Having a hard time mentally

I am SOOOOOOOOOO confused on what to do right now

I am on pills to slow some contractions I was having. Doc says I have the option to stop the pills and see what happens. At that point, I could go into labor within hours, or days....

So..... what do I do?!?!?!?

a) stop the pills now and see what happens

b) stay on the pills as long as possible and aim for scheduled C/S date of 10/19

My issues:
- I am home on bedrest and it sucks. I need help with the kids everyday. I would love to have the baby now and get on with my life
- my parents OOS and want them to be there when DS is born. If I get off the pills, his arrival is unpredictable. If I stay on the pills, I am in control of the date.
- I want to make sure the baby is well cooked (lungs in particular)
- Am I stopping something natural by staying on these pills? Does my body WANT to go into labor and I am stopping it?


Today, I am 36w 4d

HELP!

Re: Having a hard time mentally

at 36w 4 days, hmmm, I think I'd wait until 37 weeks and stop the pills. I'm no expert, but I think by then baby should be ok. Just tell your parents to be on alert!

then again I'm 36 weeks 4 days and I'd do just about anything to get this out a little early (c-section not scheduled until the 24th), so perhaps my opinion is a bit skewed!

Re: Having a hard time mentally

sorry you're having such a hard time right now! the only issue for me would be having the help after your DC is born...i'd aim to stop the pills the day your parents get back. if their help was a non issue, i'd stop the pills right away. at 36w, your little one is about as good as ready to come out and meet his mama

Re: Having a hard time mentally

I totally understand as I was in a very similar situation. I went off exactly at 37 weeks as I knew a full term baby would decrease the risk of nicu time. Remember, even if you stay on longer it still doesn't mean you can't go into labor, so either way you arent totally in control of when you will deliver. How far are your parents? Gl--one of the docs in my practice was okay with me going off sooner but ultimately the other dr and I decided 37 weeks as I was very nervous about nicu time since my older ds was in there 4 weeks.

Re: Having a hard time mentally

such a tough call... i'd probably wait ti 37w and go off and let your body do what it wants. my dr. doesn't stop contractions with medication after 35w, not sure what the reasoning is but i'd imagine they would stop it if it wasn't safe for baby to arrive.

Re: Having a hard time mentally

I would wait until 37 weeks. Plus it gets you in with me
No, but really I get what you are saying. Your parents being OOS I would exclude from the equation bc thats not a justified reason to stay on the pill. IMHO, I would stay on until def 37 weeks just for lung maturity. I agree that whatever happens thereafter shall be seen. What is the dr advising you to do? I think its hard to get responses from some with no addtl' children as life wont just stop for you bc you want bedrest. I am seeing that with Gillian and you have an extra one on top of me. I cant even imagine. I am pretty confident in your position I would say 37 weeks and off the pill.

Re: Having a hard time mentally

My niece is in a similar boat - this is her 2nd baby and she has been having contractions since 30 weeks. They put her on medication to stop the contractions and wanted to her to get to at least 36 weeks. She did have a shot of steriods to help the lungs develop (not sure if you had this as well). She was taken off the medication a few days shy of 36 weeks and is still pregnant at 37 weeks. She has contractions all the time and is a little dilated but nothing yet. It really is a personal decision but I was sure she was going to go into labor as soon as she was taken off bedrest and the medications but she hasn't. If it makes you feel more comfortable maybe you should wait until you are 38 weeks......