Having a panic - 41+5 HELP! Any advice?

[foxybrown]

Am 41 + 5 today. Had monitoring at 41 + 3 and all fine. MWs booked me in for a hospital induction on Friday and have told me I will lose my homebirth at 42 weeks.

This is number 4, my pregnancies have been great, my births have been great - the last two were at home and all went very smoothly.

Today I had two acupuncture sessions, sex, nipple tweaking for an hour last night, curry, she just doesn't want to budge. Had a show on and off for about two weeks now. Oh, and I've had 4 sweeps too. And am taking homeopathic remedies too.

I've had a fair few false alarms where the contractions start, then I might go to bed to get some rest thinking "this is it" but they don't go anywhere.

I don't think there's much else I can do, but I'm so upset about it. My first two were on the day, and my 3rd 10 days late. I'm not coping terribly well, can anyone help? Thanks.

[foxinsocks]

hello other fox

want to say 'you're nearly there' but fear you'll bash me over the head - going overdue cannot be fun though. Big sympathies and a virtual kick in the backside for foxcub number 4.

[Tutter]

have you tried an epic walk?

[Tutter]

ps were your others late too?

[lulumama]

oh honey




very disheartening , no?

have you had 'the fear' yet? you know, the bit where you remember how much it hurts and that sort of thing? as that usually signals labour is imminent

you are doing all the right things...

have you asked your baby why he/she is not coming yet?

do a really strong visualisation and relaaaaaaaaxx.....


let go of any little worries, or doubts or anxieties

que sera , sera

[Tutter]

[foxybrown]

I walked to the hospital on Monday - for about 40 minutes, then I had to call DP to pick me up on his way there! I'm pretty active and feel fine physically, and am lucky that DP is off this week so can do the school runs so I can avoid everyone

I have school sports day tomorrow - perhaps I'll win the mothers race

[bumperlicious]

foxy sorry it's taking so long. i really hope you get your home birth. you obviously make a really toasty home for the LO, she really doesn't want to leave her mummy!

[foxybrown]

God no Lulu! As soon as I get a twinge I just want more pain! C'mon, c'mon give me the pain!

There's another one. but they come between 7 - 9 pm. Sat down or walking around. I've had loads of braxton hicks this time, they seem to have settled down (using the if you sit still they go away theory). And I've had a few cramps and contractions that have woken me up. But thats over a period of weeks and might be just once or twice a night.

[foxybrown]

Its that hypnotherapy Bumper, she's too blardy relaxed in there

[lulumama]

yes , tutter, you will be pregnant for ever !!!

foxy...do you know what position baby is in? OP can make for stop start contractions and a slow start to labour

[foxybrown]

She's head right down (MW can feel her head when sweeping), back outwards against my tummy. Sorry, never can get my head around the technical terms! Does that make sense?

I'm 2/3 cms dialated and have been for weeks.

I can only liken myself to a car on a cold morning. On full throttle, but refusing to turn over and start!

[Klaw]

Foxy,

You are allowed to cancel induction. I cancelled mine, booked for 42wks, and had my VBAC at 42+1. You can ask for expectant management and WAIT, making informed decisions based on information at Expectant management sessions. As long as baby's hr is fine, fluid levels are good, you are all fine and there are min 10 movements in 24 hours (usually 10 within baby's normal active period) etc, then you can elect to continue to wait.

See also www.homebirth.org.uk/overdue.htm for info on arguing your case to still have your homebirth at 42+ weeks. If need be contact AIMS (link is within the above link)

There is, unfortunately, a site that no longer exists - Birthlove - that had fabulous info on induction and postdates but the webmistress had to close it for family reasons So when you come across it I'm afraid it won't work.

Stay strong hun!

[daisyandbabybootoo]

aw foxy, i'm really feeling your pain...or rather lack of it

i was late with DS so know how sul destroying it can be. fingers crossed for your homebirth!

[Klaw]

however, your body has been doing loads of work over the last fortnight, so be prepared for the possibility of a lovely quick labour!

[lulumama]

baby is in a good position then

i reiterate my earlier advice, ask the baby , and try a strong visualisation xx

[Lostmykeys]

Foxy, given your acupuncture today and all the other labour inducing activities you have been up to I would say that baby will think about making an appearance in the next 24 hours. Good luck, raspberry leaf tea before you go to bed?

[foxybrown]

Thanks Klaw. Its losing the homebirth which bothers me the most. I don't want to get on the hospital conveyor belt - 2 hours pushing and intervention (I pushed DS1 out in 3 hours, thanks to my wonderful birthing partners who knew to check in with me and send the doctors away!)

Part of me wants to get on with it - DP will need to go back to work, its the end of term etc etc, its all the practical side of life, 3 school runs a day, meals to cook, 3 lo's to look after, end of term events ... all that stuff.

Another part of me just doesn't want to rush her. But she's not going to get any smaller is she?! DD was 9.6 when she was born 10 days late. Will I complicate matters if I delay things because she'll be big I wonder?

[foxybrown]

I hope so Lostmykeys! Have been taking RLT tablets since week 35 - 200 of them all in all. I have two left for tonight!

[bananabump]

Some people recommend castor oil to get things started, I know they use it quite a bit in America. I don't know the pros and cons though and I've heard they won't sell it to pregnant women, there must be a reason for that so don't take my word for it.

My ex just recommended it to me as his girlfriend went a week overdue recently and she went into labour a few hours after taking it. Apparently he went to the chemist and said he needed it for a poorly dog or something.... a bit dodgy!

Isn't it crap how they make you conform to their time schedules? If your last two were a bit overdue then they should just leave you to get on with it imho, as long as everything's still ok!

Best of luck anyway I hope you get going soon and spoil their fun.

[Lostmykeys]

If this is your 4th and your previous 9.6, that wee babe will pop out. Don't go worrying about the size, it will add to your problems. Echo Lulu and her positive thinking. Can you have a quiet hour before bed and will her out?

[foxybrown]

I'll come clean Bananabump - I had some castor oil yesterday Only 3 teaspoons as I was a bit scared and I spoke to the MW about it first.

I listen to a birthing hypnotheraphy CD every night and use it to focus on my baby. Infact, I find she gets quite active during it. I do as it says, imagining her making her way down "soft and putty-like".

Sorry, I feel like you've all come on here to help me and I'm dismissing your good advice - I'm really not - please don't think I am! You are all telling me exactly the right thing, I'm just at the end of my tether!

Thank you to everyone for helping me xx

[lulumama]

you can try sweeping yourself....

am off to bed myself, and i wish you a comfortable night, and if not that , then a labour and birth ! x

[cece]

Have you eaten any fresh pineapple. DS born at 41 + 4 after I ate a whole fresh pineapple. Hour later the contractions started.

[foxybrown]

N'nite lulu. Hope to have a birth thread for you by the morning!

Hi Cece. Haven't eaten pineapple since the weekend actually. I might go and get some tomorrow I think. Will I get away with ready-prepared?!

[Klaw]

reminder of natural induction ideas....