Late-Term Labor: Natural Ways to Encourage Progression

Question
I am 23, this is pregnancy # 4. I have 2 children at home. I lost a set of twins in 2003. 2-16-05 was the date of my last period. I am 37 weeks, due November 25. I have been in labor for the last 3 days. My contractions are 3 to 5 min. apart, but I am ony dialated to a little over one and about 60% efaced. What can I do to progress things natrually? I have heard to many things can go wrong with a hospital induction. So what can I do to move this along here at home?

Answer
If you are only dilated to 1-2 cm and only 60% effaced, you are not in labor. When you start to have contractions at the level of your belly button, that come every 5 minutes (from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next) and each contraction lasts for a full 45 minutes, and this continues for a full hour, then you should be checked. When your cervix is dilated greater than 4cm, you will be admitted to the hospital. Try walking around alot. There is no reason to induce you unless you do not go into labor by 42 weeks gestation.