Post-Dates General Chatter Thread #2
This thread is a general chatter thread for those who have exceeded their their 'due date' during pregnancy.
Remember that it's considered full term from 38-42 weeks of pregnancy, and even first trimester ultrasounds can be 5 days out either side. Patience is such a virtue, who wants a baby born too early who has more chance of infection or has trouble breathing? Who wants to be induced and what comes with that? You might like to read the induction article HERE before making the decision to accept an induction.
Of course, baby will come when they are good and ready - ultrasound is never accurate, so hopefully with a bit of good BellyBelly support, you'll be able to cope a little bit better :)
If you are in early labour or trying to get things going, remember these things:
* Rest at night if possible, use the day to get things moving
* Walk - especially walking through contractions - it's the best thing you can do!
* Stairs - climbing stairs is a great way to get things going and to help get that baby down
* Lunges if you have a posterior baby - one leg on a step or chair and do lunges - as well as stair climbing is good for helping a posterior baby turn
* Keep away from baths - it counteracts gravity. Jump in the shower instead and if you need to sit down on a chair in a shower that's okay
* Keep upright where possible - make use of gravity. When the uterus contracts, it contracts forwards, so lean into them, bend the knees and have your knees apart. Don't lean forward so much that gravity wont help - about a 45 degree angle is good.
* Don't exhaust yourself through physical activity - you'll need the energy later!
* Keep yourself busy - find yourself a project to do to distract yourself to help with the anticipation. Sort your recipes in an album, store photos, do scrapbooking - anything to keep your mind off going into labour or it can drive you mad!
If you are trying to beat a medical induction you might like to read the Natural Induction Methods.
6 days over EDD, the waiting game
Yay, this forum is tangible evidence that I'm not alone - makes me feel much better. I was due 6 days ago (21st Jan). I've been fine until this morning, when I suddenly felt really sick of waiting, mainly because of constant discussion by obs of induction - they've booked me for Monday 2nd Feb if I haven't delivered by then. I would really rather just wait and monitor and let bub arrive in his own time if he and I continue to be healthy, as we have been all the way through. It's so good to read all the supportive messages in here - it helps me stay resolute that I will keep pushing the obs for monitoring before induction, and baby will come when it is the right time for him.
I've already had them try and push for induction based on "hospital policy" (you simply can't go more than 10 days over EDD, and they'd prefer to induce earlier) and "risk to babies if they go longer than 10 days over" (but refusing to refer me for a scan to check if my baby actually has enough amniotic fluid and placenta function before induction - his constant wriggles and kicking seem very happy and healthy to me, and they're happy with his heart rate each time).
I will keep asking for the monitoring, and try and say no to induction until they can show a medical reason in my case. Or at least slow down the process so that it happens as late as possible, and starts with gentler methods such as a stretch and sweep.
Hard work, but it's important enough to me to be worth the effort. Next appt is tomorrow night - wish me luck :D
