42 weeks, feeling anxious and a question.

[SelenaJean]

I'm exactly 42 weeks today and feeling a bit anxious. Baby is very active and at my last appt three days ago my midwives did their own NST and he reacted great. I have the option of having an U/S done this Monday and I'm really torn about it. My midwife stated that the BPP are not the most accurate and if I score low they would be required to transfer me. She can also just order and U/S to check fluid and the placenta but not a full BPP. Either way I run the risk of scoring low for fluids or whatever even if everything is fine. I guess I'm just feeling nervous in general even though I know it's normal to be 42 weeks pregnant. I'm just having a hard time deciding if I should be happy with his level of activity and doing well on the NST(my midwives are) or if I should see what's going on in there with a U/S. This is my fourth baby and I've never gone into labor on my own and I'm starting to think I"ll reach 43 weeks and end up having to transfer anyhow. I guess I'm just looking for some encouragement and advice. Thank you!

[HappyMommy2]

If you don't want to do the U/S - then don't!

If you do take it, drink TONS of water beforehand to make sure they see lots of fluid.

If you do the NST, eat a donut first. That always made my babies do somersaults, and lots of action is what the docs like to see!

It sounds like the midwives think the baby is fine. It sounds like only bad things could come from the U/S ... like forced interventions.

Good luck mama. My HBAC at 42 weeks was awesome. Trust in your body, and trust in your own instincts regarding further testing. 42 weeks is still normal, not late!!

[thefreckledmama]

If you transfer (I'm assuming to an OB), what would then be the course of action? Would you still be able to have a VBAC, or would they require a c-section? The answers to those questions would play a big factor in my decision to do the u/s or BPP.

As for whether to do just an u/s or the BPP, I would probably only go with the u/s, and if it were questionable, THEN do the BPP.

If my midwives were happy with simply keeping track of his movement and the NSTs, I would probably forgo any additional intervention like an u/s or BPP until there was some indication a closer look was needed-not just because I was "overdue".

All that said, I hope none of this matters, and you go into labor and have that little babe in your arms before you have to make a decision about any of it.

[SelenaJean]

Thanks ladies! I think I'm just going to wait and see how everything looks at my appt on Tuesday. My midwives are great and I trust their opinions. They have not recommended an U/S but have just let me know I can have one at any time for peace of mind. I'm just a worrier by nature, hopefully it's not holding me back from going into labor. If I transfer to an OB I'm sure it would mean a csection and I would like to avoid that if possible. I have had a ton of contractions today and am 4-5 cms(have been though for awhile). So hopefully I will not make it until my next appt anyhow

[gentlestrengths]

I have had 4 babies, and I've only gone into labor once "on my own." (my second). I think I would have with my first, but my midwife suggested I take castor oil, and with a first pregnancy - well, I just felt done (42 weeks) and did it (the day I lost my plug!).

Anyway, I carry my babies high, and I think that is why I don't go into labor easily...there isn't a lot of pressure on my cervix...they just stay up there floating..I don't know why. I do have a long torso. I'm 5'9" and it's not "all legs", it's all torso. Just a theory. My babies are just never low. My first one dropped, but the others never did until I was in labor (which is normal really, but they were FLOATING around in there!!).

As soon as I take castor oil I'm in labor. I really wanted to go into labor on my own with my second...it was important to me. And it happened, I don't know why or how! But with my 3rd and 4th...not so much! My 4th baby was 43 weeks and 3 or 4 days - I forget now. But I was DONE. She was 10 pounds. I will NOT repeat that..the labor/birth wasn't hard, but it was hard to walk around with a 10 pound baby (honestly, I don't know how I did it, it was so HARD for me!).

I think if you're feeling good and positive about the baby being healthy, then why do the u/s? If you feel convicted to do the u/s then you should do it. But think about what the end results will be - ask yourself what will you do if the u/s report is negative. If you'll still just wait for the baby and ignore the results, then why put yourself through the stress of it? If you aren't going to do anything about the results, then there isn't really a need for the test in the first place.

[mamamoon2]

Good Idea to wait it out. If you do go in for a bpp your more than likely to have to transfer in instead of waiting it out, simply because they are so inaccurate. Some women just carry their babies to 42 or 43 and that;s just whats normal for you. Chances are you will go into labor on your own before the test anyway I agree with the others that if you do opt to take the bpp make sure you drink lots and lots of water before going in. Good Luck! Hang in there!

[LaydieBugs]

What do your midwives think about your never having gone into labor on your own?

You've probably already been over this but things like blue cohosh -- which most midwives I've met know how to use -- can induce very gently but won't work if the baby isn't truly ready. And then there's the castor oil that was mentioned, and nipple stimulation ...

Do you always go post-term? Maybe you have a different length to your cycle, so you conceive closer to 28 days, than 14. If you're planning to have more children, the Fertility Awareness Method might help you figure out precisely when you ovulate so you don't have to go through this stress again.

[Luv2bemommy]

First of all. {{{{{huuggss}}}}}


As I type, I sit here 42w2d myself. This is my sixth baby. You do what feels right to YOU. If you don't want the NST or BPP, then don't. I haven't had any of it myself and probably won't unless I start worrying about her movements. So far, she's as happy as can be.

For me, this is normal. I've carried four of my others to 42 weeks +, the first three I was induced @42 weeks because I didn't know I had the option to say no and they played the dead baby card. Our youngest was born exactly 43 weeks on the day with no problems at all. A fast labor.

I'm like you, I'm 5cm and she is ready to go in there but I wait instead of doing things that isn't good for me or her. I've thought about castor oil but at this point we are waiting. I will refuse inductions at all costs unless there are problems at arises but so far nothing concerns me.

Is her positioning okay? Could she be posterior? That's one of the issues with mine but this pregnancy I saw a chiropractor (last thursday) and she turned! I didn't know if this was an issue but if it is, I suggest getting one that does the Websters technique, it will also make you feel SO MUCH BETTER too! My hips dont hurt as bad and I feel looser around my hips and back. It's great and she turned that next day, dropped down and is engaged!


Good luck sweetie. I will be looking for you around on here to see the outcome. I hope we both have our babies within the next few days. God knows we are both ready to meet them!!

[SelenaJean]

Well ladies, I never had to make a choice because my baby arrived on his own! All the contractions I'd been having over the weekend were doing something and my water broke Sunday night and he was born 7 hrs later! Everything went great. I practice fertility awareness and my due date was accurate, I just bake them a long time! Thanks for all the advice!