June 24, 2016
This is part of a series where Elizabeth Bachner, Midwife and owner of the Gracefull Birth Center, answers questions from parents and parents-to-be. You can learn more about Elizabeth here. And to submit a question, see the email address provided at the bottom of this post.
Dear Elizabeth,
Hi! I’m 38 weeks and 4 days and my doctor has told me that it is his hospital policy for me to be induced at 40 weeks. I’m in a panic, because I had NO idea that this was the policy. I don’t want to put my baby at risk, but I was born at 41 weeks, my sister was born at 41 weeks and 4 days and my mother says that all the babies come late in our family. I’m so scared that the baby will not come until after 40 weeks and I will have to be induced. Any suggestions? -Sacred2BLate
Hello Scared2BLate,
Your question is one of the most common questions I hear these days. Let’s break down the layers. Firstly, did you know that on average, first time mamas give birth at 40 weeks and 5 days? A due date is at best a good guess of when you will go into labor. If I could actually predict the day a mom would go into labor I wouldn’t be sitting here writing this blog, I’d be in Vegas winning millions!! Ha!
Next, you are letting me know that in your family babies cook a bit longer. Yes, family history is one of the many factors that we look at when we do a midwifery intake to help us understand the bigger picture of how your pregnancy and labor may go. What’s the science behind this? Well, perhaps the women in your family ovulate late? Or maybe there is a strong energetic imprint that your body learned during your birth. (check out https://birthpsychology.com/ to learn more about imprints at birth).
Now, you worrying about going into labor on time to fit someone else’s schedule is going to talk the limbic part of your brain and trigger a “fight or flight” response in your nervous system, or adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone in our body that is known to stop contractions. So, worrying will actually not help you go into labor in a timely fashion.
So, what do you do? Well, let’s find a way for you to trust the process no matter what happens. Why do I want you to be in a place of trusting the process? Well, it has been scientifically proven that trust creates oxytocin and oxytocin in the hormone needed for your body to contract, and contractions are what are needed to get your body into labor! Also, I want you to feel good about your child’s birth story and empowered in your choices. There may be a legitimate medical reason to induce your baby at 40 weeks, so I never want you to look back and say, “I should have…”. So gather your team now, even at 38 weeks, that way if you do need to be induced for medical reasons you can feel good about that choice.
- Make sure you have a care provider that practices evidence based care. Check out my fav site for more info to educate yourself and possibly your care provider about due dates: http://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-inducing-labor-for-going-past-your-due-date/
- Find a care provider that you trust. It’s your body and your family, so if you don’t trust your care provider, interview some new ones (yes, you can do that at 38 weeks) so you can either feel good about the person you are with or switch your care to someone else’s. Trusting your care provider should be high on your list, so if she says, “You are now considered high risk and I advise you to induce your baby.”, you know that what she is saying is based on evidence based medical practices and not social situations or “personal opinions”.
- Calm your nervous system. Find a good talk or somatic therapist who can work with you one on one or in a group setting to explore where your anxiety is coming from and work with your nervous system to help reframe and integrate old beliefs or stories that are no longer supportive to your health or your new role as a mother.
- Get the support of a naturally minded practitioner to suggest herbs, homeopathy and non-invasive manual therapies. If you are curious, ask questions and create your own village that makes sense for your family. Research Acupuncturists, Massage Therapists, Naturopathic Doctor, Cranial Sacral Therapist and/or Chiropractors to explain their medicine and share their wisdom around what they feel are reliable resources for more natural choices that can help prepare your body to birth.