talk to me about being overdue..

akl0506

I am 41 wks today.  2nd baby.  1st was a scheduled CS b/c he was breech.  Never went into labor.  DD should be in the correct position, per my 36 wk ultrasound, but it seems I am not progressing very fast.  Was not dilated at all until 39 wks and then only 1 cm at both 39 and 40 wk appts.  Anyone else experience this?  Did you finally have LO on your own or did you require induction/c-section?  They won't induce a VBAC at my hospital.  So...I either have her on my own or have a repeat c/s a week from today.  I don't know which is worse, another week being pregnant or another c/s!  Although, I will be completely honest and say that the c/s wasn't bad at all b/c it was planned.  

Deannabee78

I was a week overdue as well and was about to be induced. The day before I went into labor I agreed to a membrane sweep. That day I also walked the mall, ate pineapple core, had eggplant and sat in the bath. I honestly think relaxing in the tub (even had a half glass of wine) really helped the process. I used a birthing ball too and did some labor inducing yoga positions. I tried everything!!! lol! Good luck!!

pinksweetpea2

lilnightmusic:

You are not technically overdue until 42 weeks.

Exactly...and even then it is often not the dire situation that medical communities have made it out to be.  

My first was born at 43 week perfectly pink and healthy.  She just needed a little bit more time.  Her sister was born at 41 weeks and was also perfect.

Your body does not read a calendar and 40 weeks is simply an estimate.  Have faith- your body and your baby know when they are ready.  

PitaBread

I went into labor at 41 weeks, 3 days. No inductions, my birth center doesn't do those things!

tarahnpaul

Have you tried a membrane sweep?  That got things going for me, had DD at 41w4d.  And it doesn't really matter how dilated you are.  I won't even get checked next time b/c it just stressed me out and made me think she was coming any day.

beth2882

I didn't have to wait quite as long as some of you ladies, but at 40 weeks I was only a little over 1 cm dilated and went into labor at 40w 4d.  DD was born at 40w 5d.  My office actually allows patients to decline all internals until they reach their due date because they are meaningless predictors of when you will go into labor.  The only reason they ask that you have one on your due date is because that's when my office starts talking about induction and the hospital requires some form to filled out that needs that info.  So, be patient if you can.

akl0506

lilnightmusic:

You are not technically overdue until 42 weeks.  As long as the baby is healthy you could go well past your due date.  Some babies just need to cook longer than others.  FWIW I was 1 cm 5 hours before going into labor.  How effaced are you?  That's more of an accurate indicator of readiness.

The OB I saw at my last visit (1 day before my due date) didn't say how effaced, just that I was 1 cm.  At 39 wks, I was 1 cm and 30% effaced.  At 38 wks, 1 cm and 20% effaced.  

LouiseB2001

I only went 3 days over my DD but I really wanted to give birth on a particular day (which I did). I know this sounds quite crazy but I had read somewhere that pineapple induces labour. I ate half a pineapple the afternoon before and started contracting 4am. DD was out by 8:50pm that night. Just a suggestion :-)

LesleyT

lilnightmusic:

You are not technically overdue until 42 weeks.  As long as the baby is healthy you could go well past your due date.  Some babies just need to cook longer than others.

 

 This.

Baby will come when ready... "9 months" due came about from "9 moons" which can be up to 42 wks. It's modern science that targeted an actual day/date in the 9 moon calendar.

Plus, babies develop better in the womb where all they need to do is develop vs. outside the womb where they have to process all the stimuli of sight, sound, etc AND growth. Baby is just getting a leg up on the competition

 

akl0506

LesleyT:

lilnightmusic:

You are not technically overdue until 42 weeks.  As long as the baby is healthy you could go well past your due date.  Some babies just need to cook longer than others.

 

 This.

Baby will come when ready... "9 months" due came about from "9 moons" which can be up to 42 wks. It's modern science that targeted an actual day/date in the 9 moon calendar.

Plus, babies develop better in the womb where all they need to do is develop vs. outside the womb where they have to process all the stimuli of sight, sound, etc AND growth. Baby is just getting a leg up on the competition

 

I know, you are totally right.  I just would like to have a prayer of a VBAC and the longer this kid waits, the less chance I have.  My back-up RCS is in 6 days...I'd rather avoid the RCS, if I can.  And, frankly, this baby was going to be large to normal sized, I would imagine, if she had arrived a week ago.  Now, we are just in large territory.  Which, is great when she is out.  Not so great when she is going to be born vaginally...

tarahnpaul

My DD was 9lb4oz and I don't know what a smaller baby would have been like, but there was no problems having a bigger baby.  A very minor tear with a tiny stitch and that's it!  I credit a lot of that to the fact that my body went into labor when it was ready, and I did an unmedicated birth and couldn't push faster than what my body was ready to handle.  Everything took a lot longer than the o.b. was used to; the labor, the pushing, all of it, but in the end, it was what needed to happen.  

Contrast that with the many, many women who end up with horrific tears from pushing "as hard as they can" when they have an epidural and can't really feel what's happening down there.

cyprissa

I went into labor at 41w 5d and was barely a fingertip dilated that morning. Not everyone starts dilating before labor actually starts. I suggest lots of awkward sex with DH and walking. I also bounced on the birth ball and did some nipple stimulation during the day on the day I went into labor. 

Edited to add that I also did acupuncture and saw the chiro because mine was posterior. It helped get him into proper position and I think allowed me to finally go into labor.

 I also second the suggestions to relax and have a small glass of wine. Put yourself into a positive frame of mind.  

PrincessPeach13

I had DS at 42 weeks, and was only 1cm dilated and 75% effaced before going into labor.  When he came out, he was 9lbs, 3 oz. and while his shoulders did get stuck  my pelvic bone, he came out just fine (eta: eventually).  I do credit my fairly easy labor (even though it was long) with the fact that I held out for so long and tried to let my body and DS decide when it was time for him to come out.  I think if I had let myself be induced earlier as I was being pressured to, that I would have had a much harder labor.  

Just try to trust that your body is working in its own time and that it knows what it's doing.  

Congrats on your new baby!