What should I say at POST DATE Midwife apt - I want to avoid being Induced

[drosophila]

I will be 41 weeks on Friday which is based on scans as I have no idea when my period was. Both previous pregnancies were late - 14 days followed by horrible induction (forceps etc) and 12 days late followed by natural quick delivery.

I want to avoid induction and feel fairly confident that I will start naturally but you can never be sure. I have been doing a bit of research but it thought MN practical experience may be better.

Don't some women simply have longer gestation periods than others?

Expectant management - that's the term I was trying to think of - thanks.

you are not late until 42 + 1. agree wtih loopy. you can decline an induction , presuming no compelling medical reasons to induce

don't be surprised if they have never heard of expectant management or the associated NICE guidelines - take a copy with you

I had a horrid experience trying to persuade them not to induce me (similar history to you) - so do ask to see the consultant if you are not getting the support you want - and then ask for a different consultant if they are not helpful

fortunately I went into labour just in time - although I was seriously considering "forgetting" to go in for induction they had scheduled for me

good luck

Yes Droso, they do. My DD was 13 days late according to the scan date. I wouldn't allow a sweep at 7 days as from my period that's when I was actually due. I was booked in on day 14 to have a sweep, but I said that I did NOT want to be induced - I'd have allowed a sweep. They said they would allow an extra week, but I'd need to go into hospital every day to check all OK.
I fully expected to go overdue as my Mum was a week to 3 weeks late with all 9 of her children - in the days before scans she'd lie to the doctors about her due date by a week so they'd leave her alone!

good point about explaining it, i had a client recently who had to tell the doctor what it was !! most women do have the sweep/induction route and they don;t often hear 'no'to inductin as most woemn, understandbaly , depsreate to give birth

I remember last time the shock on the face of the midwife when I made it clear I didn't want to be induced. I got sooo cross went home had some Raspberyy leaf tea and that evening my waters broke. I think it was my foul mood rather than the tea.

I am starting to think that my partner has paid people to tell me to have lots of sex. If another person tell me with a wink that 'you know what to do...' I think I will go mad. AM I the only one at this late stage is as intersted in sex as a poke in the eye.

I have read that nipple stimulation is the only proven natural method to being on labour. Now hway hasn't someone devised a think you could put in your bra that vibrates or something. Perhaps there is one. Off to do a google.

I know I know you are right!!! Maybe I should surf the net for somehting to put me in the mood.

Have you thought about induction accupuncture? Really worked for me. Might be worth a try. Good luck!

I'm 41 + 6 today and have had two fights on my hands this week to convince the medics to give my baby a little more time to make a move. I was bullied, faced disapproval and it was implied on both occasions that I was a bad mother for risking that my child would be stillborn. She didn't talk figures, just broad-brush scare stories. She didn't listen to my protestations about my Bishop's Score suggesting I wasn't ready for induction yet, she said it was a subjective measure. Nor was she keen to listen when I said that just because I didn't give birth on my due date, I wasn't abnormal. It's difficult to stand up to trained professionals whom you would usually respect but it staggers me that I know a mere handful of first time mothers who've given birth naturally. If they don't let people go beyond 41 weeks, then how can they possibly know what's normal anymore? Rant over: I'm sticking to my guns and giving the old cervix a little more time to prepare. (Of course, none of this means I'm not terrified that I am, in fact, risking the health of my unborn child.)

I'm 40+6 weeks pregnant and I've been trying everything you can think of, nipple stim, sex , orgasm, pineapple, reflexology, jumping up and down, carrying my toddler and today I had a acupuncture session, you name it... and until now nothing!!! starting to have flashbacks about DS1 labour which was horrendous this time I have a home birth planed, i just hope that it still happens

Well 2 weeks late to the day I finally gave birth to a 10 pound 4 oz baby boy. In the end it was so quick. One minute I was contracting fairly mildly and ws 3 cm dialated and within 90 mins I had given birth.

it might not be bad! at my first post date appointement with dd i was seen by a consultant who requested i taook part in a study they were running where the didnt induce women to see if induction was actually hepful to women, i was still having morining sickness and was begging for an induction, though dd arrived with just a sweep, but you may be just the candidate they are hoping for!

Have you had the baby then?! Sorry - it's late and I'm not thinking straight. If you have and I've read your post correctly - congratulations!!!

Yes I have. Thanks.

Congratulations, not sure how i missed that!

10lb 4oz is very impressive!

Congratulations drosophila !!! well done!!!

I'm still waiting for my baby to make an appearance 41 weeks now uffffff!!!

Me too. Still waiting at 42 + 2. Managed to wangle a week's grace... Induction booked for Friday but I have a feeling things might be moving as I type... Fingers crossed; legs akimbo.

OHHH good luck then!!!

my midwife its quite good she is willing to let me go as overdue as possible as long as me and baby are healthy had a sweep today... from Monday ( if nothing happens before)going every day to hospital to monitoring . any way, good look for you

I had 3 sweeps and after each one I would get regular contractions that would die off as the day wore on. Each sweep seemed to have a greater impact.I think that they deffo helped move things along.