If I go overdue I'll miss out on a free family cruise!

[Bambamb]

Hi,

A one week cruise has been planned for the whole family for next May, all booked & paid for (extremely generously) by my FIL. It is a surprise for my MIL's 70th birthday.

I am SO excited about it, I've never been on a cruise before, it's not the kind of thing we could ever afford. It was booked before anyone knew I was pregnant.

My baby is due on 16th November. I've just found out that babies less than 6 months and 1 day old are not allowed on the cruise - due to the lack of appropriate medical facilities on board. The cruise leaves on the 25th of May.

So basically I have to have had this baby by the 24th November or I won't be able to go!! Nobody told me as they didn't want to stress me out.
If it comes to it DH and DS would have to go without me..........I will cry if that happens! We have a balcony room and everything, the whole family are going. Plus it's my DS's 5th birthday on the day the cruise leaves.

Please help me will this baby out!!

If you were me would you see if you could be induced a few days early to ensure you could go? I really don't want to be induced but if it comes to it. ......do you think they'd agree?!

Right, massaging my toes as I type!

Yes refelxology is supposed to help.

It used to be 42 weeks here and then when I went to booked in with dc4 it had been changed to 41 weeks I discussed my issues and they agreed due to my history to 42 weeks.

So everywhere is different.

I tried acupuncture too.
And lots and lots of physical activity, ideally with a tilted pelvis, so get scrubbing those skirting boards on your hands and knees, woman .

And yy to repeated and vigorous sweeps - they of course are only possibly if your cervix is already favourable ie open enough to allow an examining finger do a 'sweep' around the membranes.

What did for me with DS3 was pushing/holding DS2 on his new bike which had just had its stabilisers removed - lumbering very pregnant lady 'running' alongside giggling boy up and down our street must've been a sight, but DS3 appeared within the next 12 hours .

Nhs NICE guidelines say you can be induced from 41+0 exactly, midwives don't tell you this though! So if I were you, I would make your MW aware you know this is fact and push for it.. she may say no, but don't let her! Good luck x

oh good luck! I'll be watching and crossing fingers for you. fwiw painting bought my dd2 out 3 weeks early. and maybe acupuncture.

I think. You should tell your midwife at your next appointment, surely she'll give you a sweep? When do you next see her?

Tell your midwife, good luck. I think it would be a lovely thing to look forward to.

Try reflexology OP, it may not work but I had it at 4 days over at 1.30 in the afternoon, at 11.30 that night my contractions started & DD was born the next morning, could just be pure coincidence but I think there is something in it.

Oh & I tried everything else to get my baby out, pineapples, sex, curries, long walks, none of that seemed to work, I was due during the heat wave in July so you can imagine how much I wanted my dd out!

Thanks will definitely look into reflexology and should be getting a sweep on Friday fingers crossed!

Do keep us updated

Promise I will do!

U could try acupuncture to bring on labour after 37/38 weeks I think, worked for my sister. Might be worth looking in to. Good luck x

U could try acupuncture from 37/38 weeks to bring on labour, might be worth looking in to, good luck x

Good luck OP. Hoping no news is very good news!!

X3 lots of reduced fetal movements are through way to get an early induction.

Well had my midwife appt today and she couldn't do a sweep because
a) I'm not 40 weeks until tomorrow
b) Baby's head is no longer engaged!!

Last week it was engaged but in true 2nd baby style it has popped back up again. There's no way they can do a sweep apparently.
She has booked me another appt for Tues to attempt a sweep then, fingers crossed.

Hospital policy is to induce at 12 days overdue. I've decided I'm not going to even request an early induction because ultimately I'd really hate to be induced, would much rather a natural labour, plus I really don't think they'd agree under the current non-engaged circumstances. And I do think it's a bit of a big ask really, just not my style.

I'll be eating hot curries for tea from here on in.....

It probably does sound a bit of a trivial 'issue' to many but the more I think about not getting to go the more upset I feel, mainly because I'll miss my little boys birthday, miss seeing him enjoy the holiday, and also I'll feel so bad about the fact that my FIL will have wasted money on my ticket. I feel so dreadful about it, it's keeping me awake at night worrying.

There is literally nothing I can do except try all the things suggested (will be trying reflexology and acupuncture next week) and hoping.

Baby needs to be born by a week on Sunday at the latest (40 +8). Imagine if I go into labour on that day but don't actually give birth until 5 minutes past midnight or something.......wah!!!!

Thanks for letting me have my little sob story, I should just be grateful baby is healthy and I am well. Will update on tuesday hopefully after the sweep......

A week is a long time. You are going to have such a story to tell the baby.

Perhaps you could lure him out with some sea shanties.

Op I just want to wish you luck! It would be so wonderful to be able to go and so disappointing to miss out. My fingers are crossed for you :)

OP I don't think its trivial but please try to relax. Acupuncture, essential oils (clary sage etc, google), bounce on ball is all you can do.

If the baby is a couple if days late you'll just have to fly to where it first docks as I imagine you will have to tell them the baby's dob and formally book him/her on. I doubt the insurance thing is true, insurance companies have to be fair. Its a bit like the urban myth about mot certificates so if you don't have to give the dob I personally wouldn't worry. A friend of mine was over 24 weeks preg when her cruise came back and she just went anyway......

There's nothing you can do and lots of other potential reasons this could go wrong, child with cp, you get tummy bug. You've got ages and most births are around 40 weeks.

Ah, don't let the 'pressure' get to you .
A week is a loooooong time in pregnancy.

Yes, keep bouncing, scrub those skirting boards, be as active as you can be generally.

V best of luck - I am heavily emotionally invested in this; I'd be gutted if you were not able to go on this cruise

Really feel for you...hope the baby arrives VERY soon!

How old are you?
Because I was over 40 they offered me sweeps from my due date and an induction at a couple of days over.

I know you will not be this old but the rules can be changed due to circumstances.

Been having a lot of painful cramping over the last few hours with a couple of sore contractions thrown in. ..... not sure if it's going to go anywhere but here's hoping!

Fingers crossed for you! Bounce on that birthing ball!