Ahhh prelabour. I’ve not missed you.

by Veronica on July 19, 2012

in Pregnant. Finally.

Yesterday I had an antenatal doctors appointment, which was probably a good thing. I’d had bloody show the night before and early that morning, coupled with standard prelabour crampiness. Not really a huge surprise to me, given how large the baby had measured on ultrasound, regardless of dates.

It was, however, worrying to the doctor and after a quick ultrasound and head measurement (still measuring around 37 weeks), I was whisked off to the Pregnancy Assessment Centre to see if I was in labour.

I was not in labour. I knew I wasn’t in labour.

I told this to anyone who would listen to me, but apparently pregnant women might miss the fact that they’re in labour and require a machine to tell them instead. Go figure.

It wasn’t terrible, the beds in PAC are new, I had a book to read and they fed me lunch. The downside was of course that the medical staff needed to get up close and personal with my cervix, which was pronounced slightly dilated and “labour-y looking”. Those are the technical terms I’m led to believe.

More than 24 hours later, the bloody show has eased, making way for the slow loss of my mucus plug and the increasing intensity of my braxton hicks contractions.

The doctors won’t adjust my due date, despite my certainty that my dating scan was botched in the first place. Despite my retroverted uterus (which studies have shown can cause incorrect dates in ultrasounds in the first trimester). Despite the fact that there is no good reason for my baby to be measuring 37 weeks, except for the probable chance that she is actually more cooked than they want to believe.

This seems silly to me, as they panic and treat me like a preterm labour risk, when I’m pretty sure this is just regular prelabour and that I’ll birth a perfectly healthy term baby.

And yes, I know that ultrasounds can be incorrect. I know that they are often wrong and no, I’m not panicking about the fact that she is “big for dates”. You don’t need to reassure me of these things. I trust my body to birth this baby when we are both ready, regardless of size.

I’m just frustrated at the doctors inability to listen to what I am saying. Funnily enough, I am the one who inhabits my body and I am in the unique position of being the only one who knows exactly what my body is saying.

Strange how that works, isn’t it?

Either way, despite ultrasounds and dates, this baby will be here when she is ready, and we are now after a little bit of panicking, ready for her arrival.

Which is nice, really.

 

 

mama mogantosh July 19, 2012 at 3:00 pm

Well well, just checking in and it seems all is happening! My that’s come around fast although not I suspect for you V. The third trimester doesn’t fly along quite so quickly….anyway, all the very best wishes for the birth – perhaps sooner rather than later? This newest little person has chosen its mum brilliantly. xxxx

kelli July 19, 2012 at 3:25 pm

god forbid you should ‘know your body’ and actually prove that pregnancy doesn’t ahve to be completely medicalised ALL the time. Thinking of you and am sure you will be holding a little person very soon!

Glowless July 19, 2012 at 3:46 pm

Pffft how dare you suggest you know your body better than someone who read about it in a book?!?! 😛

Dorothy @ Singular Insanity July 19, 2012 at 4:18 pm

Yay, how exciting! Not about the doctors, obviously 🙂

Sharon A. July 19, 2012 at 5:09 pm

Not long now:)

Fiona July 19, 2012 at 5:19 pm

Nice to know the listen to you just as much now as when you were 17 :p

Veronica July 19, 2012 at 5:34 pm

Ah yes, but they’re MUCH more polite about it all now! Hehehe.

Kaitlyn July 19, 2012 at 6:50 pm

I was a home birth and that was because my mum couldn’t stand all the things you’ve listed here about giving birth in a hospital. Unless something goes wrong they don’t seem to know what to do and they spend an awful lot of time telling pregnant women to ignore what their bodies are telling them. I’m sure some hospitals are lovely and actually listen to the patient, but more often than not what you’re describing is the universal experience of so many pregnant women.

river July 19, 2012 at 7:43 pm

LOL @ Glowless.
Ignoring dates all together, I hope this baby comes soonish, it will be nice to have it all over, it will be nice to have the strain on your body eased, it will be nice for your mum to have a little extra grandma time with her before coming to Adelaide.
I’m curious now about the name you’ve chosen. I can’t wait to hear what it is.
You have chosen, right?

Anne July 19, 2012 at 8:01 pm

Ugg, I guess they don’t teach “listen to the patient” in med school, do they…? Wishing you and Baby Girl the best!! 🙂

Trish July 19, 2012 at 8:48 pm

Thinking of you and I trust you know your body . Yes, baby girl will arrive in her own time But hasn’t this time flown quickly .

Watershedd July 19, 2012 at 9:50 pm

So close … Looking forward to hearing when she arrives. X

Heather July 20, 2012 at 3:23 am

I thought you’d be used to doctors not listening to you by now. 🙂 Either way I am sooooo excited for you and you’re growing family!

Marita July 20, 2012 at 7:57 pm

Good luck. I’ve got all crossables crossed for you.

Marylin July 23, 2012 at 4:55 am

I guess their stance is they have to cover their asses in case something untoward was to happen.
I hate it when doctors presume to know what’s best for us when they don’t know our situation, or our bodies, as well as we can. It’s not like this is your first labour, for goodness sakes!
Anyway, YAY to impending labour being sooner rather than later, and getting to meet your little one. Here’s to pre labout not lasting too long for you, eh?
TAKE IT EASY, mkay? x

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