What happens if you go over?

[mrsnlw]

Im currently 38+6 and booked for my third stretch and sweep tomorrow. I asked for an s&s to kick start things (long story) and had one on Monday at 38+1. Ended up at maternity triage on Thurs as had red blood. Had another s&s whilst there. Have been losing my plug since Mon in bits. Have had achy back, mild period type pains, sharp pains down below and increased BH but nothing to say "this is it". I was already 1cm on Mon, a "good" 1cm on Thurs. At triage on Thurs they said if blood had been a concern, I would have to be admitted and induced and not able to go on birthcentre.

So what if I go over 40 weeks? What happens?

I am currently a week over. Was booked in for a sweep the other day but couldn't have one as baby isn't even engaged yet!! Now booked in to be induced on Thursday. On countdown...!

Until you get to at least 41 weeks you just wait. Unless there are medical reasons induction isn't normally offered until ten days overdue at least. Sounds like you will probably have delivered by then anyway? How come you are having sweeps so early?

What happens post-40 weeks depends on where you are, plus what you want to happen.
In my area, they offer everyone a stretch and sweep at 40 weeks and book you in for a scan at 40+10. At that scan, if all is fine (it checks the health of the placenta and baby's heart rate etc) you can then either book in for an induction (usually offered at 40+12) or opt for further monitoring.
With my third, I opted for monitoring and was scanned every other day until 40+14, then daily after that. Baby finally arrived with no complications at 40+18.

Being induced is always an option that you have the right to refuse if you want to.
But you are not even at 40weeks yet, you shouldn't really even be worrying about it!

Thanks for your answers ladies. katandkits I had an early s&s by choice and also because I do not want to end up on the labour ward. Long story but I have a pre-existing medical condition which doesn't effect my pregnancy, however, as soon as Obs heard they were ready to shunt me off to LDRP which is totally unneeded according to my own specialist. I will only go to LDRP as a last resort. Not sure why you suggest I may have delivered by then? I bloomin well hope so! Its only just over 2 weeks away and nothing much happening yet.

I just like to know what happens if I go over and to be prepared just in case.

Well, it sounds like your situation is different from 'standard' treatment, as normally you wouldn't have sweeps this early anyway. It is worth bearing in mind that one of the recognised issues with sweeps is a long build up to active labour.

Normally you wouldn't be induced before about +10, and in many areas +14. You'd generally be offered sweeps up to that point, but I'm not sure if there is a limit to how many they can do in total.

I think Kat was referring to you already being 1cm and losing the plug, which is suggestive that things might well happen in the next couple of weeks before induction would normally be an issue

I was hopeful of that kat and penguin but I also v impatient lol

As others have said, you would normally be offered induction when you are 10 days over due. However you don't have to accept this & can just go for monitoring until things kick off naturally. Stretch and sweeps only really work if your cervix is ready so won't be doing much for you other than making you uncomfortable! If you are already 1cm and losing your plug though i can't see you having to wait another 2 weeks

At my hospital they automatically book you an induction at 10 days 'over'. I declined this and opted for daily monitoring past 40 +14. As it was I went into labour at 40 + 13 (note, two hours after when I would have gone in for that induction), and DD was born in the very early hours of 40 + 14. I was booked in for a homebirth, so that was an added 'stress' (as they don't like doing hb after 40 + 14, although they would have if I'd insisted).

My midwife won't S&S even on my 40 week appt I think, as she said we'd 'talk' about sweeps at it and then book to do it a few days later? I also really don't want to be induced as I won't be allowed a Waterbirth in the midwife unit, my hospital said they are currently changing the guidelines so if you got induced and it just kicked off normal labour with no drip needed etc they would them let you go to midwife unit, but I doubt that will happen in the next 3 weeks!

Interesting to see what happens. I am hoping I have less than 2 weeks left lol. I am just one impatient mother to be and want to meet our baby now! lol Plus on hospital advice I finished for my mat leave yday (I was going to work til 39+4) so I am going nuts already with boredom! Weekend tv is crappy!