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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

has anyone gone past 44 weeks?

67 replies

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 14:27

my step-niece is pregnant and is almost 44 weeks pregnant. up to now she has refused induction, but is wondering is this baby ever going to come out on its own!

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Hopeitwontbebig · 14/03/2007 14:39

Ooh, as far as I was aware, babies shouldn't stay in longer than 42 weeks, something to do with the placenta working less efficiently.. or um something like that.

I was induced with my 2nd, although it was quick and intense, it wasn't all that bad.

How can she stand being pregnant for so loooooooooooong!!

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 14:42

i think as long as the baby is still active and the placenta is still ok then you don't have to have an induction.

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kayzr · 14/03/2007 14:52

I've been told you have to be induced by 42 weeks or its a danger to the baby.

I'm due on Sunday and really fed up. I couldn't imagine going another 4 weeks.

Lemmiwinks · 14/03/2007 14:52

Wow, that's crazy. Your poor step neice! It's also worrying though b/c being extremely overdue does have an increased risk of stillbirth. I don't mean to worry you, but it is unfortunately a fact. The risks of this go up past 43 weeks. The amniotic fluid level drops dramatically the later the baby is and clearly this is not a good thing. I hope she is being monitered closely by her healthcare providers? I can't believe they'd let her stay pregnant this long without explaining the risks to her. Why would she not want to be induced already?

fannyannie · 14/03/2007 14:53

As long as the placenta is still functioning and baby is ok (which can be checked with scans) you can stay pg as long as your body wants you to!

NormaStanleyFletcher · 14/03/2007 14:53

My MIL is sure that she was 44.5 weeks when DH was born (they wouldn't believe her dates and there were no scans back then). He was 13lb when he was born though.

JanH · 14/03/2007 14:56

Is that 44 weeks by her dates or 44 weeks by scan?

Lemmiwinks · 14/03/2007 15:00

That's true to a certain extent fannyannie but the problem and tragedy of stillborn babies is that the mother can go in for a scan one day and the baby is fine and then the next day, without warning, it is a very different and tragic situation. Clearly being overdue is not the only factor in stillborn babies but the longer a baby is left in and overdue the higher the risks. It is impossible to moniter placenta function and the levels of amniotic fluid on a daily or hourly basis to know in enough time that the baby has a serious problem. I'm not saying you need to be induced the second you go past your due date, of course not, but 43 weeks nearly 44 is quite a different story! Each to their own tho, and if the mother is comfortable even knowing the possible riks, it's her own choice. It's not one I'd make personally tho. I just couldn't take the risk.

charliegal · 14/03/2007 15:02

13 lbs

JanH · 14/03/2007 15:02

Only all my scans said I was 2 weeks further on than I knew I was - scan 44 weeks = dates 42 weeks for me, so she may not be quite that far on. Still pushing it a bit though...

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 15:06

did you do your dates from your lmp or from when you would have conceived? hers are from her lmp, and the 6 week scan gave similar dates.

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Mumpbump · 14/03/2007 15:08

Dates are usually from LMP and they won't change the due date unless it is more than a few days different (at least in my area they won't!).

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 14/03/2007 15:14

I had a friend whose sister went to 43 weeks. her dd has multiple disabilities, and this has been attributed to the placenta not functioning properly during her last few days of pregnancy.

why ever would someone want to take that risk with their baby.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 15:19

i've just remembered actually and i swear i remember reading that someone on here went to 46 weeks. OMG!!

i personally would want an induction between 41 and 42 weeks because of the risks.

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bundle · 14/03/2007 15:45

I know of someone who went to 42.5 weeks and her baby died too. I think it's an unnecessary risk in this day & age.

Mumpbump · 14/03/2007 15:48

Why is your step-niece so against an induction?

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 16:02

she had one before that resulted in a c section.

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jabuti · 14/03/2007 16:03

oh boooooy! im not going to add much more to whatever has been said here, its all true & good. 42 weeks is tops really for a healthy baby... our bodies just wasnt designed for much longer. of course there are (thank god) succesful stories of people that went over 42, but why take the risks? get this baby out while its still healthy and alive.

CarGirl · 14/03/2007 16:06

Longest I waited for induction was 42+2, each and every day aftr 42 weeks the risks of stillbirth due to placenta failure increase sharply. As Lemmi explained the monitoring is only valid for that moment in time - within hours everything can change.

The consultant left it up to me (she is very anti induction actually), but even with my histroy of 4 going way over and being fine it was her statement of "as drs we've all seen it happen - stillbirth is just awful especially when you know hours earlier thigs were just fine"

I personally think we forget that mother and baby deaths were so much higher and induction is one of the reasons why it has fallen.

I too have a friend who had a stillbirth at 42+5 weeks as the placenta failed.

Mumpbump · 14/03/2007 16:06

Doesn't that mean that she can elect to have a c-section again? Or will get a high level of attention if going for a VBAC? Without wishing any disrespect to children with disabilities, I would have thought that 6 weeks recovering from another c-section would be far preferable to a life-time of bringing up a disabled child, knowing that if you had acted differently, it might not have been disabled...

Ladymuck · 14/03/2007 16:06

I didn't think that there were many consultants who recommended a vbac at over 43 weeks? Brave lady - I hope it goes well for her.

CarGirl · 14/03/2007 16:08

I've had 4 dc.................all way overdue always had to be induced some women just do not go into labour without help - I'm sure in the good old days I'd probaby have had a stillbirth or two........

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 16:08

have just spoke to her and i think i have managed to convince her to go for the induction. hospital said she can go in this evening so fingers crossed!

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CarGirl · 14/03/2007 16:09

that is so go good nappyaddict, hopefully this birth will be much more positive than the last!

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 16:10

hope so!!

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