spin off the early post, how late would you UC

[lovemyzoo]

I have a history of going past 42 weeks. I have always charted so I have always known my dates and even so I have gone to 43 weeks once(great OB let me go so late) and to 42 weeks a few other times.
ONCE I did have some issues that are related to late babies, but the others had no signs themselves of being late.
I have shadow care, but no idea when they will start to push for induction, with my history I am betting about 41 weeks but not sure, haven't asked yet.
So my question is how late you would be ok with going uc at home with? At what point if any would you agree to any testing to check up on baby(nst or bio-physical u/s)

[Illiana]

I'll go as long as my ob lets me... I would agree to the fluid checks once i hit 41/42 weeks and I'd go until fluid got too low. I'd have to be really late or have serious problems to allow an induction again without medical reason. JMO.

[cathicog]

at 42 weeks, I would start doing kick counts, check the baby's heart rate w/fetoscope once a day(your hubby can do this), and keep drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration(which is what low amniotic fluid may really mean)...and wait for labor to start whenever it starts.

[L J]

I wouldn't think twice about going to 42 weeks (again) and I would probably be quite comfortable going a week or two longer, with a check in with a midwife friend to listen to heart tones every few days. After 42 weeks is the point at which I would stop being totally UP, but I sure wouldn't check myself into a hospital for an induction (or worse) just because 42 is some kind of "expiration date" in the minds of those in the medical profession.

[bobandjess99]

If I knew, and had a history of going to 42+ weeks, I would probably be fine with going to my average gestation plus say a week...so if my average gestation was 42+ 1, I would probably be okay with 43+1, as long as everything seemed to be going fine. Do you tend to be big/measure big? I might try to fudge my shadow care by a week or so. I think much more tha that will throw things off, but I think you can usually shave a week off your gestation fairly easily, so if you are doing shadow care, I'd try to make them think I was 1 week less than I truly was...but that;s me and my comfort level.

[lovemyzoo]

I am getting shadow care and plan on taking almost 2 weeks off my edd for them. BUt I did this before and they took an u/s date that was right. I should not get an u/s this time but not sure how much dh will back me.
I have a doppler so I can do that.
I tend to measure big and have extra fluid. Which my midwife last time thinks was part of the issue with me progressing. I couldn't get past 4 but then she broke my water and I hit 8 in about 3 hours and less 45mins from hitting 8 I had the baby. It took me over 48 hours of regular strong cx to get to 4. From water to baby it was my shortest labor going from 4-baby. With the others my water broke as I hit transition. I know I had high levels with at lest 3 other babies too.
I am not close at all to my back up hospital, about 45 mins in good weather. My options as of now are UC or hospital as I still can't find a midwife that will work in my area at all. I prefer to UC but think after a point I would love to have a midwife, like if I am late again.

[jestrella]

I'll go as long as my ob lets me...

Hi all, sorry to just jump in here but this caught my eye. Perhaps I am not on the same page as everyone else here regarding the concept of unassisted birth, but how is the above an UC? I was under the impression and belief that UC refers to a woman taking complete and total responsibility for her pregnancy and birth, rather than relying on the allowance of an obstetrician.

[lovemyzoo]

I plan to labor/birth UC but I do see off and on an OB for back up/shadow care. Not everyone does but some here do. I would be backing up with a homebirth midwife(might with a cnm find out monday) but I have had issues finding a midwife here.
So for some of us OB pressure/testing does play into things the later we go.

[zapzipzee]

I would be comfortable going to my due date. I throw out uneaten food by it's due date, so I figure the baby should be here by it's due date. However, my due date is 41+1 plus the extra two weeks for a first baby = 43+1.

I've been measuring consistantly 2 weeks ahead, and I myself was born at an estimated 38 weeks so I dont think I'll go that late. I listen to the baby's heartbeat and make sure there are accelerations with movement.... so if all of a sudden something sounded off, I would probably seek a second opinion to mine, which I have no problem with at all!

[Illiana]

Originally Posted by jestrella

Hi all, sorry to just jump in here but this caught my eye. Perhaps I am not on the same page as everyone else here regarding the concept of unassisted birth, but how is the above an UC? I was under the impression and belief that UC refers to a woman taking complete and total responsibility for her pregnancy and birth, rather than relying on the allowance of an obstetrician.

UC for me is taking charge of birth not prenatal care. I have shadow care with an OB (there's only on MW in the area and she too expensive for me). I had a stillbirth at 26 weeks in the past and it has made me nervous to keep up with my pregnancies more than I could do solo so I chose to see a NCB friendly OB who is more than willing to "let" one go past the 42 weeks. He does weekly testing after 40 weeks to make sure that baby is healthy and nothing looks unusual. So for him to want to induce means something is wrong hence him "letting" me. I guess i didn't explain well before as I was in a hurry. I won't drop care until after birth in case i need to transfer. I'm worried about tearing again. So while I have no intention of being pushed around or scared into inductions, if I do happen to go that late and monitoring shows problems (mainly low fluid) i won't hesitate to induce though I'd try natural methods first and attempt to stay home as long as I am comfortable with it which may be 43 weeks or it may be longer. BUT that's just me. Its all about choices. I'm choosing to UC so that I don't have to deal with demands of nurses and docs while in labor or having to argue that I don't want all these things that are "required" I live in a very unfriendly state that looks at birth as an emergency. All the testing and hoops i have to jump through is worth it to go into labor early or late and not worrying about if something could be wrong that I myself may have missed.

I've had no problems in this or my two prior pregnancies (including my stillbirth). There was no known reason for my stillbirth. my birth with DD was a quick and easy one.

[amyjeans]

my experience with my babies is they are always late- 2-3 weeks actually. I trust that the baby will come when ready...but...if I went 30 days past my edd... I would do some serious natural labor stimulation...but as long as the baby is moving daily and I feel technically ok, no worries. I UC'd an 11 lb baby w/out a tear who was 3 weeks late. If this baby is 15 lbs...well, I'm just gonna push harder.