RE: [ozmidwifery] effects of contractions on the fetus???

[Wayne and Caroline McCullough]

Title: Message

that refers to the increased moulding of the fetal head, the increased possibility of cord compression and a possible decrease in pH as a result with ruptured membranes.   Six months after Dan's birth, this is something I wonder about... I was 17 days past my due date, ripe cervix, head well down in pelvis and in anterior position (had been posterior for a week and a half with ctx getting to five minutes then stopping), had good foetal movements but sometimes got a bit worried if I didn't feel anything for a couple of hours, had no amniotic fluid whatsoever, the sonogram at 16 days PD showed chord wrapped around bub's neck and a tiny bit of amniotic fluid in bub's stomach, no foetal distress but a slightly lowered heartrate (around 90 to 110 average when not active), was having ctx but nothing regular at that stage... was my baby likely to go into distress if I tried to birth him normally? At that stage the only choices offered to me were induction with half strength prost., no syntoncinon or scheduled caesarean... I feel like I should have waited a couple more days but I realise that you can only make decisions based on the circumstances you are in. I didn't want to induce with no amniotic fluid.   Thing is, he came out with perfect appearance (no postmaturity) and perfect lung function and near perfect Apgars 8 and 9. There was some green mec. staining on placenta and a couple of calcium deposits and bub's head showed signs of moulding.   I would really like to know if I had any other choice? Please be brutally honest. Did I just give in to the pressure or did I make a choice that saved my baby's life?   I am really grieving this at the moment and it would help to understand things better.   Cheers,   Cas.       Cas McCullough [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.casmccullough.com