41 and more weekers

[alleybcat]

I turned 41 weeks today. My son was born at exactly 41 weeks. I have been having false labor and really bad period like cramps for the past week or so.

I am starting to feel really crazy.

My midwife is very into letting a baby decide it's own due date, I think that she would let me go to 43 weeks or more. But I just don't know if I feel comfortable with that.

How are people dealing? If you had your baby after 41 weeks, how did you deal?

How long will you go without doing something to induce? What would you do?

[Sheryl1678]

I am super uncomfortable at 39 weeks so it is hard to say how I will react at 41 weeks (or 43)!!!! Good for you for hanging in there.

I do tend to agree with your midwife about letting baby choose their birthday though. I might try natural things like acupressure at 42 weeks and get serious about it at 43.

[nurnur]

I had babes @ 41.5 and 41.3 waiting is hard. s
being really really sure of your dates is important, I really want to believe I would just let baby decide, but I know how desperate I would get if I got to 42 weeks, I think I would try accupressure, acupunture, sex, walking, running, climbing, sex, EPO, handstands, spicy foods, castor oil, herbs, and possibly strip my membranes but I don't think I would break my waters. I can't believe Im saying all this since it really goes against what I believe but I know how desperate I would get. s hang in there mama!

[Jamie19]

I'm 42 weeks today.

I don't really believe in induction if a baby is doing well on the inside. I had a heart rate testing yesterday and the baby is moving fine, heart tones are good and I'm content.

Very ready to pop this one out, but content.

[Betahasan]

I am 42 weeks and I am soooo ready to have this baby out. I am attempting a VBAC, so there are times where I really want to wait and not be induced, however I have those thoughts in my head about me "pushing my luck".... I just dont want to wait too long, but I know that she will come when she is ready.

So I am very torn about it... My doc wont let me go too much farther, my next appointment with her is Tues... so hopefully something will happen by then.. If not, I am afraid there might be an induction on Wed. I have tried all things natural... homeopathics, spicy food, sex, walking, eggplant parm, sex, black and blue cohosh, acupressure, sex, acupuncture, a chiropractor, sex.. everything! I have not done castor oil, or striped my membranes.. I am avoiding those.

So I am thinking of doing a Foley if I go in on Wed, and see what happens with me.. I dunno.... I am tired of trying to get her out, knowing now, I cannot make her come out and only she will tell us when she is ready... but I dont think I can handle going to 43 weeks!

-Bethany

[Jamie19]

If I were you I'd do membrane stripping before induction<33 Good luck mama.

Originally Posted by Betahasan

I am 42 weeks and I am soooo ready to have this baby out. I am attempting a VBAC, so there are times where I really want to wait and not be induced, however I have those thoughts in my head about me "pushing my luck".... I just dont want to wait too long, but I know that she will come when she is ready.

So I am very torn about it... My doc wont let me go too much farther, my next appointment with her is Tues... so hopefully something will happen by then.. If not, I am afraid there might be an induction on Wed. I have tried all things natural... homeopathics, spicy food, sex, walking, eggplant parm, sex, black and blue cohosh, acupressure, sex, acupuncture, a chiropractor, sex.. everything! I have not done castor oil, or striped my membranes.. I am avoiding those.

So I am thinking of doing a Foley if I go in on Wed, and see what happens with me.. I dunno.... I am tired of trying to get her out, knowing now, I cannot make her come out and only she will tell us when she is ready... but I dont think I can handle going to 43 weeks!

-Bethany

[Nautical]

I am 41 weeks and my only concern is that I can't birth at my birth center after 42 weeks. If I go over 41w6d I have to birth in the hospital. The hospital will only allow a natural labor up to 42w6d. (Although I don't know what that means...if I don't consent to something, I don't consent.) I feel like I have only six more days before I have to compromise my birth wishes. Clearly the babe isn't taking requests, but it would be great if s/he would be born tomorrow (Sunday) so that Daddy could take the whole week off of work.

[LollyOrglamic]

I'm 41+3 and have my 2nd sweep booked for Monday (figure anything is better than full-on induction) I've tried homeopathy, sex, curry, exercise, pineapple, bouncing on the birthing ball, aromatherapy, reflexology...pretty much everything now. Unfortunately in the area I live they won't allow you to go past 42 weeks and I only have till Thurs.
Really don't want them to interfere with her as I know she is the only one who knows when she'll be ready!! Feel under quite a lot of pressure from the midwives and hospital. Was booked for a home birth but that is no longer an option as I measure 'big for dates'. I just hope so much that if it does come to an induction that it is not too traumatic for her.
On the other hand I'm so excited about meeting her and feel very positive that she has had a very happy, calm experience for the last nine months. I think that even with induction, you can make it a good experience and enjoy the most incredible experience there is! :
Good Luck to all the other Mums still waiting their special deliveries!

[Patchfire]

I'm hitting 41w in... oh, three hours.

I am having a hard time... I didn't expect to be pregnant longer with my third than either of my other two, especially not this much more pregnant (ds was born at 40+2). I think I've spent the last week trying to figure out "why" - is it me? Am I doing something to 'hold her in?' I don't know. I'm in a pretty bad mental place. :

[fruitfulmomma]

I am 41 weeks tomorrow... This is my 5th pregnancy. My other births were 40+5, 42+?, 43+?, and 41+?. (Sorry, can't remember exact days.)

My oldest is the only one I did not do anything to attempt to move things along. We used herbs with the second one, AROM with the third one, and enema and herbs with the fourth. With the third and fourth we had medical issues (that presented at the point right before induction, I would have induced sooner if I had any indication earlier), so I feel they were justified. With the second one I think I was just scared of having to go the hospital route and I am not sure they really worked and I ended up there anyway.

I have been having contractions on and off for the last week, which is new for me. I started on RRL Tincture today to try to move things along. I really didn't want to do that this time, but I having been throwing up almost everyday for the last two weeks and just feel like it's time. Hopefully baby agrees. Otherwise, I will give it at least two more weeks before agreeing to a medical induction unless something appears to be wrong.