37w and nervous

I wasn't nervous until now. I went to the dr. last week, and yesterday and my stats are the same:
Barely effaced or effacement starting. "Barely" dilated, or dilated slightly to under 1cm. Cervix staring to turn out. baby's head at -2 station.

Of course I'd love to know if that means I'll go soon, but I know that that is impossible to tell. I am disappointed that there isn't more progress from last week, and I'm starting to think I may be stressing out enough to prolong labor. The baby is already 7.5-7lbs, and I live on the beach and will deliver at a hospital that has not NICO or ICU so they are not able to take risks when c-sections are the best option or they are liable. For example, because there is no NICU or ICU they are not able to do VBACs. This is my first and I'm so upset about the idea of having a CS and then my chances for ever giving birth vaginally practically disappear. Yes the bigger picture is a healthy baby, but I'm worried that that may be taken away from me from ever having the chance to experience. I am staying active and started acupuncture every week and I will also start perennial massage with EPO today to just try to make sure my body is ready to give birth, and any delay is not because of me.

You are only 37 weeks, you still have 3-5 weeks to go. If you keep up with the EPO it'll help soften your cervix which can help for an easier delivery. Just cause there's no progress now means nothing. I wasn't dilated at all until the night I went into labor at 39 weeks.

And they can't force you into having a c section.

Keep up the EPO like the first person said. I wasn't dilated or effaced until my 39 week appointment. I was 1 cm and 50% and it didn't change at all by my 39 week appointment. She stripped my membranes then though and I went into labor that night.

You could still have weeks to go. 37 is term not full term. So not being dilated much, or effaced means almost nothing. Just keep positive you sound like you're trying to help things along the right way.   Staying active helps I hear, and the EPO as well.

Quoting Kylees Mama:" You are only 37 weeks, you still have 3-5 weeks to go. If you keep up with the EPO it'll help soften ... [snip!] ... I wasn't dilated at all until the night I went into labor at 39 weeks. And they can't force you into having a c section."

How did you use EPO? was it for massage? Were you completely not dilated or slightly dilated? I'm now trying to understand all of this. For the c-section, I know that they can't force me, but I wonder how confident I will be if that situation were to come up and me be able to say no knowing that it could put my child a risk. Up until now I was all 'fight the man!' but now I really wonder if i can say no when its a choice between me ever giving birth vaginally or possibly putting my baby at risk.

<blockquote><b>Quoting chicnhed:</b>" How did you use EPO? was it for massage? Were you completely not dilated or slightly dilated? I'm now ... [snip!] ... I really wonder if i can say no when its a choice between me ever giving birth vaginally or possibly putting my baby at risk. "</blockquote>




What makes you think you'll put your child at risk having a natural?

Quoting Kylees Mama:" <blockquote><b>Quoting chicnhed:</b>" How did you use EPO? was it for massage? Were ... [snip!] ... possibly putting my baby at risk. "</blockquote> What makes you think you'll put your child at risk having a natural?"

Mostly I'm thinking of the emergency situations, not the "oh we can just do a c-section since you've been pushing for 4 hours" situations. Like, if they end up monitoring his heart rate too much and then it drops and they inform me they have cause for alarm, it would be hard for me to say no. My doctors and the hospital nurses have been very nice and I trust them. Everyone has been more than accommodating for every request I've made, and my two doctors are both on board for no unnecessary c-section. Although my baby is already about 7lbs, they dont even want to start a conversation about c-section or inducing yet which I really respect. I am worried about those times when baby's heart rate has been x for x amount of time and thus have to make that call.

Quoting chicnhed:" Mostly I'm thinking of the emergency situations, not the "oh we can just do a c-section since you've ... [snip!] ... respect. I am worried about those times when baby's heart rate has been x for x amount of time and thus have to make that call."

I think you are really overthinking this. If it comes down to you needing an emergency c-section, no one is looking down on you for not saying no.

I'm 37 weeks & 3cm.. Which means nothing if I'm not having active labor: you can go into active labor or your water can break and that starts the whole process & you can go from a zero to 10 perfectly fine! Dont stress keep busy go for walks and stay standing up since the babys head is pressing down on your cervix.. Good luck

Quoting Shantel Salazar:" I'm 37 weeks & 3cm.. Which means nothing if I'm not having active labor: you can go into active labor ... [snip!] ... fine! Dont stress keep busy go for walks and stay standing up since the babys head is pressing down on your cervix.. Good luck"

Thats true. =) I've been trying to just stand more in the office. I sit on a yoga ball, but I always have so I'm not sure if its still as beneficial when your body is already used to it every day haha. I just started perennial massage with EPO (thanks to my devoted husband, there was no way i could reach with this belly!). Then I'm also been pushing myself to get on my elliptical for at least 20 min every other day if not every day but it is getting difficult!

I'm also afraid of my doctors wanting to induce because my baby is supposedly in the 95th percentile. I hear that that can increase your chances for a CS.