Hi all

I'm 40+3 today and I'm turning my mind to next Wednesday when I'll be seeing the OB at 41+2. I have a feeling that I'll still be pregnant then so thought I should start thinking about this!

My OB is marvelously low intervention. He has repeatedly said "You can go to 42 weeks, and you can go longer if you want". He is delightfully non-sensationalist, and he has minimised any findings we've had to date such as big baby, big head, slight rise in blood pressure, as "all normal". I've had friends with similar measures who've had the fear of c/section put into them from an early date, but he just says "Your baby is normal and healthy, you feel well, everything is going to be fine". I can rarely fault him!

As for me, I have no interest in induction. Very keen to avoid it. Desperate, even!! I am more comfortable with the slight risk associated with continuing post-dates. I am very much into letting bub choose his own birth date, and I'm not at all fussed that I've passed the magical 'due date'. What this means though is that I have not talked to my OB at all about "what we need to do and when" - but as time goes by I realise the conversation is inevitable and now just around the corner!

I should really note that I'm birthing in a private hospital so I guess I'm not coming from a position of no-medical-interference-in-birthing-whatsoever.

So at 39+2 appt the OB said to me "we'll do an internal next week and perhaps a stretch and sweep the following week". It was the first time that he'd actually put a time frame on anything, so I didn't comment and thought to myself "we'll see about that!". Then yesterday at 40+2 I sat down and said "about that internal...", he immediately replied "We don't need to do anything today", I said "good" - end of conversation! Yes he's a gem.

But... he said "We'll need to do one next week (at 41+2), because we need to work about what our options might be for an induction (after 42wks)". Regarding S&S, he said "We can do one if you want". So, ball is entirely in my court as usual!

Maybe I should have asked more question then and there. I mean I'm paying this guy a small fortune but to be honest I know his professional advice is only his opinion and I would rather research it myself!

Part of me feels that I don't need the internal and s&s if I'm willing to wait it out, the other part feels that I shouldn't be stubborn if there's a chance that the s&s will get things moving.

So... my thoughts are for next week - at 41+2 I would probably be wise to agree to an internal so we know where we're at. Then, if and only if there is good dilation and effacement I also feel that an S&S would be a reasonable strategy. I realise there is a chance of breaking waters during an S&S which does give me pause for thought, I'd hate to rush it and then be on the clock for induction or antibiotic drip.

Would appreciate anybody's thoughts and experiences!!!!