Thread: Great article on why the last few weeks are important

Someone just posted this on my BB, I thought it was worth sharing:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/printabl.../240_48590.asp

That's a good, basic article. Seems so simple, doesn't it? The brain picture is very good for making the point. It just kills me when I read on my BB about ladies trying to get labor going at 35-36 weeks.

Originally Posted by rainymama

That's a good, basic article. Seems so simple, doesn't it? The brain picture is very good for making the point. It just kills me when I read on my BB about ladies trying to get labor going at 35-36 weeks.

Eeek! Really?
I have no desire to have my babies before 38 weeks, after that they can come when they want. I do however do things to help my cervix, like DTD, EPO, and bouncing on my birth ball. But none of this is with the intent of going into labor before 38 weeks.

I'm guilty. We started actively trying to get Daniel to come at 36 weeks, 4 days (he came the next day). After 8 weeks of 6-10 contractions/hour, 6 "false start" trips to L&D (I was sent home from the hospital 7.5 cm dilated because I still wasn't in active labor), with a genetic history of "well-baked" early babies, with a baby measuring well head... I was ready to be done. We went on walks and DTD to hopefully get labor going, and it worked- or worked well enough for me to let them AROM. Had I gone much sooner I would have moved on to castor oil. At 36 weeks, 5 days, he was a 7 lb, 11 ounce, very healthy "premie".
But OH, how I regret it! Yes, he was healthy (though some jaundice), yes I had a fairly good labor experience (though back labor with a bad tear)... but now I always get to wonder what might have been if I had let nature take its course.
It's the ONE thing I am changing about how I approach this pregnancy. "I WILL be patient" is my new mantra. This baby gets to choose when it comes. Even if it means I get 9 or 10 weeks of prodromal labor and bedrest. Even if I become the first woman in my family to go full term. This baby will come when he or she is ready!

I remember when you had Daniel, I know that you were having a lot of trouble and pain.
I'm just really scared to have a premie.