Like any desperate person in need of a remedy, I turned to the wonderful world of the world, wide web. Playing google doctor to find out what was wrong with me…My EDD was right on par and I can even remember details of the act! That’s how spot on I was for this pregnancy!
Being on my fourth pregnancy most my age would call me “mother hen” by now and I was expecting to be done by 40 weeks pregnant. My first was born at 35, second at 37 and third at 38 so judging by that pattern, its logical to guess that it would be at least 40 weeks. Still, I had my fingers crossed and those stupid (words said to keep me at bay) but wise words ” every pregnancy is different” were a thorn in my side. I was in fact 41 and 6 days.
So what did I find? I found forums online communities to engage with and I could turn to them for help since my family were getting quite fed up with my false alarms-not being able to tell real labor from braxton (another embarrassing moment to cringe from so I’ll hide it in the caverns of my memories). I even felt I couldn’t be trusted! Stupid body, you have dishonored us both!
So what online cures did they have?
Nipple stimulation, pineapple, sex (the semen), vacuuming, castor oil, walking?I only tried a few and it didn’t. I was so disappointed.I honestly had hoped baby would come on its own because after an internal and because I was on my fourth child, I was 5cm dilated and not in active labour. The kid’s head was halfway through being bloody born if you could even comprehend that? Here I was walking around quite normally (for a pregnant person)…I find it hard to believe myself. I had even had two membrane sweeps (apparently brings on labour)…and nothing. So now I felt like something was definitely wrong with me…
On my 41st week and 3 days in, I went in for a CTG and saw a couple who were expecting in the waiting room. Apparently, the woman had in desperation inserted morning primrose oil inserted in her vajayay to bring on labour because she was overdue. It was on the advice from her sister who probably saw or heard it in a forum like this?
The midwife told me she had burnt herself and why were these women seeking other non-qualified medical advice? She had never heard of morning primrose oil to induce labour. Really? In all seriousness, what was the woman in the hospital thinking? I was desperate, obviously not enough.
So after another false labour and an overnight stay for observation, the next morning I was greeted by midwife who questioned my excessive use of ventolin. I’m asthmatic and had been using my ventolin as a crouch for breathlessness (common ailment of pregnancy) but I did find out that ventolin delays labour and that I should not have been using it so much.
Doctors arrived later and gave me to the option to be induced to which I so gladly opted “Yes!”. They proceeded to manually break my waters, make me walk for an hour around the hospital and ….No baby came.
Next step is hitting me up with prostin that brings on labour. Active labour was 2.5 hours. It honestly was the best labour I have ever had. So controlled, so calm, so clinical.
So take heed when you do read forums. Keep baby in for as long as you can, no matter how annoying it is. Start complaining after 40 weeks and thank your lucky stars you are not an elephant (preggo for 2yrs).
Leave it in the experts hand’s people and stay offline for medical advice.