We saw our original OB (that we didn’t really like), but it was like night and day – she was wonderful. It could have been because she had a new nurse shadowing her, but… maybe she just gets more excited (=nicer) when baby is about to come.
Weight: 145.4, up one pound from last week
Blood pressure: 112/70
Baby’s heart: 140s
Fundal height: 34 — lil boy, the doctor said! 
We went over our birth plan and she was on board for most of it – she said she’s a very hands off, delay vaccines, let nature do it’s thing kind of person, which is how we are! So that’s great. The ONE thing on my birth plan she warned me about was the pitocin. She was alright with me not wanting it during labor, but she said it’s pretty routine AFTER labor and she hasn’t had anyone refuse it in her last 5,000 births! I was shocked. But I figure most people don’t research a ton, PLUS she said they don’t ask you or even TELL you they’re about to give it, they just DO IT. How could a person refuse unless they knew ahead of time?! But she said bleeding after birth is the #1 cause of death from childbirth in Illinois (and I’m sure other places) so that’s why they really push the pitocin then… more as a precaution. After hearing that DH was all for it, so I’m torn. And I’ll probably end up with it, but as long as it’s after baby is out, then I guess I’m more okay with it.
Regarding the natural birth (no pain meds), she asked if I was doing the Bradley Method (husband-coached), which made me feel good – like I’m doing something right! haha. Not like we’re taking a class or anything, but we’re reading the book (better finish that soon)!
Anyway… I requested they check me today. I am NOT DILATED AT ALL! A month ago I was fingertip dilated with a soft cervix and they sent me to the hospital, gave me terb and all that… put me on bedrest… scared the crap out of us.… and now I’m NOT DILATED AT ALL!
I know it really means nothing because you can dilate from 0 to 5 in no time at all, but still. I have contractions all day long and they’re much stronger now – would have been nice to know they were causing dilation. I know they’re still preparing me for labor and that’s great, blahblahblah, lol.
Now I’m ready to get off the couch and start climbing stairs or something!
Next appt: in one week, Wed. Dec. 9th, 2:15.
So can you explain what exactly pitocin does and why it’s maybe not good? I obviously haven’t done as much research as you!
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Baby Dickey Reply:
December 8th, 2009 at 12:28 am
Pitocin basically causes contractions.. or increases their strength, makes them regular. I just think it’s given too often when it’s not really needed… it has become too routine.
It can be used to induce labor if needed (and there are medical reasons this is needed sometimes), but it is also used to augment labor – assist, speed it up. If you’re not progressing fast enough (like very little dilation 12 hours after water has broken or something like that) they’ll give it to increase contractions.
I’ve heard that it makes contractions more painful (stronger) and results in epidural use more often.
It’s given AFTER birth to cause the uterus to contract back down to normal size, which aids in the delivery of the placenta. This is helpful if you’re bleeding too much, but again – it has become routine and is given to everyone regardless (at least at my hospital).… I’d just rather NOT have drugs if I don’t need them. I’m all for it if I need it, if there’s a medical issue, but otherwise, leave it out of me!
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By allowing the baby to nurse right after birth you will be doing the same thing as with pitocin, helping the uterus contract. It was very common for me to have some pretty good cramping right after I had the baby and began nursing. You may ask if you could just nurse and be closely monitored. They usually spend some time pressing on your belly making sure the uterus is below your belly button.
And I so agree on the dialation! I was always so impatient when it came to my cervix and how it wanted to dialate.
Both my boys were early, 37 & 38 weeks so when my last baby decided to go 2 days before her due date, I thought I’d claw eyeballs with the desire of getting that beautiful girl out of me. 
Just realize you wont go any longer than 2 weeks over your due date, yet, I’ve never actually known a doctor to go even a few days over. You’re beautiful baby will be here in no later than 3 weeks, and I’m sure thats a doc. promise. 
Congrats and I look forward to hearing about your amazing birth!
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O.o I just had by baby (all natural) 16 days ago & I didn’t even have an IV in my arm. My baby was whisked away because he wasn’t breathing, so we didn’t start breastfeeding for hours, and my placenta came out after a minute or two, no extra bleeding at all. Definitely didn’t need any pitocin, though bleeding out is definitely something to consider. Maybe you could compromise by having a IV lock in or something & pitocin ready if they need it, but try to give it a go on your own first? It just seems silly to insist on it right away in case something bad happens when chances are it wont. Though of course nothing wrong with having it there just in case. *shrug*
It could be that you’re still a fingertip– my first check she almost said i was 0 but shifted to the side just enough to notice that much. It could just be a matter of her missing it– not hard when you aren’t very far– between my nurses & MW at the hospital they were always differing about 1cm anyway.
Maybe the contractions are helping with the effacement? Did they tell you how effaced you are?
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Baby Dickey Reply:
December 8th, 2009 at 12:31 am
no, she didn’t say anything about effacement!
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I didn’t know they administered pitocin after birth? I guess there’s still a lot I need to learn before Nellie comes.. Hmm. I don’t want Pitocin during labor, either.
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I hate that they routinely administer pitocin after birth. It is soooo unnecessary unless you are losing too much blood. If you do bleed, you can bleed out pretty fast if they don’t notice, but they do. My first home birth I assisted at, she bled a little much, and we just gave her stuff to stop the bleeding and it slowed down and stopped. Giving it routinely is sooo unnecessary and just costs people more money.
You can refuse it, and just have your baby nurse right after it is born. It has the same affect, if not better, than pitocin. If you are bleeding heavily, they can give you a quick shot in the thigh of pitocin instead of the entire IV bag of it.
They also give it after birth to deliver the placenta really fast, even though the placenta will come on its own. I think it was about 10 mins after birth at the homebirth, but we had also given her stuff to stop the bleeding so that might have helped it come faster. But, it will come in its own due time, with or without pitocin.
And dilation truly means nothing. You can go from 0 to 10 in 15 minutes. Or you can be at an 8 for 9 hours. Everyone is different, and your body is preparing for labor. The braxton hicks can also be getting the baby into position. Every contraction does something!
Congrats on getting to this point! I’m so excited for you!!!
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Baby Dickey Reply:
December 8th, 2009 at 12:36 am
That’s a really good point – that they can give me a shot of pitocin if I really need it. I really wouldn’t want a whole IV bag of it.
When I told my doctor I preferred to not have an IV in either during labor, she made a face… she said it’s pretty routine to give fluids for dehydration (ok, I’m fine with that, if I need it), but she added that it makes it easy to administer the pitocin later. I HATE when they do things just for the fact that it makes it easier for them. And so what if no one in her last 5,000 births refused pitocin after labor? I’m not them. (i’m cranky right now, lol)
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