give me your stories of happy, healthy, "late"/overdue babies and births, please!

[jsh7809]

I am now a whopping 10 days late with my first baby, and although the logical part of me knows that's very very normal, I am feeling a ton of pressure from my midwife's office (hospital/ HMO), my community, and most of all, my self.... Which is leading to stress which is NOT what is going to help get this baby out! Plus I am blessed/ cursed with lots of friends who have had their babies EARLY or on time in the last year, and that is not helping (although most of the women in my family on both mom's and dad's sides have birthed babies "late" by anywhere from a few days to 2 weeks!).
So, I'd love to hear happy stories of your needed-a-little-extra-time-baking babies, and be reminded that this is NOT something I can schedule, and that the baby and I are going to deliver when the time is right for us!
Thanks, mamas.

[MaerynPearl]

my son was overdue and the only complications were caused by problems 22 weeks earlier, he had no problems from being overdue.

my ex husband was born at 43 weeks and obviously was fine... I dont think the fact that I dislike him has anything to do with being born so late! LOL

[Mama2Kayla]

My son was born at 42 weeks and 6 days. It felt like forever, but I am truly glad I waited it. My labor was quick and mostly pain free until the end. He was 9lbs even and had no problems nursing, gaining weight right away .

I totally understand about friends around you going early! One of my good friends was pregnant at the same time and had her baby at 36 weeks after an 2 hr labor. He was 6 lbs and perfectly fine. I was so jealous...epecially as the weeks just went on and on for me! But, it just goes to show that every mom is different and there is nothing wrong with that. Some of us just get extra practice with patience thanks to our pregnancies

[gwen's mom]

My mom has told me I was born at 44 weeks. Aside from being 10lbs, 2oz, I was fine; born naturally and drug free.

My own children have been 19, 14 and 5 days overdue. All were born naturally, drug free (one in a hosp, 2 at home)and all completely heathy. Birthweights were 8.15, 9.2, and 8.8.

Stay strong mama. Babies know when they are ready!

[major_mama11]

DD was born at 41.5 wks, healthy w/ vernix still visible, no mec in water, apgars 8 and 9.

I was born at 42 wks exactly, after a failed augmentation 2 wks earlier, doc sent my mom home and she walked around at 5 cm for 2 wks before having a 6-hr labor and delivery of healthy me.

My mom was a 10 pound vaginal breech, born at 43 wks!

[MiaMama]

NAK
DD2 was born at 40+6, perfectly fine, wonderfully strong and healthy.

However, I do not consider her overdue or late. Just like I would not consider a 39 or 38 weeker early.

To me, overdue means 42+ and still may not be a reason for intervention if the babe was doing well.

[emmalizz]

My first was 41+4, my sister's were all over 42, and my mom's all between 40 and 42. Not a single health issue in the bunch (10 babes total )

[MamaFern]

my last 2 babies were both born after 42 weeks.. 16 + 15 days overdue.. they were both born at home with a midwife and healthy as can be. you can do it!

[chambom]

My DD was born at 42 weeks and 1 day. We did end up using a little Pitocin, but all went well.

She was born healthy with an APgar of 9 and breastfed like a champ.

[jsh7809]

Yay, thanks ladies!!
I too would consider her to be not yet "late" until at least 42 weeks, but the hospital I'm with unfortunately has an "induce between 41 and 42 weeks" policy, which I've known since the start, and have always planned to refuse - but somehow now it feels a lot more upsetting to me. I still don't want to be induced but I am so emotional and ready that their attempts at striking fear into me are working more effectively than I thought
So, this helps! I wish I had always trusted my gut and my knowledge of all of the long pregnancies in my family and planned on a later due date all around. DH would hate it when I'd say "I probably will be 2 weeks late", he thought I was psyching myself out - I think he gets it now that I was just saying, "if I'm 2 weeks late, I don't want to have been sitting there for 2 weeks waiting!".
Great stories, very helpful.

[meganlisbeth]

my son was born at 41+4 and he is amazing, happy, and healthy.
i was apparently 3 weeks "late" and am also doing quite well!

i know it's hard to take sometimes but they DO come when they are ready!

xoxo

[apmama07]

I was is very much the same situation with the midwives policy causing pressure - if I went to 42 I would have to be in the hospital rather than birth center. I was stressed and terrified of the hospital and interventions that I might be up against.

As it was, the night before my scheduled induction I went into labor on my own and had the med-free peaceful birth in the center that I'd wanted. DD was 41+5 and 7lb 14 oz, apgars of 9 and 10 and absolutely perfect and healthy. Both her position and I believe my anxiety held her in for a while. When I *really* let go of some things, I magically went into labor. It was a really big learning experience for me, the first huge letting go of many that is motherhood.

I know it's so hard, but keep your faith that it will all unfold as it should and do your best to get/stay in a peaceful place.

[jsh7809]

Originally Posted by apmama07

I was is very much the same situation with the midwives policy causing pressure - if I went to 42 I would have to be in the hospital rather than birth center. I was stressed and terrified of the hospital and interventions that I might be up against.

As it was, the night before my scheduled induction I went into labor on my own and had the med-free peaceful birth in the center that I'd wanted. DD was 41+5 and 7lb 14 oz, apgars of 9 and 10 and absolutely perfect and healthy. Both her position and I believe my anxiety held her in for a while. When I *really* let go of some things, I magically went into labor. It was a really big learning experience for me, the first huge letting go of many that is motherhood.

I know it's so hard, but keep your faith that it will all unfold as it should and do your best to get/stay in a peaceful place.

Good advice! A few times a day I really start overthinking and getting stressed out, and worrying that I should be doing MORE to make something happen... But then I always come back to needing to be restful, calm, low stress. I know that my friends who birthed early recently were on their feet working almost up until they went into labor - but I am someone who needs more down time anyway, so maybe the baby and I are on just the right track.

Now... I just need to remember all of this when I wake up at 5am STILL not in labor every day, doing "where the heck is this baby?!"

[texasfarmom]

You might already know this, but apparently the ACOG doesn't officially call you "overdue" until you are 42+ weeks. Interesting how that guideline sometimes gets ignored...

[blessedwithboys]

mine were 42wks and 42+3. both were born the picture of health. no jaundice, no NICU.

however... (i know you asked for happy stories, plz dont be mad!)...

with ds1 i was only 17yo and i allowed myself to be pressured to induce and after the cascade did its work i had a c-birth. ds2 was spontaneous labor but was an unplanned csec, not related to fetal age (long story, it wasnt necessary, but the on call OB threatened legal action if i kept going for vag.)

point being...dont let them pressure you. it could happen that your mw will have to transfer care at 42 wks, but no one can make you go to the hospital for induction. no one will come to your home with a warrant. we arent there yet, though i strongly believe that will happen in the future if we dont change our birth culture asap. but once you check in, all bets are off. they will not hesitate to get a court order to force surgical birth.

so, stay strong, get plenty of rest, talk to your LO, and try to just wait. after ds1 went to 42 wks i felt sure my body didnt know how to go into labor, and with ds2 i really thought so, but of course my labor started eventually. yours will too!

[Joyster]

My second was 10 days late. I was absolutely miserable, but when he arrived, he was a happy bouncing baby boy and had absolutely no problems related to the pregnancy or birth. I never felt so happy and relieved that I wasn't carrying that little turkey around anymore, well in my belly anyhow. *G*

[alegna]

My ds was 43 weeks 5 days. Same size as his sister 4 years earlier who was 41 weeks 3 days.

Babies come when ready.

-Angela

[honeybee]

Ds1 was born at 41 weeks, 6 days, and 23.5 hours. He was my first, and I had a 4 hour labor, with about 5 minutes of pushing. He had a tiny bit of wrinkling on his ankles and wrists, but otherwise was great.

Ds2 was born at 41 weeks, 5 days. I know his due date was accurate because I was charting. Less than a 2 hour labor... very intense, but good. Still, he was born covered in vernix, and was assessed as being "term," not overdue. Very healthy!

[womenswisdom]

My dd was 41+1, 3 hr labor and 1.5 hr pushing - perfect baby. Also, it might help you to remember the large (almost 10,000 women) study that showed the average first pregnancy is 41+1, so that means, when not interfered with, half of women go before 41+1 and half go more than 41+1. You just happen to be in the half that goes more. Hang in there!

[emnic77]

My first was 41+3. My second was 41+1. Both completely health and happy and normal. With this one, I carried the knowledge through the entire pregnancy that my body takes 41 weeks to bake a baby. I'm good with that. I got threatened with induction upon hitting 40 weeks both time, this time (homebirth) I don't have that looming and am SO much more calm and relaxed about it, that I wouldn't be surprised if I went right around 40 weeks this time, just because I won't be stressed about an induction!