Going over 42 weeks pg - your experiences?

[dusty]

I'm interested in the experiences of anyone who went over 42 weeks pg and what the outcome was for you? Were you supported in your decision to go past 42 weeks and did your health carer monitor your pg closely?

I've been staring down the barrel of an induction at 41+6 (waters broken and syntocin drip) but today after talking with my birth centre midwife found out I can go past 42 weeks (up to 44 weeks) if I choose to with daily monitoring visits at the hospital's Fetal Medicine Unity of bub's and my health and hence give him/her the opportunity to decide when to arrive, rather than fitting in with a hospital policy...

To date I feel great, no signs of Phoenix wanting to come out, I've plenty of energy, still enjoying pg and can move around no problems. In fact I have more energy the last two weeks than I did during much of late 3rd trimester.

[Arimeh]

I know its not exactly what you were asking, but I went to 42 weeks with DD1, and my OB was going to let me go to 42 + 5 (which is a lot more than other OB's would allow!) and that was only because she was going away after that, and she wanted to be at the birth. However, we did a wellbeing scan at 41 + 6, and my placenta was failing and the cord wasn't working properly, so we didn't have a choice, she had to come out the next day.

I think its great you can go over as long as possible, but definitely keep up with those scans Bubs will come when ready!!

[beckoes]

i was getting hastled into an induction at 41+6 aswell! being given the whole "aslong as you know you are putting your childs life at risk by continuing the pregnancy'' rubbish. luckily i had a good midwife sticking up for me telling me it was fine to just have a scan and go home for a few days. which is what we did, checked DD had enough fluid to play in and i was fine and off home i went. told to come back in two days to check again if nothing happened, i ended up going into labour that night anyway. but the doctor didnt help with presuring me!

I think with monitoring you will be fine to go well into 42/43 weeks...good luck and hope all goes well

[AnyDream]

I was induced at 42.5 weeks with DD1. By that point the liquor was dwindling (when they ruptured the membranes, nothing came out) and the placenta was very tatty, full of holes and grit. DD1 came out with quite a large head circumference (did quite a bit of damage too, she was distressed and it was a case of getting her out asap) and they said later something about her head wasn't as soft as a usual newborn because of how developed she was. She was quite long and skinny too. BUT I believe I'd had labour trying to start for 3 weeks by that stage, for some reason my body just didn't seem to crank up how it should.

[miss.cinders]

I had a S&S 4 days before he was born [10 days over].
I was booked in for an induction the day after her was born... Thanks the goddess he decided to come!
Easiest birth I had out of all of mine

[ladybirdflies]

Hi, i went 15days over with my first. They monitored me daily and a scan to check the placenta and fluid. THis was in a birthing Unit in Melbourne and I had to beg to be let go this far. Second baby I went 11days overdue, was very relaxed about it, it was in Mullumbimby and we had no scans no monitoring, but when bubs came her placenta was calcified and lucky she came out when she did. THird baby came 6days early YAY!
I would go as long as you can, do the monitoring, the inductions starts the birth off with intervention, which can sometimes lead to more and more intervention. So if you have it in you to keep going, do it. a woman I know just went 18days(!!!!!) 'overdue'
Goodluck with the birth...

[onthefly]

Are you feeling ok about going longer? Sounds like things are going well and that's great they're so supportive.
My OB pulled out the stillbirth card and I was induced at 42 weeks, but the good condition of my placenta & baby give me confidence to go longer this time (if it happens). (Actually, going by the EDD based on the transfer date it was 42.5 weeks, but anyway.)
So, I didn't go longer and my carer was not supportive but I wish I had. I so hope Phoenix comes soon!

[krisp]

DS was born at 42+2. My dr was happy to let me go until the Monday and luckily I went into spontaneous labour on the Sat afternoon at about 3pm. DS was born at 10.30am on Sunday after an emergency CS. My waters were broken for me just after 6am Sunday to try and get me to dilate the last 2-3 cm but they were brown and thick and lumpy!!! DS went into distress pretty soon after and after a failed spinal he was lifted into this world under a GA. Not what I planned but he small, just 6'8" at almost 43 weeks so I'm just glad he arrived safely. He spent the first night in special care as he had a lot of gunk in his lungs and he had trouble holding his temp but he is now a big boistrous almost 5 year old so happy ending....

[Trillian]

I just wanted to say that I hope it doesn't come to that and that this baby makes an appearance soon for you But I reckon, if I had my care providers quite happy to let me go that long, so long as I still felt comfortable with being that far over and the monitoring was fine, I would keep going.

[~Trish~]

No experience to offer you Dusty, but I just wanted to let you know I think you're a super-star for making it this far and sounding so positive! I know you'll make the right decision for you and Phoenix .

Sending some labour vibes your way so the decision is taken out of your hands

[ShellyBean]

With DD I was induced at 42+4 and my midwife was happy to let me go to 43/44 with regular monitoring at the Maternal & fetal assesment unit. Unfortunately by 42+2 my blood pressure started to spike and the placenta was failing so I got 2 days to go into spontaneous labour before being induced (got to love the cruisy attitude to such things in NZ). Good luck

[mollycat]

With Ds1, I went to 42+6 days, and went into labour by myself. I actually argued to be induced from 40weeks, but the doctors wouldn't go ahead with it. Ds1 came out rather dry and it took months of oil baths and moisterising massages to bring his skin back. Apart from that I can't remember the state of my placenta (this is 18 years ago). Ds2 was born at 42 weeks after being induced due to the prior history with Ds1. DD was induced at 40+1, my Ob actually said that I have something with my cervix that it doesn't ripen as most do, which is why he decided to go ahead and induce. At 39+5, my cervix was still tightly closed. Dd's placenta was actually breaking down, and her fluid levels were very low as well.

good luck with phoenix's birth. If you are happy to go ahead and phoenix and yourself are both well, there is no reason why you can't wait it out.

[blackduckies]

Hi Dusty.. my oldest DD was 20 days overdue when my watres broke and after being induced (exactlly what we tried to avoid, just labour never rreally started)22 days when she was actually born...we had daily monitering and the last few days 2 times daily..she was well cooked and like someone else said it took a long time for her flaking skin to settle down plus she had lost weight was long and skinny with lose skin..you could see she would have been a bigger bub..the placenta was in bad shape..I don't think I would have allowed myself to go that far over again..
My next daughter was 14 days over..she bet an induction by a day..she was great and a big girl ( had grown heaps in the extra time she was in there) placentas was pretty good as well..and my last DD was 7days over I ended up choosing the CS..(which was ver likely to happen anywy) in the end I just wanted a healthy bub and had started to get very nevous that something could go wrong..
Goodluck with whatever decision you make....you have to be comfortable and feel confident and make sure there are lots of movements..I reckon bubs will make his/her entrance soon.

[dusty]

Wow its great to hear all your different experiences and outcomes. Thank you so much for sharing them .

Are you feeling ok about going longer?

Yes I feel fine about it based on the advice I'm being given by my primary carer. I will have daily monitoring from Thursday (42+1) on if Phoenix doesn't come before We will take it day-by-day.

[Trillian]

I have been thinking about this today and with the talk about placenta's I think the state of it isn't directly related to the length of gestation, because I have read birth stories of women who birth before 40 weeks and have placentas that look ratty, or at the end of their use by date just as I have read stories of women past 42wks with ratty placentas. so it's reasonable to assume that regardless of gestation length, by the time the baby is born the placenta will look well used simply because the baby was finished with it ITMS. I know Christy had monitoring of her placenta with Miss J and it did have a few calcifications on it and she was past 42wks, and when I had DS2, I was 40+4 and his placenta was very used looking even though I knew the cord function was still really good.

[onthefly]

I think you're right Trill, which is why i mentioned mine being fine at 42 weeks - it believe it would have been fine for a while yet until my "natural gestation" time was up.

That's great Dusty! You do what feels right for you and baby

[dusty]

I have been thinking about this today and with the talk about placenta's I think the state of it isn't directly related to the length of gestation, because I have read birth stories of women who birth before 40 weeks and have placentas that look ratty, or at the end of their use by date just as I have read stories of women past 42wks with ratty placentas. so it's reasonable to assume that regardless of gestation length, by the time the baby is born the placenta will look well used simply because the baby was finished with it ITMS. I know Christy had monitoring of her placenta with Miss J and it did have a few calcifications on it and she was past 42wks, and when I had DS2, I was 40+4 and his placenta was very used looking even though I knew the cord function was still really good.

Trill there really does seem to be so much variation between experiences doesn't there. From my perspective, as long as we are confident Phoenix is getting what s/he needs and is progressing well then that is what our experience is. At any time if there is concern as to P's health and support system we will listen to medical advice and act. The lack of information sought or given to pg women can be extraordinary IMO. Like Marcellus's experience with her Ob playing the stillborn card with nothing to base that opinion on in M's case.
DH and I have had to demonstrate that we are not being stubborn or hippy about it all, rather we are both scientifically trained and we like information, evidence and calculation of all risks, including the risks associated with synthetic induction balanced against the risks of waiting a few more days.

ETA: Thanks Marcellus!

[Trillian]

I think that at the end of the day it comes down to what you and your DH are comfortable with. Some will baulk at the idea of going to 44 weeks and some can hardly stand going to 41. You are doing everything *right* you are having monitoring and you know yourself that so long as everything is fine with placenta and cord function and fluid levels then there is no reason to not keep going. I think care providers are too quick to forget that term pg is anything from 37 to 42 weeks, which means that anything past that is still within the realm of acceptable. You just might be one of the lucky ones that can keep going well past 42 weeks, but I really hope it doesn't get to 44.