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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:
Hellenbach · 15/01/2022 20:27

I went 18 days over due to bank holidays, lack of staff, failed inductions. I was terrified.
Eventually had waters broken, syntocin drip, finally gave birth.
My placenta had started to calcify. I knew my dates were right but they didn't believe me until then.

Miriam101 · 15/01/2022 20:29

FFS. These posters saying "No woman has remained pregnant forever" and rolling their eyes.

No, no woman has remained pregnant forever, but plenty of women around the world have a) died b) given birth to stillborn babies who would have survived if born earlier.

As a PP said: if you want the kind of maternal and infant mortality rates seen in the developing world, go ahead, ignore the guidelines the medical community here has painstakingly set out in a bid to give every woman and baby the BEST chance of a healthy life. 'Cause you know better, right?

Dindundundundeeer · 15/01/2022 20:29

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Tiredmum12389 · 15/01/2022 20:29

I went 16 days overdue with my first. She was not in a rush to be born. She was also covered in vernix?? (The white stuff when they premature) when she was born, and she was induced. The reason it was 16 days is because I was told to be induced 14 days overdue but hospital was busy. Our hospital now gets you jn 10 days overdue so there's 4 days wiggle room.
All of my children have been overdue and induced. I was told once by a midwife that taller women tend to go overdue more than shorter women as theirs more space for baby.

Dindundundundeeer · 15/01/2022 20:30

As my sister said pulling a grey baby from the body of a woman at 43 weeks will stay with her forever. The placenta had gone.

DelurkingAJ · 15/01/2022 20:31

I was book to be induced at 42 weeks exactly with both DSs. DS1 I was in labour when I was supposed to be being induced. DS2 arrived at 41 weeks. Although DS1’s dates were distinctly dubious as I had missed the (planned) pregnancy until I was about 12 weeks so he may have been 41 weeks too (if you have your first scan at 20 weeks it turns out the dating is +/- 1 week).

Campfirewood · 15/01/2022 20:31

I was 12 days overdue with my first (happened naturally on 12th day) and 4 days late with my 2nd. I wouldn’t have been comfortable more than 12 days to be honest. But I am a worrier!

User2638483 · 15/01/2022 20:31

I’d take medical advice and wouldn’t take issue with being induced

ParishSpinster · 15/01/2022 20:36

40+10 is the max I would go. I was induced with #1 at 40+12. Dates from the 12wk scan - my midwife dating had me at 13+1 at the 12wk scan but I was actually 11+6 apparently.

No, women don't stay pregnant forever. But the placenta isn't going to last until you decide you are happy to have the baby. They calcify and detach and deteriorate. Going beyond term increases stillbirth rates and health risks for the pregnant woman.

This is genuinely something you should listen to medical experts about. Your midwife, any consultant you may have. They know what they are talking about. Just because you feel OK, doesn't mean everything will continue being fine until you decide to be induced or have a c section.

rainbowplease · 15/01/2022 20:39

@DelurkingAJ that's interesting, I just found out I was pregnant at 20 weeks, first scan dated at 20+6 but that doesn't fit with my dates. Did they not accept your dates? Haven't had chance to talk to anyone about dates yet.

itchmyscratch · 15/01/2022 20:48

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DelurkingAJ · 15/01/2022 20:51

@rainbowplease given I had gone in for a 12ish week scan and the sonographer gently broke it to us that DS1 was 20 weeks I didn’t even consider arguing! My dates would have been pretty vague anyway as I’d come off the pill and got pregnant within a month (as it turned out) so hadn’t been tracking anything with any degree of thought. I was very slapdash about it all and took the view that the medical team knew best.

girafferafferaffe · 15/01/2022 20:52

I went to 42 and she decided to make an appearance. Praying it is not the same timing this time!!

Doublechocolatetiffin · 15/01/2022 20:56

Well it's not an exact science is it, research has shown that average gestation is longer than 40 weeks which is why some countries have due dates based on a 41 week pregnancy. I have been post my due date by 15 days with my first, 11 days with my second and 4 days with my 3rd. However I didn't agree with the due dates given to me at the dating scan for any of them. I was bought forward a week with my first, bonkers given my long cycle. 2nd I knew exactly which day I ovulate so knew again that I was 41 weeks when I gave birth. 3rd came 'early' for me which was a nice surprise.

girafferafferaffe · 15/01/2022 20:57

In France they calculate due date at 41 weeks, so 2 weeks over would be 43.

BewareTheBeardedDragon · 15/01/2022 20:57

I went to 42+4 and then agreed to an induction. I was told ds would be over 10 pounds and scared about placenta deterioration. He was 8lb9 and placenta was in fine condition but I guess you never know.

rainbowplease · 15/01/2022 21:04

@DelurkingAJ yes I went to EPU and was actually worrying in case I wasn't pregnant. The lady was lovely and was like yes you're definitely pregnant and showed me everything in detail. I'm glad I'm not the only one to get to 20 weeks and not have a clue! Slightly different for me in that I do record my periods but thought it was absent for a variety of different plausible reasons.

AHobbyaweek · 15/01/2022 21:05

Who says up to 42 weeks is term so not officially over due until 42 weeks. Also in some other countries a "due date" is not 40 weeks like France is 41 weeks.

Dindundundundeeer · 15/01/2022 21:06

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itchmyscratch · 15/01/2022 21:07

did you even read the link? you honestly are awful

Dindundundundeeer · 15/01/2022 21:08

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mummabubs · 15/01/2022 21:13

I went to 42+2, felt guilted into accepting an induction and when my placenta was checked after my son's birth it was still healthy. Having said that, although I didn't want to be induced I was also bloody miserable every day past my due date 🤣

LynetteScavo · 15/01/2022 21:15

I would have gone to 42+3. In the end DC3 was born at 41+5.

DC was induced at what was supposed to be 10 days overdue, but it become obvious he wasn't overdue at all (I had tried to argue that, but apparently scans are more accurate than me knowing when I had and hadn't had sex Hmm)

NameChange30 · 15/01/2022 21:20

@girafferafferaffe

In France they calculate due date at 41 weeks, so 2 weeks over would be 43.
In France they start talking about induction sooner after the due date for the precise reason that the due date is at 41 weeks and not 40. I think that women would be strongly encouraged to have an induction or c-section by 42 weeks and wouldn't be going to 43. In general, childbirth tends to be more medicalised in France anyway.

Someone mentioned average gestations, I believe the average gestation for a first pregnancy is 40+5.

NameChange30 · 15/01/2022 21:25

I agree with RandomMess btw
"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."

Instead of monitoring properly they just have a blanket policy of inducing everyone.