Any tips on keeping the baby in until 9th December welcome....

[allibaba]

So I'm on 2nd pg and, according to the NHS, due on 24th Dec. Though me and my Dh believe it to be the 15th Dec.

Had an amazing birth with DS1 although nothing went to plan. Was meant to be a home water birth but my waters went at 37+2, no contractions at all for days so was induced in the hospital and after a four hour 1st stage, 6 minute 2nd stage, 30 second 3rd stage, DS1 was born exactly on 38 weeks.

So am going for home water birth mark 2... Am 37 weeks this saturday, birthing pool is turning up 9th december on the courier. I appreciate that I'll have to take it as it comes becuase getting the baby here safely is the most important thing. BUT would really really like the home water birth experience this time!!

I finish work this Friday. Any tips on keeping the baby in there til the pool turns up??

No.

But I wanted to wish you luck!

You can refused augmented labour for broken waters if you are thick skinned enough. A Midwife chum knows of someone who dug their heels in for eighteen days until labour started naturally - although generally its only necessary for up to a few days. You have to take your temp every four hours (to check for possible infection) get BP etc checked regularly with probably frequent trips to the FAU and put up with bullying from the staff. It turns out that the guidelines for delivery timescale following SROM was decided as the shorter of what most hospitals did as policy... At that point some hospitsls "allowed" you to go 24hrs, some 72hrs. Generally waiting longer than 72 wasnt necessary. There's no actual clinical evidence for better outcomes either way if you are sensible about monitoring. And as for continual monitoring in labour, again, there is no evidence that it improves outcomes! Rather it gives stretched staff a chance to see to someone else and actually (!) increases the chance for CS!

Hope that helps.

Do a handstand.

By ordering the pool you've basically set the due date for the week before

Thank you for the tips everyone BUT...

Good news!! Birthing pool company called yesterday afternoon to say that the pool can be delivered early, as in next Monday! Wahey!! This is a sign, I am going to get my water birth!

Just to need to hang on til the weekend....