calling all overdue - how long did they let you go and what decision did you make?

[painterly]

Hi all, I am now 40+11 pregnant and planning a home vbac waterbirth. I had an emcs due to pre-eclampsia 5 years ago, and a sucessful hospital vbac 3.5 years ago.

I have agreed to go in for an induction discussion at 40+13(scan dates, which is 40+11 by LMP dates).

I feel very strongly that if I haven't gone into labour by then, the induction will prob end in another emcs, which naturally I want to avoid.

So the question is, has anyone else been in this situation and how long did they let you go/did you go/were you happy to go before you gave in to a c/s or went into labour naturally?

I am hoping after thurs they may just monitor me on postnatal and give me another couple of days naturally..

tia

I was induced for the first pregnancy, and hated the whole experience. Second time around, I wanted a home birth, with a birthing pool.

I was lucky enough to find a midwife at my 41 week appointment who went through all the pros and cons very carefully. We agreed that I would come in for monitoring every other day, I would have a scan to check the placenta, and I would go in at what was in fact 42 weeks and 3 days for induction, if nothing had happened by then. (It was usually 41+4 at the hospital overseeing the birth.)

The point is that it's not up to them to decide, its up to you, but that there are good medical reasons to induce a labour, as chances of a still birth increase dramatically each week after after 40 weeks.

In fact, I went into labour naturally at 42 weeks, and had to give birth in hospital, as there was meconium in the waters - another risk of a longer pregnancy!

Thanks HandMade. my worry is as a vbacer I can't be induced really so it's scar abruption vs another caesar!

I was induced with a VBAC at 42 weeks. No problem with scar, but I wouldn't do it again.

ooh.. can you tell me why? what would you have done differently?

no such thing as "let you" - they can't do anything without your permission.

i went to 40+12 and agreed to be monitored, then at 40+14 (which is then considered overdue) I agreed that they could do a VE with view to doing a sweep.
she said i was 3cm and 80% effaced at that point, so I went home.
started contracting at about 5 the next morning and gave birth at midnight, so officially 40+16.

they can strongly advise you, but only you can make the decision as to what to do or allow them to do.
use the phrases "my permission" and "i agree to" and "i am allowing"

thanks Nickel, I know that and totally agree. Was that a first birth or were you vbac?

I'm just concerned about the vbac thing. I've already had three sweeps and god knows how many false labours, just want to know how far vbac people have been given within normal params. I can and am happy to state my case, but would rather remain within normal limits (ie they were telling me yesterday that many somali women naturally carry until 43 weeks, so even though it's a bit more dangerous re calcifying placentas, it's a known thing and they generally let them get on with it). I don't know the stats on scar abruption/placenta issues and vbacs (too scared to look them up). Like everyone, I just want a healthy baby and to minimise my risk of another c-section through induction.

Thanks MissMavis. May well opt for that over induction.

i also opted for 'expectant management' and went to term plus 18 with one of mine, term plus 14/15 with the others, was induced all 5 times, i chose to go in with them when i did as i was fed up and with the last one i had concerns over movement etc.

but you dont have to be induced at all, you can ask for expectant management, regular monitering and scans to check fluid levels and function/blood flow from placenta to baby and then make any decisions based on how baby and you seem to be doing :)

first birth for me - i know they're more cautious with vbacs
but it does depend on why you were a cs the first time round.

Hi,
My dd2 was born at 40+15 (scan dates) or 40+11 (cycle dates). My hubby is 6'2" and they always think our babies are due sooner (since they go by crown-rump length at 12 weeks).

I had to go for daily fetal monitoring for half an hour a day from 40+12 (all fine). I held out because dd1 was back to back, forceps and prepped for an emcs so I wanted to avoid induction!

As it happened, I was induced. Pessaries put me in slow early labour, they broke my waters at 2cm and dd2 born an hour later! Best birth experience of all 3, though I was dreading induction!

Longest I waited was +17 days by LMP, but I lied about LMP so they thought I was +15 by LMP and didn't amend after the scan.

With the subsequent ones I just waited uni 14 days as I couldn't have a homebirth then so thought I may as well just get on with it. I also do worry about still birth as a lot can change within 20 hours.

I went to 40+12 then had a sweep and went into labour that night. I was put under quite a lot of pressure to be induce from +8 which I was quite about, had a lovely homebirth in the end so I'm really glad I stood my ground!

Thank you all for sharing.. I am going to follow the trend I think and opt for expectant management. I've got a few days in hand, and am more than happy to be monitored so hopefully there is still a chance to fully avoid induction! Baby is very mobile and still back to back so I'm hoping once it spins round things will kick of by themselves esp since I'm only 40 +9 by LMP which makes it positively early compared with some of your times!

i got induced at 40 weeks as babys cord was around the neck and pulling...when she came out...she looked wayyyyy overdue ....long nails really long hair...clear skin....meconium done inside me...am glad i didnt wait longer

Have you concidered acupunture? I had no BH, or anything similar & had had several sweeps. I believe having several sessions of acupunture plus 'homework' (my OH pressing me with a pencil in certain spots on my foot) over a week helped bring on labour the night before I was due to be induced. Baby born 40 +12.

like the idea of homework!! I've had two session of accupunture, one at 39wks (hopeful) and one at 41 weeks (desperate). Will get that pencil out. Am really very sure baby is fine, don't know why, but just feel it's the positioning. Have also had a hypno positioning and fear release session and am doing all the usual self induction list of things.

MissMavis... hope I don't go another nine days!!

How long do they let u go over ? Cause I'm not waiting much over 40

I went to 40+ 16 (induced), 40+12 (natural HB) and 40+16 (HB after 3 sweeps)

Good luck!

hi painterly...i thought this thread might be you! With H I think I went 40+12 or 13. I went in to the Hom. to talk about induction and got another vigorous sweep and monitoring....they agreed to ARM as I didn't want pesseries, but by the time they got round to it I was about 4cm and things were happening. The only rubbish thing was, they wouldn't do expectant management there, but they did say I could go home and have a HB. By the time I got to the hospital entrance to walk home I was in full on labour and opted for the birthing suite....rest is history Book in another session with ALison. It sucks being overdue.

Yeah I had a delayed baby.

I made it clear (and once I had it was pretty straightforward to agree it - eventually) that I woukd have monitoring. If the baby was in trouble, get him out, now, no induction gaffing, but if he's not in danger, leave us be.

The day it was agreed I relaxed and finally went into labour.

Thanks everyone! Am 40 +13 today. Have had full hosp MOT and have polyhydramnios on top of everything else now - it does explain why I look like I'm carrying twins and also why the baby is so happy and mobile - it's got a bloody olympic pool in there! But secretly also happy that once I give birth I will lose 2 stone straight away..

Yes, Alison did get that very ouchy point on my toe and it bloody hurt!

Positive things are happening.. have a bishops score of 7 so hopefully it won't be long, and if they do need to induce they can now get to my waters so I feel less anxious about the whole pessary/c-section thing. I have a host of lovely midwives who are keeping an eye on things so fx it is just trying to upstage the olympics. If it comes tomorrow it will give the opening ceremony a whole new meaning!

Starlight I feel like that - now I know it's not a big baby - they reckon about 8lbs even though I'm so overdue, and the head is less than 50 centile. I have the most experienced midwives happy to come out to the house at a moment's notice, and my children well cared for.. I've done 4 sweeps, 2 accupuncture, hypno fear release, had recent bloods done and my iron is nice an high... no excuses left!

MissMavis they've given me until monday for induction so the potential is still there...

HZ... you stalker , hope you guys are loving all the hot weather xx

Crunchy - just seen you went this far 3 times!!! I'm so glad this only happened with my third...