Looking for some reassurance re: overdue

funsies

Hello ladies,

I've been stopping by this board throughout my pregnancy since I am planning on having a med-free birth and you all have shared such great experiences.

I am now 6 days overdue and baby and I are doing great.  My Ob is willing to let me go a full two weeks past EDD before an induction and I am fine with that timeline.  I am really, really hoping I'll go into labor naturally before then but am starting to get discouraged that it just won't happen for me.  There are no "signs" that anything is happening, and my first (and only) internal exam at 40 weeks, 3 days showed no progress.  I'm starting to doubt that my body knows what to do and I'm scared I'll end up with a failed induction and need a C-section.

 So, did any of you not go into labor naturally if you went to 42 weeks?  Have any of you been induced when your cervix wasn't "favorable" and still had a successful induction?

 Any advice is much appreciated!  Thanks! 

Nechie122

This wasn't your question, but I was 1 cm dilated and zero percent effaced the day before I went into labor. Don't give up hope yet!

Joyfullnoise

Agree with PP, my thoughts are with you as I am sure that you are uncomfortable and eager to meet your LO.

I had no progress and after my water broke had only 5 hours of L&D. I was only a week over, though, and had no previous contractions, at all. You just never know. 

annabelle.27

Very very few women make it to 42 weeks. There is a stat floating around out there that the average first time mom goes into labour at 41 and 3 if left to natures devices, meaning that you are still right on schedule. FWIW, I had zero signs of labour with my first and went into labour naturally right on that 41 and 3 mark. I had every labour sign in the book for a full four weeks with my second, which was actually worse than the first time around as I spent a whole month thinking TODAY IS THE DAY. You never can tell when baby will come; relax and enjoy these last few days.

funsies

Thank you for your responses; they are just what I needed. It's nice to hear them after being told all day today (by friends and strangers) that I don't look ready because LO is still high. 

  

sbevmc09

I had very similar feelings to you during my last pregnancy when I passed my EDD and the doctor started trying to push for an induction at 41 weeks and kept telling me they'd never let me go past 42 for any reason so we should get it over with now, etc.  It really starts to make you doubt yourself. 

Although I felt like my body had no idea what it was doing and I'd probably be the only person pregnant forever and I'd end up getting induced at 42 weeks after fighting to wait that long, etc. I went into labor on my own at 41 weeks.  In fact, most FTMs go into labor on their own 8-10 days after their EDD, so keep that statistic in mind  

Also, keep in mind what your cervix is currently doing isn't a big indicator of when you'll go into labor.  You could have nothing going on and go into labor tonight.  You could walk around at 4cm for 3 weeks.  It's just not really anything you should worry about because it can't tell you too much since your body is getting ready for labor right now regardless of what your cervix is doing.  It only causes stress because if you're like 4cm you're all, "I'll go into labor any minute!" and then when you don't, it's a let down.  And on the other hand, if you aren't showing much change you feel like it's never going to happen!  Just ignore it.  Your body knows what it's doing!  

Hang in there mama, your body is going to make it happen!  Remember what I said about FTMs typically going to 41 weeks anyway.  You still have plenty of time for your body to do what it needs to do and statistically you are very likely to go into labor on your own by 42 weeks.  You can do it!

ETA: Also, I wanted to mention, I went into labor on my own at 41 weeks, but I didn't have too much indication of labor before then.  I hadn't been getting contractions and I was dilated to 2cm for like... at least 2 weeks.  I didn't let them check me until 38 weeks so actually I guess I was at 2cm for 3 weeks.  See?  Means nothing   I think the day before I went into labor I started gradually losing my mucus plug, but other than that, no signs really leading up to that first real contraction.

mrsodonnell12

With DS, I was 2 cm and 50% effaced at 37 weeks. A week later- no progress. At 39 weeks, no progress. At 40 weeks, no progress. I went into labor at 40w1d and had DS 9 hours later.

Mrs E in Oregon

Don't doubt your body, your baby is just taking it's sweet time. You may have ovulated later than your Dr's calculation is taking into account. If you were even a few days off, your baby just needs to get there.

My sister went 41 wk 5 d with her first and was induced. He was sunny side up so she had more back labor and needed an epi. But both did really well, no c-section.

I don't have an answer to your question but you can help your cervix by having sex. Semen helps soften the cervix and it is safe, if your Dr. has said you can have sex, to have sex all the way up until your water breaks, That may help make your cervix more favorable.

 

diamondcks

I had DS at 41 weeks, at 40w2d I was 0cm, at 40w5d I was 2cm and had m membranes stripped then had him 2 days later.  With DD I had her at 38 weeks, BUT I was a finger tip dilated after 6+ hrs of contractions then had her 7 hours later.  I'm pretty convinced that dilation doesn't mean anything.

amandaleigh1

I had been planning on waiting it out to 42 weeks, but I had fluid levels declining, so I was induced at 41 weeks 3 days. With my family history, I may have gone all the way to 42 weeks and still not gone into labor.

I had an unfavorable cervix (not dilated at all, baby high, maybe slightly effaced), but still had a "natural" birth with induction. My cervix was ripened with 2 doses of cytotec, which fully effaced me, but only got me to 1 cm. Then I was on the lowest dose of pitocin for 2 hours, at which time I negotiated with my medical team to try turning it off to see if I could proceed on my own. I did. I used hypnobirthing techniques and labored in the tub for 5 hours, which got me ready to push. Turned out my baby was sunny side up and I could not get him past my pubic bone after 3 hours of trying, so I did opt to have a vaccuum delivery (they turned him around before the vacuum part).

So, even if it does come to induction, you are not doomed to an epidural and c-section  

Mrs E in Oregon

any news?