictions. Try to get as much rest as you can and take good care of yourself, pamper yourself these last few weeks because the next few will be hectic. Keep us posted! best wishes!

Energizer Bunny · Mar 26, 2004

If not, I highly reccommend that you let nature take it's course! Pit is not fun, much harder than natural labor....had Pit w/my 1st...not a good experience!
Either way, good luck to you...it won't be long now! :)

I completely agree. Pit is horrible and if you can avoid it, please do!!! Both times I had pit they gave me my epidural very early because I was in so much pain. The one time I didn't have it, I was at almost six by the time I got my epi.

Good luck!!! Will be thinking of you and praying for you. It won't be long now.....and really, enjoy it while it lasts. Being pregnant was the best time of my life, swelling and all.

L&D_RN_OH · Mar 26, 2004

You can be as active as you want to be after stripping the membranes. I would suggest relaxing, and enjoying these last few days of pregnancy. Once labor starts,for real, move, move, move. Limiting activity during labor slows the process.

And don't worry about 1 cup of RRL tea. It's not going to cause contractions. It is a uterine tonic which promotes easier labor and letdown. Women who use it, generally take it at least the last month of pregnancy several times a day.

edib1 · Mar 26, 2004

Thanks Ladies I have an appointment on monday, they will try to strip again if I havent had Madeline by then. I really appreciate all the good advice. I will keep you all posted.

Aurora · Mar 26, 2004

With my second, I had weak contractions for two or three days. In the end I had pit and the doctor discovered my membrane had already ruptured when he tried to rupture it. My point being that -- if your membrane has ruptured and no one knows, you should find out and do whatever is best per your doc.

fiestynurse · Mar 26, 2004

You say "When times are rough just let out a YeeHaw!" Does this mean you will be yelling "YeeHaw!" while in labor. You may want to warn the L&D staff about that. :chuckle

LynneCRNA · Mar 26, 2004

After my OB stripped my membranes, I started having contractions within the hour and delivered my daughter early that evening. Good luck!

BabyRN2Be · Mar 27, 2004

Be sure you are adequately hydrated. I tell my clients to drink about a quart of water and go lay down. If the cx are "the real thing", they will continue to get stronger and more frequent. If it's BH, they tend to peter out. The other recommendations are great, too.

As far as stripping the membranes go, it's really hard to tell when/if it will work. Sometimes it will work w/in a few days, sometimes it doesn't get things going.

Also, do some reading on accupressure. That's another tool to get things moving.

Good luck, and remember, this will end. :)

edib1 · Mar 28, 2004

You say "When times are rough just let out a YeeHaw!" Does this mean you will be yelling "YeeHaw!" while in labor. You may want to warn the L&D staff about that. :chuckle

Oh I dont know, Ive heard worse. So I dont think YeeHaw would be too bad. My husband and I were thinking about wearing our cowboy hats just for the hell of it.:rotfl: Not a cowgirl just like to ride the bull. Come to think of it that would be pretty damn funny to hear a woman in labor yelling YEEHAWWWW!!!!!!!!