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

Original poster

Overdue with first baby - positive stories needed please

18 replies

HelenFi · 09/09/2022 10:00

Hi all, I'm 41 weeks pregnant with my first baby. I declined a sweep a couple of days ago but will go ahead tomorrow if still no movement. I was really reluctant to have any unnecessary intervention but am now preparing myself for the inevitable. Please can I have some positive stories of first time Mums who went into labour naturally after being overdue. I think it would really help me. I'm so bored of getting messages daily from family and friends asking where this baby is! It's very comfy that's all I can say!

OP posts:
BlueBunny23 · 09/09/2022 11:49

can you try the nipple stimulation? I just watched a video on you tube she did the nipple stimulation and had her baby the next morning right before her induction she was 41 weeks also apparently there was a study on it and 37% of people went into labour after doing it where was only 6% went into labour who didn’t try it.

greenbirdsong · 09/09/2022 11:52

I had a sweep at 41+3 and it started my labour within 12 hours. If I had left it one more day they would have induced me.
I would go for the sweep if you can. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been.
Good luck with the birth!

oneOff12 · 09/09/2022 11:53

I booked in a session with a doula (I wasn’t sure one for the birth.) she did a few exercises and spoke to me about castor oil. I took a small amount and it worked, but would recommend speaking to a professional first. Being overdue is so hard!

Underthemoon1 · 09/09/2022 12:12

I tried loads of recommended things to get labour started when DC3 was late. I ended up needing to be induced but it was by far my most positive birth. The positives for me were being in hospital right from the start so I didn't need to stress about driving to hospital in the middle of labour, and having a midwife with me all the way through instead of mainly being left to get on with it. I think most of the negative induction stories come from people being induced early for medical reasons, when their bodies weren't ready. Most people I know who were induced for later babies had pretty positive stories. So try not to worry too much about things not starting naturally! The wait is terrible though! I remember being terribly uncomfortable and worried about induction. And don't blame yourself if labour doesn't start - all the things recommended only make a tiny difference to your chances.

Jaaxe · 09/09/2022 12:42

I would get the sweep, it started my Labour off and wish they’d done it sooner as i ended up needing an emergency C-section as she was so big and got stuck, that’s not to say you will or that I wouldn’t of needed one anyway regardless of being overdue but I always wonder if they’d done the sweep at 1 day overdue when I asked if it would of ended better but my midwife refused as she said I’d go into Labour naturally, I didn’t. I was 41+5 when I had her x

Skylark1990 · 09/09/2022 13:13

I went into labour naturally (no sweeps etc) at 41+2, and she arrived vaginally 4 days later (had a long stop/start labout). Overall a positive experience even though it was long and we had a few hiccups.

Sweeps can potentially push your body into labour before you / baby are ready, and subsequently cause longer labours or more difficult deliveries e.g. emergency c section/instrumental. The same goes for actual induction via the drip/waters breaking etc. However, for some women, a sweep can help speed things along and their labour is then straight forward. But you need to be aware of the various pros and cons.

My advice is to trust your gut and stick to that. There is no need to rush baby out, if all is going well. You can opt for increased monitoring once you get to 41+5/42 weeks if you want to avoid induction - this is when they'll usually do daily or every second day scans to check placenta flow etc. You do not have to be induced, it is your choice, even if they don't make it feel like this. Some babies just take longer and the due date is pretty artificial, it is a due period 37-42 weeks, anything within this is entirely normal.

best of luck! x

Skylark1990 · 09/09/2022 13:15

Also some things I did in the lead up... have sex, long walks, drinking raspberry leaf tea, eating dates, relaxing and watching nice films etc... all can help although ultimately baby will come when they are ready!

Flibbyjibby · 09/09/2022 14:20

I had a sweep at 41 weeks. Lost my mucous plug/had a bloody show immediately following. Had a day of not much happening then contractions started. After on/off contractions for a couple of days I gave birth at 41+3 to a healthy baby girl.

Sassy144 · 09/09/2022 15:09

Not me, but my sister last year was two weeks overdue having tried everything, she went in for induction (reluctantly) and found out she was already in labour!

Original poster
HelenFi · 09/09/2022 15:19

BlueBunny23 · 09/09/2022 11:49

can you try the nipple stimulation? I just watched a video on you tube she did the nipple stimulation and had her baby the next morning right before her induction she was 41 weeks also apparently there was a study on it and 37% of people went into labour after doing it where was only 6% went into labour who didn’t try it.

I have actually done some antenatal colostrum but will keep going with it :)

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenFi · 09/09/2022 15:21

greenbirdsong · 09/09/2022 11:52

I had a sweep at 41+3 and it started my labour within 12 hours. If I had left it one more day they would have induced me.
I would go for the sweep if you can. It wasn't as bad as I thought it might have been.
Good luck with the birth!

Thank you, this is really great to hear as I think I will go for the sweep after the weekend. X

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenFi · 09/09/2022 18:27

Thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenFi · 09/09/2022 18:27

Sassy144 · 09/09/2022 15:09

Not me, but my sister last year was two weeks overdue having tried everything, she went in for induction (reluctantly) and found out she was already in labour!

Wow! Thank you for sharing

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenFi · 09/09/2022 18:29

Underthemoon1 · 09/09/2022 12:12

I tried loads of recommended things to get labour started when DC3 was late. I ended up needing to be induced but it was by far my most positive birth. The positives for me were being in hospital right from the start so I didn't need to stress about driving to hospital in the middle of labour, and having a midwife with me all the way through instead of mainly being left to get on with it. I think most of the negative induction stories come from people being induced early for medical reasons, when their bodies weren't ready. Most people I know who were induced for later babies had pretty positive stories. So try not to worry too much about things not starting naturally! The wait is terrible though! I remember being terribly uncomfortable and worried about induction. And don't blame yourself if labour doesn't start - all the things recommended only make a tiny difference to your chances.

Thank you, that's good to know. There are a lot of horror stories about induction which doesn't help!

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenFi · 09/09/2022 18:30

Skylark1990 · 09/09/2022 13:13

I went into labour naturally (no sweeps etc) at 41+2, and she arrived vaginally 4 days later (had a long stop/start labout). Overall a positive experience even though it was long and we had a few hiccups.

Sweeps can potentially push your body into labour before you / baby are ready, and subsequently cause longer labours or more difficult deliveries e.g. emergency c section/instrumental. The same goes for actual induction via the drip/waters breaking etc. However, for some women, a sweep can help speed things along and their labour is then straight forward. But you need to be aware of the various pros and cons.

My advice is to trust your gut and stick to that. There is no need to rush baby out, if all is going well. You can opt for increased monitoring once you get to 41+5/42 weeks if you want to avoid induction - this is when they'll usually do daily or every second day scans to check placenta flow etc. You do not have to be induced, it is your choice, even if they don't make it feel like this. Some babies just take longer and the due date is pretty artificial, it is a due period 37-42 weeks, anything within this is entirely normal.

best of luck! x

Thank you for your thoughts and luck! Definitely going to try and trust my gut. I feel like my body is making progress but maybe just not at the pace I would like!

OP posts:
Original poster
HelenFi · 02/10/2022 22:53

Thought I would add to this post that typically I went into labour naturally shortly after writing this post! Baby was born the following day safe and well. 😀

OP posts:
PaperPalace · 02/10/2022 22:54

Congratulations OP!

Skylark1990 · 03/10/2022 09:15

Congratulations! How was it all? X

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