Vaginal Pain in Late Pregnancy: What to Expect & When to Worry

Question
Hello, my name is Esmeralda. I am 27 y/o this is my 3rd baby. My last 2 were c/sections, therefore this one is as well. I have been having this stabbing pain for 7 days. my thighs hurt as well. This never happend to me with the other kids. My water just broke with them and that was it. I had no symptoms. I have gestational diabetes. I am just scared that she will try to get here before I get to the hospital. The hospital which I must deliver in is an hour away. The dr's are saying that she is probably going to weigh 9 or close to 10 lbs. I am really measuring 43 weeks at this point. The dr's aren't really paying much att. to me. I am scared that they will put me to sleep, like they did with my 1st child. They still haven't scheduled my date for the c/section. They said they will do that when I am close to my due date which is March 6, 2007.I don't think that there will be time for that. I had my other 2 at 38 weeks. What do you think that pain is, and what do you suggest I tell the Dr's about getting me ready for the c/section. I am just scared to have her vaginally because I know that they will put me to sleep, because they say I can die if I was to give natural birth to her. Like I said before, I live one hour away, I really hope that if she does come soon that she gives me time to get to the hospital. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks

Answer
Dear Esmeralda,

Any time patients tell me that their doctors are not listening to them, it gets completely under my skin! All you can do is be more firm, more vocal, more assertive - until they do listen. If you would like to be delivered at 38 weeks, tell them that you were delivered at 38 weeks with your previous two children, you have a long distance to travel if you would happen to go into labor, and you are not willing to risk your health or the baby's health to wait an additional two weeks. As long as your dates are fairly sure, which it sounds like they are if you are measuring at 43 weeks, then they should have no issue with delivering you at that time. They may want to test for the baby's lung maturity, just as a precaution, but that really should not be an issue at 38 weeks either. You can also explain that you would like to be awake during the delivery if at all possible. Unless there is some huge other reason which I'm not privy to, I don't see why they could not use spinal anesthesia for your delivery. Especially if they did that with your 2nd baby and there were no complications.

You should also mention the vaginal pain you are having now. Late in pregnancy, women may feel pain inside the vagina - usually a sharp, piercing pain that comes and goes suddenly. What you're feeling, most likely, is your cervix beginning to change - dilate and thin out as it naturally prepares for the passage of your baby. This process can take a long while and can start several weeks before labor actually begins. But with your particular situation, I would mention it to the doctor as yet another argument for scheduling that C-section.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda