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Childbirth

42 weeks tomorrow, help!

36 replies

MuffinTopMamma · 23/08/2009 09:45

Hi. 42 weeks tomorrow (DC2) and midwives are talking about induction. I had planned for a homebirth and am really terrified of the thought of going into hospital. Any words of encouragement? I really don't know what to do; whether to insist on home birth or accept what feels like the inevitable...

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PacificDogwood · 25/08/2009 17:42

Oh dear, poor you!

Ok, , desperate measures are called for:

Bounce on Swiss Ball
Lots of walking
Lots of sex
Raspberry leaf tea
Acupuncture
Perineal massage
Nipple tweaking

Gosh, I have to admit no way would I feel like doing any of that when 42 weeks pregnant...
Keeping my fingers crossed for you. I hope you get the delivery you want, but try and think about how you'd feel if it were not to pass...
Very very best of luck .

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CarGirl · 25/08/2009 17:46

if it's any consolation if you do agree to induction it will probably only take 1 pessary to get things going........

Tell dh he'll need his stamina tonight.

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toodles · 25/08/2009 18:42

I went to 42+2 with dd2. I went to 42 weeks with ds.
I actually believe that the stress put upon me by the midwives drew dd2's pregnancy out to 42+2. I only had one sweep which did nothing. I had planned a homebirth too but in the end when labour started dd2 passed meconium so I was sent into hospital. This was just standard procedure and in the end was unnecessary as she was not in distress for one minute (constant monitoring during labour). However I had lost all faith in Telford Community midwives and in the end ended up in the Consultant Unit at Shrewsbury with 2 of the best midwives I've ever met so a good outcome in the end. Natural childbirth too.

Another thing about the midwives at the Consultant Unit was that they didn't bat an eyelid when they saw that I was 42+2.

If your tests are fine and you're still happy about homebirth then I would advise to keep going in to be monitored and tested. THis is what I always say in situations like this but to be honest everytime I went in for monitoring the midwives always had a comment about how 'overcooked the baby could be' or 'you could be holding your baby right now if you had agreed to induction'. They actually stressed me out so much that on the day I was supposed to be induced I was on the phone to the hospital refusing to go in and the midwife there told me to calm down. She told me that adrenaline stops labour so if I managed to calm down then I could go into labour and there would be no need for induction.

There are women who go to 43 weeks. Have you had a look at Angela Horn homebirth site. There are stories on there of 43 weekers.

As we haven't heard from you for a few hours now, I'm hoping that you're in labour or had your baby. Good luck.

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MuffinTopMamma · 25/08/2009 19:48

Hi. Not in labour yet - just been for a nice walk in the park with DS and DH to try and get things moving. Now DS is in bed, it's time for some of the other suggested activities . Fingers crossed!

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chimchar · 26/08/2009 09:02

hey muffin.... any news?

hope you enjoyed your ermm...ahhh. ummmm. activities last night!! did it do the trick, or will you still be going for the world record of longest pregnancy?

seriously..hope you're feeling ok in yourself. i was soooo fed up of the phonecalls and the questions...just start to have fun with it and avoid the phone just to get family \nd friends speculating, oh, and loiter in marks and spencers..the word is that if you go into labour in one of their stores, you get lots of goodies!!!

the other thing i loved was when strangers ask when you're due, and you tell them casually, "oh..two weeks AGO!" watch them recoil in horror!

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MuffinTopMamma · 26/08/2009 11:41

Hi. Monitoring was fine this morning, however I've now agreed to be induced because my paranoia is now taking over. I will be in hospital from 4pm today. Will take my iPhone and hopefully, pain permitting, will update with my news! Thanks again to everyone

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chimchar · 26/08/2009 12:32

awww. muffin.

i'm sorry you're not getting your hb.

time for a quick bit of lovin now from your dp?

good luck, and look forward to your updates! x

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toodles · 26/08/2009 14:02

I'm also sorry that you're not going to get your homebirth but let's hope you have a great hospital birth. 'Tis possible as I had one with my failed homebirth.

BUT let's hope you have your first contraction right NOW so you can stay at home.

Good luck to you.

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CarGirl · 26/08/2009 17:53

Well I guess you're at the hospital now, really hping that you have a birth like my last induction - it was fab.

Loking forward to the BA!

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PacificDogwood · 26/08/2009 20:51

Good luck, muffin!

Also sending positive vibes for a good hospital experience - it is possible!!

Good luck, good luck, good luck!