overdue!!!!!!

[sureleynot]

So today I am 40+4, been to the midwife and had a sweep, already 1 cm dialated, been having irregular contractions the last week or so, had no show as yet, just aching constantly all round my pelvis and back! Any suggestions on getting things moving??

Sorry to say I wish I knew!! I went to 40+15 with dd (Induced at 40+12 but she took 3 days to arrive), 40+12 induced with ds and currently 40+1 with ds2. I tried everything and for me nothing worked. Still walking school and preschool runs but nothing, sweep last week nothing, I feel your pain! Bracing myself for induction number 3 next Sunday

Hmm I am also unable to help! I am 40+3 now with DC3 and totally fed up!

Was 4 days late with last preg but don't remember being this fed up.

Have tried everything but nothing's working so far...

It is so frustrating!! This is my 3rd and the last 2 weeks I have been so uncomfortable! I have aching/muscle pain in the very top of my thighs, the pressure on my bladder is unreal, since my sweep I've had a few mild - moderate contractions but not regular at all. I cant believe babs is that low and nothing is happening!! When shes moving I can feel her head within my bottom/vaginal area and yet nothing!!! Good luck with your induction and labours!! I'm booked in on the 27th! Not sure I'll cope if I have to go that far!! :)

Hi i'm 40+5 and trying everything anyone suggests at the moment.

Midwife suggested dates, apparently if you eat about 6 a day there has been some evidence of it moving things along. I got some Medjool ones from Marks, yum.

Sex is again meant to be a good one, induction drugs used to contain pig seamen apparently, nice! It contains prostaglandins which can soften the cervix.

Not tried it yet but the homeopathic remedy, Caulophyllum is in Maggie Howells book. Not to be taken till you are a week overdue.

Had reflexology yesterday and off for a curry tonight but so far still no baby!!

Well just back from hospital as had pains and really painful back and pelvis. The midwife was horrible, pretty much told me to get on with it!! Wouldnt tell me if I was anymore dialated either! Not a happy bunny, 41 weeks today! Enjoy your curry, hopefully it will work for you!! :)

Hello surely. I had my baby at 40 + 20 on march 25th! I'm of the opinion that given due dates are very sketchy and I was pleased we held out. It was a battle to wait though, having to have daily checks etc.
Anyhow, you could also try lots of walking, eating pineapple, induction accupuncture and climbing stairs. I'd also switch off your phone so you're not bombarded with 'have you had it yet?' texts, get into a great book, do lots of nice relaxing yoga and eat plenty of cake. A nice thing I did over those last few days was plan and part create a lovely birth announcement photo so we Were ready to go when she finally came. Pinterest can provide ideas!
Good luck with it all

Bloody hell Eco 40+20?! I was totally fed up by the time DD arrived at 40+11. Nothing I did got her to shift. (Damn you 2 unsuccessful sweeps!)

Thanks for posting eco, I so needed to hear your story. I am 40+10 with DC1 and have turned down induction for Tuesday (40+12) as, like you, I'm not sure on dates and that just seems way too early if my body is not ready (cervix still firmly closed at 40+6). It still seems to be quite rare to opt not to be induced, so it is great to hear of someone this worked fine for. Wish I had just read the tip about switching off your phone a bit earlier, I swear if it wasn't for all the well-meaning texts I'd be fine

Edinfirst you are a trooper! I cant bear the thought of going over that far!! As my first 2 bundles were straight forward this is new territory for me! My 2nd was 10 days late but I didn't have any of this pain or exhaustion! I have tried so many of the "Wives Tales" and to be fair, the haven't helped at all!! I am hopefully going for reflexology tomorrow although a bit nervous about straying too far from home now as my previous labours have been pretty quick!! Thanks for all your comments though, they do restore your sanity slightly in the early hours!!! :)

I went to 42 weeks and was going insane as was planning homebirth and I'd been having cramping and twinges for weeks. I have no idea if any of this worked, or whether I would have gone anyway, but in the lead up days I did:
40+3: acupuncture
41: sweep
41+2: sweep
41+ 3: acupuncture, sex
41 + 4: yet another sweep
41+5: sex and swimming (not at same time) and walked up a hill (eating 99 flake - maybe that's what did it!)
41+ 6: walk

Lost my mucus plug at 41+4, waters started leaking morning of 41+6, first contraction at 3.30 that afternoon, baby born 10 hrs later (at home)

I'm so glad I declined the automatic 40+13 induction apt.

Well I am still here!! Now 40+9!! Been having different pains again on and off since 5pm yesterday, were 10 mins now whenever they feel like!!
I had a sweep at 40+4, but was told as I had a show the next day I wont be getting another! I'm sure everything is fine, but I am getting a little worried that she is getting stuck or it's my body stopping her! Stupid I know, but your mind does wander!! Hopefully the Monday morning chaos and routine might work!!

I'm still here too, 40+11. Still pleased I'm not being induced tomorrow but starting to struggle a bit emotionally with the daily/nightly disappointment that nothing has happened. Going to chat to mw today about booking in for induction at the end of the week - somewhere between 42 weeks from scan date and 42 weeks from mine. Also off for a second lot of accupuncture today, and maybe some gardening, so perhaps things will kick off anyway (she says setting herself up for another disappointment).

Thanks for the info from the sonographer fuckwittery I can well believe that. Iirc it is based on length of certain bones, but as both DH and I are pretty tall surely our baby has more chance of being long anyway? I know that with the number of pregnant women passing through hospitals daily there have to be procedures and generalisations, but it can be hard when professionals get so fixated on dates. Luckily my mw has been very supportive so far, I can imagine that I'd crumble in the face of a particularly balshy doctor.

Good luck today surely!!! There are loads of us commiserating about being overdue on the April ante-natal thread if you're not already there (although be warned that lots seems to have happened for the lucky ladies there last night, which had made me even more (totally unduly!!) disappointed this morning!?!)

edin that's exactly how I felt. Went to bed every night and woke up each morning so disappointed nothing had happened. And also felt that I was somehow psychologically holding labour back. I did have a massive 'let it all out' cry a few days before I went into labour - who knows maybe my body was stalling due to unresolved fears.

I had no idea I would find going so overdue so hard...

Saw the mw today, she did give me another sweep and I'm now 3+ cms, however the little tinker has gone back to back!! I've spent the afternoon on my knees as she thinks thats why I haven't progressed!! Now contracting about 7-8 mins but the just aren't strong enough!! I am determined to get this baby out before induction!! :)

Good, good, good, good luck surely!

city if a good old cry is part of the pre-labour clearout I must be in line to go soon - must try not to take this as a sign though in case of more disappointment :). Feeling quite relaxed after accupuncture, so maybe I can manage one night of not going to bed upset.

Thanks edinfirst, however still here!!
I am so down this morning, I was really hoping that the way the contractions were gettin particularly the back pain I wouldn't be at my laptop this morning, but no.......
I am now getting obsessed with clock watching and movements!! It has been a very long 48 hours!! Glad you felt better after the accupuncture anyway :)

It will happen when it happens.

Please bear in mind you can decline induction and choose expectant management. Induction should not be automatic nor is it compulsory. Expectant management is an option and the risks/benefits of both courses of action should be explained to you.

Oh surely how disappointing; this is such an emotional rollercoaster isn't it! If you can, I'd really recommend accupuncture or something else for relaxation - I thought things were kicking off last night but have just woken up normal time and am feeling totally ok about it ( this time yesterday poor DH was having to deal with yet more tears). Not sure how long that will last, but being relaxed is definitely helping me to deal with things.

Hi surely

I'm still here too! Bought some evening primrose capsules and raspberry leaf tea today. Off for more reflexology tomorrow. I have decided today that I don't want to be induced next week. Feeling like it is a bit of a controversial decision so very heartened to read ecofreckle's story.

Ladies wanted to ask has anyone gone beyond 42 weeks and had issues due to being post date? From the articles I have read I feel the risk is less than that of induction and escalation of intervention but would welcome other opinions.

DD was born at 42+2 and the only issue was the mess they made of me with all the intervention - no issues with her or the placenta's state.

There are others on MN who've gone to 43w+ (and others who have lost children earlier due to a loss of placental function) - the problem is that so many women are routinely induced between 41 and 42w or they're led to believe they have no choice, that there aren't many women who get that far.

Babies are born on their birthdays.

How are we doing surely, angel? Still hanging in there? 40+13 here today. Mw today for a possible sweep (last week my cervix was still tightly closed so fingers crossed), and still a couple of days til induction on Friday. I am feeling fine about induction now if I get that far - it may not be the birth I'd hoped for, but who's to say I'd have that even if things progress naturally. The important thing, that I think I had lost sight of a wee bit, is that at the end of all this I get to meet my baby - and I can't wait :)