A client sitting at 4cms and 100% ... no labour!

AmandaB · 01-09-2007, 09:49 AM

Hi Ladies,

Your help is urgently required ...

I have a client who was due January 4th, she is already 4cms and 100% effaced. Not much is happening, she is not "in labour" and is scheduled for a hospital induction on Thursday. I can tell that she is not happy and would like some advice to kick start things before Thursday. She is calling her accupuncturist today and will be going to an herbalist later on today. Is there any other advice to offer?

tlcdoula · 01-09-2007, 09:52 AM

Sex, nipple stimulation - if she really wants to get things going. On the flip side if she doesn't want the induction she can ask her doctor for alternatives and if he/she can't give her any she does ahve the choice to not show up.

CatieDoula · 01-09-2007, 09:58 AM

Suggest a hot bath, a glass of wine and to just relax. And what tlcdoula said too!

doula Michele · 01-09-2007, 10:10 AM

Yeah that... and it may be emotional too.
So maybe a good cry, a bath, some wine, then some sex.

HMM....i would like some of that too!

jesscardona · 01-09-2007, 10:17 AM

Walking, a walk in the mall perhaps.. going to the movies.. something that would take her mind off of this.. and yeah she doesn't need to show up for the induction..

~Tranquility~Doula · 01-09-2007, 10:24 AM

If there is nothing wrong with her or the baby I don't see the need for an induction.
That chaps my you-know-what.. Anyway, the other ladies have good suggestions.

jesscardona · 01-09-2007, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ~Tranquility~Doula

If there is nothing wrong with her or the baby I don't see the need for an induction.
That chaps my you-know-what.. Anyway, the other ladies have good suggestions.

Tell me about it.. it's just probably not the time yet! good grief..

1stimestar · 01-09-2007, 11:17 AM

Dilation really means nothing. I walked around for a week at 6 cm. Other then being very uncomfortable there is nothing wrong with that. It's not time for her baby to be born, or it would be.

doula Michele · 01-09-2007, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1stimestar

Dilation really means nothing. I walked around for a week at 6 cm. Other then being very uncomfortable there is nothing wrong with that. It's not time for her baby to be born, or it would be.

I walked around for weeks at 3-4 cm too. Both pregnancies. The good thing was when labour started it progressed very quickly...both times.

Gentlebirthmama · 01-09-2007, 11:42 AM

Why are we so impatient???? That was my first thought...

I mean, so what, if she is 4cm/100%...what station is the baby??? Is the cervix posterior or anterior??? Dilation and effacement are just a couple things that are happening...so much has to be in order for labor to begin...is the baby ready to be born???

If no one was poking their fingers where they don't belong, she would not have this info and therefore would not be so anxious to jumpstart her labor...and if women are going to allow someone to poke around then at least get all the info you can...not just what the dilation and effacement is...doesn't tell you much, just like in labor.

My or my, what did women do so many ages ago when no one checked their cervix for them to verify that yes, indeed your body knows what to do...

And yes, I know as doulas it's not our job to tell our clients what to do, but for heaven sakes, why not reassure her that her body is working just as it needs to instead of trying to find info for her to induce her own labor...because that is indeed what is happening...she is trying to start the labor before her doctors do it...why not sit down with her, give her a nice massage, and talk about the reasons she feels the need to try and start the labor herself...is she scared of the induction (doesn't have to agree to it...if baby is doing good no reason for it) or is she just done with the pregnancy (needs lots of encouragement at this point to be patient).

I personally tell my clients that I will not give them any info on self induction until they are at least 41 weeks...and in the meantime I give her lots and lots of continued encouragement that her body is doing exactly what it needs to. If she really wants to start things, she can find that info herself anyway...she doesn't need me to tell her.

Sorry, this is one issue that just irks me...our society as a whole is so impatient and so untrusting of birth.

RosyDoula · 01-09-2007, 01:54 PM

I had a client walk around at 6cm for weeks.

Also had a third-time mother come in at 7cm - it took her 3 hours to get to 10; yet had a first-time mother come in at 4cm and it only took her a half an hour to get to 9.5. Totally agree that dilation is not a good indicator of how much farther you have to go.

I totally agree Amy. Its also something that drives me nuts too, but also makes me sad.

Its another reason I am so glad I don't have an annoying "scaregiver." Our bodies know what they are doing!

AussieDoula · 01-09-2007, 02:28 PM

Check out our Natural Methods of Inducing thread.
My advice: if she isn't happy with being induced, she doesn't have to show up. Simple.
What's her Bishop Score?

tchatters · 01-09-2007, 06:51 PM

My client earlier this month was 5cm 0 station and 100% effaced for two weeks. She had a history of fast labors and was worried so she went with the induction. From first drop of pitocin to delivery of the placenta was under 4 hours. She was happy to be induced and did lots of research and went with it.

Another client this month was past her EDD by 5 days and the Dr wanted to schedule a c-section (she was VBAC). She made the appointment to get him off her back and never got to it, but had fully intended to "forget" what day she was supposed to be there.

elang99 · 01-09-2007, 07:09 PM

evening primrose oil - you can take them orally, or you can insert them right into your cervix to help soften it... I was 2 weeks over due with my daughter and tried EVERTYHING my midwife told me..

jesscardona · 01-09-2007, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gentlebirthmama

Why are we so impatient???? That was my first thought...

I mean, so what, if she is 4cm/100%...what station is the baby??? Is the cervix posterior or anterior??? Dilation and effacement are just a couple things that are happening...so much has to be in order for labor to begin...is the baby ready to be born???

If no one was poking their fingers where they don't belong, she would not have this info and therefore would not be so anxious to jumpstart her labor...and if women are going to allow someone to poke around then at least get all the info you can...not just what the dilation and effacement is...doesn't tell you much, just like in labor.

My or my, what did women do so many ages ago when no one checked their cervix for them to verify that yes, indeed your body knows what to do...

And yes, I know as doulas it's not our job to tell our clients what to do, but for heaven sakes, why not reassure her that her body is working just as it needs to instead of trying to find info for her to induce her own labor...because that is indeed what is happening...she is trying to start the labor before her doctors do it...why not sit down with her, give her a nice massage, and talk about the reasons she feels the need to try and start the labor herself...is she scared of the induction (doesn't have to agree to it...if baby is doing good no reason for it) or is she just done with the pregnancy (needs lots of encouragement at this point to be patient).

I personally tell my clients that I will not give them any info on self induction until they are at least 41 weeks...and in the meantime I give her lots and lots of continued encouragement that her body is doing exactly what it needs to. If she really wants to start things, she can find that info herself anyway...she doesn't need me to tell her.

Sorry, this is one issue that just irks me...our society as a whole is so impatient and so untrusting of birth.

I agree.. it's the doctors.. I guess that don't want to be sued.. or who knows what..