How long overdue?

[Lelophants]

At your trust how long are you ‘allowed’ to go overdue before you get booked in for an induction or section?

Do you know why?

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng207/chapter/recommendations

I think you have to do what is safe. Its not good to be too headstrong and be set on a birth plan because things don't always work out the way you want them to, things don't always go according to plan. A full-term baby is between 37 and 41 weeks, it's not exact and depends on conception. Your dates can be out. The guidelines are 41 weeks and then to advise induction because the placenta begins to deteriorate. Scans and monitoring go a long way to ensure that all is well and you are best placed if you are in hospital where this can take place. If you are not and things are not proceeding well on labour and there is a delay in getting you to an obstetric led unit there can be profound risks. All the soft music, scented oils, the birthing pool and encouraging support is no substitute for medical intervention. Thats what they found at Cheltenham Birthing unit...they closed it! If you're 41 weeks plus overdue and induction is advised then do it and keep yourself and your baby safe.

Not sure. Fully intend to turn up on my due date, if baby still in residence, and twist their arm into an induction.

Many obstetric professionals are of the view that "nothing good happens after 39 weeks" all that happens is babies get bigger (i.e., harder to get out) and your placenta deteriorates. There have been some recent very large independently reviewed studies in the US and Australia that show that an induction at 39 weeks reduces perineal injury by almost 40% and doesn't increase the risk of c-section vs expectant management of pregnancy. www.unimelb.edu.au/newsroom/news/2023/may/mothers-choosing-to-induce-labour-at-39-weeks-have-better-health-outcomes#:~:text=%E2%80%9COver%2040%20per%20cent%20of,early%20is%20safe%20for%20babies.

From a personal perspective, as someone who is currently 37 weeks pregnant, I am not sure why anyone would want to go overdue and prolong this lol! But each to their own. The studies referenced have certainly made me feel more positive about an induction at 39-40 weeks though.

I think a lot of the negative induction stories might be based on women being induced when they are overdue already - so I guess babies are bigger and it's just generally harder to get them out? I have never had an induction though so don't speak from experience.

Good luck with whatever you decide OP :)

As a medical professional (not obstetrics) - I have to say, this is what informs my perspective. Plus, I’m totally with you on not being especially keen to be pregnant for longer than I have to be.

I have had inductions at 39 and 40 weeks and both, especially the second, were great experiences.

I was induced at 14 days overdue.

I was offered at 40 weeks due to a ‘big’ baby. They started to put significant pressure on me after that. I went naturally at 41+1 and had a home birth. Really glad I did.

I went to 40+19
All good, baby not huge (I've had bigger).

You can decline or follow the hospitals protocol, there’s no magic cut off. I recommend reading the AIMS (Association of independent midwives) guide to induction of labour (available on Amazon) which contains all the info to help you make a decision that is right for you and explains the risks and benefits of induction vs waiting.

In my area it’s 14 days (but offered at 39 weeks if aged over 40).

I went to 43 weeks with the first one (according to the dating scan that advanced me by 1 week - turned out i just had a tall baby) and 42 weeks with the second. Spontaneous labour though i did do ‘stretch and sweep’ and acupuncture right at the end.

40+7 now which seems very early to me. It was 40+14 when my DC were born and I did decline it once and went to 40+17.

My trust booked one for me at 40+2, I said I will refuse an induction for now so won't be attending but it was booked in anyway, I asked why and the only reason given as I'd be overdue by then! There was some query over gestational diabetes as one average blood glucose test was 1 higher then the threshold but all others fine and normal growth scans
Anyway my waters ended up breaking before then and I was induced with the drip as I had tested positive for GBS at an earlier date but contractions didn't start naturally, I did refuse initially but agreed after 12 hours of nothing happening (had IV abx for the gbs)
If my waters hadn't broken I had it in mind to refuse induction if everything else was well until at least 41 weeks

41 weeks. After having a stillbirth I wouldn't take the risk of going later. It's something you never think will happen to you, until it does. So if they want baby out earlier because it's safer than going to 42 weeks, then go with it

@emma1103 I'm so sorry for your loss. Was your baby stillborn due to being overdue? 💐

OP, do you have any specific circumstances which would indicate earlier birth? Are you older/measuring big/any health issues you or baby? Just because people's answers are assuming you are young and healthy with a normal sized healthy baby. Sorry if I've missed you saying this!

The other thing is how many babies have you had? I'd avoid induction if you can (personally) if it's your first. But if you've had a relatively straightforward vaginal birth before it's more likely an induction will be straightforward I believe. Not a HCP though.

Bear in mind first babies come at 40+5 on average. So 40+5 is not 'late' iyswim. 40 weeks is not actually the average.

Babies are least likely to die if born between 39 and 41 weeks. After that the risk increases slowly (faster if you are older).

Our local trust offer a sweep at 40 weeks and induction at 41.

When I had my eldest it was much later and I was induced at 41+5 born at 41+6. My placenta was grey.

Second child born 40+2 nice healthy dark red placenta.

This thread is over a year old. Pretty sure OP has got it sorted by now! 😁

Didn't realise!