how far past your due date would you wait??

[Ekatherina]

my due date is on tuesday but even my midwife is not ready to wait more than that it seems. so what is the situation at your place?

[TaraD.]

I am 40+6 and my doctor scheduled me to be induced at 41+1 (which is Wednesday). I really don't want to be induced. If the baby isn't here by my doctor's appointment on Tuesday, I am going to ask if she will let me put of the induction until Friday or Monday. She will not let me go past 42 weeks. However it does sound as if some midwives will allow that, although I'm not sure. Is there a reason that she wants you to deliver so quickly?

[attachedmamaof3]

DS#1- 9 days "over"
DS#2- 7 days "over"
DD- 18 days "over"

[Mary-Beth]

Wait for what? Labor?
I would wait at the very least 2 weeks past my due date and then I'd probably check fluid levels with ultrasound and if everything was good I'd keep waiting.
Due dates are estimates and women have healthy full term babies from 37 through 42 weeks, and some even later.

[Goddess3_2005]

Well I'm 40+6 right now, I have an appointment at 41+1 I'm pretty sure they won't let me got much longer because of my GD etc., but I'm worried an induction would fail again and mean c-section. Come on full moon get this baby out!!!!

[paphia]

I would definitely wait until two weeks past 40, and then pay close attention to my vitals/ the baby's after that. If there are no signs of distress, I would absolutely refuse an induction. Having my attendant freak out about going past 40 weeks would make me have serious doubts about their abilities to facilitate a healthy, normal birth.

Just remember that while they may schedule you for an induction, you do NOT have to show up for it.

Check your Bishop's score - if you are not 'favorable' for induction, you're very likely to end up with a c-section. http://www.mother-care.ca/bishop.htm

[Ironica]

I'm waiting until 42 weeks, and then evaluating my options (which are more limited due to the scar on my uterus). At that point, if I get a strong sense that baby is really just asking me for more time, I'll probably work hard to get it, though I respect that my provider is a LOT more relaxed about these things than most are, and I don't want to push him too far past his comfort zone. If I seem like I'm on the verge, I might accept a bit of pitocin to see if that can jump-start things. If nothing seems to be happening, and I feel like nothing is *going* to happen (sometimes, baby doesn't start labor because they DO need assistance), I'll probably schedule a c-section at that time.

Right now I'm 8 days past my due date, so this decision is coming up on Friday for us if there's still no baby. :-/ Not nearly so hypothetical as it would seem. So far, I've done one NST and have another one tomorrow, and my Dr. checks the fluid levels at each appointment. Everything looks great and normal.

[Incubator]

I'm stunned. What kind of midwife do you have that won't "let" you go past your "due date"? She should at the very least wait two weeks before she even mentions induction. :

Look at your bishops score, like pp mentioned, and fight for yourself, if you feel the need. If you do go for an induction, start with pit, not breaking the water. Once the water is broken, that's it, but at least you can turn off the pit and go home if you think it's not working.

[amaayeh]

At my 40 week I asked what the procedure was past this point. At my birth center, their policy is not to deliver after 42 weeks - you have to be transferred to the hossy. SO, she said at 41.5 weeks I would go in for an ultrasound to make sure the placenta is working correctly, baby is fine, etc. If I make it to 41w6d 23 hours, she said they would break my water (assuming I'm as dilated as they think I am...probably at least 3 cm). I keep telling myself she's going to come before this and I don't need to stress about it, but that's hard. I hate feeling like there is a deadline. IF I get to that point, I'll just have to decide what to do. For me, I would probably rather them break my water than go to the hospital. I don't know yet, though.

I am REALLY surprised a midwife would want to talk induction AT your due date. I would keep probing and asking questions as far as why they feel that way, etc. Good luck and I hope you don't get pressured into something you don't want!

[Bully Lover]

Well I am at 42 weeks 3 days today. We are waiting until I hit 43 weeks before we talk about any sort of induction. We haven't had an ultrsaound yet although we may talk about it in a day or two.

[spookymama]

For us, it turned out to be 42 weeks. I may have been comfortable going up to a week longer if I had not suspected a leak.

I thought my comfort zone originally was 41. Then, we took it on a day by day basis. How I was feeling, how the baby was moving. As it was, we made it to 41 weeks 5 days. I am so happy our little one came when she was ready, and we didn't have to re-evulate how we felt about that mile marker!

[Ekatherina]

well, actually ds1 was born after 42 weeks, but he was born in japan where it is perfectly normal to wait until then. and he was born perfectly normal of course... i told my mw that from the beginning of my pregnancy that i suspect the second baby will take at least that long, but she seemed not ready to wait. when i had an appointment on april 6 she checked me and said the baby is going to be born in 3-4 days. and if he is not here by 17th (my due date is 22) she wants to check again. so i went and she checked on 17th (very very painful, i think she tried to dilate something) and said that baby will not be born until 22nd probably. ....but she wants to check me on 22nd and if nothing happens she wants to make things going (i guess that means rupturing my membranes). i am not comfortable with this and i guess i will show on 22nd just to tell her that i'm waiting for my baby at least until 42 weeks, if she doesnt like it we are searching for someone else. (i cant just call her because her phone line is down and she lives 15 minutes away from us so no real problem for a ride)

[tinyshoes]

my personal answer to the question is that I'd wait 'til 42 weeks.....but I'd be getting pretty antsy by 41 weeks 5 days, b/c in Minnesota, it's legal for certified professional midwives to attend a homebirth anytime between 37 and 42 weeks.

[KariM]

As long as the baby was moving well and healthy I'd wait until around 44 weeks. I might go even farther if all indications were that the baby was healthy.

I think midwife and OB dictated deadlines are a buch of CYA hooey personally. Unless there is a true medical emergency babies should be left to birth when THEY are ready, not the hcp.

[~ATenthMuse~]

42 weeks, or near there. (I've got a little padding on my dates.)

It looks like I may get to find out.

[Ekatherina]

today is my due date and mw's appointment...:(

so that is it. today i have to decide what to do, as my mw suggested she will make things going today. i am thinking of going anyway and talking to her more. but dh says just ignore her and let's see what happens. a little lost here..:

[amaayeh]

If I were you, I would go, but I wouldn't agree to anything except maybe a NST. I think you will be fine waiting at least another week and I would be surprised if you can't reason with MW about it. Good luck!

[Ekatherina]

try bumpy roads?..:)

yesterday i called her brother (since her phoneline is down) and told him to tell her that i am coming to see her in two days.....so i postponed an appointment for 2 days and have to decide by friday what should I say or do. (or let her do).
today i am thinking of going tomorrow to the town which is 1 hour by bus on a bumpy road. i will change atmosphere, buy some things and might make things going....no? are bumpy roads safe? in the town i have a doctor i know so i might call her if something start happening there and i can't get on the bus back. my ILs live there so they take me anywhere no problem. i'm thinking of leaving ds with dh for half a day and take some break in the town....do you think it's a good idea?

[amitymama]

I would start to allow NSTs and ultrasounds at 42wks+ but wouldn't necessarily consent to an induction unless I felt or there was an indication that there was something wrong.

[Ekatherina]

no baby still... it is getting difficult to wait since my mw is totally against waiting. she keeps on telling me that the baby might have asthma if he is so much overdue and that he will be all wrinkled and might have difficulty in breathing while born. frankly i have no idea where her information is coming from. so she keeps on saying that since we decided to wait (me and dh) if the baby is born somehow diffected it will be our responsibility. i am really getting nervous with all these contractions (mostly painful now) at night getting stronger and then fading away. do you think there might be really something wrong? add all the relatives who are calling and nagging that i should have an induction and imagine how stressed i am. :.....anyway we decided to wait and we are waiting....