Anyone heard of going more than 42 weeks?

Hi there, I am in need of other people's experiences, first hand or otherwise!

Today is Thursday, and I am 42 weeks this Sunday, and my OB has booked me in for an induction, using the Gel. I'm not too happy about being induced, as I can see my drug-free birth going out the window very easily! In my quest for a natural birth I have done a hypnobirthing course and appointed a Doula. In spite of this, I am concerned that the gel will bring on too strong contractions for me to withstand, and will be yelling for an epidural before long, or even end up at the end of that "cascade of intervention" with a C/S.

The only reason he's given me for the induction is that I will be 42 weeks. I had a scan on Tuesday, and the placenta is still looking good, with lots of fluid, so there's no problem there. My OB did a stretch and sweep on Tuesday which did nothing, and yesterday I went to an specialised prenatal acupuncturist and got a good globby show this morning (sorry if TMI!) I am going in to see the acupuncturist tomorrow (Friday) as well as getting another scan at the hospital, which will probably say that all's well with the placenta.

So there's nothing wrong ATM with bubs, and I seem to be getting a good response with the acupuncture. I've had a dream pregnancy, with no problems at all, and don't want it all to fall apart at the finishing line! If I could just hang on for a few more days, I reckon the labour might start all by itself, but I'm just worried that Sunday is just that little bit too early!

Anyone gone even a few days over 42 weeks? Or have you heard of someone who did? I would really appreciate some examples, or advice.

Cheers

Hi there.

i have not heard of going past 42 weeks in recent times, but I do know my mum had me naturally at 44 weeks, 29 years ago. But that prob doesn't help you right now :(

Kelly (bellybelly) might know though.

I was induced when my son was 10 days over, with gel. I had had a s&S 2 days prior. Things got moving quickly, but it wasn't painful, hard and fast contractions all of a sudden as can happen with the synto drip. I didn't need anything other than the one lot of gel Everything was very bearable for about 9 hours til actual labour started.

I did. With my first I was induced at 16 days post EDD and she was born on 17 days post EDD. With my second I was threatened big time by the hospital to not get to 42 weeks and I had acupuncture 4 times and 2 massages and went into spontaneous labour at 41 + 4 days. Good luck!!

I think knowing your baby is going well, by having the scan is a great way to know that you are okay to continue. Some of us have slow cookers!!! Both my babies have been born well & truely over the dates of the EDD and I had to continually remind hospital staff that 38-42 weeks is considered term and 42 weeks wasn't overdue but term. 42 + was overdue ;)

If you feel that Sunday is too early than maybe you can compromise with the hospital, daily scans or daily monitoring to make sure everything is going until labour and give them a finishing date so 43 weeks you may agree to be induced. In the meantime, have a look on the main site as to ideas for natural induction methods.

I had great results with acupuncture and massage and would highly recommend it to anyone above medical induction.

Yes I know a few.

This is from the induction article on the main site:

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“My pregnancies were all long. My twins were born by induction at 40 weeks and the next baby was born by induction at 42 weeks. By child number 4 I decided on a homebirth – which meant that I would need to go into labour naturally. Finally at 43 weeks and 4 days that happened. It isn’t recommended to go that long, however he was fine, although his skin peeled off everywhere. Baby number 5 was 42 weeks and 3 days, also born at home. I tried acupuncture, I drank gallons of raspberry leaf tea, I had so much sex I was sick of it. I believe that some women naturally have longer pregnancies and some have shorter. The women who spontaneously labour have their babies at 37 weeks fall into the ‘normal’ category and the unlucky women who go longer than 40 weeks unfortunately get landed with all the interventions. Choosing to wait for labour to occur naturally was very hard work as there was a tremendous amount of pressure to agree to an induction, however I believed that my body must eventually labour spontaneously. I did agree to regular monitoring in the last week to check that the baby was OK.”

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I think that given the placenta is fine and fluid is fine says that baby is still doing what it needs to do - even in late pregnancy it is normal for fluid levels to drop a little. I believe in doing no harm when all is well. Had a birth last week where mum was overdue by over a week, but baby was born with vernix, so wasn't overdue by those dates... dates are only estimates and our cycles can vary altering the dates.

I don't know the answer to the original question, but I just wanted to pop in and say that drug-free is still possible, even with the synto drip :) My labour was augmented with the drip, and I still got through it drug free. So if you do end up being induced, don't feel that all your plans have gone out the window.

Sending some labour vibes your way!

Thank you so much everyone for the responses, I really appreciate it! It's great to know that it can be done.

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I was induced when my son was 10 days over, with gel. I had had a s&S 2 days prior. Things got moving quickly, but it wasn't painful, hard and fast contractions all of a sudden as can happen with the synto drip. I didn't need anything other than the one lot of gel Everything was very bearable for about 9 hours til actual labour started.

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It's also great to know that even with induction, things can go reasonably slowly. Quick question, Rachel. Did you stay at the hospital for the 9 hours after they gave you the gel, or did you go home?

I also went 42+3, I was supposed to be induced a week prior, but I didn't turn up. I was going for natural after being induced with my first.

I picked a day I had more energy and spent the entire day doing all those natural induction things, including drinking castor oil ( I rang midwives to make sure of the proper dose and safety), aerobics for a few hours, and walked all day. At 10pm that night the proper contractions started and I paced and paced and stood in the shower, I went into hospital about 1:30 am when they were 2 mins apart. I was 5cm dilated and remained there until baby engaged and they did ARM. Baby was born around 7am.

With my first, I was induced and didn't require any drugs at all, so like Liz said, it is very possible you can have it as natural as possible if you do get induced. It is usually more painful, but not unbearable by any means.

Sending you heaps of Labour vibes and hoping you go before that though, try some of the natural induction things over the next couple of days and see how you go!

Rollergirl - I went home.

I had the gels applied at about 10am, stayed to be monitored for an hour or so and then went home. I was told to be back by 5, as they had admited me that morning. So from 5 til about 9:30 things were reasonable. -- so I gues thats 11 hours.

My labour is recorded as starting at 9:30pm. I was in the bath from about then til midnight I think. Proper labour was 6 hours.

Are you supposed to have scans when you go overdue? I'm booked in for an induction early next week, and i haven't had any scans or anything. Now i am a little concerned...the last ultrasound i had was at 19 weeks.... plus i will only be 41+2, I didn't know that waiting a bit longer was even an option.

Hello, I went a few days over 42w (+3 by my figures) but only because I fibbed about the length of my cycle when DD was conceived. The hospital thought it was 42 weeks to the day and was not prepared to let me go any longer.

I just wanted to say, the gel may not necessarily result in overly painful contractions. Often it's the rupturing of the membranes that gets the labour going and doesn't necessarily make it any more painful. It's the intravenous syntocinin that you've got to watch out for, and they try to bring this in to hurry you along if the labour is progressing slowly. You have a doula so I'm sure s/he will be able to advocate for you in this situation.

Good luck, I wish you all the very best in your birthing journey!

There's also a website called the "ten month mama page" - if you google it you should find it easily enough. It's got heaps of stories about women who went 42+ weeks.

Hi,

I went to 42weeks2days with my first son, i went into labour naturally ...it was a 21 hr labour and he was perfect, although you could tell he was over cooked as he was peeling everywhere.

My second son was born one day early...very short labour this time from start to end it was 1hr44mins.

Goodluck with the birth i hope everything goes to plan and you have your lil bubba in your arms very soon.

Thanks everyone for your responses. Just to update I have spoken with my OB and doula, and we have negotiated that I will now not be induced tomorrow, but will instead go in to see my OB Monday morning for another examination and go from there. I am hoping to buy an extra couple of days, and that it will be enough time for my bubs to commence labour of his/her own accord - c'mon bubs you can do it! I acutally thought it was starting today, as I was getting some very strong waves of period pains, but they went away again. :(

Have you thought about trying some acupuncture hun ??

That might be the push you need. FInd a good Acupuncturist, one who is experienced in inducing labour and give it a go.

I took SIL for a session on Tues evening and she was in labour by 3am !!

UPDATE:
I woke up 4.30am this morning (Monday) with contractions, followed by my water breaking at 6am. I was lying in bed for a couple of hours, thinking how clever I was, then the contractions started to fade away! Oh no! The midwives told me over the phone to get moving straight away in order to keep things moving along, which I did. DH & I went in for my 8.30am appointment with my OB, who was pleased, although he did say if the labour doesn't take, I will be on the drip at 8am tomorrow morning! So it was out of the frying pan and (potentially) into the fire.

I've been having mild contractions all day, with lots of walking inbetween. The contractions have been starting to take well by now and are between 7-15 minutes apart(about 5.30pm). I'm about to go out for (yet) another walk. Hopefully we will be off to the hospital in short order. Wish me luck!

Rollergirl - I'm sending you vibes for all the best in a powerful and positive labour and birth experience! Good luck!

:)

Goodluck hun. Maybe you could try some nipple stimulation to help enhance the contractions you are having.

Goodluck :)
I hope that you have your baby in your arms by now!