Due date question

snlyon0614 · July 2015

I'm a FTM and understand the first time around that women often carry past their due date.

Problem is, I don't want to be induced and the hospital that I'm delivering at has about a 40wk+2wk window.

What are your average "carry over" times? I understand every pregnancy is different, just looking for an idea of what to expect. Thanks!

NancyG1661 · July 2015

My doctor's office has a not past 41 weeks rule so they will induce after you are a week late. Which I was with my first. Then I had to have an emergency c-section anyway. I've had friends be all over the map with delivery. Mostly when baby is done cooking they will let you know they want to come out.

FilbertTree · July 2015

I had kiddo1.0 at home in the UK. I was induced at 12 days past my EDD, which is as late as my hospital would let you go. The midwife who provided my prenatal care did offer a stretch & sweep to try and kick start labour at 40 and 41 weeks at my check-ups but I declined. Honestly, being induced wasnt terrible and part of me (the part that's struggling with massive anxiety surrounding all of the unknowable factors around labour and delivery) wants to be induced again.

dogsombrero · July 2015

My water broke at 40w3d but I still had to be induced because the little bugger did not want to be evicted. You will likely go over.

urby87 · July 2015

First pregnancy here, but I know my mom went two weeks over both times. She ended up going naturally each time on the date of her scheduled inductions, funnily enough.

snlyon0614 · July 2015

I've heard about natural processes for induction (one which includes a mixture that has GOAT SEMEN!!). I'm just not a fan of medications, so don't want to travel down the road "this medicine then that medicine." What ways were you induced? And was it the slippery slope that I expect?

Gapeach83 · July 2015

1st pregnancy was actually 5 days before due date. 2nd was exactly 1 week late. My dr will do a stress test close to 41 weeks and set up induction. I was set up for induction later that week but went into labor before that. It's not safe to go over 42 weeks due to the placenta breaking down.

FilbertTree · July 2015

To induce labour, i had two rounds of prostaglandin medication shoved up my hoo-ha. The first was about as much use as a chocolate tea pot and did absolutely nothing to get things moving. The second however worked its magic bloody quickly. I went from nothing in terms of dilation or contractions to 8cm dilated in about 2 hours and the kiddo arrived less than 5 hours after the second dose. The advantage of prostaglandin versus oxytocin (pitocin) is that there's minimal monitering and youre free to move around because youre not hooked up to machines or an IV. I do recall that had the second dose also had no effect, they would have moved to the pitocin as the next option but I was also told that was very unlikely to be needed as the action of the prostaglandin and physically having my cervix poked at should be enough to move things along.

skabanak · July 2015

DD 1 was born on her second estimated due date. So I assume she was on time or a couple days late. DD 2 was 5 days overdue and labour started the day my doctor did a sweep of my membranes

ash413 · July 2015

Gapeach83 said:
1st pregnancy was actually 5 days before due date. 2nd was exactly 1 week late. My dr will do a stress test close to 41 weeks and set up induction. I was set up for induction later that week but went into labor before that. It's not safe to go over 42 weeks due to the placenta breaking down.

This exactly. I knew someone who's baby was still born because she refused induction and the placenta broke down.

While I certainly don't want to be induced, and would prefer to go on my own, my priority is a healthy baby. So if he is still hanging out at 41 weeks when my OB wants to induce, then that is what I will do. Try not to get too focused on your plan, baby and mom's healthy should be the top priority.

ZoeH3 · July 2015

I went into labor 9 days early with DD1. Stress test showed I was having contractions at 34 weeks though I couldn't tell and I started dialating at 35 weeks. Doctor said she was certain I would labor early due to those factors.

katiedhunter · July 2015

I've said this on posts about this before. Babies come when they are ready. Unless it is a health concern to baby and mom to have them early whether by induction or csection. Be prepared to go early but also be prepared to go over. Like PP said don't focus so much on how you want it to go but more on both baby and mom being healthy.

cfletch88 · July 2015

I was induced the day before my due date because of high blood pressure and being 5cm dialated. I was given pitocin around 6:00am and had my son at 6:26pm. I had a pretty good experience with it, no complications what so ever. I agree with PP, your health and the health of your baby are the top concern.

Cook3133 · July 2015

Mine are all "on-time" but at least 2-3 weeks before I was due I started taking evening prime rose. It is supposed to help soften hour cervix. I also had my membranes stripped at my last 40wk appointment. Every night I would sit on my exercise ball and roll my hips around and back and forth to help to, I think I started that at about 37 weeks.

sarahsnowball · July 2015

My first labour started at 9 days past my EDD and DS was born the next day. I was already booked in for induction on day 12 as that's the policy here.
It sounds like your hospital's policy is pretty safe. I wouldn't want to go past 42 weeks due to the risks mentioned by PPs. Being induced isn't ideal, but at 42 weeks it is the best option for your baby.
I may be induced at 40 weeks this time (due to complications with my previous delivery) and I have seen some helpful threads in the last few weeks discussing women's experiences of induced labour. If it's worrying you I would definitely recommend reading those.

adcorbin · July 2015

My first was exactly two weeks early. Second was six days early and third was eleven days early. Your body and baby will likely communicate to do what's best. Good luck!

grapesoda1111 · July 2015

Kinda piggybacking here, what are the reasons you ladies don't want to be induced, or what makes it potentially "harmful" for the baby? I'm just not sure of the answer. FTM

snlyon0614 · July 2015

grapesoda1111 said:
Kinda piggybacking here, what are the reasons you ladies don't want to be induced, or what makes it potentially "harmful" for the baby? I'm just not sure of the answer. FTM

Mine is primarily chemically related.

I would love an at home birth, but my insurance doesn't really cover that sort of thing and my DH feels more comfortable at a hospital incase something goes wrong.

Thanks ladies your responses have been quite helpful.

Pontot31 · July 2015

You really don't want to go much over 42 weeks. My daughter was born at 41. If she hadn't come by 41 I would have started being open to induction because I would worry about issues.

That being said once I hit 40 weeks I had non stress tests and things to make sure everything is still ok.

Gapeach83 · July 2015

grapesoda1111 said:
Kinda piggybacking here, what are the reasons you ladies don't want to be induced, or what makes it potentially "harmful" for the baby? I'm just not sure of the answer. FTM

Most women want a home or birth center birth and if you are being induced that's a hospital birth. They have also said being induced causes a more painful birth.
I would only be induce for medical reasons or if I go past 40 weeks.

The placenta starts breaking down and stops working properly. This can cause you to have a still born because the baby is not getting what he\she needs. 42 weeks is when it typically just doesn't function as it is supposed to.

dramaphile · July 2015

It's probably a little on the woo-woo side, but there's a small study that found that women who ate dates daily in their last 4 weeks of pregnancy had shorter labors and better dilation. Small sample, so it's not hard science yet, but I'm going to try it because eating some extra fruit certainly can't hurt.

rachswi · July 2015

I've also heard to start drinking red raspberry leaf tea around the start of your third trimester all the way till the day you give birth (drink a glass a day)... Supposedly it helps move things along. All my friends who have given birth that used it swear by it. I don't think it necessarily helps with going into labor but it'll help with labor itself

RobinaCee · July 2015

I will be induced at 39 weeks due to my "advanced" maternal age.

flas · July 2015

I was induced for both pregnancies and had pretty good labours and deliveries so not every induction ends badly. My babies don't seel to get the memo to come out so I suspect I'll be getting induced this time around.

MargaretC5 · July 2015

With my first I did not want to be induced because it leads to a higher CS rate then when labor starts naturally. With DS I was induced on my due date due to high blood pressure. I asked that they do not break my water until labor started progressing, I had multiple drugs to start labor and nothing happened (they told me I was having contractions but could not feel a thing). After trying for 2 days they sent me home pregnant because even though by blood pressure was high it was stable and baby was doing great. I was very glad they did not break my water, because I really think DS just was not ready and then I would of had to have a CS at that time. I did go in to labor on my own 11 days later, unfortunately after 35 hours of labor I did have a CS because I never progressed past 5-6 cm.
I did not want to be induced because I did not want to increase my chances of needed a CS, but it happened anyway. Even if it did not turn out as I hoped I am still glad I made the decisions I did. And trust me I know it not what everyone would of picked.
I am also the only person I know that was induced and sent home pregnant.

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