How "late" will your provider let you go?

[akichan]

I haven't discussed this with my MW (I'm planning a homebirth) but how long after your due date is your MW/OB/etc. willing to let you hang out before they want to induce and/or do regular NSTs?

My first 2 were early but for some reason I think this one will be late.

Also, are you willing to let them "strip membranes"? Any considering any form of intervention, natural, homeopathic, or artificial? Is stripping membranes considered artificial intervention?

[Ianthe]

Legally she can only be my provider until 42 weeks... after that I would be transferred to an OB.

Stripping Membranes hurts! At least it did me last time.. I don't want to go there, and I would do other things before then.

[rivkah]

Legally my midwife practice can go to 42 1/2 weeks.

I have never had my membranes "sweeped," but I am going to try it if I make it until 41 weeks (Monday). I have heard that for some people it is painful, and some people say it is nothing at all. Likely has to do with the condition of your cervix and the gentleness of your provider. I am Ok with 5 minutes of pain if it will hasten the 5 or so hours of pain that is labor!

My MW practice will start using a breast pump and may rupture membranes if you go past 42 weeks--both of which are preferable to me than being transferred to an OB and being pressured into pitocen. Frankly, if I go past about 42 weeks and one day, even I will start getting nervous.

[chely7425]

My OB will let me go to 42 weeks... if it gets to that it is another c/s for me since I am not willing to try and induce with a VBAC. I might let her strip my membranes next appointment, which is the day after my due date... I haven't even gotten checked yet because I didn't want to be dissappointed!!!

[kamane18]

After 41 weeks my OB/MW want regular NSTs and would discuss stripping membranes (which REALLY hurt last time with DD). I'll try all other natural methods before that (well not castor oil - yuck) but would allow membrane stripping again around 41 weeks to try to avoid Pit. But hopefully I go this weekend!

[Maine Mama Doula]

My midwife "let" me go to 42 weeks then I scheduled a BPP with my back-up OB and after the results came back good, she would have "let" me go to 43 weeks before transferring care. I had my baby (3rd) at 42W 5d and started labor by pumping for half an hour.

[Carlin]

If I go past 42 weeks I risk out of a home birth. My understanding is that my midwives have an agreement with a number of OBs that would still let them be my primary care provider while the doctor provides oversight in the hospital. Our midwives request a NST at 41+3.

[KarlaC]

At the start of my pg they told me no more than 41 weeks. Now that I have GD & the baby is breech who knows what they're going to try & tell me(not that it really matters, I already know what I'm doing irregardless of what they're planning).

[jessielove]

Legally we can do homebirth until 42 weeks. After that we have to do hospital birth, but can still stay with the midwives. After 41 weeks we'll do a NST and an ultrasound ~ as long as baby is still fine and fluid levels are still doing well, then there is no talk of induction unless that changes.

[TrishWSU]

Technically, doing anything to initiate labor is artifical induction. Some stuff is just less medical than others.

I haven't even bothered to ask when my MWs cut-off is, because frankly I don't care I think that leagally after 42 weeks she has to refer me to an ob. But I'm paying out-of-pocket anyway and if I do go past 42 weeks she can either attend me "off the record" or I will just UC again.

FWIW, I have been pumping since 36 weeks (to save up some colostrum) and it (obviously) hasn't done anything as far as producing contractions. The last few nights I have tried doing several sessions (like 15 mins pumping with a 10 minutes break) for over 3 hours and nothing happened-like, no contractions at all. So, for me at least, pumping alone isn't enough on its own to get labor going.

[seafox]

Originally Posted by jessielove

Legally we can do homebirth until 42 weeks. After that we have to do hospital birth, but can still stay with the midwives. After 41 weeks we'll do a NST and an ultrasound ~ as long as baby is still fine and fluid levels are still doing well, then there is no talk of induction unless that changes.

same for me, except I'm not doing a homebirth. They'll do an u/s at 41 and a day to check fluid, and let me go to 42 if there's no issue.

[nerin]

my OB has said in the past that, assuming all is well, he wouldn't pressure me about induction until 42 weeks. i think, as a pp said, that after 41 weeks we end up with a lot more frequent visits/NSTs and the like, but i figured i'd cross that bridge when i got to it, kwim? my first two were early (36w2d and 37w4d) which totally spoiled me for my third (who was an induction at 40w3d -- that was my fault, tho, i broke down and actually BEGGED for one )

i'm only 38w2d today...getting anxious, but not going all out crazy......YET. lol mostly i'm just trying to NOT let my past experiences get in the way of me being in a good place emotionally if i go over this time!

[phrogger]

I wont go past 39w2d THANK GOD. Not that I am counting the days or anything, but that is 2w5d away.

[amandaleigh37]

It's never been mentioned, but they don't induce for any reason. And since midwives (CPM's anyway) aren't "legal" anyway in my state, there is no requirement or cutoff. So I really have no idea. Hopefully I won't have to have that discussion

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

I haven't discussed it with my current midwife, but my last one was willing to let me go "until the baby is born." Personally, as I know my dates exactly and as I'm having significant swelling and my bp is up, I don't feel comfortable going past 42 weeks.

[Alohamelly]

They are talking about inducing me next week, at 41 weeks (Tuesday).

[sarahwg]

Like mostly everyone, my MW doesn't like to go past 42 weeks but won't do anything invasive until then. At our last appointment two weeks ago, we left it that I would call him if the baby wasn't here by Wednesday June 10 (40w1d) and he would see me on Thursday or Friday. Once I hit 41 weeks they will monitor me every 2 days just to make sure the baby is doing ok...at 42 weeks I assume we try some sort of induction method.

My son was born at 41w2d and as much as I am hoping this baby is coming sooner (like, tomorrow!) I am mentally prepared to go all the way to 41 weeks and beyond...I think.

[simplykate]

my mw said if i get to 43 weeks she may want to do an nst. i'm not worried about going that far.

[aestesfl]

My midwife can deliver until 42 weeks. She said at 41w 6d, she'll have to make the call to her backup OB. She said she will also pull out her "tricks" before that point; stripping membranes, herbs, castor oil, etc. I'm more than willing to try all that stuff before going to the hospital to get induced!

At 41 weeks (which would be Friday for me), she sends her patients for a biophysical profile and NST test. I'm really hoping to not have to do that since I'm feeling confident that everything is fine.

[RachaelsMommy]

Mine said 43 weeks, so if I don't have this baby by 42 weeks, I'm going to try sex, EPO, chiropractor, massage, acupuncture and castor oil if it comes down to it. My DD is still nursing, so plenty of nipple stim there. I think I'd do sweeping membranes only as a last resort before seeing an OB since that could rupture the sac. I'm not even sure if my midwife would do that. i'm not really too worried though, I'm sure this baby will come out before 43 weeks.

If by any chance I do have to see an OB though, I'm totally lying about how far along I am.