Irrational fears over baby's lateness

[hattifattener]

Anyone else having this? We're not even a week overdue yet, but I feel sooooo late because everyone, including the doctor, expected this little one to be super early like DD1. So I've been expecting labor any second for three weeks now.

As of Wednesday morning, I was 60% effaced and "1 to 2" centimeters dilated, with the baby at zero station. So from this past Wednesday to the Wednesday before that one, all those cramps earned me maybe half a centimeter. : And now even the cramps have stopped. We've tried all the non intrusive stuff- spicy food, walks, lots of sex... even the full moon gave me some temporary but illusive hope.

What I'm dealing with right now is not just the impatience, but the worry over the baby's wellbeing that comes with feeling so late. (Even though I know I'm not as late as I feel like I am.) The baby isn't moving as much these days, although the heartbeat sounded great as of Wednesday. It's probably just running out of room, but I worry about the placenta getting all old and busted.

When I see my doctor this coming Wednesday (the one week overdue mark), should I have him strip the membranes? Induce Friday if nothing happens? I'm scared to wait til the two week mark. I just wish I knew if my baby was going to be okay, with all the extra sitting around in there. Why doesn't it want to come out???

[nurnur]

all pregnancies are different, it's hard not to compare to our last experience. I don't know why this time I feel a little more anxious than last. Your due time is anywhere between 37-42 weeks and although the medical system likes to call us overdue when we hit 1 day past 40 wks, technically we're not overdue till past 42wks. Your baby knows just what to do in there, and usually if you let the fruit get ripe it falls right off the tree on it's own. I am in the same boat (minus the doctor management), 40wk2days here, waiting patiently and thinking how much bigger this baby could get in 2 weeks time has me a little anxious. s mama. I would wait, trying to get things going if there not ready(induction/medical ways) to is setting yourself up for a long hard interventive birth. Im all about walking and sex and natural stimulation, because it seems like they won't do the trick if it's not time, but it does wear a mama out too.

[Nautical]

I second the above post. I am currently 41 weeks, and I am trying not to be concerned until 42 weeks. The only downside is that I can't birth at the birth center after 42 weeks. We're doing what we can to try to naturally induce (sparing castor oil), but in the event of a medical induction I couldn't birth and the birth center anyway. My next appointment I will be 41.5 weeks, so we may discuss membrane stripping. Right now I just assume my little one needs to cook longer.

[bax]

I know how hard it is to wait! But remember, a baby's not overdue until 42 weeks. Some LOs just want more time to stew. DD was 12 days past her date; so far with this one, I'm 40+1. (And FWIW, I, my sister, my husband, and his sisters were all between 3 days and 3 weeks "late" and nobody batted an eye!)

Last time around, my midwives did a nonstress test around 41 weeks and a sonogram to check fluid levels. These are ways to reassure you that all is well--and if all is not, then you have more information to go on to make further decisions. Are you open to doing these things so that you have some info. and don't just worry about the unknown?

Last time, I also decided to have my membranes stripped 8 days past my date, and went into labor the next day. (Yes, that means I labored for 3 days...) From what I understand, though, other methods of induction can be much more "severe" and greatly increase one's chances of "the cascade of interventions."

This time, the plan is pretty much the same if I go 41+ weeks. I don't think this midwife will do membrane stripping, but we will do the nonstress test and sonogram.

My midwife rarely does internal checks--certainly not before labor, and minimally during labor (and sometimes not at all if she has enough information from other signs of progress). Even if she did, I would not want to know the information from them. Is asking not to be told this information an option for you if you find it's just creating anxiety?

Hang in there!

[Patchfire]

It is hard - I had my first before her EDD, and my second just two days after his EDD. Here I am at 40+4, and while I had some nice suggestive cramps and contractions this morning, they've petered out. : I can't help but feel like something is "broken" since I am pregnant more than anyone ever expected... we all thought I'd go early! I don't have any medical management, but it does have some anxiety just from my own head...

[hislittlelambs]

I hear you. My son was only 2 days late, but he showed all signs of being a full term babe (NO vernix at all, none of the downy hair on the shoulders or the cheesy coating...he was compeltely clean).....and his placenta was showing smalls calcifications dotted around. He came perfectly on his time. (I never got to see my girls placentas in the hospital, so it was very interesting for me to see that with his)....anyway, because of that, because I know his placenta was showing signs at 40w2d, it has me slightly concerned with this one. I am 40w today. I know each pregnancy is different. I know by my previous track record all my babes come 5 days later than the last one did...so theoritically i shouldn't get too concerned until this one goes past 41weeks...but still, because of with my son, i do worry a bit. it's hard not to.

plus, when i hit 10 days past duedate, I have to check into my MW's backup hospital to start "discussions of induction"...i don't know if this means i talk to midwives there about natural remedies, or if this means we book to come in for a pit drip. i have no idea how they do it out here. (I do know the hospital inductions are similiar here to in the states, they start with A,B, and C and ocne you get going they keep you going with D, E, and F....blah blah blah!!!! I just don't know when they start pushing THAT scenerio)

anyway...i hear you on the concern and the worry, and it's hard not to. especially when everyone you run into that finds out you're past 40 weeks asks "when are you going to induce?" as thier immediate next question. :

(((hugs)))

[alleybcat]

Originally Posted by hislittlelambs

I hear you. My son was only 2 days late, but he showed all signs of being a full term babe (NO vernix at all, none of the downy hair on the shoulders or the cheesy coating...he was compeltely clean).....and his placenta was showing smalls calcifications dotted around.

When I read stories like this, I get a little nervous. But at dinner tonight I thought of something. MAYBE your body knew that he was done cooking and that your placenta was starting to get old which is why he birthed when he did. MAYBE your body knows when your placenta is done and won't let you go past that time??????

Does anyone else think this?