JUst curious if any mommas went to 42 weeks (or more). I'm getting really paranoid- 41 weeks today and no sign of anything starting soon.

[NutMeg76]

I did not, but I know many women who have. I also know women that consented to an induction on tehir first baby because they were 'overdue' at 41-42 weeks, and ended up with a c-section. In future pregnancies, they waited and let their baby come when it was ready. Some went to 42+ weeks one was 43+ weeks. They were able to VBAC after being told all kinds of things about their bodies and how they could never give birht. That their bodies didn't know how to labor and they were broken because they didn't go into to labor 'naturally' by 42 weeks.

You are not technically 'overdue' until AFTER 42 weeks. Some women jus tnaturally gestate longer.

The issue here is that once I hit 42 weeks I have "risked out" of delivering at the birth center and have to transfer my care to an OB and deliver at a hospital. I also started my maternity leave monday (I called yesterday to see if I could come back until I went into labor and they said no) and I am just wasting time at this point. I understand that it is not uncommon to go past 40 weeks and I understand that "babies come when they're ready", but I'm quickly approaching having to deal with a lot of problems and expense over this lazy little dude.

Seriously, if I could reach my cervix I'd be jabbing the crap out of it right now, I am soooo mad

[NutMeg76]

I understand the frustration, but your inconvience (I know that is spelled wrong) is just that, but if you start tyring to push things before they are ready you could end up with an even worse situation.

THe average first time mom goes 41 weeks 1 day. Maybe set in your mind that as you 'end date' and it might help you out. Stressing too much will not let your body do what it needs to do. Stress hormones work in reverse of labor hormones.

Meg, please understand me, this is not an issue of convenience, it is an issue of next week I will be in the hospital getting pumped with pitocin whether I like it or not if I can't figure out how to get this baby to come out. I am 41/1 tomorrow, I am not dilating, I am not having any contractions, I have done herbs, walking, bouncing, nipple stim, tomorrow or friday my midwife wants me to drink castor oil so I can $#@! my brains out for a while. I am just running out of options and mad and sad and venting. If I was into interfering with the natural process I wouldn't be here right now, I would be holding my baby who my former doctor wouldv'e induced labor for at 39 weeks. I was not cool with that, but I'm also not cool with going through all of this just to be drugged and induced after going that extra time.

I'm sorry for acting like an ahole.

[andi2284]

I know how you feel at this point, it's hard to go overdue and it's difficult to even think rationally. Chances are, your baby will be here in the next week, most babies do come between 40-42 weeks. Yes, it's possible to go longer than that, but less likely than your baby coming in the next week. I've always thought a huge part of holding up labor can be that some moms are so stressed about it. Sometimes you just need to give in and accept that you have no control over what is going to happen. You still have a full week and right now, I know that seems like a looming deadline, but you could go into labor at any time. Most first time moms have no signs of labor, it just happens spontaneously and *bam!* there's the baby! Just do your best to relax and pamper yourself until your baby comes.

I can't say I know exactly how you feel-because I don't. I've never gone over by that far.

Something you could try is a natural induction of ripening the cervix and getting contractions going by using a whole, fresh basil leaf-it's similar to a doctor using cervidil. Place it up into the vagina-don't worry about it "getting lost." There really isn't anywhere for it to go to, and if you can't find it, the MW can. Eat lots of fresh (not canned) pineapple, eat lots of basil and oregano, take some EPO, do squats (you'll want to use a chair at this stage ). Have an O (I know you said in your other post you can't have sex, but you can still have an O without sex... ).

Good luck!!!

[NutMeg76]

That is okay. But just because you have to go to an OB does not mean you will be induced. They can only do to you what you let them. They can threaten you, and they will, they can pull the dead baby card, and they will, but they can NOT force you to be induced. They can not put an IV into your arm and give you pit if you don't go into the hospital. They can scehdule an inductionand you can cancel it.

If they say that they will 'fire' you as a patient, at this point they would, by law, have to find a new provider to give you care, it would be their responsibilty. So either they have to agree to what you want, or they have to find you someone who will.

I know that is not the ideal plan, but it might be what you have to do if you want to birth the way you want to.

[moon~maiden]

like I said yesterday, try the hypnobabies out now track, you can download it from the site, or go for acupuncture. You still have options!

as mentioned, the average time for a first time mom is 41 weeks and 1 day.

[cheezpoofs]

Lucius went to forty-two weeks plus three. He was in the perfect position for birth, though and we had a really smooth drug, intervention and problem-free labor and delivery. He was so healthy and alert and great at nursing right from the start. It's hard to be patient once you get so close to the end, but I truly believe that it's best to wait until baby is ready and comes on his/ her own. You'll be holding your little one very soon - they can't grow to teenagerhood in the womb.

Hope that baby is on the way as we speak!

[MRM]

Just curious what people's thoughts are on having a 1/2 glass of wine or beer at the very end?

I have a few friends who have told me that their doctors told them to have half a glass of wine to relax at the end and let labor happen at the end and they think it helped.

There are definitely risks associated with it, but some people feel a little at the very end can be helpful. (Generally what I've heard is a half a regular serving or less not more that 3X/ week.) The March of Dimes and many other orgs do not agree with this advice though. It was much more common when I lived in Europe.


Good luck!

[Alison79]

My son Reid was born at 42w3d, I know how hard those last few weeks are. Is there any chance you could change to a provider that would allow you to go past 42 weeks? My midwife had me do a sono at 42 weeks and baby was doing great so we just waited. Chances are you'll go into labor before then, but if not there are providers out there that feel 42 weeks isn't an expiration date

[Sally5]

MRM - my doc actually had me drink a glass of red wine every now and then to stop preterm labor, so I would think that it would do the opposite of starting labor? Not sure though.

I hate you're so miserable and stuck right now. Either way it goes, you will have your healthy baby soon...you're aaaallllllmost there

{{{HUGS}}}

[NutMeg76]

WIne can help you relax and help labor along, especially if you are having prodromal (fales) labor.

I personally have no problem with wine or beer at the end of pregnancy. Seriously, if it helps mom acheive labor and a natural childbirth, which ovids pitocin and possible epidural from teh induction. I think it is better. Alcohol can't be worse for baby at that point then say stadol in the IV or the narcotics in teh epidural. Or even something like benadryl to help you sleep.

[andi2284]

I drank a glass of wine the night of my due date, to help me relax and sleep, so I'm not opposed to it. It didn't put me in labor that night, but it did help me relax and stop stressing over when she was going to come.

[Admin-Twinkle]

I ditto the glass of wine. I had one at almost 41 weeks and it was incredibly helpful in helping me relax. My daughter was born the next night. I also agree with Alison, is finding a provider that will let you go past 42 weeks (if everything is ok) a possibility?

[Husher]

Bryson was born at 41 weeks 2 days and I'm sure he would have been a day or two longer had I not consented to pitocin. I hope your LO comes soon!

[MRM]

I didn't mean to hijack with the beer/ wine part. I just brought it up since I had had no symptoms at all.

Two nights ago DH had a Guinness and it was just calling my name- so I had 3 or 4 sips of it and the past two nigths I have had a few contractions (probably BH- but it's someing and I had had absolutely nothing.) So I wanted to offer it up as an option- but wasn't sure if it was totally politically incorrect or not.

I'll probably pour DH a Guinness tonight so I can borrow a little of it

OP- In my posts about having no symptoms I got a lot of responses from people who made it just over 41 weeks - and went into labor without any prior symptoms! I hope your little one comes soon!

[andi2284]

I had absolutely NO symptoms with my first, if that helps. I had BH's for months, but they were very obviously BH's and they didn't get more frequent or stronger before I went into labor. I was just laying in bed one night and my water broke. She was born 8 hours later!