42 week stress tests???

[flowers]

I just went to my 41 wk prenatal with my mw today. She is totally supportive of waiting with the exception that once I hit 42 weeks I have two tests and if the "facts" show that everything is alright I can wait even longer for labor to progress.

Both tests are "non-invasive". One is very specific ultrasound and one is a stress test where I would be hooked to a fetal heart monitor for a half-hour.

I have never had an ultrasound and have not even used a doppler. We have been using a fetascope. So far the pregnancy has been normal with a slightly low iron levels in me.

Needless to say I feel like if I have these tests I have "failed" on my quest for a whole birth guided by nature. Has anyone had this experience???

hillary

[2+twins]

Hmm, I never reached all the way to 42 weeks, but with my first I did go past 41 weeks and had one non-stress test. I totally feel for you. If I were pregnant again, I would go the route you're going now with no u/s (I had it with all my pregnancies and now believe that this over-used technology damaged my oldest child) and I'm certainly less inclined to "routine" testing. However, if it were between birthing at home vs. the hospital, I might opt to take the tests. Perhaps though you could talk her out of one of them (I'm thinking the u/s) and downgrade the stress test to a non-stress test???

I guess I just don't understand the benefit of a stress test well enough cuz the way it seems to me is that they just want to know if the baby tolerates contrax well or not. Won't you find this out pretty quickly once labor starts? Is it the fear that if labor has begun and the baby doesn't tolerate contrax well, there's no time to do anything about it, cuz I don't think that's usually the case.

Anyway, I think I'm getting OT, but I just wanted to lend my support to you in whatever you choose. Good luck mama. It sounds like you've made some really smart choices so far for your baby - I'm sure you'll continue to do whatever is best for you and him/her.

[Crystal_clear]

Fetal activity is a far better indicator of well-being. Perhaps you can negotiate with documented kick-counts. Wishing you a wonderful birth!

[momto l&a]

My second baby went to 42 weeks and I did the kick counts chart. I had one very busy baby so it didnt take long to get each days quota :LOL The kick counts is what my mw recomended, thought she said it was up to me if I wanted a us or stress tests.

[suebearsmom]

Prayers that you wont need all that stuff! Hugs,Catherine

[Jemper]

Ugh. Typed a long reply and it got lost.

I went nearly 2 wks over with DD #2, but my m/w didn't request any big tests. She did start coming more often (twice/wk, I think) to check my vitals and make sure baby's FHT & amniotic fluid was OK. I was nervous, because at 42 wks she was required to turn me over to an OB (losing my chance for a homebirth!).

Perhaps you can negotiate with your m/w for some different measures of baby's health? I would share your feelings with her, hopefully you and she can find a compromise that keeps everyone happy (and preserves your chances for a homebirth!).

Another though ~ can you talk about your EDD with your m/w? My original EDD was based on my ovulation date, but my m/w agreed to use the EDD based on my LMP since that gave us some more time (I o'd on CD 10). I'm ever-thankful she was flexible!

[Nabbe]

I hit the 42's with my son, breech baby... We did the stress test but he was fine. With my daughter though, they did another stress test due to variation in fetal pulse, and that one was horrible... They took a bloodsample from her head. Through a big iron-thing... Aouch... hehe... With my son they could not do that as he was breech lol.

[pamamidwife]

I do non-stress tests in my clients home after 42 weeks every two to three days, usually. I'm not a fan of the biophysical profile, as I feel that the whole "low amniotic fluid" issue is misunderstood and a common "reason" for induction lately, where it is thought to be a normal variation in late pregnancy.

With the in-home non-stress tests, I simply have the mom eat something, then I come over, she lies on her left side and I listen with the doppler for awhile. I am listening for five good movements of the baby with good reactivity of the heart rate.

I also agree that fetal movement counts are a great, non-invasive way to determine baby's well being. I would definitely accept a woman's choice to start there and only venture on to ultrasound and/or the BPP if the kick counts warranted concern.

[Ekatherina]

flowers i am really sorry for what you are going through...i will : for you that you and your mw get to some compomise and you feel relaxed again...i had bad luck with my mw and we ddint agree... so it caused a big stress for me and my baby for almost two weeks... now i have changed her...new mw doesnt want any medical intervention but she is too much traditional i think and might insist on back labor....anyway i dont have much time to change anything now (37 weeks)
pamamidwife: i just can wish there were much more mws like you...and i wish you can come help us with our homebirth.......you are definitly a mw one would trust and be relaxed with....
flowers: tell us what happens ..i hope you have wonderful delivery (with no interventions!! )

[Nabbe]

Could that midwife not accept lets say sideways birth? Laying on one side? That was the great idea of my midwife, since she did not want my tailbone to go bye bye...

[Ekatherina]

Thanks Nabbe i would suggest that to her...but i read many times that sitting or standing reduces the risk of tearing...

[watermamma]

I went to 42+wks w/my 2nd. My midwife recomended a BPP, which I had (actualy had 2). NEVER again will I subject myself to that. I had an awful experience with a really stupid ultrasound tech. Long story, but let's just say that the so called "non-invasive" ultrasound left bruises on my belly (from her pressing so hard on it) and ended in the tech doing a vaginal ultrasound after covering the wand with a condom and alchohol. This was at 42 wks pregnant and 4cm dialated.

My case is extreme, but it does show how quickly a little "non-invasive" testing can lead to more invasive testing. We also found out the cord was wrapped around babie's neck, which I really felt we were not meant to know. It took a little soul searching and thinking for me to feel safe with birthing again after finding that out (and we had a wonderful birth).

Should we be blessed with another child, I will allow non-stress tests done by doppler after 42 weeks by my midwife, but that's it.


I know how hard it can be going post-dates. Just know you are not alone and that your body is doing a wonderful job of nourishing your baby (which is probably why baby is still in there ).

[flowers]

A midwife just told me that a more accurate "due date" is 10 lunar cycles based on your menstrual cycles. According to this method I am only 9 1/2 lunar cycles pregnant so I am early rather than late! ha !!! Just hearing something like this makes me so much more confident!!!

Thanks for all the support. My midwife is actually being really sympatheitc about everything she just says that she can let me go as long as I want if she has the "documents" proving she was making "wise" decisions. I think this has to do with covering her own butt...which stinks she has to be put in this situation.

I woke up this morning with some contractions and they have been on and off so I am feeling really good and I have told myself I don't have to have the tests this THurs if I feel confident the baby is well.

Thanks again for the support...

[Ekatherina]

wishing you all the best flowers... will pray for u and ur wonderful baby...waiting for your birthstory...