Going into Labor While Sick

I went into labor 6 days past my due date with #2 with a bad double ear infection , it was the Christmas period and the Dr was closed (this was in England) so I had to put up with the infection for 2 days until they were open , the day I started the antibiotics I went into labor , I was almost deaf at that point where my ears were so sore (hearing didn't come back properly until almost the end of January) , BUT the pain and discomfort in my ears was soon forgotten whilst I was in labor and I got through it with no problems , infact it was my easiest delivery (have 3 kids). Try not to worry , you can't control what happens , just take it easy and rest now while you are not in labor and try and get better , if you go into labor tonight or tomorrow then you go into labor...you will get through it.

Good luck

K.....oh and I am also confused at the tone in the response by Toni V?

I too think your friend is right. I think bodies are a miraculous thing, especially the woman's so I think the body knows and waits until you are well enough to go through labor.

I was always been told that the baby sends out a chemical signal when their lungs are at a certain developmental poing, and that is what usually 'triggers' labor. I'm not sure if you being sick will make any difference or not... I would ask your doctor what he thinks. I do know that my cousin went into labor at 37 weeks when she was sick with the flu... but she had been sick for a while, so maybe her body HAD been holding on but just couldn't any more... who knows?

I posted a similar question a few months ago. I never got sick while I was pregnant with #3....until I hit 38 weeks. I could not stop coughing! I coughed during labor. I coughed after labor. I coughed on the baby! My cold didn't go away until my son was about a week old.

Amazingly enough, my son didn't get sick. My cold didn't impact my ability to deliver, nurse, or recover. I'm sure you'll be okay. It's really annoying being sick, but it probably won't affect your labor or your baby's health.

Good luck, and congratulations!

I had a stomach flu at 36 weeks that dehydrated me so bad I started to have regular contractions. Thinking I was in labor, we headed to the hospital. They made me stay for 24 hours getting IV fluids and labor stopped. I had to wait until 40+ weeks for the real thing.

My daughter was sick with bronchitis when her water broke. She had to have a c-section because of other issues, and the doctor had a hard time stitching her up because she was coughing.

I work at a hospital on the OB ward and it's actually not all that uncommon for a new mom to receive antibiotics before, during, or after labor.
If a baby's going to come, it's going to come. The doctors and nurses know what to do. And, I can also tell you that mom being sick during the birth does not mean the newborn will get sick.
Stay in close touch with your OB/GYN and ask them these questions so they can put your mind at ease. You say you're sick, but that could mean numerous things. Talk to your doc so you can feel you have a plan no matter what happens.

Best wishes and please let us know when the baby arrives!

I forget which child it was-but I literally coughed them into the world! You'll be fine-good luck!

I am a Nurse and hope to be a Nurse Practitioner/Midwife by 2015. I think your friend actually has a good jist of the situation. Your body knows what reserves and strength it needs to successfully birth a baby, and it can retain, regress and even completely stop a birth from occurring. Obviously, some women's bodies aren't working perfectly - hence the early and pre-term labor, incompetent cervixes, etc... but in general... a woman's stress level, health level and fear level can inhibit her labor or the start of it.

I had a bad chest cold when I went into labor with my second child (kind of like almost bronchitis) and actually it wasn't the big deal I thought it would be. I think there is such a natural adrenaline rush anyway during L and D that it helps us out with an extra boost. The only thing that was kind of weird was the feeling at first when I got the epidural. It kind of felt like I was swimming but it actually seemed to relax my chest and then I actually felt better than I had in days! In short I wouldn't worry too much about it. There is so much going on when you have then that I bet you'll forget that you aren't feeling well. Good luck!

I had some kind of viral thing the last couple of weeks of my 2nd pregnancy...lots of congestion, coughing, general yuckiness...I started feeling better two days before I went into to labor. I still had a cough for about a week after the baby, and it is not fun to cough while everything is sore and healing "down there"! My midwife assured me that usually your body knows when the best time is...I am sure there are exceptions but I think your friend is probably right!

I had bronchitis with my first and was so scared I wouldn't be able to push without coughing up a lung. The Dr. was not too worried and said it would be fine. Turned out the coughing helped when it came to pushing and it wasn't too bad. I think your friend is right, your body does what it needs to do.

I had a horrible head cold when I went into labor with my 3rd - 4 weeks early (I was on bedrest - all of mine were early, so the prematurity was anticipated and had nothing to do with my cold). I'd cough and he would advance, then slide back. He was my most difficult delivery, but not because of my illness, he had his own issues! My being sick did not change anything except that they gave me a humidifier for my room - they even let me in the NICU to be with him even though I was hacking up a lung!
Good Luck!! ~ B.