Experiences of pregnancy going beyond 42 weeks?

[WhatIsPink]

Anyone who have gone over 42 weeks? I’m currently 41+4, while first child was born 41+6 and then second 41+4. Although very likely this one will come out in the next few days, but if not, wanted to hear anyone’s experience who actually went over 42 weeks, both how to discuss either the hospital and also research on the safety. Hospital is big on induction which I’m not too keen but 42 weeks is a mark which does get me a bit worried.

Unless you end up sectioned through birth trauma and don't get to spend time with your baby. Or you're so wrecked with mental health issues after their harrowing birth that you arent a very present, healthy or attentive mother.

They recommended it and I agreed heartily!

Okay so they didn't decide, you did. On their recommendation.

As I said from first hand experience with no interventions at all this is not always the case. Being in a ward with multiple other mothers being induced and talking to some the main reasons for the inductions was bringing their baby into the world safely. An induction rather than waiting until 42 weeks and over lowers the risk of stillbirth, baby needing NICU and slightly lowers the risk of emergency C-section. It’s the individuals choice of an induction or not but I think it’s wrong to try and put someone off it when it saves lives every day. Why would you prioritise a spontaneous labour past 42 weeks over the safety of baby and mother?

👏🏼🙏🏼

Well actual data says it is the case. Most babies who are born after 42 weeks are perfectly healthy at birth and beyond. Most babies born by induction are, too. It's personal choice. The numbers don't make any choice far less risky than the other because the numbers are so tiny.

What is important is giving women factual information that includes relevant statistics so they can make informed choices. Research has also found women experience far less disappointment over an emergency caesarean when they feel informed and in control. So trying to scare women into a choice by insinuating that choice is what good mothers do is part of the medical misogyny that plights women's healthcare.

You are better off being able to cite actual research than giving your birth story. Especially when it isn't what the OP asked for.

Error.

I’d rather that than a dead baby. That would be more traumatic

20+ years ago I was induced at 42+1 with both DSs. Second time I was monitored regularly from 40-42 weeks due to DSs heartbeat fluctuating. I wish we'd been offered intervention sooner, it was very stressful not knowing if DS was okay or not.
Had pessary induction both times, waters had to be manually broken. DS1 thankfully born healthy, 8lb12, DS2 born 9lb13 also healthy, a water birth. I don't think I was going into labour spontaneously either time, was glad for the option to induce.

I wonder what your child would prefer? A mum who can't mum properly because she was so intent in doing what doctors in system proven to be misogynistic told her to do. Or a mum who felt empowered and in control enough to make truly informed decisions about her way forwards?

I wonder if Lynsey Clancy had any birth trauma for instance.

40wks gestation may have been arbitrary 200 years ago, but it has been proven to be sensible by all of the medical research and evidence that has happened since.

Placentas aren't meant to last forever. Not all are in good nick at 40 weeks, never mind 42.

I will never understand how people can be flippant about stillbirth risks. This isn't a single event that has no lasting consequences. It is a devastating death.

Why carry on beyond 42 weeks? What benefit is there to the baby?

Not all inductions start a cascade of interventions.

Again as I said, it is not always the case and people do have good deliveries with an induction, I am just saying that people should not slate or put people off inductions that save lives every single day, even if you needed assistance would you not want to bring a baby into the world the world safely. With any form of births there are risks. However inductions are there to focus on saving lives.
I will always trust medical professionals, doctors and scientists rather than someone on the internet who has gone off social media and random studies when it comes to bringing a baby into the world safely.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and yes like I said it is the individuals choice. But going past 42 weeks carries a lot of risks, realistically a hell of a lot more than an induction. If you need an induction and thats the best thing for your baby and you then why would you think twice, if someone chooses to have an elective induction then that’s their choice. And if someone chooses to wait past there due date then that’s their choice.
Thank you.

Are you seriously saying that children of parents who have mental health struggles wish they were dead?! That's disgusting and you should be ashamed of yourself.

200 years ago, no one was fixating on being X weeks + 2. Women didn't know they were pregnant until they had missed at least one cycle, often more because of poor diet, general health and education. Women and babies routinely died in childbirth or the weeks following.

In 2026, we know more and we know that the placenta starts to fail. Even a daily exam is not going to prevent that happening and by the time a woman knows her placenta has failed, it is too late, she is carrying a dead baby.

If you want to live with the guilt of that for the rest of your life, crack on. Do not encourage other women to take risks with their baby's lives.

I had birth trauma, I had a retained placenta. Should I have let nature take its course (as it knows best) which used to happen in the old days. I would have died. Or was I right to let the male consultant rummage in my nether regions to pull the (slippery little bugger, his words) out and let me live. Wasn’t an enjoyable experience, left me traumatised. But glad I am here to tell the tale

If the child is dead they won’t have a preference, obviously.

Did that happen in the old days, or did midwives induce contractions with things like clary sage, skin to skin, and breastfeeding?

Why do you think homebirth midwives generally have a far lower incidence of things like a retained placenta?

The chances of you leaving a birth with PTSD or PPD or even PPP is higher than you awaiting spontaneous labour post dates and your baby dying.

Are you saying the facts about maternal death being higher historically are a lie?

Because those women end up in hospital anyway 🙄

So what? They use whatever means are necessary to safely deliver the baby. Who at 42 weeks, is likely not safe inside.

Nobody should ebay encouraging women to make any choice surrounding their birth. At most they should be offering factual information so the women can decide. Most people aren't into coercing others.

That's like saying more people get bitten by rabbits than by sharks. Of course they do, but one is a much more serious outcome.

Please could you link the evidence for that? Most people would rather take the risk of birth injury over a preventable death. But clearly you are not most people.

What women end up in hospital anyway? Do you understand what a home birth is? Do you understand that a retained placenta can only occur after a birth?