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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

How long would you be willing to go overdue? **Content warning - title edited by MNHQ**

187 replies

rachiro · 15/01/2022 14:33

41+5 and since baby is doing well I'll be waiting for another few days at least. My baby just doesn't seem ready yet. I wonder why some babies just don't come on their own/why some of our bodies do this 🙄

OP posts:
PumpkinCrumble · 15/01/2022 16:03

@grey12

I REALLY wanted to wait to 42 but doctors kept bullying me to not go over 41 Sad

From what I read it seems 42 is a good cut off Wink good luck

Personal experience: do not do pessaries Confused was much better when they broke the waters (had a drip as well but is much less intense than the pessarie). There is a balloon thing as well but they didn't let me do that one, so can't say what it feels like.

Oh that’s interesting! I had a pessary and my labour was quite quick. They actually tried to slow it down again with diamorphine at one point.
RandomMess · 15/01/2022 16:03

Induced at 41 weeks with my first (they thought I was 42 weeks) I went 42+3 with my second and still didn't go into labour so didn't go past 42 weeks with the others.

My history is long cycles, same as my Mum and all hers were very overdue when induced too.

If we got full placental ultrasound checks in the UK and twice daily monitoring I would wait longer but the UK has poor stillborn rates because these things aren't offered amongst other things.

BitcherOfBlakiven · 15/01/2022 16:03

No it doesn’t suddenly deteriorate at 42 weeks, it already is deteriorating. It’s not designed to support the baby indefinitely.

But sure, go as overdue as you want, because that’s what matters, right? And what do doctors know anyway?

Ohpulltheotherone · 15/01/2022 16:12

Went to 41+5 with my second, felt good, had regular check ins and monitoring on maternity ward.
Had a sweep on 41+2 I think - a couple days before contractions started.

The minimum I’d wait would be 40 weeks. I’d be (and was) comfortable to go to 42 - with a level of monitoring

Of course this is all dependant on personal circumstances and your attitude towards risk.

BabbleBee · 15/01/2022 16:14

I was 42+3 with my last….

forlornlorna · 15/01/2022 16:15

@BitcherOfBlakiven

No it doesn’t suddenly deteriorate at 42 weeks, it already is deteriorating. It’s not designed to support the baby indefinitely.

But sure, go as overdue as you want, because that’s what matters, right? And what do doctors know anyway?

Couldn't agree more personally
Fabuleuse · 15/01/2022 16:17

I waited until 41+6 for induction with no signs of labour at all. Emcs at 42+0 (which was fine).

Chanel05 · 15/01/2022 16:23

I'd be asking for an elcs by 41+5 in all honesty.

Deisogn · 15/01/2022 16:23

I'd be guided by the consultants. Threads like this can be so dangerous. Each woman and baby has their own unique set of conditions like the mother being overweight, having a family history of any array of complications, the fluid levels, fetal movements etc. Hospital staffing levels and the quality of care they are able to provide if it does become an emergency for you and/or the baby have to currently be a consideration.

There is a very good reason that they are so cautious. We have very good data on how the placenta deteriorated after 40 weeks. It's not in a straight line it more falls off a cliff. Without medical intervention child birth is one of the most dangerous things a woman can do. If you want developing nation outcomes then by all means ignore the doctors.

Personally I went to 40+1 and was induced because the doctor wasn't too pleased with the fluid levels.

GuardsGuards · 15/01/2022 16:41

With my third baby I had sweeps from 38 weeks because I always go overdue.
I went to 42 weeks anyway, so an induction was booked for the next day.
The midwife suggested I go out for a lovely meal. Of course I went into labour whilst I was getting ready and gave birth 3 hours later Grin I was so looking forward to that meal too.
I've never gone over 42 weeks and I would definitely book in for a c section before then if I had another baby.

NameChange30 · 15/01/2022 16:47

DC1 was born at 41+4, I went into labour naturally. Would have considered induction at 42 weeks.

Induction is not without risks. Obviously there reaches a point when the risks of doing nothing outweigh the risks of induction. But the rise in inductions for no compelling medical reason other than baby being "overdue" has negative outcomes for many.

rainbowplease · 15/01/2022 17:09

I went 11 days over with DC1. Induced due to reduced movements, the policy at the time was to wait until 42 weeks for induction. Induction was really positive, DC born after a 3.5 hour labour.

If you want to wait beyond 42 weeks the best thing to do would be to have a daily ctg on baby.

grey12 · 15/01/2022 17:12

Oh the sweeps!!! Don't do sweeps.... nobody would ever go over the 40 weeks if they worked Confused

thefourgp · 15/01/2022 17:14

I went 15 days over with my first, had to get induced and it was a difficult birth. I had wanted to be induced sooner but fobbed off by busy doctors/ nurses. When I went over with my second child I insisted on being induced at 7 days over and it was a much easier birth.

KleineDracheKokosnuss · 15/01/2022 17:15

Zero days, because my kids both came early and going over would indicate an issue IMO.

grey12 · 15/01/2022 17:21

@PumpkinCrumble it was really difficult and painful for me Sad maybe my first really wasn't ready, but had like 2 pessaries and after 2 days in labour, with epidural and what not had to have forceps and 2 nurses pushing their elbows into my stomach 😢 my friends' experience wasn't fantastic either

I find that it really depends on how ready the baby and your body is. But I tend to prefer an option that is more in line with what your body does naturally. The pessary interferes with your hormonal response, it intensifies it

Spottybotty20 · 15/01/2022 17:28

My health board book inductions at 40+13 days. Sweeps and alternate daily midwife checks for the few days leading to it. Both of my babies were pretty comfy so I was booked for induction but both times I went into labour the morning my induction was booked. Ds was then born at 40+14 and dd 40+13 as slightly quicker labour.

Both perfectly healthy babies, easy water births in mlu and no issues with placenta. It’s only on mumsnet that I read about people being pressured to induce any earlier

itchmyscratch · 15/01/2022 17:47

This reply has been deleted

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passionfruitpizza · 15/01/2022 17:51

Longest I've gone is 42 1/2 weeks. I'd happily go longer if I felt healthy and baby was moving in their normal pattern.

Original poster
rachiro · 15/01/2022 17:57

@passionfruitpizza

Longest I've gone is 42 1/2 weeks. I'd happily go longer if I felt healthy and baby was moving in their normal pattern.
I have an NST and ultrasound etc on Monday as I'll be 42 weeks so if that's all good I'll probably wait till 42 and a half like you said.
OP posts:
Original poster
rachiro · 15/01/2022 18:00

@itchmyscratch

until baby arrives. don't understand the big rush to get the baby out. if you actually look at the figures there's no big risk
I don't understand the rush to get the baby out either 🤷🏻‍♀️ As long as the baby is moving as usual and NST/scan etc are all normal, I don't get the hurry.
OP posts:
becca3210 · 15/01/2022 18:04

I was booked in for an induction at 42 weeks they offered a few days earlier but weren't pushing for it and neither was I as didn't feel too uncomfortable. In the end labour started a few hours earlier naturally although I did end up on the drip when progress stalled

PinkWaferBiscuit · 15/01/2022 18:06

I don't understand the rush to get the baby out either 🤷🏻‍♀️ As long as the baby is moving as usual and NST/scan etc are all normal, I don't get the hurry.

Honestly I was the opposite I don't get the desire to stay pregnant for so much longer than you need to. Why prolong the discomfort, meeting your new baby and all the other frustrating things that may come with pregnancy such as GD, swollen ankles, sickness etc.

I couldn't wait for the pregnancy to be over, it wasn't enjoyable at all, it was just a means to the end of having a lovely squishy new baby.

HeyBlaby · 15/01/2022 18:07

@itchmyscratch

until baby arrives. don't understand the big rush to get the baby out. if you actually look at the figures there's no big risk
No big risk? Really? Hmm
itchmyscratch · 15/01/2022 18:08

@rachiro exactly. you're going the right thing baby will come when they are ready. ive never heard of someone being pregnant forever Hmm

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