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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!

OP posts:

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Mumpbump · 14/03/2007 16:11

I hope that it all goes okay. Let us know how she gets on...

kittywaitsfornumber6 · 14/03/2007 16:14

I've gone to 43 weeks twice, no probs whatsoever. My doula went to 44 weeks twice, also no problems. none of these babies were over cooked either.

NineUnlikelyTales · 14/03/2007 16:22

I went to 42+6 with my DS and I didn't feel that I was putting my baby at risk. The trouble is 'in this day and age' everyone thinks that because the risk of stillbirth goes up after 42 weeks, induction is the cure. Well I don't think it is, because induction carries risks of its own, except that we aren't encouraged to think about those risks.

FWIW, my DS was born with an apgar score of 10. So I was right to trust my instincts and let him come when he was ready.

I know it wasn't meant that way, but I find it insulting when people post saying why would you put a baby at risk, etc. I don't think anyone would do that intentionally. Life - and pregnancy - is full of risks and you have to balance what is right for you.

Ladymuck · 14/03/2007 16:24

Were you having a vbac?

Mumpbump · 14/03/2007 16:27

This lady is already at 44 weeks, so we're not talking about a few days or even just one week over the recommended length of time, to be fair.

NineUnlikelyTales · 14/03/2007 16:35

True - 44 weeks is a loooong way overdue. She must be exhausted, poor thing.

I didn't have vbac (DS is my first and only).

jabuti · 14/03/2007 16:40

i doubt anyone meant as an insult NineUnlikelyTales. im sure most of the people here are genuinely hoping for the best for this lady and worried about her safety as well, besides the baby. stillbirth is one of the saddest things ever.

NineUnlikelyTales · 14/03/2007 16:43

I know no one meant it as an insult jabuti it's just that sometimes these comments can make you feel that if you don't opt for 100% intervention, you are beging dangerously cavalier.

Don't mind me, I'm hormonal today (and most days...)

Ladymuck · 14/03/2007 16:46

I agree that someone wouldn't put their baby at risk intentionally - but it does happen out of ignorance or fear. But as a vbac she's be most likely under a consultant - nappyaddict, is there any chance of finding out which consultant or hospital? I understood that it was very hard to find someone who is happy for a vbac after 43 weeks.

CarGirl · 14/03/2007 16:47

Think part of me decision to be induced at 42 weeks (4th baby) rather than wait was when I had my 2nd induced at 42+2 there was so much meconium swimming around in there, baby was 10lb6oz and by waiting there was still no guarantee of going into labour.........so I figured it was more a case of when I would be induced rather than if! My Mum never went into labour either - think she went 43+ weeks!

It is a very risky thing and induction is not pleasant (although my last one was fantastic) nor without risks and it's very hard when you don't know why the lady ended up with e c-section first time around.

DaisyMOO · 14/03/2007 17:04

Just to point out that the absolute risk of stillbirth at 43 weeks is 1 in 500, so pretty small really, although I don't know of figures for 44 weeks. I doubt this woman is acting in ignorance - IME hospitals certainly don't hold back in explaining the risks of declining induction. She probably has her own, very good reasons for not wanting an induction.

Ladymuck · 14/03/2007 17:40

But it is not just the risk of stillbirth is it (though isn't that something like 6 times the normal risk at birth?), it is all the other risks re the placenta, meconium, reduced liquid etc. I'd be amazed if the chances of successful vbac at 44 weeks is better than at 42 weeks (and to be honest i wouldn't truat many statistics on it as I'm not sure that 44 week vbacs are common enough to set a rule!). I guess the bit that would worry me is to what extent is she "refusing induction" to quote the OP. It is one thing putting forward your preferences for birth, but if she is ignoring all of the professional advice, then I would be curious as to why? Hence I'm curious as to which consultant she is under, since ime it is rare to find a consultant who would advocate a vbac at 44 weeks.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 17:42

not sure what consultant she is under. she lives in london but dont know what the hospital is.

OP posts:

hertsnessex · 14/03/2007 17:55

Hope it goes well for her. induction doesnt hold all the answers though, and as long asa she is happy and being monitored then her and the baby would prob be fine.

let us know how it goes. its a shame she is obviously so worried about labour, poor thing.

NineUnlikelyTales · 14/03/2007 18:50

Ladymuck I guess people ignore professional advice for all sorts of reasons (maybe her c-section was not a good experience?) good and bad.

misdee · 14/03/2007 18:54

kittywaitsforno6, is your doula george?

EllieK · 14/03/2007 19:08

we were discussing this at work today. not all that many years ago it was far less common to have an induction, and there were still loads of very healthy babies born. I would be very reluctant to have one if i go overdue.

kayzr · 14/03/2007 19:14

Im terrified of having an induction as I hate needles and have been told that most ppl get put on a drip, but I would never refuse one as I could never live with myself if I refused it then something went wrong.

Original poster

nappyaddict · 14/03/2007 19:16

they try the gel first, which is what i had. luckily it worked first time.

OP posts:

CarGirl · 14/03/2007 19:16

Actually I found with each induction I was much better informed so no monitoring, strapped to the bed etc etc etc I think not being induced before 42 weeks is a different issue to refusing to being induced post 43 weeks. It sounds like she had such a horrid first time she is just adamant to not go thru it again - I wanted a home birth, not induction blah blah 2nd time around due to horrors of firts time but couldn't afford a doula etc so still ended up in the wretched hospital!

I think terror from a previous experience can make it difficult to have a rational balanced approach to future ones. Which says a lot for the NHS maternity care really.

kittywaitsfornumber6 · 14/03/2007 19:41

MISDEE- Yes!!!!!! She's doing me this time too!! How do you know her? I guess there aren't many who go that far along are there?

misdee · 14/03/2007 20:14

ooo i have 'known' george from ivillage since i was pregnant with dd2, she was due before me, and her dd1 was one of the last to arrive when she was expecting her dd2 we were placing virtual bets on how far she would go

kittywaitsfornumber6 · 14/03/2007 20:17

Misdee, it's a small, small world eh?

misdee · 14/03/2007 20:19

small internet world lol.

Mumpbump · 15/03/2007 09:58

Any news, nappyaddict?

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