Going Over your due date

[Linnet]

My first baby was 10 days late. I'm now 30 weeks along with my second.

With this baby the date that the hospital has given me doesn't fit with my dates. Given past experience I'm not expecting this one to be on time or early but I'm a bit concerned about going overdue.
If I get to the due date the hospital have given me I'm not worried as it's not that far past my due date and if I go a few days past their date I'm not to worried either. But if they leave me to go 14 days past their due date I will be nearly 3 weeks overdue by my dates. I've read that if you go two weeks past your due date the placenta can start to break down.

The midwife has said that they have to go by the date the hospital gave at the scan and they aren't even listening to the fact that I've told them time and again that I wasn't on a 28 day cycle when I conceived. I have an appointment for 41 weeks, 1 week past their date and 12 days past my date.

What tests do they do to find out if the baby and the placenta are ok?
Can they tell from the urine sample that you have to give at the clinic at the overdue appointment?

Also can they check to see how dialated you are without doing a sweep of the membranes or is it innevitable that your membranes get swept whilst checking for dialation?
I only ask because last time the dr said he was going to see how dialated I was and did a sweep while he was there and didn't tell me until afterwards that he'd done it. It wasn't a pleasant experience and I don't want another sweep this time if I can avoid it.

any advice welcome

Ooh bumping up this thread as am very interested myself Linnet as am in exactly the same situation with my dates.

I went over by 16 days with DD2 - and I was for induction on Day 18!

I was desperate for an induction (had one with DS1), due to my SPD etc, but the git of a Consultant (not the one I had with my older 2 children) was of the opinion that nature should be left to take its course and wouldn't shift! (Easy for him to say as he wasn't the one who was practically unable to move, looking after a 22 month old and a 4yo and hadn't had decent sleep since 16 weeks pregnant!)

Anyway, labour started on Day 16 - my dates and scan dates were both spot on.

I have since found out from my midwife friend that if you do go over, you can ask for extra monitoring.

I was due on Thurs 7 October 1999 and DD2 arrived on Sat 23 October 1999. I went for a GP appointment on 22 October instead of the usual midwife appointment - first thing he said when I walked in was "b*dy hell, what are you still doing here????". He was the one who kicked the Consultant up the arse and was on the phone organising my induction which he got booked for first thing Monday 25 October.

With regards to "sweeps", typically my Community Midwife and Consultant both were of the opinion that "sweeps" didn't make a jot of difference. Hence at my appointment with GP on 22 Oct. I begged for a sweep, which he did and then lo and behold DD2 arrived next day!

Anyway, waffling as usual....with regards to testing to check baby is OK, you can ask for scanning and heartbeat monitoring to ensure all is well.

I was induced with my third and they were very flexible about when they would do it: 14 days was going to be a Sunday, and they said I could wait til the Monday or have the Friday before. This was arranged on the Monday (at 8 days over) and really, I think I could have gone in any day that week.

And I'm sure you don't have to have the sweep when they check dilation. I'm not sure about tests but I have read about quite a few 43/44 week gestations with no harm to the baby. It seems to be becoming more common. Good luck!

Thanks Ponygirl and Slinky.

anyone Else?

Yes you can definitely be monitored - I think they just put you on the monitor once a day after about 2 weeks. I went 2 weeks over, and dd was fine - she actually seemed a bit on the 'early' side from her appearance. If it's any comfort, my scans were more accurate than my 'dates', so I wouldn't worry about going with those dates.

The test they can do to check the state of your placenta is a scan... you can request one usually. Monitoring is not very helpful... and urine sample doesn't test for that at all.
Why would your placenta stop working properly?????? You did this once, you'll do it again
An examination does NOT have to include a sweep (and you can decline having one pro-actively - which I would recommend because - even though it is illegal - it does happen quite often that you get one and get told AFTER the fact).... NOW bear in mind that you are probably a bit dilated by late pregnancy (as this is not your first baby),.... you could be 2 cm for days/weeks..... there is NO point in finding out how dialted you are!

RELAX.....

Sorry - monitoring does NOT tell you the state of your placenta!

I have read that once you get to 42 weeks the placenta can start to deteriorate, just didn't know how they can find out if the placenta is deteriorating.

Linnet, no time but it's outrageous that anyone gave you a sweep without your permission - it's assault. Hope you get some good advice here. I only went 9 days over with dd but it was torture wondering what would happen etc.

Linnet - "can" not does..... there are women who go easily to 44 weeks! If you are worried you can get a daily scan. It's a question of placenta and amniotic fluid which need to be checked.