Term plus 12 days.......need advice/morale/support.....help?

[Broadie]

Hiya Girls
Hoping one of you lovelies can offer me a small or large dose of morale please.

I am term + 12 days - so 42 on Thursday. Have been booked in for home birth - no resistance from pro home birthing community midwives. Low risk, trouble free pregnancy. Blood pressure steady and constant throughout, baby measuring correct for term. LMP was registered as 27/5 but scan brought it back to 22/5.

Since 40+2 I have had 3 attempted sweeps the 3rd being today - can you hear the desperation increase? Each sweep has been aborted, despite the myth that having already one child your cervix never completely closes, mine has other ideas and is closed tighter than a ducks arse and is so very posterior that today she wrote ++ posterior on my notes and she had long fingers.

I am booked in for a CTG on Thursday, where I know a sympathetic registrar will start a barrage of scaremongering stories about how I am putting babies life at risk by not accepting inducement readily like a good little girl.

Anyway - I am risking homebirth as they are not keen to do homebirth after 42 weeks and I really want one - so very much - but my body/baby doesn't appear to agree.

I don't know what else to do, i've tried relaxing, sex, evening primrose, bouncing on tramp - jesus I have even done super hula on nintendo Wii - that was harsh - all 6 mins!

any advice, help, morale, support greatly appreciated at this time....not planning on any more kids and don't want to be railroaded into a birth thats out of my control completely -

debs

Can't offer much in way of help as I had a failed induction at 42 weeks. Hope one of the experts will be along soon for you though.

Good luck!

All of mine arrived 12 days late, but only the third was induced, 11 weeks ago today. Although a short labour (3 hours) and shorter delivery (2 pushes) I wish I had waited for it to happen naturally. I can't really explain why, only that it didn't feel quite right. But at the same time looking after 2 other children when overdue and seeing their faces drop everytime I was there to pick up at school and playgroup instead of the contingency plan because the baby had popped out was tough.

If I could go back 11 weeks, I would give myself until 40+16 (say) before going for the induction.

If you have mws on your side, then I'd suggest waiting.

Good luck x

broadie i sympathise with you - i also had a planned homebirth and baby was not budging, hospital was very eager to book me in for induction at 40+10 but luckily my waters broke at 40+7 spontaneously and my little boy was born the next day unfortunately in hospital.

anyway my point is when he was delievered and the placenta was examined they were horrified how much it had decayed already and looking back i am so glad i didnt keep pushing to be left another few days and went into labour as god knows what would have happened.

i am just saying be careful because faced with the same situation again i would just be induced.

i hope all goes well and you get the homebirth you want xx xx

Thanks ladies for replies, I forgot to say DD1 was 13 days overdue - so I also appear to have long gestations to add to the mix, hence my reservations at jumping at inducement.

MrsPhas3 this is exactly what I am talking about - it doesn't feel right, not at the moment. I remember at this stage of pregnancy with Edie - feeling really deflated and pregnant - but I just don't have any of those niggles this time round.

If I took into account long gestations and original LMP dates then 14 days over would be 10th June. Scan date would have me at 19 days over, but providing nothing adverse on monitoring then I can't see why they or I cannot wait until 10th June before looking at inducement. I just have to hope that they come with me on supporting the home birth as well. Clearly if things take turn for worse between 14 and 19 days would not risk life of child, but as midwife said today - there comes a point where a decision has to be made.

I shall take your luck and pocket it.

shamless bump to see if any more advice out there today?

How is it going today Broadie?

Are they going to scan you to check placenta?

Well I have an appointment at hosp tommorrow 4pm for a ctg.

Although she said on yesterdays sweep it was very high and closed - her rummidge did start a bit of a show - but not the full on mucas plug yet.

Will have monitoring tommorrow - will suggest another rummidge and then offer up my plan to let me wait until at the very least next tuesday until they push inducement. My thinking is that they don't normally book inducement over a weekend anyway as mat ward normally rammed...so serves in all best interests as long as baby ok.

So made homemade spicy spicy curry tonight and am going to tip hubby the wink that i'm a sure thing tonight. 42 weeks tommorrow based on scan date - so still hoping to go into labour before ctg tommorrow - trying to stay positive.....

Oh and rubbed jasmine oil over belly in the hope that it helps!

Need lots of positive vibes please......

debs

Just wanted to say go with whatever feels right & don't let them railroad you.

Just tell them you are an intelligent woman & you understand the risks; yes the risk of problems increases after 42wks, but it is still a VERY small risk in the grand scheme of things; and want expectant management until YOU decide enough is enough & you want inducing.

I've sort of been in your shoes as I went to 40+10 with my VBAC attempt before deciding the risks were too great (increasing BP, DS in an oblique lie, cervix had done nowt) & ended up with an el c/s when I had longed for a VBAC. It's awful going overdue, every day feels like a week... Difference being if it's on your terms it's much easier to deal with if you don't end up with the result you want (VBAC in my case HB in yours)

keeping everything crossed that a curry & a bit of jiggy with your DH gets things moving - and I'm sure Lulumama will be along shortly to tell you to add a bit of nipple tweaking to the list

I think book an induction date for when you're happy to be induced and then you at least have closure that you will have a baby the day after that date. Then relax and it will come under its own steam anyway!

I've only ever been induced and apart from the half hour after they inserted the prostaglading refused all other monitoring, had a completely active labour etc and it was fine. Just get stroppy and say no to what you don't want. HTH

Did the tramp mind you bouncing on him?

Seriously the average gestation is apparently 41+4 so you aren't that far off. Don't be badgered, agree to monitoring and sit quiet. Due dates are estimated remember.

Hang in there, I know it's frustrating but you will have your baby really soon.

Hi Broadie.

Do you have any leeway with your dates?

I went to 41weeks after being pushed to have a CS at 38weeks (long story) with my latest addition, and tbh, towards the end I was losing my fight so I imagine how you must be feeling.
Unluckily my LMP dates and my scan had about 1days difference so no lee-way!

If you want to push for your homebirth then tell them in no uncertain terms you are going for expectant management, and are not willing to induce your baby.

Term is anytime between 38-42 weeks so you're not even overdue yet.

TRy emailing lulumama- lulumama 21 @ hotmail .com
or Mars- lovelymarslady at aol dot com

They are both doulas who know all about this, tell them I gave you their addys I'm sure they won't mind.

If it helps, I was 14 days over and induced for dd1, then 14 days over for dd2 and due to go into hospital at 8.00am for induction, contractions started at 4.30am - so there is hope.. I'd had two sweeps, and lots of sex, but I'm pretty sure it was sex on the last night that triggered it.

Good luck - I really hope it works out for you...

Haven't read whole thread, but I was in the same position... I went to 43+3 and gave birth at home the way I had wanted. Plus DD was covered in vernix and a reasonable 7lbs 11oz. I know it's really hard, but if your instinct is that all is OK, it probably is. Remember it's your body and your baby and everything is your decision. I was being monitered every day in the last week or so and had a couple of post-date scans. I don't think the MWs can say they won't be there!
Anyway, good luck and stick to your guns!

Oh thanks Ladies -

I feel absolutely fine in myself, I don't 'feel' 14 days over. Given that my first was 13 days over and I was ready to stick my hand up there and pull her out myself - I simply don't feel this way this time round. At 10 days over with Edie I did go into pre labour and gave birth on 13 day - the day before my inducement was booked.

I keep a diary on my pregnancies for the daughters (as it turns out) to read when they are older. I remember very clearly at 12 week scan they were having lots of problems measuring - getting 2nd opinion, scan machine crashing - software problem - didn't get my letter until a couple of days later until they resolve the problem - that put edd 5 days earlier - which according to the dates in the diary I kept was pretty much not possible. We only decided to tcc the day before my fertile period, this edd would have us having sex before we were tcc - I mean that didn't happen! So armed with this I feel pretty much validated that this birth is not ready to happen.

But I feel sure that it will be at some point between now and next Tuesday, I feel my body making small advances similar to my first birthing experience towards giving birth - the odd niggle here, a bit more discharge there, emptying bowels, sudden urge to vomit, a bit of back ache.

I guess I just wobble a bit that tommorrow I am going to have to stand up to the men in the white coats - and vie my mothers intuition against their years of experience and facts and evidence. Which to someone who doesn't do confrontation is quite daunting - I do have the full support of hubby. I know the risks, I understand the issues. But I don't feel that I am at risk, or risking my child - she is happy in there - lots of reassuring kicks and movements throughout the day - though has settled into longer sleep periods. Hell I am even sleeping better!

I'm not too worried about the homebirth aspect - i'm low risk all the way no issues at any point, providing there is no problem when they monitor - I don't expect to have any resistance from MW team - well they will struggle to get me out of my pool anyway.

LMAO Whomovedmychoc - the tramp was very accomodating

I think you have a brilliant attitude! When facing those men in white couts, just say what you siad above...

"I know the risks, I understand the issues. But I don't feel that I am at risk, or risking my child - she is happy in there - lots of reassuring kicks and movements throughout the day".

How can they argue with that???

Good luck and do let us know how you get on!

coats obviously not couts!

Wish me luck ladies - leaving in half hour to go for hosp appointment. Don't know why I am nervous - but I am - but I am armed with my dates and i'm pretty happy in myself and gosh darn it the baby is very active today.

Thanks for all the morale so far...debs

Hope it went well - sending you lots of positive vibes! You sound really strong, I caved at 41+6 so think you're doing fabulously

I think thats one of the scariest things I have ever done.

Consultant accepts scan date is not accurate based on the dates I have given him - but the risk information is 100 times more scary when you hear it from someone wearing blue scrubs, and then wishing me Good Luck when he left me.

So plan is they have provisionally booked me in for inducement on Tuesday next week and I have to go back on Saturday for another CTG - this one was fine btw - they have also given me a kick chart to complete.

I was damn bolshy and defensive - and by god I hope I am right - I've never stood up against a medical professional before - i'm so hoping its not the most stupid thing I have done.

So baby has to come out before next Tuesday - else I resign myself to going in and have labour induced.

Gonna have fish and chips tonight and check my dates again for the 3rd time......

debs

Twiddle those nipples and get jiggy Broadie

Tuesday is lots of time for LO to make an appearance, just trust your instincts and if you feel anything is wrong head in for monitoring.

Sending you labour vibes!

Lol - I keep eying up my expresser and thinking - should I have a bit of a pump!
Hubby has been getting more sex than when we were trying to conceive at the moment.

I feel relaxed now - I checked my dates for the upteenth time - verified dates with hubby and its nice to have him clarify dates are correct.

As I explained to the consultant the scan date would have my conceive before I even ovulated! even he said that was impossible!! lol!

So we wait and we hope and we enjoy the next 5 days - cos at some point in the next 5 days a baby will be arriving!

thanks for all your support - debs