Fetal monitoring past due date

[Sam1975]

Hi, Im 41 weeks today and without any signs of LO's arrival. MW suggested today to start fetal monitoring in hospital when I am 42+0. I have not had any assessment apart from the 20 weeks scan and the typical ante-natal blood pressure / urine checks throughout my pregnancy. Generally Im all in favour of not rushing things and believe in things happening when mom and child are ready, but am concerned about deterioration of placenta functioning and generally me possibly not noticing that the baby might be unwell in the meantime. Is it reasonable to push to bring this monitoring appointment forward / ask for a scan or am I becoming a paranoid mom-to-be in my last days of pregnancy??? Any insights into what fetal monitoring is "normal" at this stage highly welcome!!

ask to have the sweep! (not a nice experience but the midwife literaly tickles your cervix with her fingers) i gave birth exactly 24 hours later - best thing ive ever done cus in the 28degree heat being pregnant was hell on earth!! xx

Hi Sam, I am 40 +5 and wondering the same. I won't see a midwife again until I am 41 +2 at which point they say they will offer a sweep. I am not sure if I want one though.

Have you thought about calling the Midwives and asking if you can go up to the hospital to be monitored even just as a one off? They should do it for you if you say you are worried about the baby's movements.

What happened for me is that at 41 weeks I was sent to the hospital for an ultrasound, with fetal movement monitoring appointment planned for the day after.

What actually happened is that the ultrasound showed my fluid levels were very low, so I was sent straight after for fetal monitoring (they strap the monitor disk things to your belly, and you click a little button whenever you feel a fidget).

In my case, the baby was fine, but they wanted to induce (which is a whole other 3 day story ending in EMCS - which I want to emphasise, whilst unpleasant was just because these things are, the staff and treatment couldn't have been better)

Had the ultrasound shown everything normal, then I'd have gone on at least another week before they'd have been suggesting intervention.

Remember that by now the baby has very little room, and hopefully their head is getting wedged into the right position (turns out my little guy was at an awkward angle, which is why he wasn't descending, and the induction wasn't working) so they do move a little less, and a little less strongly. BUT if you don't feel movement for an unusually long amount of time (I'd feel something every few minutes if I sat and concentrated) then you need to get seen.

i had my sweep one day after my due date. i didnt get monitored at all until the birth - suppose it depends how much u trust ur midwife - if she was concerned she would have sent you for one - if u really want one they have to do it if u say u havent felt the baby move much xx

Many thanks everyone!
ChunkyPickle -was it part of your ante-natal standard procedure to give you an US at 41 weeks or did anything (eg less fetal movement) trigger this?

in my area they start routine fetal monitoring only when you are 12 days late and do not want an induction (usually they induce at term+12). I refused induction (had one with DC1 and did not want it again). had at term+12 a scan to check fluid levels, placenta and doppler cgt monitoring (ctg was every second day after I was 12 days late). also had a sweep and went into labour term+14... did you ask your MV for a scan and/or ctg monitoring?

the thing is up to 42 weeks you are considered term so there is no reason to do a scan after 42 weeks nice guidelines suggest 2x weekly ctg monitoring and once weekly scan to check placenta and fluid levels.
However many hospitals it is the norm to offer induction at 41+5 days and you wouldn't have any extra monitoring prior to this as you are still within term 'normal' gestation of pregnancy.
Obviously if you had decreased fetal movement you may be offered a scan as well as ctg monitoring before 42 weeks.

I think some hosps routinely do a scan as part of the monitoring if over their cut off point and you have refused induction. Mine didn't but did want daily ctg. I had one as went into labour at 42 weeks exactly.

Many thanks. Am now 41+2 and apart from a slight bloody show since yesterday nothing is happening - but that's at least already SOMETHING ;)

Hi DuelingFanio - I have also been offered a sweep by the MW but declined as didnt want to rush things unnecessarily. Main thing for me is assurance that the baby is all right. Having read all the comments here and having kept a close eye on fetal movement over the past days I decided to wait until my 42+0 appointment for now...unless anything changes until then of course and you are right, asking for a one off monitoring is always an option then! Let me know how you are doing after your 41+ 2 appointment and wether you have decided to go for the sweep! All the best!

Hi Sam, I'm 41 weeks today. I had a sweep yesterday and had a show in the night but no contractions so I'm guessing it hasn't worked.

I'm booked for CTG monitoring at 41+3 and 41+5 which is standard practice at my hospital. I am low risk at the moment.

I'm booked for induction at 41+6.

Good luck to you and to Duelingfanio - we must all have been due around the same time - fingers crossed all our babies will be born before induction is needed.