Anyone allowed to go past 38 weeks?

lc&jw · January 2013

I am currently 37w3d with boy/girl twins. My pregnancy is overall going great but my doctor is insistent upon wanting to get these babies out before 38 weeks which is Sunday. I am really wanting to have a vaginal delivery and both babies are currently head down. Due to marginal placenta previa that has more or less resolved itself, my MFM won't induce, but if I go into labor on my own he's willing to let me attempt a vaginal delivery as long as the bleeding doesn't get out of control. If I don't go into labor on my own, I'm scheduled for a c-section Friday afternoon and he seems unwilling to budge on that date.

I have tried everything (sex, spicy food, nipple stimulation, eggplant, pineapple, exercise, birthing ball) to get my body into labor but there has been no progress and my cervix is still long and closed as of Monday. I desperately don't want a c-section for a variety of reasons and I feel like I'm now being penalized for my body handling this okay and keeping these babies in.

Is it totally unheard of for a twin pregnancy to be allowed to go past 38 weeks? The babies are doing fine in there (BPPs have been great) and my blood pressure is low. The babies are measuring small, but my MFM hasn't made a big deal over that so I assume it's okay (although this was his rationale for not wanting me to go beyond 38 weeks).

Should I call his office tomorrow and beg for more time? I know a c-section isn't the end of the world and I might end up with one anyway but I just want the chance to try for a vaginal delivery. I just need to give my body time to get itself ready.

WeAreSmalls · January 2013

I've still got quite a bit of time, but my dr said if there are no complications she will not schedule a c-sec w/twins prior to 38 weeks and her goal is to make it to 39 weeks.

lynn0926 · January 2013

If I make it that far, my c-section/induction would be a few days after 38 weeks. I have googled into why most OBs induce at 38 weeks and seems like from what I have read that the placenta starts to not provide the nutrients, etc that the babies need and it is more of a risk to keep them in much past 38 weeks. I have seen girls on this board go past 38 weeks though. For me, I can't wait. I am happy to go at 38 weeks. It is so hard, and I can't wait to feel "normal" again.

mirnb · January 2013

I was set to be induced at 38 and 2 days but went in to labour at 38 exactly....I would fight for what you want....it makes no sense to push for a csection at not even 38 weeks!!! I would want to give your body time to start labour on its own too as long as everyone is still looking healthy!

Cinnamon Haze · January 2013

Mine wont induce or schedule a section before 39 weeks. ass...... lol

JodiAriel · January 2013

I was induced at 39w4d and successfully had a vaginal delivery at 40w0d. I was monitored twice a week toward the end with both NSTs and ultrasounds.

honeybee72 · January 2013

sing4mysavior:
Also...the vag delivery with spontaneous labor or csection if no labor sounds nuts to me. If he's ok with you delivering vaginally, then he should be ok with inducing to get there. If hes not ok with inducing due to the previa, then he should just say csection all the way...no attempt at vaginal delivery. I don't understand. I would definitely call and get some arification on his reasoning for dates/methods of delivery and go from there. GL!

This. I don't understand not being ok with inducing if he's ok with attempting a vaginal delivery.

I was induced at 38w and they were born at 38w1d. My MFM did not support elective induction prior to 38w, but did say it was their protocol to deliver around 38w. Their reasoning was similar to what another PP mentioned regarding concerns with the placenta's function. One of them told me it was like allowing a singleton to go beyond 41 weeks. (Please keep in mind that this is one group's standard protocol. I'm not trying to alarm anyone or contradict their doctor's opinion.)

The induction was my choice as a result of some really uncomfortable edema in my legs and feet; otherwise, I would have tried to wait it out. In that case, I don't know what my MFM would have recommended. Keep in mind that, while my pg was co-managed, my regular OB was in charge of my delivery; the MFM group acted largely as "consultants."

Hope that helps. Good Luck!

megs2011 · January 2013

JodiAriel:
I was induced at 39w4d and successfully had a vaginal delivery at 40w0d. I was monitored twice a week toward the end with both NSTs and ultrasounds.

Jodi, I didn't realize you went to exactly 40weeks. Good for you!

macchiatto · January 2013

My OB was willing to let me go as long as 39w or so.

leapgirl8 · January 2013

Our MFM does not like to go beyond 38 weeks, but would have induced if both babies had been head down. I don't understand why your doctor won't induce. That, to me, is the bigger problem than the timing. Your babies are good to go at this point.

dgancz · January 2013

My twins were my 2nd pg and I had a scedualed C for 38w2d but they ended up being born at 38 weeks.

My OB said that since I had had a c-section before they were not comfortable with me going longer than 38 weeks.I think if it would have been my first PG they would have let me go till at least 39 weeks if all was OK.

But I was pretty done at 38 weeks

Good luck

bunny731 · January 2013

39w2d. Due to positioning it was c-section for me. I am not sure about the true numbers for placental breakdown between 38-39 for twins in separate sacs. When the doctor suggested 39 I did a lot of research but the numbers were not really conclusive that the risk outweighed the benefit.

I was monitoring weekly in the end and everything was good.

jessican08 · January 2013

leapgirl8:
Our MFM does not like to go beyond 38 weeks, but would have induced if both babies had been head down. I don't understand why your doctor won't induce. That, to me, is the bigger problem than the timing. Your babies are good to go at this point.

This.

Both of my babies were head down so I was allowed to be induced but even if they hadn't been and I had needed a c-section, that too would've been schedule once I hit 38w. I don't understand why he won't induce you if both babies are head down and you're 38w.

elizabeth0705 · January 2013

I had my babies via planned c-section at 37.5 weeks. I had been scheduled for 38.5 weeks by my OBGYN, but the MFM stepped in and said that she preferred me to deliver around the 38 week mark instead (and after that, the specific day was based on my OBGYN's surgery schedule).

My MFM explained that after 37 weeks, she looks for any possible reason to schedule delivery of twins. She said that after 38 weeks the risk of complications to the babies and the mother increases. It looked like my DD wasn't growing much and both babies were potentially running out of room during my 36 week ultrasound, so MFM went ahead and moved up my c-section.

ETA: I don't understand why your doctor won't induce if both babies are head down, either. FWIW, my DD was breech the whole time, and my DS was transverse at the end, so I was looking at a c-section no matter what.

Dragonfly1226 · January 2013

I was told I wouldn't be allowed to go past 38 weeks. But it seems like you have some special circumstances. If I was in your shoes, would ask for more time. But if the doctors told me it was best to schedule a c section I would. I hope your body takes care of this on its own!

Annabelle7 · January 2013

My OB said that if I'm still healthy and everything is still good with the babies, etc., and I haven't gone into labor by 39 weeks, then we'll talk about inducing.

MichelleDis · January 2013

I am only 10 weeks, but my OB made it very clear she was not in a rush and just fine with me reaching 38-39 weeks. She has twins herself and went to 39. I can't imagine I'll go past 39, but she's very open to anything as long as everyone is looking healthy and good.

lc&jw · January 2013

Thanks everybody for all the feedback. I have a call in to my doctor and am waiting to hear back. This all feels so unnecessary.

E&RMommy · January 2013

First of all, congrats on getting so far.

Nobody knows the status of your babies or your placenta location like your own doctors. If your MFM does not recommend induction and only labor then it's likely a really valid reason.

The literature shows the NADIR of morbidity and mortality for twins is 38 weeks. That is why most MFMs and ob/gyns recommend delivery at 38 weeks. It doesn't mean things immediate stop functioning, the risks just increase after that.

Good luck and keep us posted.

MrsOjoButtons · January 2013

My water broke at 38w 6d. I did not consent to a scheduled induction or c-section.

flgator · January 2013

E&RMommy:
First of all, congrats on getting so far.
Nobody knows the status of your babies or your placenta location like your own doctors. If your MFM does not recommend induction and only labor then it's likely a really valid reason.
The literature shows the NADIR of morbidity and mortality for twins is 38 weeks. That is why most MFMs and ob/gyns recommend delivery at 38 weeks. It doesn't mean things immediate stop functioning, the risks just increase after that.
Good luck and keep us posted.

this

My dr didn't want me going past 38 weeks but it didn't matter b/c they came early. We were going to schedule an induction date of 38 w 4 d.

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