thread: 41 weeks pregnant and still no sign of labour :-(

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Registered User

    Apr 2009
    Cowra, NSW
    409

    OMG nearly 42 weeks!!!!?? I would have gone mad by then lol. Doctor doesnt want to let me go any further over 41 weeks, so wants to look into induction monday. What options are there with induction, Ive heard they can use a gel of some sort, then theres some fluid they feed through a drip. They also said they can do something called a sweep, but that sounded too painful and they said it can cause bleeding and cramping, and may not even work!
    Ive heard induction via the drip can bring on very fast and intense contractions, and I barely survived normal/natural contractions when having my first son (he came at 39 weeks 4 days), so I think itll kill me if I have to be induced lol

  2. #2
    Registered User

    Nov 2011
    Perth
    1,090

    Evening Primrose Oil capsules. Insert 5 vaginally and wear a pad. They soften the cervix. The second night I did it I went into labour do not drink Castor Oil! Refer to the article on the main site in the birth section about natural induction methods.

    Good luck, looking forward to a BA shortly

    ETA the stretch and sweep is not painful. I had at 39 and 40 weeks. Give it a go.

  3. #3
    Registered User
    Add ~clover~ on Facebook

    Sep 2007
    travelling
    9,557

    I skipped my induction appointment with DD1. It was booked for 40+4. She came naturally at 41+1.
    I didn't know back then that I could argue with the ob & called my gp for advice. He said he won't even talk about an induction til 7 - 10 days past due.

    Try a long walk? It might wear you out a bit, but its the one thing that got my babies moving.

  4. #4
    Registered User

    Jun 2007
    Brisbane
    1,621

    My third bub had to be induced two days shy of 42 weeks ... the first two arrived spontaneously before their due dates though, so go figure!

    I tried EVERYTHING in the final weeks of my third pregnancy to bring on DS3's arrival. By everything I mean weekly acupuncture and daily acupressure massage, RLT, long walks, visualisation and talking to bub (yep, seriously), clary sage oil, peppermint oil (in burner), curry, EPO, DTD ... you name it. I tried castor oil the day before I was induced and it did absolutely nothing, no hurried visits to the loo and no baby. Early the morning of my scheduled induction I had another dose (... what was I thinking!!!!!) and it gave me the runs, but fortunately only briefly and it cleared up several hours before I was induced. Nevertheless, it didn't start labour, so think very seriously before you take it. And if you do, be conservative

    I did most of the above - except for castor oil - with my first two children ... and they DID arrive on time. So who knows what works/what doesn't with each baby! It really seems that each pregnancy/labour is different.

    So I ended up being induced with gels, and bub arrived rather quickly a few hours afterwards. I had a good labour and didn't require further intervention.

    My advice is the same as others - relax. Bub WILL be born, that is a certainty. I know what it feels like to be "over it" but, if you can, keep trying to rest up before bub arrives - stockpile it for later. And if your attempts at natural induction don't work, then please don't do what I initially did, which was to blame myself for bub not arriving earlier. We really don't have much control over it. Mind you, having a good sook was kind of theraputic, but all it really gave me was a snotty nose.

    I approached induction with a slowly-slowly attitude. Gels first (7.30pm at night), then I consented to having my waters broken the next morning at 6am if there was no action happening. I was absolutely clear with all concerned there would be NO synto for several hours after that. Fortunately for me though, the gels got my labour going and I didn't need anything further. I feel it's your baby, your birth, your call.

    Good luck hun - you're almost there. Keep doing what you're doing as it just might work, and if it doesn't then you get to choose when you're induced and how.

  5. #5
    Registered User

    Nov 2009
    1,714

    I caved with DS1 and booked in for the induction at 41+5 at my post dates hospital visit for the following day, had a S&S and went home and went for a huge walk then relaxed that night knowing I had a big day ahead of me the next day, snuggled up in bed and 10 minutes later labour started spontaneously and DS1 was born at 12.48am of the morning I was supposed to be induced. As for DS2 I was booked in for a c-section on 23rd December and labour started spontaneously on the 17th so it seems as soon as my kids know they are being made to get moving they just do it on their own. Hope your labour starts soon and you are able to go on a well deserved holiday