Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Four Days Overdue and No End in Sight

40 replies

BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 09:50

I don't think I will ever go into labour on my own, I still have no signs of any labour just BH.

I have tried/am trying :-
Raspberry leaf tea
Fresh Pineapple
Squats
Bouncing on gym ball
Swimming and aqua natal classes
Limited walking but I am very uncomfortable
Sex but again it is very uncomfortable
Acupunture Session yesterday with no effect

Is there anything else I can try or is it just a case of waiting impatiently.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Judessis · 16/08/2006 10:00

Hi there, I spent 2 hours o my hands and knees weeding in the garden (but you could do some floor scrubbing if you're domestically inclined ) and went into labour the day before I was due (what a relief!!), alternatively a hot curry....
Sounds like you're doing all the right things though. Could be worth finding a homeopath willing to help as I know they have various remedies that can help to get things going - I know a couple in Surrey if you're in this neck of the woods? Good luck!!

estobi1 · 16/08/2006 10:01

Caster oil - though I don't know how safe it is. Apparently a tablespoon of that and jump off a chair. My Mum said that a midwife told her about that one when she was having my brother and when I had my little girl there was a woman in hospital who had used castor oil and it worked within about 4 hours! Could be a fluke but you never know. It tastes disgusting so I am told but I sympathise with how uncomfortable you must be. Hopefully by know you are labouring away! Best of luck hope it all goes well. If I were you, I would just put my feet up and enjoy the peace and quiet for as long as you can but I know where you are coming from.

Best wishes

Original poster
BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 10:06

I am avoiding curry as I can't stand spicy food whilst I have been pregnant.

I can and will scrub the kitchen floor later on today, after I finish my ironing pile.

Homopath, I will have a look for local people in Yorkshire.

My mum has made me promise that I won't try caster oil, as she feels it is dangerous...though as I get closer to 42 weeks I might change my mind ;)

OP posts:
estobi1 · 16/08/2006 10:13

Curry didn't work for me so save yourself the torture! I was in a curry house on boxing day eating the hottest food I could find and nothing worked - your little one will come, don't worry. Is there anyone you can ask (medically) about castor oil - don't want you hurt!!!!

Original poster
BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 10:23

I won't try anything not OK'd by a doctor/midwife first...my baby is too precious...so don't worry about me

Good news about curry not working, I'll leave that off the list

I am just planning a home water birth and if I don't go into labour naturally, it won't happen, which is why I think I am impatient.

Also I may or may not be offered a membrane swep on Friday which I am in two minds about.

My aqua natal midwife says that a sweep is unlikely to work with me as I am a first time mum, who has never dilated before and I'll have loads of pain for nothing. Also as my real midwife doesn't want me to have a home birth, she may refuse to do a sweep even if I decide to ask for one.

So I REALLY want to go into labour naturally before/by Friday and then I have no decisions to make and also I am so ready to met my child in RL. I just feel like my whole world is reduced to my house and waiting for baby Bert to be born.

OP posts:
estobi1 · 16/08/2006 10:30

Let us know how you get on and if he doesn't come s*d the ironing and washing floors be as lazy as you can! Eat chocolate and pamper yourself - you will have so many offers of help once your little one is born - let them do the ironing etc while you cuddle your baby! Good luck!!!

JunkInMyTrunk · 16/08/2006 10:32

Have you tried reflexology...
I swear it got my labour going after going 11 days overdue

Original poster
BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 10:33

Thanks estobi1, you have made me feel better and I think I can hear chocolate calling to me from the fridge.

I might sod the ironing and watch TV instead with my swollen feet up

OP posts:
Original poster
BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 10:34

I haven't tried reflexology but it is going on my list of things to try with Homopathy...

BE wonders how much money her DH will let her spend on treatments to shift this baby..but then he will get his month off work

OP posts:
Judessis · 16/08/2006 10:35

That's so tough about the home birth - midwives are suppsed to be supportive and provided that you've had an uncomplicated pregnancy, and don't live miles from the hospital then they are staistically just as safe as being in hospital (and many midwives feel that they're better as you are less stressed). What reasons has your midwife given for not wanting you to have a home birth?

Hopefully, everything will kick off at some point in the next couple of days anyway. Maybe worth considering that in France pregnancy lasts 42 weeks so you could actually be early LOL!!!!

I know its frustrating to have to wait (hell I'd had enough by 8 months...) but at least you have a bit more time to spend with your feet up watching TV without all the interruptions...

Have you asked your Mum and DP's Mum whether you were both on time/late/early? Can run in families, so if you were both late it may be that your baby will be as well!

Take it easy - may be worth (very hippy mum here ) thinking nice positive thoughts about "opening up" and meeting babe, also being nice and stress free to encourage everything to get going.

Thomcat · 16/08/2006 10:35

I went 10 days over with DD1 and I did castor oil. I actually downed a whole bottle mixed with some fresh orange juice. Was on the loo for a bit but 3 hours later was in labour.

I'm not telling you to do this, but someone mentioned castor oil so thought I'd tell you about it.

I did it again with DD2. Shje was due very near Xmas Day and I really wanted her to be a bit early. I did half a bottle in the morning and apoart from a few trips to the loo - nothing. So did the 2nd half later on. Was on the loo loads. Gave myself a pile, asn't nice but a few hours later I was in labour.

Don't regret taking it but as the 2nd time and the 2nd half was quite unplesant I wouldn't tell you to do it. It's up to you, I'm saying nothing other than I know about 8 castor oil kids! It works!

Good luck though. Just trya nd relax a bit, eat chocolate and warch DVDs.

JunkInMyTrunk · 16/08/2006 10:36

Try asking your midwife, It was the midwife at the hospital who gave me my reflexology when I went to be checked over...
She might be able to do it or know one of the midwifes that can

Thomcat · 16/08/2006 10:40

Have you had a sweep?

tallmummy · 16/08/2006 10:41

It's a wierd feeling when you go over due - I remember feeling in a kind of limbo - DS1 was 10 days over. I had a sweep and this produced a bit of a show but still took 5 days from swwep till labour began.

Hope it happens soon - take it easy with the chocolate though - babies can put on several more ounces in those overdue days.

Will be sending you some 'labour inducing vibes' Hope you get your home water birthvery soon!

Original poster
BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 10:41

What reasons has your midwife given for not wanting you to have a home birth?

Her reason was that in her opinion ALL first time babies should be born in hospital and then she transfered me from midwife to consultant led care which meant I would have HAD to go into hospital to give birth.

I had to arrange an apoointment with the hospital consultant and I asked to be transfered back to midwife led care and get permission for a home birth. Both of which thew consultant lady was happy to sign off for me.

As I live 5 mins from the local hospital 2 mins in a ambulance. All my tests came back clear, my only issue is I'm overweight (a size 18) but the consultant didn't think that was relevent (nice lady).

SO I'm praying that if I go into labour and get a home birth, that I get asigned a pro-home birth midwife

OP posts:
trix1 · 16/08/2006 11:14

I tried castor oil ten days ago I was 39 weeks - I took 30ml with orange juice and it did not work. Maybe I just was not ready for labour but I dont think I would take it again, even though I am desperate now.

Incidently what does a show look like and how bigi is it? Think I may have just had one.

Judessis · 16/08/2006 12:43

BE your midwife sounds either nervous of her own home birth skills and wants a safety net, or is a little old fashioned. 2 mins from hospital is fine - there should be 2 midwives with you at home anyway so any probs and they can discuss transfering you. I know 2 of my post natal groups who had home births for their first (one a home water birth but she was a midwife herself so insisted!!), which I guess proves it can be done!

TuttiFrutti · 16/08/2006 17:45

BabiesEverywhere, I tried everything you have tried plus lots of hot curries, and nothing worked! Sorry to be depressing, but your baby will come when it's ready and not before. It always makes me laugh when people say Oh, you must try [insert rememdy], I was 3 days overdue and I did it and the next day I went into labour! Hmmmm...

I really hope it all kicks off soon. Going overdue is very frustrating but it WILL happen at some point!!!

mears · 16/08/2006 18:22

4 days overdue is nothing. I really wish that due dates were more realistic. Many pregnancies go nearer 42 weeks so it would be better to give later due dates IMO.

Please do not have a sweep done too soon - keep that for just before being admitted for actual induction of labour. When your body is ready you will go into labour. Quite often the onlty thing a sweep does is give you cramps and slight bleeding which often results in asmission to hospital.
Try to enjoy these last few days of peace. I have said this often before - women should avoid exhasuting themselves trying to get into labour. Means they are knackered before they even start the real thing.
'When the apple is ripe it will drop' - my old dad used to say

jamiesam · 16/08/2006 18:36

I had no signs of labour before ds1, not even bh, it just all kicked off at 8.30am on 41 + 4.

I tried raspberry leaf tea with ds2 for several weeks, had two days of the most overwhelming bh and he arrived on 41 + 2.

good luck - Bert (great name!) might be just on the move right now, who knows?!

Original poster
BabiesEverywhere · 16/08/2006 20:46

Yes, I think my midwife is nervous of home births, I'm one of her first community ladies, she has been use to working in hospitals.

I don't want a sweep if I can avoid it, do you think I could request one just before 42 weeks ?

Oh, Bert is our bump name my DH chose it, we still don't actually know babys gender

amiesam, It is nicew to hear you can go straight into labour from having no previous signs...that gives me hope and a little more patience.

OP posts:
CheesyFeet · 16/08/2006 21:29

BE I am constantly thinking of you and am only ever at the end of the phone if you need me, even if it's just to complain about waiting.

I'd send you a hug, but my arms probably don't fit around your middle any more

Yarrow · 16/08/2006 21:30

This sounds a bit odd but How is your throat? According to Ina May Gaskin (Spiritual Midwifery etc) there is direct link between throat and cervix. I know she talks about it in labour but also I wonder about 'loosening up'/relaxing prelabour?Think we can get all tense and tighten up in anticipation, trying all these things to get labour going.I know I am! (38wks + and so peed off already). Just a thought.....

jamiesam · 16/08/2006 21:39

Yarrow - that is exactly the same as my antenatal yoga teacher says (if there was every any doubt that I'm middle class there can't be now, lol!!!)- 'soft throat', over and over again.

Frizbe · 16/08/2006 21:40

Sex bound to kick it off and if not it passes the time of day...

Swipe left for the next trending thread