Going beyond your edd

[SmashingHP]

I would *love* to hear encouraging stories of going beyond your edd. I'm 42 weeks + 3 days and while I was fine with it, I've become somewhat anxious and nervous with family nagging and sharing horror stories to "inform" me, etc. Now I'm sorta second guessing myself and feeling like is my body defective.. why can't I go into labor? My first pregnancy was induced at 42w2d and that is primarily why I chose to HB so my body could do what it needed when it was ready... While the midwives don't have a cut-off date and they're soooo supportive, I get the impression 44 weeks is when they might want to have me get induced!

[Greaseball]

Well, I haven't been there, but the MW we are going with says that after 42 weeks she requires an ultrasound biophysical profile, and that if everything is fine there, she will let it progress as long as it may take. She had one mother who was overdue for 2 MONTHS!! True, it may have been a miscalculated due date, but still, when according to the u/s it was that overdue, that's great she was willing to attend!

I'm guessing by 44 weeks you will be there, but if for some reason you aren't, you can always refuse induction. I also hear that going overdue means you are extremely well nourished, so way to go!

[Spark]

Hey, SmashingHP -- Just wanted to say, I think you're cool. You extremely well nourished mama! HP on those naysayers about going overdue. I know a lot of women who naturally have longer pregnancies. They grow the cutest babies!

I, too, would think you'll probably go naturally before 44 weeks.

Someone want to talk about personal experience?

Here are some stories of pleasantly overdue babies--
http://www.birthlove.com/free/ten_month_mama.html (this one looks great all about 10-month babies)

http://www.birthjunkie.com/jonny.html

http://www.birthstories.com/stories/3455.htm

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/hattyseren.htm

http://www.birthjunkie.com/apgjournal.html

http://www.birthstories.com/stories/3975.htm

http://www.homebirth.org.uk/jo.htm


You're in my thoughts. Sending you peaceful waiting/labor vibes.

[lunar forest]

With ds I was 43 weeks before I went into labour. Because of my long and irregular cycles the midwife and I were both expecting to go later, but not that much! With this pregnancy we're just expecting labour to start "late" as well. Some women carry babies longer; every women is differant as is every pregnancy.

Just being "post dates" is nothing to worry about. You won't be pregnant forever! (even though it may feel that way.)

Trust your body!

If you do feel like you would like to try some natural ways to get labour going, there are many things that can be done safely. You can PM me if you're interested. I'd just reccomend letting your body do it's own thing. It sounds like you're fine to me.

[Greaseball]

Here's an idea I heard from the boards - if you are threatened with induction, say you just found a jounal entry dated 37 weeks ago that says "Tonight my husband and I made love for the first time in 6 weeks." If they think you are only 37 weeks, they will have to let you go a really long time before they induce!

[Carolinamidwife]

why can't I go into labor?

Oh sweetie, I know it feels like that but you can and you will go into labor. Your body knows what it is doing and there is some reason that your baby is not yet ready to come out. You are just a slow cooker, that's all. I know you have got to be so sick of being pregnant by now. Have you had a good hysterical cry? That might help. One of my midwives went to 43 weeks and she did not go into labor until she cried her eyes out and just accepted the fact that she would be pregnant forever. She had the baby that night.

Just don't talk to anyone who wants to rag you about your body's timing, they don't know what they're talking about. 40 weeks is just an arbitrary timeline. You're going to have the baby and it's going to be soon and it's going to be great.

Take care,

Amy

[Spark]

SmashingHP -- you stay away from this thread too long, we'll start to think you posted it hastily. Are you in labor????

[SmashingHP]

Nah, I wish. Still here!!! I was going to respond, really I was! Everyone is always so encouraging here! It's so refreshing!!! I liked reading the info from birthlove.com Maybe I should get a membership but I'm probably almost done being pregnant! Hehe.. Thanks for those links, Sparklin!!!

Lunar Forest, that's great to hear you delivered at 43 weeks! I love hearing about that! I wonder how normal it would be if doctors allowed pregnancy to continue naturally! Hmm..

[momnloveit]

This was back in the "olden days", but my aunt had all seven of her babies at 44 weeks. After the 1st few, she just figured out that's how long it takes.

[Spark]

Oh, yeah, that reminds me, momnloveit. One of my aunts who had kids in the 70's went a full lunar month overdue with both her kids. The first one she kept trying to induce herself with caster oil and spicy food and bumpy drives, etc. With the 2nd one she decided not to do anything and here they were both with in a couple days after 44 weeks. She said that month of trying to induce was much worse than either of the labors.

Fast forward to modern day -- my aunt's first daughter had a baby. The Dr. induced her at 41 weeks. The baby was really scrawny and had trouble breathing. My theory is that some women just cook at 250 degrees and other cook at 400 degrees. You just never know how hot your oven is or when the timer is going to go off.

Edited because I called it "Mineral oil" instead of "caster oil" Big difference. At least I didn't call it motor oil. :

[ComaWhite]

Originally posted by Sparklin
My theory is that some women just cook at 250 degrees and other cook at 400 degrees. You just never know how hot your oven is or when the timer is going to go off.

I like the way you think Sparklin!

I was "overdue" by 9 days (with an exact due date)

[Greaseball]

The Dr. induced her at 41 weeks. The baby was really scrawny and had trouble breathing.

The sad thing is that when this happens, the doctor thinks it's because he didn't induce sooner. That's probably what leads to inductions being done sooner and sooner. My dh was born at 42.5 weeks; no way would his mom have been "allowed" to go anywhere past 40 weeks now.