I've gathered the courage to ask something totally idiotic...

[rmzbm]

Hey, I warned you...
How long can a pregnancy last?
OK, loaded question.
But, seriously? Is there REALLY a point when it's obvious it isn't going to happen?
When is that time?
I'm asking because with DS2 I was induced at 43 weeks (and I am 99.9% positive on the dates...) and after four days of labor on pit. it STOPPED COMPLETELY when the pit. was turned off. Is it really possible it STILL wasn't time?
Please offer opinions.

God, I can't believe I asked something so dumb... :

[sapphire_chan]

And at what point do you decide that things are so long because something is wrong and not because they are supposed to be taking so long?

[rmzbm]

:

And, to clarify why I am asking a bit, I do want to have another babe in the next few yrs. (2 or so...) and don't wanna go the section route again. But my 2 pregnancies that I tried (that's a joke...) doing "naturally" went WAY over. If this happens again, after 4 sections, I dunno. I might get scared. :

[Triciabn]

Not to be a cuss... lol... but if you go to Birthlove.com... they have a 10month mama page. The owner of the site is always WAY past 40some weeks.
My mom had each and every one of us (4kids) after 43 weeks. That was only 20some years ago.. do you think we have all been genetically altered since then, lol. Everyone is different.
Tricia

[rmzbm]

Yes, I understand that. But the placenta does start to fail eventually. And, based on what I have explained, I think it's a legitamate concern.

[pamamidwife]

I think there is a wisdom to the body to know when the baby is somehow compromised because of the age, it starts labor. This could be at 34 weeks (placentas age at this point, babies can also show signs of "postmaturity syndrome" way earlier than the due date) or at 44 weeks. I honestly believe that the baby and the body work together - and the body isn't out to harm the baby.

The longest I've had a client go over is 44 weeks and 2 days. She was sure of her dates (charted intercourse and mucus, etc.) and her labor was straightforward with no complications.

There are two pervasive myths around "late" babies: the first being that the placenta dies. It does not. In fact, the placenta is an organ that is continually changing to meet the needs of the baby. It branches out on the uterus when it needs fresh sources of oxygen and nutrients. It works VERY hard. Just because your placenta is "old" doesn't mean it's not working perfectly.

The second myth is that by waiting two weeks, your baby risks growing too big for you to birth vaginally. This is a crock.

Babies, at most, gain a quarter of a pound a week in the last month or so. After the due date, the weight gain lowers, but is still steady - just not enough to suddenly create this gigantic baby.

I have an informed choice agreement for postdates that I can share - It's a PDF form from my website - let me know if it does not open up.

With more and more women being induced weeks before the due date, it sure feels like there must be something dangerously wrong with being overdue, huh?

[rmzbm]

Thanks for the link ~ that was a good read! I clearly have alot to think about.

[Patchfire]

This is the longest pregnancy I've heard of, personally.

[PancakeGoddess]

dd

[MamaTaraX]

Originally Posted by Patchfire

This is the longest pregnancy I've heard of, personally.

Ididn't even have to click it to know who/what it was 45 weeks is a hella long time to lug around an unborn kid

Namaste, Tara

[rmzbm]

WOWZA!

Yet, it does make me feel better...

[Full Heart]

The only time I have heard of a woman truly not being able to go into labor on her own was when she had a tumor on her pituitary gland. It caused other problems as well. Oh well there was one other, a lady at her autopsy when she was like 90 showed a calcified fetus. Obviously that was never coming out lol. But I think if there is nothing wrong somewhere the baby will come out eventually. Mine were all 42 weekers.

[mamabadger]

My first baby was born at 44 weeks, spontaneous labour, no problems at all. My second was at 43 weeks, very quick and easy also. I just have long pregnancies.

I'm glad Pamamidwife made those comments about the 'aging placenta' theory. I've always been suspicious of it myself, but in the last few years obstetrics has decided that long pregnancies are Public Enemy #1. I see it as just another medical fad.

[ErinBird]

Originally Posted by Full Heart

The only time I have heard of a woman truly not being able to go into labor on her own was when she had a tumor on her pituitary gland. It caused other problems as well. Oh well there was one other, a lady at her autopsy when she was like 90 showed a calcified fetus. Obviously that was never coming out lol. But I think if there is nothing wrong somewhere the baby will come out eventually. Mine were all 42 weekers.

A firend's mother had a brian tumor as a child near or on her pituitary gland. She had trouble concieving naturally, and never went into labor on her own. My firend claims she (the first child) went 46 weeks before her mom was given a C-section. Not sure how accurate that is.

[Belle]

My grandma was pregnant for 10.5 months with both my moms older brothers. They weighed around 10lbs each and no problems. It wasn't such a big deal back then.

[Mama Poot]

The longest I've heard of a pregnancy lasting is 47 weeks.

[PancakeGoddess]

I have done a little bit of reading of research on longer gestations, and around 42 weeks, there is a marked increase in the (quite small) risk of stillbirth. That just seems to be a statistical reality, afaict. There isn't a lot of new research, I think, because there just aren't that many long pregnancies anymore due to inductions, but anyway, it does affect my personal comfort level with going past 42-43.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by Mama Poot

The longest I've heard of a pregnancy lasting is 47 weeks.

[frontierpsych]

i've heard of 47 weeks too! Healthy babies, placentas, and all!

On the other hand, there is a very, VERY (almost unheard of in a Ripley's believe it or not sense) rare occasion when the baby begins to calcify and no longer grows. There was a woman on the discovery channel whose baby had calcified and was in her for OVER 60 YEARS!!!! Luckily, we have ultrasounds, and at some point, the benefit starts to far outweigh any possibe risk (whether there is a risk or not is debatable, because there are no studies). I'd say in your case, there was probably plenty of time, and you're probably just a ten-moon mama. I'm due in November with my first, and I will refuse to be induced unless they can prove to me that there is a reason beyond hospital policy (I'm planning a UC, but recieving prenatal care at a hospital). They usually induce at 42 weeks at that hospital, but I won't even blink an eye if I go 44 weeks or so, because it's fairly common, and would be more common if induction were not so widely used.

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by frontierpsych

There was a woman on the discovery channel whose baby had calcified and was in her for OVER 60 YEARS!!!!

I saw that! :

Wish I had done more research back then...sigh...