Inducing when past EDD

nicnique · December 2013

Hey ladies. I need some advice/ thoughts or maybe a slap in the face because I am having a FTM freak out?

At my last weekly appt my OB told me she was scheduling me to be induced January 6th (41 weeks). She said that is the latest I can go past my due date of 12/30.

I am bothered that we have to schedule this now. The mental deadline is giving me anxiety. I really want to avoid being induced if possible. I have fears of a bad experience and my cervix not being "favorable". And I really wish H didn't tell his family the OB said this because they are very opinionated. "You don't need to force the baby out if she's not ready!" comments are not helping. I didn't ask to be induced people.

I know anything can happen between now and then. (Hopefully I go into labor on my own!!) I am just having a little mental freak out because she scheduled it. I guess?

I guess my question is...how late past your EDD will your OB let you go before scheduling you to be induced?

Sorry this got long. Thanks for reading!

ChuggingWater · December 2013

She will let me go ten days late, as long SD there are no presenting issues.

LabPupLuv · December 2013

41 weeks isn't bad for induction and you might be able to go longer but I don't think going to or past 42 is wise though. I've heard the placenta can break down over time and babies can "overcook." Based on factors like age and/or high blood pressure to name a few, it can break down even faster. You can always get a second opinion and see what factors are being considered in this decision. Damage done from a placenta breaking down is irreversible but a baby born at 41 weeks should be perfectly fine. I feel your fear though. My doctor wants to induce before 39 weeks for high blood pressure that is managed with medicine. I'm going to refuse any induction that early and am fighting to make it to 40 weeks. I want what is best for my baby and would definitely induce at 38 if I had not received more than one second opinion saying I would be fine to wait just a bit longer. I hate that I will be induced before he would have been ready to come out tho, so I can completely relate!

sugarland726 · December 2013

I'm a RCS, but my practice's policy is up to two weeks overdue, provided the NSTs and BPPs are coming back favorable. You always knew you wouldn't be pregnant forever. Just think of it not as a deadline, but more that you will definitely not be pregnant anymore after that date. Your body can still do this on its own!

kschref · December 2013

My OB had me schedule an appt. for one week past my due date (EDD Jan. 13) just to get it in the books in case I go over. At that point we would talk inducement. So I guess she'll let me go 7 days over at least - not sure how far past that, but not to 42 weeks.

jmdaisy2 · December 2013

My OB said a week also. I translate that in my head to mean (if no other issues are present) some time before week 42. I have a 41 week appointment scheduled with her, just in case, that is actually 41 weeks and 1 day, so I hope she does not try to schedule before then.

Try not to worry and just relax (I know this is much easier said than done), and ignore people/family who think its their business to tell you what is best for you and your baby. I'd probably just ask them where they got their medical degrees from

cpm1223 · December 2013

My OB said that they'd let me go a week to a week and a half overdue before inducing.

bethughknee · December 2013

My OB will let ME go 10 days. The story changes if you're of advanced maternal age, BP starts to rise, etc. I am also very much hoping I do not need to be induced. I was right on time (39 weeks, 4 days) with my first pregnancy so this little girl is welcome to follow suit.

That was a pretty shitty move on YH's part to tell his family without asking you first! It's none of their business what YOUR doctor has told you. Just because your doc made you schedule the date doesn't mean you're happy about it!

Don't get too stressed yet! There's time! I'll be sending you "go into labor on your own" thoughts.

I also can't even count the number of friends I've had this year whose OB's scheduled inductions and they went into labor the night before :P

Unknown · December 2013

This content has been removed.

nicnique · December 2013

Thanks everyone!

I plan to keep the date scheduled. I think I just let it freak me out. :P And H's family drives me crazy, but that is a completely different issue.

megngregk · December 2013

I think my OB is the odd one out. As long as you're favorable for induction and baby is measuring on time or ahead she doesn't like her patients to go over their EDD. She will schedule inductions between 39-40 weeks unless the mother declines or cervix has little to no progress.

JaneW2 · December 2013

Here's an interesting fact for you: Women who are induced before 40 weeks are more likely to need a c-section due to unfavorable cervix kind of thing. (Of course, it's sometimes necessary for various reasons.)

Women who are induced due to being post-date, even if it's just one week, are LESS likely to need a c-section than if the pregnancy were allowed to continue another week or so! One thing postdates inductions prevent are babies who just grow way too big.

BuckeyeANG · December 2013

My OB is willing to schedule inductions after 39w if your cervix is favorable but doesn't push it if her patient doesn't want to be induced at that point. I believe 41w is as late as she will let me go.

LabPupLuv · December 2013

nicnique said:

I think I just let it freak me out. :P And H's family drives me crazy

Oh, I am totally freaked out too! I think this is normal, especially at this point. Sorry for the crazy family tho! That we can't help. LOL

bensmommy518 · December 2013

I had the experience with DS of having to schedule an induction for pre-e. I was on bed rest until the induction date and all my NSTs were showing fine and I was able to keep my pressures down with the strict bed rest. I had fully intended on calling to cancel the morning of my scheduled induction becasue I was freaking out about inducing when it seemed my body was not ready to deliver but luckily I did not have to because I went into labor on my own around midnight.

I totally understand the mental FTM freakout and worry about inducing when it seems your body is not ready. I was so worried I would be induced, labor a while and end up with a c-section anyway because I didn't let my body do its own thing. The only advice I can give to you is be honest with your doctors about your fears and your concerns and keep the communication with them open. There may be a legitimate medical reason why they want you to not go past a certain date but you wont know unless you ask. And ask specific questions. Don't be afraid to push until you feel you really understand what they are saying and why they are saying it.

sleepymonkey · December 2013

My doc would normally let me go to 41 weeks, but he will be on vacation when I hit 41 weeks so I am being induced at 40w2d if I don't have her sooner. I think he usually lets women go to 42 weeks but since I am advanced maternal age (36), my cut-off is 41 weeks.

KrystalCrockett · December 2013

megngregk said:
I think my OB is the odd one out. As long as you're favorable for induction and baby is measuring on time or ahead she doesn't like her patients to go over their EDD. She will schedule inductions between 39-40 weeks unless the mother declines or cervix has little to no progress.

Same with mine.

COgirl29 · December 2013

nicnique said:
Hey ladies. I need some advice/ thoughts or maybe a slap in the face because I am having a FTM freak out?

At my last weekly appt my OB told me she was scheduling me to be induced January 6th (41 weeks). She said that is the latest I can go past my due date of 12/30.

I am bothered that we have to schedule this now. The mental deadline is giving me anxiety. I really want to avoid being induced if possible. I have fears of a bad experience and my cervix not being "favorable". And I really wish H didn't tell his family the OB said this because they are very opinionated. "You don't need to force the baby out if she's not ready!" comments are not helping. I didn't ask to be induced people.

I know anything can happen between now and then. (Hopefully I go into labor on my own!!) I am just having a little mental freak out because she scheduled it. I guess?

I guess my question is...how late past your EDD will your OB let you go before scheduling you to be induced?

Sorry this got long. Thanks for reading!

My OB allows elective inductions at week 39 (but does not recommend unless medical reason), and will allow you to go up to 2 weeks late. However, she doesn't recommend anything past 10 days after EDD because of the risks that increase at week 42. She said if I'm still pregnant at my due date appt next week, they will do an ultrasound to check my fluids, etc - and if all looks well, then they will wait until my week 41 appt to schedule induction for the few days after that.

Hang in there - I know what you mean about the mental aspect. I was sitting in her office yesterday thinking "what if she comes in and does a cervix check and I'm way dilated and she tells me I'm going into labor any minute" and thinking that as excited as I am (and as prepared as I think I am), it is still scary to think she could be here any minute and become my lifelong responsibility!!

CopperT0p · December 2013

At 40w 3d my midwife will do a cervical sweep if I want, and she will do another again at 41 weeks if I am still pregnant. So long as NSTs and BPPs come back with good results, we don't start considering medical induction until 41w 4d.

You still have lots of time to go into labour on your own. Anxiety is more likely to impede going into labour on your own, so try to relax and enjoy these last weeks, go for mani-pedis, take hot baths, go to the movies. At the end of my pregnancy with DS, DH and I tried to make every night a special night since they were the last nights we'd be on our own without having to think about our child for a long time.

MrsGraham06 · December 2013

My OB's office will let you go 2 weeks after. But you get 1-2 ultrasounds plus NSTs each week after 40, to check fluid levels and such.

Inductions really aren't that bad. I've had 2, and needed help with my 1st. If there is good communication between you and your OB, talk things out. I didn't know that my midwife was holding back and making some slightly bad decisions, until after DS1 was born.

jaclynwas17 · December 2013

My OB lets me go 2 weeks past with monitoring before I have to be induced.

rowanthefrog · December 2013

They would prefer no longer than 41 weeks but I pushed them on it a bit and they relented and said 42 if I would come in for daily monitoring that last week.

A

sarahmarie2 · December 2013

I just asked at my appointment yesterday. My ob said they wouldn't consider it until I was 41 weeks. We set up an appointment for 41w3d with ultrasounds to determine when I'll be induced just in case, but I'm hoping I will have already gone into labor.

Roses87 · December 2013

Working in ob, I myself personally would not want to go past 41 weeks. My personal oppinion. If I did they better be monitoring my baby like a hawk.

tesskerr · December 2013

My midwife I think is 10-14 days, but we are doing a stretch and sweep 2 days before my due date, but that's only because that is when my next appointment is.

worleygirl · December 2013

My OB said 1 week. I was induced at 38 weeks with DS bc of Pre-E. No issues so far this time and I'm hoping I won't need to be induced as it wasn't a great experience.

Pinknights · December 2013

Well you don't have to get induced at 41 weeks, remember you are in control. I'm so over everyone not doing their own research and just blindly trusting doctors. You can always "forget" your apt. With that said, you are going to want to have biophysicals and a nonstress test to make sure everything is okay. If all is okay and you don't want to, then wait. But after 42 weeks, the risks rise so much, its better to get induced, this is from all the studies I've read. You can also try natural inductions methods such as Evening primrose which from what I read helps rippen things, but not necessarily start labor. Good luck and try not to stress!

last14real · December 2013

KrystalCrockett said:

I think my OB is the odd one out. As long as you're favorable for induction and baby is measuring on time or ahead she doesn't like her patients to go over their EDD. She will schedule inductions between 39-40 weeks unless the mother declines or cervix has little to no progress.
Same with mine.

Pretty much the same with mine as well, she will schedule your induction at 39 weeks 1 day, and will only let you go 7-10 over. The 7-10 is contingent upon fluid levels and how baby is doing. They also offer membrane stripping at 38 weeks.

mairybear · December 2013

mine will induce at 41 weeks, they are relatively conservative so I'm assuming that's the norm.

wifetomrb101 · December 2013

He'll let me go up to 10 days over, but only as long as the NST, and baby's HB are good and my BP is fine. I could probably push for 2 weeks, but because DD was a bigger baby at 8lbs 7oz and 1 day early I am not pushing for anything more then 1 week, maybe 8-9 days.

kunkel8606 · December 2013

I asked my OB about this today since I am due on Thursday (1/2). She told me they would let me go to 41 weeks. My next appointment is Friday 1/3. She told me if I don't deliver before then we will talk about scheduling an induction at that appointment. I'm hoping LO decides to come on her own in the next few days.

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