QuestionI am almost 38 weeks and am very big and miserable! I am dilated to 2, 80% effaced (as of a few days ago) i have had bloody show, lost my mucus plug and am having BH contractions all through out the day every day. My doctor keeps saying "any day now" but im so tired of hearing that! what i want to know is would it harm my baby in anyway to use a breast pump to try and induce my labor?
AnswerHi Bailey,
I truly can relate. With my daughter 12 years ago, the Dr kept saying "any day now" and I walked around 3 cm dilated for 3 weeks. WHY do they say that! I am now almost 29 weeks pregnant (3rd pregnancy) and been having braxton hicks for weeks.
Would a breast pump harm the baby? I doubt it; I guess this is one of those things you dont want to tell the Dr you are thinking about doing? They DO say that supposedly that sort of stimulation can help you produce oxytocin (which helps labor speed along). So I can understand your thoughts.
I would really just check with your doctor though... I know it is frustrating and you feel that the baby is NEVER going come, I really know that feeling but just hang in there. If it were me I would not try to pump just yet; like I said it probably wont hurt, but I am not a doctor so I'd hate to tell you to go ahead and do that and have it harm the baby. Try to hold off a little bit more, you are almost there!!!!! Sleep as much as you can even though it is very uncomfortable, because soon the baby WILL be here!
Look at it this way: those 2 cm you are dilated are 2 cm you DO NOT have to do in labor. It is very nice to go into labor and already be a good part of the way DONE.
hang in there!!!!!!! i feel your pain!!!!It'll be over with soon!
andi
