Overdue/waiting mama thread

[Undercover Hippie]

Okay, I'm only 3 days "overdue" now but it's already getting harder and harder to come here and see all the labor and birth announcements. Not trying to make anyone feel bad, I am so excited for all the new babies! But I thought maybe we needed a thread just for those of us still waiting, especially the overdue mamas...

So, here we are. I am having a harder time every day, particularly after my false alarm yesterday. I know it's stupid to feel this way already. I knew I'd be at least a week or 10 days late. Yet I feel totally helpless and sad anyway.

BUT, here is one thing I am grateful for: long uninterrupted showers. I can stand there under the steaming hot water for 15 minutes or longer if I want to while my big kids entertain themselves, and there is no worrying that my baby is fussing or crying for me.

Anyone else? Share your ups and downs right now!

[greenmountainmomma]

As a chronically overdue momma, I just wanted to say to have faith -- it's going to be soon! I waited 14 days with my DS, and 9 days past due with this little guy. Those post-due days are a wierd twilight zone.

My key to sanity during post-due days was I kept going to work... At least it kept my mind of baby waiting for a few days. That and the thought that in a week, I would most likely have a babe in arms -- and that a week isn't so long after all the waiting we've done.

Lots of hugs.

[FillingMyQuiver]

Well, add me to this list. I'm at 41w 1d, and I'm definitely "down" most days. I've had prodromal labor for about a week now, ctx that are annoying, but don't go anywhere. Plus the back ache : I'm cranky and frustrated and feel like I'm going to be pg FOREVAH!!!

And don't think we haven't tried everything either to move things along, NOTHING seems to be working:

I feel like a beached whale AND a watched pot. If one more person asks me if I've had the baby and forgot to call them OR how long will my MW "let" me go over before I need a CS, I'm going to scream!!!

I'm going to be watching this thread, that's for sure. I feel kinda outta place with the other mamas going into labor so close to their EDDs or before them. I just wish this baby would come already!!!

[chrysalis]

sitting in the hot tub last night w/ megh, my mom and her boyfriend greg, we were talking about being overdue and all that and my mom was totally confused...she knows i don't believe in 'overdue' but when i told her i technically have until like dec. 5th you should have seen her eyes!!! i'm getting tired of her talking about my 'due date' and overdue.....it upsets me. i wish people would be more sensitive to this. it puts too much on us mamas...and makes our bodies out to be 'incompetent' when we are close to 'the end' of what OB's and CNM's and even LM's and many other MW's will allow us... due dates shouldn't be called 'due' dates... : they should just...BE. just another way our society is too abusive re. our bodies. i mean, of course we need to monitor at the 'end' of pg to make sure we have enough AF and so forth but ohhhhh don't get me started. hang in there mamas!!! HUGS

[isosmom]

I'm only 1 day od, but I'll chime in. I just feel like now I'm on some sort of clock/watch. And I hate it. But yay for long ass showers!

[cheeseRjedi]

I'll join the club.

I go back and forth between feeling zen about it and bitching about being so uncomfortable. I feel pretty zen about it right now b/c I had lots of gearing up signs last night.

[pixiedust]

I'm only one day over as well but still cranky about it LOL.. I can't believe I fooled myself into thinking that this one would be 10 days early like the girls!

[FillingMyQuiver]

I'm very fortunate that my MW and I are on the same page when it comes to being "overdue". She believes in trying all the natural induction methods (short of castor oil, not sure about the cohoshes) and really sticks to the idea that the baby will come when the baby is ready. If I go to 43w, than I'm 43w. No rush for a CS, unless there is reason to believe I need intervention. No rush to get me on pit. It's nice having a MW that believes in my body and what it's capapble of.

But at the same time, she and my support team are only a few people. And even though they're the ones I choose to listen to, I still have to hear all those "others" telling me how I need medical intervention and how I only have 6 more days til I NEED a CS.

Uh, no. I don't NEED a CS unless this baby starts to be in distress. Please just leave me alone to birth my baby the way I NEED to.

And can I just ask, why the hell aren't these natural induction methods working for me!?!?! Sex hasn't worked, having some alcoholic drink hasn't worked, strong RRL tea hasn't worked, going for "bumpy" drives hasn't worked, nipple stimulation hasn't worked.

DH says that b/c my belly has been bumped and pushed on so much (I have a 3.5yo and a 2yo), the baby doesn't want to come out til s/he can hold his/ her own with his/ her brother and sister. So what, the baby's going to WALK out at 4!?!?!

[Undercover Hippie]

Jenn, my MW is the same way. Isn't that a blessing? I know it gave me so much peace of mind last time, knowing I wasn't on a clock and wouldn't have to start feeling defensive or anything. And most of my family doesn't think I'm due until Thanksgiving or else they are people I trust to understand that my body just goes late. So there's really not much pressure on me... just what I am putting on myself. But I'm still doing it to myself and I don't know why! I tried all along to convince myself it would be the 20th or 22nd but then I hit 39 weeks and started getting impatient. So now I feel like I've been waiting forever, already, when really I am barely over at all and baby is still within a totally normal time-frame for me!

Oh, and the natural methods never worked for me either. I'm sorry they're not helping you. We tried them all with DS and the more "pleasant" ones with DD and this time I'm not even tempted... I do wonder why they work for some people and not others though... and why some people's bodies seem to cook their babies faster than others...

Mysteries of the universe I guess!

[pixiedust]

My midwife will let me go to at least 42 wks so that's a blessing. However, EVERYONE else (well, almost everyone) is now convinced I could either have my dates wrong (I'm ONE DAY over), or something could be holding up labor. even my mom who was 10 days over w/ me is wondering what's up. makes the waiting even harder because everyone I know thinks I should have already had the baby.

[NaomiMcC]

I'm just over 40 weeks and chugging along just fine. I was due Nov. 11 --- it's now the 15th. Am I stressed about it? Nope. she'll get here when she gets here. We're trying all the natural stuff first (I type as I sip a RRL tea...)

And can I just ask, why the hell aren't these natural induction methods working for me!?!?! Sex hasn't worked, having some alcoholic drink hasn't worked, strong RRL tea hasn't worked, going for "bumpy" drives hasn't worked, nipple stimulation hasn't worked.....

Meh they haven't worked for me either. We'll just keep trying 'em and waiting it out.

[rainbowsprite]

I'm not quite overdue yet but my DD was 2.5 weeks late so I'm expecting to be overdue again soon. I found out today my baby has turned "back to back" and is a v awkward position as well.... so I'm happy she stays put a while longer while I work out a way to turn her, I dont want back labour again! anyone got any ideas that might help??

[MandarijnOrange]

I was due the 9th so tomorrow I'll be 41 weeks. I had my first NST yesterday and they did an ultrasound for AF and size (cause I have GD). I was having little contractions all during the test, I didn't even know that's what they were. This is my first baby and I thought it was her stretching out this whole time.

AF was great and baby is measuring between 8-8.5 lbs if they are 'correct'. I have to get another NST on Sat and one on Tuesday and then my OB is going to bring up the I word.

My contractions that I didn't know were contractions were regular all day yesterday and into the night and I had a few really painful ones with a doozy this morning and I started getting all excited and then....nothing. I am still having a contraction every now and then, but it's not regular like it was yesterday and I'm soooo annoyed.

:

[aylaanne]

I beat all of you, I'm hanging out here from October! I'm 42w1d today, and I had a NST on Monday and a BPP today. Two weeks ago, when I met with a CNM from my backup practice (I have two wonderful HBMWs) she had said that she'd want to induce around today, but I was really grateful when nobody mentioned it to me today.

I'm grateful for the availability of technology to tell me what I already know--that baby and I are okay and that we just need a little more time--but when the CNM today (different from last time) asked me to schedule another NST and BPP for next week (I don't have a problem with that) she handed me the order sheet, and she'd had to write in a "diagnosis" of postdates, in order to justify the test. So, according to their paperwork, postdates isn't even a good reason for doing these tests!

I've had three membrane sweeps so far, and after each one I get crampy and have some ctx, but then they peter out by the time I go to bed. I'm less frustrated now than I was at the beginning of the week, but I'm still pretty frustrated.

Oh, and I did castor oil--it did nothing except make me poop liquid fire for two days. That's it, no more, now we're just waiting.

[cheeseRjedi]

Ayla . I have been thinking about you.

Nipple stim hasn't done squat for me either!

I have to keep reminding everyone who calls me that it's an estimated due date, not an expiration date!

I changed my answering machine a day before my first due date to say "hi. this is cathy. our new baby has NOT joined us on the outside yet. when he or she does, we'll be sure to let everyone know as soon as we are settled in. thanks for your concern. have a great day". I thought I was being pretty polite but still getting the point across. My family seems a little put off by it but I guess that's the point . At least 3 messages have said "wow, when you said 'our new baby' I got all excited....just callin to see how you are and if you've had the baby yet..." :

[Googy]

Overdue here too, just barely. I had a good cry about it earlier in the week, but I'm feeling much more Zen about it now.

My MW will only let me go to 41 weeks and a few days because I am having kidney function issues, but we will try membrane stripping and foley catheter and such before anything else. Worst-case scenario is low-dose pit.

I'm trying to trust by baby right now. If she hasn't come yet then she isn't ready. I keep repeating this mantra to myself over and over. Hang in there everyone!!! We can do this together!

[marisa]

Around 41 weeks here, and had my BPP today. Everything is fine, except he's posterior. SO, I'm spending alot of time with my butt in the the air and pelvic tilts while my other three children climb all over me.

And I'm coming down with my kids' throat/coughing sickness.

[Elena'sMami]

Just about 41 wks, 6 days...I have great midwives who practice in a free-standing birth center, just 5 minutes away from a medical center, "just in case." I've always been sooooo happy with my midwives, b/c they are the people that I repose real trust in. I transfered from regular OB care during my first pregnancy b/c I just kept feeling (and later learned that I was right) that my Dr. wasn't telling me the truth, my rights, or any feasible options. The difference when I transferred to the birth center was amazing - even though it was only for the last 6 weeks.

This pregnancy, however, I've learned some disturbing news about the birth center and my great midwives: they operate because a team of Drs. SAYS they can operate, but they can only operate under the guidelines imposed by that team of Drs. So, for instance, after Saturday I cannot birth at the birth center - even if there doesn't appear to be anything wrong. It's policy - I have to go to the hospital, if I want the midwife to attend me. After 43 weeks, the midwives can no longer attend me - no matter my condition or baby's condition. If that doesn't stink! They have to obey the 'rules' imposed on them, or they can lose their licenses (they are all CNMs). So now I have to wonder, what of that which they tell me comes from their own store of knowledge and experience, and what comes from policies imposed from an external group? Of course, I still feel better about them than my old OB, but it's a bummer to find this all out at the end of pregnancy, and esp. when it's beginning to look like all those rules are coming down on me Sorry to be so depressed - I know it can't help - I'm just bummed!

Rebekah
gestating...still...sigh...

[Da WIC Lady]

I am so tired. I am so thankful for this thread. I have to keep reminding every medical professional I talk to that whole plus OR minus two weeks bit and that I'm not there yet. I have it up on all my messengers that the baby is not here yet, so friends aren't bugging me about it. Family has been pretty quiet too especially since I jumped on my brother who was calling me every day for three days before I was due. I'm so glad DH is coming home for a week and will be here tomorrow night late. OMG! I have to start cleaning this house!!!

Anna

[iloveoregon]

41 weeks and 2 days so far... I too go through my ups and downs about how I feel about this. Some days I am happy to wait, and other days I am scared to death that I'll be pregnant forever and I'll have to submit to all sorts of weird inductions. Sigh. I love my midwives though- they help me wait patiently and assume me I WILL deliver a baby soon.

I have decided to try acupuncture. I'm going in tomorrow for my first treatment. I've read lots of good things about it starting things (if your body is ready). I'll let you know if it works!!