How long is too long?

[Roriesmama]

So here are all the details..

I am 41 weeks and 5 days. I am not uncomfortable, I am still sleeping well. My body is handling this very well. I have had bouts of contractions but without keeping nipple stim up they just go away.( I did nipple stim for 5 hours last week!) I have been contracting every day off and on for about 2.5weeks. Yesterday my midwife had me do 2 oz of castrol oil and then an hour later 2 more. I was also doing nipple stim and the cohoshes. Nothing ever happened.

Also I am 2cm and 100% effaced.

I am SUPER sure of my dates. The condom broke

I know I am not even "late" until Wednesday. At what point does the placenta start to fail? I am thinking about having a midwife do a non stress test just to ease my mind.

My daughter came at 39 weeks on the nose, my water broke, I never went into labor, I had pitocin that finally started the contractions. Is there some sort of a disorder that the body doesn't contract by itself?

I knew that I might go over due, my mom was 3 weeks late with me and 1 week late with my sister so it does run in the family. MySister also when to be induced at 40w and 4 days and she was 0cm and 0%effaced so I don't think that baby was going anything soon.

Any suggestions or advice would be welcomed!

[kungfumoose]

My daughter was born at 42 weeks and 1 day.
I never had any contrctions or anything until 42 weeks on the nose. I woke up with some mucus plug and a teeny bit of bloody show, 2 hours later, I was in labor.

I truly believe that 99.99% of women's bodies will go into labor when it becomes safer (or as safe) on the outside than on the inside.

You asked about the placenta starting to fail. There is no set limit on when the placenta starts to fail, but I don't think that a woman's body is going to keep her baby inside if it starts to fail. When my mother was pregnant with me, it started to fail at 7 & 1/2 mos. She went into labor almost as soon as things were going wrong (of course the drs intervened, and there were a lot of problems, but that's a whole other story!)

I trust my body, and my baby that they know things that I don't.
I read somwhere that as a baby's lungs start to mature, it releases a hormone that builds up in the mother's brain, and helps to trigger labor. It is possible that your baby's lungs aren't as mature as they need to be.

Remember average gestation for a human is 38-42 weeks, your not even at 42 yet. Trust your body.

BTW - I just heard today (I have no idea if it is true or not) that Einstein was born at 44 weeks and a few days. I thought that was kind of cool.

[sunnymw]

I read recently (I think on the gentlebirth archives?) that the stillbirth rate doesn't even start to go up until well after 43 weeks... and to me, the risks of induction would be higher than the risks of being overdue. IMO, being a religious woman, I believe that God knows when it's time.

How long did you go after your water had broken? I was also pit'ed up after mine broke, but wasn't given long to start contracting on my own. Some women start right away, some take days on end, which is fine if nothing is introduced into the vagina and you keep up your fluids and take your temp regularly.

[Ladybyrd]

Originally Posted by kungfumoose

There is no set limit on when the placenta starts to fail, but I don't think that a woman's body is going to keep her baby inside if it starts to fail.

Most of the time, that is correct, but since no woman can possibly know if it will happen to her placenta, getting an NST to make sure baby is fine is a good idea. OP, if getting an NST will set your mind at ease, do it. It can't hurt, and it's a great way to make sure everything's well with the baby.

[apelilae]

I said 43 weeks. I would do the acupuncture for a good while before any chemical induction though.

[KBinSATX]

Originally Posted by Ladybyrd

Most of the time, that is correct, but since no woman can possibly know if it will happen to her placenta, getting an NST to make sure baby is fine is a good idea. OP, if getting an NST will set your mind at ease, do it. It can't hurt, and it's a great way to make sure everything's well with the baby.

I would go by baby's condition, etc. rather than a set time limit. If there is a way to check on baby and placenta then that's what I would do - like the NST mentioned above.

[Kidzaplenty]

I had to answer 44 wks. And that is only because I was a 44wker.

Personally, I have only gone 42 and think I would go mad to go longer. But would only consider a true induction at 44 wks, unless there seemed to be a problem.

[alegna]

Been there, done that. Just on the other side. For *us* it meant a lot of soul searching and following the facts.

*All indications showed the baby was fine (kick charts, heart rate, etc)
*All indications showed mom was fine

I would absolutely not consider it before 42 weeks without medical reason. Not even herbals.

In my case, ds was just born at 43 weeks 5 days. He did not look at all over done (COVERED in thick vernix also) MW's assessment put him at 40 weeks.

I feel that he had a reason. I feel that he needed that time.

-Angela

[Roriesmama]

Originally Posted by sunnymw

I read recently (I think on the gentlebirth archives?) that the stillbirth rate doesn't even start to go up until well after 43 weeks... and to me, the risks of induction would be higher than the risks of being overdue. IMO, being a religious woman, I believe that God knows when it's time.

How long did you go after your water had broken? I was also pit'ed up after mine broke, but wasn't given long to start contracting on my own. Some women start right away, some take days on end, which is fine if nothing is introduced into the vagina and you keep up your fluids and take your temp regularly.

Sine it was a hospital birth they put me on pitocin within hours because of the 24 hour policy.. If i knew then what I know now I would have never let them. It made for a very hard birth where I had to go against them to not have a c section.

[Collinsky]

Oh no... there was no "Other"... I vote OTHER!!! I don't know which of the others to choose.

I would get an induction at any weeks gestation, if my gut said baby had to come out now, if my intuition said it had to happen, and information backed it up. So I can't say I'd "never" do any induction. If I had a gut feeling that something was wrong, strong enough to go to the dr (I have unassisted pregnancies) and have an ultrasound or NST, and then that showed an issue - well, I'd be weighing the pros and cons of an induction based on new information.

BUT I would never get an induction just for being past my due date. Possibly around 42 weeks I might try acupuncture, or chiropractic, or something, just to make sure everything is lined up right.

I guess I'm going to say 44 weeks.

Sending happy birthy vibes for you!! My first came at 38.5 weeks, so I was all set for my second to come at a similar gestation... and she was born at 41.5 weeks. I was DONE by then so I'm sure you are for sure! But it will be soon. Your body made this baby, I think it's usually a safe bet to assume that that body will see it through to the end. You will go into labor, when it's right for the baby.

[CanidFL]

I said 43 weeks but honestly, if I went past 40 weeks, I would have a NST every week. That is my midwife’s policy and I am happy with that.

[bri276]

it depends on a lot. if I felt great, baby was active, NST (which I wouldn't even start until past 42) regularly looked fine, maybe I'd be ok going past 44 wks. but if I were having weird prodomal labor that started and stopped, or baby seemed quiet, or I instinctively felt something wrong (like I did w/ dd at 41 wks), then I would first try every at-home natural induction technique that I was comfortable with, and if none of those worked, I'd consider getting pitocin but never cytotec or AROM. Sometimes babies just want longer to cook, but sometimes they're malpositioned or the cord is funky and it causes this off and on labor that never kicks into high gear. And rarely, for whatever reason, babies actually do overcook. I have a cool pediatrics book from the 80s (when more babies were actually "allowed" past 42 wks : ) and it was interesting to see the effects of "postmaturity"- mostly lots of hair, long nails, maybe the skin looks sort of loose or peeling. basically, as long as the placenta was fine, so was the baby.

also, knowing the day you conceived isn't always what it's cracked up to be. sperm can live in your body up to a week, so who knows?

[Emmeline II]

A little OT but what I did to encourage my baby to come was walking and floating in the kidde pool. I also did both on her due date and my contractions started at midnight.

I also had a home doppler that was important in keeping my anxiety down.

[Koalamom]

I said never, but that is only because the option for "let it be up to the midwife, and see how healthy the baby is" isn't listed.

I was over 4 weeks late, and my baby was born healthy and 7 lbs 8 oz. I would have been induced earlier if my midwife saw the need.

[Belle]

I put that I would never be induced but that's not quite true. I would not be induced for no other reason than an arbitrary date. If babe wasn't doing well I would induce. But I wouldn't even start an NST until 43 weeks. That's my midwives cut off for homebirth.

[sapphire_chan]

I chose the last thing because if the only indication for an induction was gestational duration I wouldn't do it.

Mind you, I've been eating spicy food and having sex and walking and messing with my nipples (cause the little drops of fluid are fun to watch) through this whole pregnancy and I wouldn't stop doing those. And those are all ways of encouraging labor.

[soso-lynn]

I would not worry as long as there are no signs that something wrong, regardless of time.

On another note, castor oil is not something to mess around with. I would research that carefully before taking it. If you are comfortable and not worried, I do not think it is worth the risks. What was your midwife's explanation for suggesting it?

[mustangtbn]

I said "never no matter how far", but I have 2 qualifications to add:

1) I am saying that in regards to dates and dates alone. If I thought there was something wrong, or if I had some true medical emergency, then of course I would consider an induction if appropriate for that situation.

2) I am saying that now only because I've BTDT. Long story short, I did a castor oil induction at 42 weeks with my first (even though I was VERY unhappy with the idea), due to my midwife's advice and refusal to assist me at home if baby didn't come within 3 more days. I ended up having the homebirth, and my baby was born healthy. Other than that, while my experience was probably still better than the average hospital birth, it was still pretty traumatic and difficult for me, and I don't think it was the best thing for my baby either. I simply don't think that either she or I were ready. Last time, I never had that "I'm done, just get the baby out" feeling - on the contrary, I felt she was safe and happy where she was and I would have been happy to leave her there for longer, if it hadn't been for the pressure from my MW. I also have a family history of long pregnancies (42 weeks is the minimum).

This time, after much research and assuming all goes well, I'm committed to waiting it out for as long as my baby needs. It's difficult, but try to trust your body and follow your instincts. The placenta isn't really on a timer - it can fail long before 40 weeks, or be completely fine long after 42 weeks. I've read that eating a diet with enough high-quality, complete protein seems to be a big factor in the health of the placenta. An NST sounds like it might be helpful to you if you're concerned.

Yours a difficult situation to be in. I wish you a great birth experience, and happy, healthy baby, whatever you decide to do!

[srlpenny]

There are more natural things. like castor oil for example that i would try before I checked in for the pit. But I think after 43 weeks I'd be willing to go the hospital to be induced. Much begrudgingly.

[Roriesmama]

OP here...


I spoke to the other midwife about doing an non stress test at 42 weeks. She said she really wasn't comfortable doing them because she isn't an ultrasound tech and if she got something wrong she would feel horrible. She did however have a idea, she said that when her patients go over 42 weeks she send them to a man named Dr Tubbs. She said she has only gotten the most truthful answers from him and totally respects and accepts what he says. She said he has yet to tell her that one of her patients needed to be induced. He does a very good job checking out the placenta and fluids and making sure baby is healthy. He has yet to be wrong, all of her overdue Mamas had wonderfully healthy babies

I called his office today, they can see me on Thursday morning. Thursday will be 42 and 1 day for me so I feel very good about this! I feel like I will get the truth and if everything looks great we will just keep trucking until the baby wants to come.

My midwife said she has never had anyone go over 42 and 2 and I really think my little girl is going to set a record

I feel sooo much better that I have a plan now. I was very "zen" with this pregnancy and feel out of it somehow in the last few days. Now I feel right back in that place again. It's nice