Baby #2 a Late Arrival

How do you feel about eggplant parmigiana for dinner?

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/recipe?id=6877112

I don't have any advice, but you have my sympathy. My #1 was 2 weeks late, and was finally induced. I'd say try to relax, but I know you can't. I'd say try to sleep, but I know you're too uncomfortable to sleep. Just know that the waiting is almost over. I hope he's on his way on his own soon!

If you and the baby are no in distress, then wait for labor to start on it's own.
The only way to know with precision when conception took place (and therefore due date) is if you used IVF - and even then, it's natural for some women to be pregnant anywhere from 38 to 42 weeks.
I'd be talking with the doctor to put off the scheduled induction until such time as any stress is detected.
In the mean time - walk as much as possible, go up and down stairs, have sex, etc - see if you can get labor to start on it's own.

Both of my kids were late per the doctor's wheel of imaginary due dates, which can easily be off by 2 weeks or better. There was no medical reason for an induction, so I refused to schedule one.

My advice is to chill out and wait until your baby is ready, and not force matters so long as you're monitoring healthy and normal.

I can only say that unless baby is in distress, or YOU are in medical distress (preeclampsia, etc), then I would not rush to induce. My first child was born 10 days after his "due" date and was healthy as could be. Natural, unmedicated labor. I recovered easily. I was a month away from my 30th birthday. Due dates are somewhat of a guess. Unless there is a REASON, I would give the baby time to come on his/her own. We still don't understand what starts labor. But something does. I'd err on the side of assuming that (barring medical reasons of distress for you or baby) there is a reason baby is still cooking.

My advice is...if the baby is showing no distress...to wait. Not to induce. Your body or the baby is just not quite ready yet. In my experience inducing leads to problems. They give you a due date but it does not have to be an exact date...you still could go another week or two. Good luck! I'm excited for you!!

Obviously, little one not ready to make an entrance. If all is well, what is the reason for induction? Due date is only an estimate unless you did IVF. They come when ready. Good luck.

with my first i got the ball rolling before the induction day by drinking red raspberry leaf tea. (which is said to help start labor and aid with making ti go smoother)
with my second intercourse ALWAYS brought on braxton hicks. so we did that a bunch to see if it would help. and it did, she was due anytime between march 17th and april 5th... she came on the 30th

Glad you are close to Baby Day. I'm sure you were ready a month ago! Just wishing you well!

I am not a fan of induction - my personal experience with both having been induced and not being induced was that my labor (and labor pain) was MUCH more manageable on the deliveries I wasn't induced. I am also a firm believer that baby usually knows when it is time to vacate the premises and should be allowed to cook for as long as necessary (barring medical reasons for your safety and that of the baby). That being said, here is my list of "tricks" that worked for me:

Nipple stimulation: This actually works. It can jump start labor for sure.

Sex: People swear by this - combine with the above for extra chance of success (and a really good time).

Castor Oil: My mother swears by this. She did it and supposedly it worked. I was afraid that it would give me the sh*ts during labor (the visual in my head stopped me from trying it).

Walking hills: This worked for number 3 kiddo - however, I was pretty wore out in labor.

Floor scrubbing: Both my daughter and myself did this and we both started labor (obviously not at the same time!).

If I could roll back the clock, I would opt for option one and two together, not really care if it started labor, enjoyed a cup of tea and my feet up for a few more days before the fun REALLY begins :)

Best to you and your growing family!

AMA is no reason for induction. The only reason for induction is when baby is not doing well and will be better outside than inside. A due date is the guess in the middle - 50% of babies are born before and 50% of babies are born after. For second babies, evidence based medicine says that more than 50% are born after the due date.

It is usually best to wait for labor to start on its own. IF OB checked and heart rate is fine with no signs of distress, I would suggest that you postpone the induction. Interventions normally cascade - now you've been induced, water is broken, too many checks leading to opportunities for infection, leading to Pitocin, leading to unnatural contractions that make baby's heart decelerate leading to C-section. I know, I made the mistake of allowing my doctor to do an induction because baby wasn't doing well (but she never did anything but look at me to see how baby was - literally nothing - unfortunately I was not well educated) and had a very unpleasant induction followed by C-section followed by baby with underdeveloped lungs (thus labor had not started). They figure my first baby was about 14-20 days early. Hum...

You can find more information here:
http://www.lamaze.org/p/fo/et/thread=544

BTW, I was 34 for baby #1 and 40 minus two weeks for baby 2, who was a VBAC. Baby #2 went 42 weeks one day. Labor started naturally while I was sleeping.

I'd try the eggplant parmigiana!
(It's guaranteed!)
Speedy delivery!

I would wait a few more days at least, since baby is doing well. My second was 10 days "late" and delivered naturally versus my first who was an induction that ended in a c-section. Don't be afraid to push back with your doc. Why three days? Are there any medical reasons to induce, specific to you and your baby? The standard line is "outcomes don't get better after x date, so we just aren't taking any chances.". Valid with medical concerns like dangerously low fluid or GD-induced giant baby. In natural labors, average gestation is actually 40 weeks and 5 days, so your doc is pushing for 2 days short of that.
I totally understand being done, I just wish I had really thought it through before inducing with my first!

Hopefully you are in labor as I type this!! Best wishes for a smooth and safe delivery and happy baby and mom!!

I went over by a week with my first so I can sympathize :) You must be excited!

The last thing I felt like was sex, but that's what they advised me to try. I've heard that a massage can release oxytocin (?) who knows. But I think that's the hormone that's involved in getting things started. Personally, I'd go for a massage over the other at that point :)

Walking did nothing for me. An exercise ball did nothing for me, except make my husband laugh - I just kept rolling off it.

There's that nipple stimulation thing - and I think you can try to force colostrum out, but again, that just wasn't in the cards for me. I read that in one of my pregnancy books. I've never actually known anyone to try it.

Good luck and happy times! It won't be long now. Very exciting :) Best wishes!

All 3 of mine were between 10 and 14 days late, not fun, but apparently just what my body does. I'd wait longer than just 3 extra days. My OB stripped the membranes which helped get things moving with two of mine - labor started the next day. Not a pleasant experience but less invasive than induction. No matter what you decide, best wishes for a speedy and healthy delivery!

Sending good wishes to to and your new bundle of joy!!

I was induced 21 years ago and had no issues. I'm sure a lot has changed by now.

Best wishes to you!

Just wanna say good luck! Hope you have a great epideral!!! (LOL!)

I baked bread the day before I went in for my C-section. Thank God. Hospital food is gross, my banana bread was like heaven.
Good luck,
L.

Baby wasn't my second but was past the "projected" due date by three days. The night before I had her I did have labor pains -- being first wasn't sure. Doctor checked and I was already 5 cm dilated. He did strip the membranes but I went to the hospital and checked in. Went into labor at 1 1/2 minute contractions and finally delivered within 2 1/12 hours. So I would wait a few more days beyond the three. I was so ready to have her but all in good time. Once baby is here there is no going back.

May you have a speedy, safe delivery.

the other S.

dang baby!
my husband took me for a bouncy ride in the pickup to shake boy #1 loose. it worked, but in retrospect i'm a little taken aback by our stupid selves. :)
i hope you don't need to be induced. i say sit back with your feet up, a cup of herbal tea and a good book, and trust that he's just taking one last deep breath (metaphorically) before making his grand entrance.
can't WAIT for your announcement! happy birthing, dear FB!
ETA, ha ha, totally try the eggplant parm!!
:) khairete
S.

Sometimes when they induce you the meds make labor more intense. Be prepared and expect that. If it doesn't happen it will be a relief. With my daughter she had 7 kids, 1 was ahead of schedule and was a normal starting labor, 6 labors induced only 2 were harder than the others. BUT she said if she'd have known they might possibly be harder quicker she'd have been ready to face it.

I hope you go into labor before then. It's just a wonderful thing to have a new little one.

I had my membranes stripped with my 2nd and 3rd babies. Worked great both times. I left the OB's office contracting and was in full labor by the evening.

I was induced with both of my kids, but I certainly would not let them do it only 3 days late, due dates can be off by two weeks easily. They induced me at 42 weeks and 42.5 weeks when it became clear my body simply would not do what it needed to do, and looking back I wish I had asked them to wait a little longer. There is no rush as long as baby is healthy.

That said, just try to relax. They told me not to eat that day, I did anyways, and was very glad for it. Inductions can be fast, but not always.

Congratulations on your new arrival!