How Late will your Doc let you be?

EmJ&B · August 2013

Mobile: How Late will your Doc let you be?

Sorry if this has been discussed and I missed it. Does your doctor have a "deadline" for your pregnancy - eg, have they said that if you're not in labor by such-and such a date, they'll induce?

My friend is due in September and her doc/hospital doesn't want her to go past 41 weeks - they cite the fact that they know her exact date of conception and that apparently babies born between 41 and 42 weeks "don't do as well" (I have no idea what that means. My friend says this is what the doctor told her.)

My doc says that, as long as everything seems fine, she's content to let me go to 42 weeks. I'm curious now and may ask her about the discrepancy.

Anyone have any thoughts? What does your doc say?

JuneBug86 · August 2013

My Dr will let me go up to 2 weeks overdue.

jessjhh · August 2013

2 weeks at most. That second week depends on what day she is working too.

CousinVicki · August 2013

my dr's used to go to right before 42 weeks, with A LOT of monitoring (NST, biophysical u/s etc). the "not doing well" seems like b.s. to me if you are checked

however, 5 years later, they now only go to 41 weeks, which is annoying. I am going to push back on that if all looks well and i am overdue again.

nbcarlson · August 2013

My doc will let me go to 42 weeks.

EmJ&B · August 2013

CousinVicki said:

however, 5 years later, they now only go to 41 weeks, which is annoying. I am going to push back on that if all looks well and i am overdue again.

Did they say a reason for the change?

CousinVicki · August 2013

EmJ&B said:

CousinVicki said:

however, 5 years later, they now only go to 41 weeks, which is annoying. I am going to push back on that if all looks well and i am overdue again.

Did they say a reason for the change?

hmmm i forget HA, i only asked in passing several appts ago. I am going to have a real talk with them about it soon! maybe it's my age though? UGH.

kimbo1216 · August 2013

My OB says 41-42 weeks. But she prefers not to go past 41.5 weeks due to other complications that can arise by waiting too long.

kellyk17 · August 2013

As long as everything is going well, 2 weeks. I thought 2 wks was standard since everyone knows that due dates are estimated.

From my research and reading that comment about babies not doing well between 41-42 weeks is totally incorrect, though I'm no doctor. The research I found said that the average FTM mom goes 41wks, 1 day. Past 42 wks is usually the cut off because at that point there is research that there is a higher chance of stillborn.

I trust and respect my doctors. I have worked in healthcare for 15 years, but if the baby and I are both health with no indication of issues, I trust my body more. No doctor can force you to be induced.

Edit: Science! Here is a study abstract by Int'l Journal of GYN & OB

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020729297001793

EmJ&B · August 2013

kellyk17 said:

As long as everything is going well, 2 weeks. I thought 2 wks was very standard since everyone knows that due dates are estimated.

My friend was an IVF patient and they know her exact conception date. They've allowed her 41 weeks total.

And that may be the difference. If she was just counting her LMP, it might be different.

kellyk17 · August 2013

@EMJ&B For me, even knowing the exact date doesn't change that there is research to back up that it is safe to go up to 42 weeks. But of course, every women needs to decided what is best for her and her baby.

alfan004 · August 2013

Mine will let me go 41 1/2 weeks......I pray I don't go that long..ughhh

MrsMommyQ · August 2013

Somewhere between 41 and 42 weeks--depends on your circumstances. I'm have a c/s at 39 weeks so that's not an issue this time.

But with DD I was 10 days late. They induced at day 9 and I ended up with a c/s on day 10. At the time I was pissed they let me go that long though. At 40 weeks and 3 days DD was 8lbs 10 oz. They totally could have induced me sooner and maybe I would have made it vaginally rather than having a c/s. Oh well--she got her and is perfect and healthy so it's not a big deal.

hartsl01 · August 2013

I've got this on my list of questions for the Dr. - I'm assuming no more than 2 weeks though. The NP told me today that because I'm so low-risk that unless something drastic happens, there won't be a chance of getting induced.

asilwhite · August 2013

42 weeks with extra monitoring. I'm hoping I don't go that long, please no!

JenMatt2010 · August 2013

41 weeks. I'm a STM trying for a VBAC, but they say they won't let any patient go past 41 weeks now...I think it has something to do with the placenta aging/deteriorating and not enough nutrients getting to the baby

mominwaiting29 · August 2013

My Doc Said something similar to your friends doc that longer than your due date there is a higher risk of meconium because babies are more developed. Also higher risk of having a bigger baby. With that said, my Dr. said he won't let me go over past 41 weeks due to baby's size, measuring in the 80% it would be HUGE if it went any later. Or at least that is his fear... I think.

CousinVicki · August 2013

mominwaiting29 said:

My Doc Said something similar to your friends doc that longer than your due date there is a higher risk of meconium because babies are more developed. Also higher risk of having a bigger baby. With that said, my Dr. said he won't let me go over past 41 weeks due to baby's size, measuring in the 80% it would be HUGE if it went any later. Or at least that is his fear... I think.

actually my Dr said most babies level off or LOSE weight because the placenta is not kicking into high gear the further you go past. *shrug

CousinVicki · August 2013

MrsMommyQ said:

Somewhere between 41 and 42 weeks--depends on your circumstances. I'm have a c/s at 39 weeks so that's not an issue this time.

But with DD I was 10 days late. They induced at day 9 and I ended up with a c/s on day 10. At the time I was pissed they let me go that long though. At 40 weeks and 3 days DD was 8lbs 10 oz. They totally could have induced me sooner and maybe I would have made it vaginally rather than having a c/s. Oh well--she got her and is perfect and healthy so it's not a big deal.

how big was she at birth? was the 8'10 the estimate? also, why are you having a c/s at 39 weeks??

NatesCupcake47 · August 2013

Midwife will let me go to 42 weeks providing everything is looking good and an ultrasound will be done at 41 weeks to assure all is well.

Welshgirl12 · August 2013

My midwife group will allow me to be 41 weeks 4 days before they then work with a Dr to figure out an induction date.

chelseyestelle · August 2013

My doctor said 41 weeks.

CarolinaGirl411 · August 2013

I haven't asked, I'm waiting to see if/when we get to that point.

BrittanyCupcakes · August 2013

I'm looking at 39 weeks, based on GD and insulin dependency.

My sister was allowed to go to 42 weeks with all three pregnancies (different OB's each time). She ended up with C-sections all three times due to meconium with 2, and pre-E with 1, but was trying for VBAC.

RunningGal900 · August 2013

42 weeks with monitoring if you are insistent, but she'd prefer to induce between 41w and 41w3d. I was scheduled to be induced at exactly 41w last time, but I think I'd push to go at least 10 days late this time. I'm positive of my dates, so I'd be comfortable with that as long as the monitoring shows baby doing well.

allurea · August 2013

I get an ultrasound at 10 days past my due date and then they decide from there how much longer they will let things go.

HFrizzle · August 2013

I don't have a choice, for medical reasons, but mine will be delivered by 39w5d. His normal schedule though is 42 weeks.

Aunt Edna · August 2013

Still waiting to hear what the OB says due to GD. With my last OB they allowed you to go to 42 weeks with a lot of monitoring. They said after 40 weeks babies poop and get big, so there are increased risks as you go past your due date. I'm not sure I would be comfortable going past 42 and even less due to GD, but we will see what the OB says.

CousinVicki · August 2013

i would like to also like to point out the grammatical awkwardness of the subject line makes me cringe.

CousinVicki · August 2013

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm looking at 39 weeks, based on GD and insulin dependency.

My sister was allowed to go to 42 weeks with all three pregnancies (different OB's each time). She ended up with C-sections all three times due to meconium with 2, and pre-E with 1, but was trying for VBAC.

what? i had meconium and delivered vaginally.

mom2twoboys90 · August 2013

41 weeks 5 days. She will do stretch and sweeps starting at 39 weeks though.

My first DS was over 9lbs and only 5 days late so I am hoping I dont go overdue!

Life is Exciting · August 2013

My OB practice said 41 weeks, max, and then they'll induce. She cited that "at that point, it becomes safer for the baby to come out than to stay in."
I thought her answer was pretty vague, so if we come to that point, DH and I are going to have a serious discussion with the doc about pros and cons.

BrittanyCupcakes · August 2013

CousinVicki said:

BrittanyCupcakes said:

I'm looking at 39 weeks, based on GD and insulin dependency.

My sister was allowed to go to 42 weeks with all three pregnancies (different OB's each time). She ended up with C-sections all three times due to meconium with 2, and pre-E with 1, but was trying for VBAC.

what? i had meconium and delivered vaginally.

I should have clarified, I realized that didn't entirely make sense. She had meconium and wasn't progressing within the time frame they wanted. The meconium wasn't the only reason for the c-sections, but it definitely was a risk involved with being that far overdue.

amber0529 · August 2013

My midwife said once I hit 40 weeks she schedules an induction for the following week.

SnoopyLuv · August 2013

I am going to 41w5d for my VBAC for now. I think for a normal vaginal my OB goes to 42.

Bakeshan28 · August 2013

kicius56 said:

1 week overdue. I would like to avoid induction at that point, but I will worry about it if I even get to 41 weeks.

That's how my practice runs as well. If I'm overdue again and need to be induced I'm going to be so disappointed. I really want the whole honey it's time experience

SuperTreesa · August 2013

My midwife states she prefers inductions at 41weeks. But this is due to it being the standard practice with the hospital she delivers at. But if I give any push back she will let me go til 42 weeks. After 40 weeks, we start 2x week appointments with NST with each. DD1 came on her own at 41w3days and DD2 at 41w1day. I won't accept an induction before 42 weeks if baby and I are doing fine.

BlessUrHeart29 · August 2013

My doctor always just says that it all just depends. But from our conversation last time, it seems that many of his patients elect to be induced at 39 weeks for convenience, which I didn't realize was so common. So he probably just assumes I'll ask to be induced at 39 weeks. I told him that I didn't think I'd be interested in an induction unless it was for medical reasons, like because of my GD. He said there was lots of time to think about it. It was a weird conversation.

Amjoy25 · August 2013

Medically, you should be able to carry until 42 weeks, as a "normal" pregnancy is between 38-42 weeks. I am not allowed to go past my due date because of my GD diagnosis.

Amjoy25 · August 2013

chelseyestelle said:

My doctor said 41 weeks.

Holy enormous 3D ultrasound!

JenMatt2010 · August 2013

Amjoy25 said:
Medically, you should be able to carry until 42 weeks, as a "normal" pregnancy is between 38-42 weeks. I am not allowed to go past my due date because of my GD diagnosis.

Do you mind me asking if you're diet controlled or on meds? I am diet controlled and they told me 41 weeks. I don't want to put the baby at risk though by going too far over...is this something i should research further?

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