For those that went OVERDUE with their FIRST baby.....

I'm interested in hearing from those who went overdue with their FIRST babies.

How far overdue did you go? And how far overdue did you go to avoid induction?? And if you reached the stage where you needed medical induction... what happened and how did it go for you??

Just interested. I'm only 6 days overdue at the moment (:rolleyes:) and hoping I can make it through the week and go into labour naturally before a medical induction is necessary :redface: I REALLY want to avoid induction.

And yes, I've been doing all the 'natural' ways to induce labour but so far no good.....:wall: and suffering pregnancy rash so very uncomfortable which is making me want my baby out even sooner than normal! I know babies come when they are ready.

Tia :D

I went 8 days over with DD1.
Spent a full day shopping & went out for tea with family & things started that night.
No medical intervention needed.

Good luck! Hope it happens soon!

My 1st baby wasn't late but she was induced on her DD cause my BP went very high and I started losing weight. I ended up with an episiotomy but only had peth and gas for pain so no epidural. She was forceps too.
Looking back (it was 17 yrs ago) I didn't know anything and spent the whole labour on my back in the bed so I was damn lucky it wasn't a c/s in the end.

Eight days over here as well, I went into labour at six days over, about an hour after I had my appointment to book the induction in!

Hey Renstar, sorry to hear that bubs hasn't made an appearance yet.

I was 5 days over due when the ob did an internal and I was already in prelabour and 2 cm dilated. I was really surprised that my body was already getting organised and I had no idea. things went downhill for me after that but I think had I relaxed and kept doing the 'natural' induction methods things probably would have been better.

Good luck, oh and one of my friends said she sat in one of those massage chairs for 10-20 mins with both her babies and went into active labour about 4 hours later, she doesn't know if that is what got them started but it is a bit of a coincidence...

Hi Ren,

I went 16 days overdue with my first baby and to be perfectly honest i didn't do anything at all to try and bring my labour on, i was sooo over it but i decided that he was obviously very comfy in there and he would eventually come out when he was ready.

It was looking as though i would have to have a c/section as he was breech but luckily for me he turned at 37 weeks and that's exactly where he stayed for another 5 weeks.

I really hope your baby decide's to come and meet his Mummy and Daddy before any induction is required but if not i wish you all the very best. Hope to see your announcement soon x

Ren, I went 11 days over with my DD. Was booked for an induction at 40w+10d, but because of the way they handled it (my OB, or mainly his secretary :rolleyes:), I panicked and didn't go. I had acupuncture in those last few days in the hope I could prepare my body for labour, expecting that I would have to be induced, but at least if my body was ready I could avoid a c-section. I went into labour during the small hours of the day after I was supposed to be induced. Once I got to hospital, I had ARM and synto drip because ctx had slowed/stopped. Had a normal delivery with just gas, no tears or stitches. I'd recommend acupuncture. If you're in Sydney PM me and I will send you the details of my acupuncturist. She was very good. I was booked for 3 sessions and went into labour after the 2nd.

i was induced at 10 days past due date. my cervix was nowhere near ripe so they inserted the gel (which i had a reaction to), which led to what they call prostin pains.. pains that dont really do much in the way of opening the cervix, then s&s the next day, then waters broken, after about 4 hours of labouring i had an epidural (which was recommended to me cause my body was bearing down already at only a few cm dilated). ended up with vaccum extraction and internal tears. all in all not the most ideal experience but i wasnt overly tramuatised by it overall.

btw- when she came out they said we must have had dates wrong and they estimated her at only being about 39weeks gestation. well no wonder my cervix wasnt ready at all!

Can you try to avoid focussing on THE date at all? You might not even be over right now, just right on track?

Well thats what I did anyway, refused to be hooked into the DD thing, even told myself they would come around xxx WEEK, instead of day. hth

Great advice, as always, Lulu!!

Well I went to 42.5 weeks before I could no longer avoid an induction. The drs stressed to me the higher risks of intervention after a certain point overdue so I took the induction after dancing around it for a few days (it was long and hard, and as i later discovered, horribly mismanaged). BUT this scenario's pretty rare. There's a thread around here somewhere which asks when did people give birth in relation to their due date. There's a graph that I found that shows a huge spike in birth numbers around the 41 week mark. So it sounds normaller to go over than to go early, esp in first births.

Good luck, I wish you every blessing in your powerful birth journey!

I was 9 days over with DD1 they said that they werent ovely worried because the blood flow to my placenta was still really good, or something like that anyways!!
went into early labour at about 2am and she was born 23 hours later at 1242am, early labour is now a dirty word in our house, we went to the hospital about 3 times only to be sent home because ? was only in early labour still'. so frustrating!!
Good luck hun! hopefully you and baby_blip have ur lil bundles in the next few days

Like thepixie I would definatly recommend acupuncture. I wasn't overdue but by the end of the 38th week bub was engaged and I had acupuncture twice. After the second treatment I went into labour that night. It can also help to relax and open the pelvis, this part didn't work for me but for induction, definatly.

Because a normal pregnancy is at term anywhere between thirty eight and forty two weeks, you might not even be "overdue"! There's a lot of fixation by the medical profession on the "due date" (which is really an estimated due date) so it's understandable that we internalise that. Your baby might not be late at all but right on track for where your baby needs to be.

I went two weeks over, not with my first, but with my second. The reason for that was that her presentation was not good - she was breech, then transverse. So her head was not putting good pressure on my cervix and helping it ripen. I ended up being induced, it was gentle, and wonderful. How is your baby presenting? I believe you posted that it had dropped or were feeling that it might be engaged.

At forty one weeks you might ask for a stretch and sweep, which is a relatively low risk but often very effective way of getting things moving, and at the very least getting your cervix more favourable. You can also ask for monitoring to make sure your baby and your placenta are doing well. If all is well, baby is happy, and you can tolerate the itch (have you tried hydrocortisone cream?) then you should be able to delay a doctor's imposed limit with no medical indication.

All the best - you are a very stoic lady and I've been following your posts, not in a stalkerish way :) wishing you all the best!

I have gone 12 days over with both my children... I had an induction with my first, and went naturally (avoiding my induction book for 2 days later), with my second.

Clearly my body just needs to cook my babies a bit longer. Next time i am adding 12 days to my EDD before i even consider myself due.

It is very stressful and anxious to be overdue (trust me, 12 x 2 taught me that), but do try to enjoy the last special days you have together. Unfortunatly you don't see a trend for a least a few babies in terms of how long your pregnancies are. but just look at this experience as a knew way about learning about how your body works.

Good luck!

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Can you try to avoid focussing on THE date at all? You might not even be over right now, just right on track?

Well thats what I did anyway, refused to be hooked into the DD thing, even told myself they would come around xxx WEEK, instead of day. hth

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Thats a good Idea. DD2 was due May 29, but coz I was overdue with DD1 I figured I would be with DD2 as well, so I told everyone that's my due date, but I'm expecting a June baby.
June 5 she came along!

I was 11 days over when labour started spontaneously. I had been booked for induction 10 days over, but had negotiated an extension after monitoring that day showed that all was progressing fine, at which point the induction was rescheduled for 12 days post dates pending further monitoring. Wasn't needed in the end.

I had had acupuncture at 9 days over, then DTD 10 days over, and was due for more acupuncture the day I went into labour, which also wasn't needed.

Good luck - it will happen soon - no two ways about that!

DS1 was too days overdue (based on my dates, but once he was born his skin was very dry and his nails long, so more than likely it was actually a bit more than that). I had no signs of pre-labour so when labour started it was very unexpected (and for the first 2 hours I thought I just had a tummy bug LOL!).

DS2 was 3 1/2 weeks early so having one late doesn't mean subsequent babies will be.

DD1 was induced at 16 days post EDD.... She was born 17 days post EDD. I was booked in at 14 days post EDD, becuase I had avoided induction but she wasn't sitting on my cervix so they wouldn't induce anyway. I went home very confused... they then encouraged me to have a caesarean, which I refused. But a few days later when I went back to be induced, I wound up with a failure to progress. Matilda didn't look overcooked at all.


DD2 was born at 13 days post EDD. I went into my room just at the time my appointment was with an OB who was going to "encourage" me to have an induction.

I didn't go over my DD at all. But I agree with others who said to try and forget about the DD. DD was due 31.05.07 and I just told everybody that she was due some time end of May or beginning on June. She was born 27.05.
This bubba is due 26.06.09 and again, I don't tell people the date, I just tell them that it's due end of June/beginning of July.

Hang in there! Try to distract yourself. BB is a good place to start. Read a book (unrelated to babies) as it might be your last chance for a while.
AND GET DH TO SPOIL YOU ROTTEN!

Saša

DD was 5 days over due when I went into natural labour. I thought it was the most horrible 5 days of my life...after she was born I felt silly as it was only 5 days and hope that with this next baby I won't be so focused on the EDD (although I am more prepared for an overdue baby this time). I understand how terribly hard and frustrating it is to go overdue, I hope your baby makes their appearance very soon for you. All the best.

I was 6 days over when DD was born. On my EDD I was booked for an induction at 10 days over (a Thurs) due to edema and BP. My waters broke spontaneously on the Tues am but no contractions. Induction was brought forward to the Wed, rocked up Wed having period pain and mild contractions, Syntocin drip commenced anyway at about 7:45am, laboured for 8 hours only getting to about 4cm, ended in an emergency C-Section and DD was born at 3:35pm. I had had a S&S on EDD and also on the Tuesday. Also did plenty of walking (in 35 degree heat mind you!) to encourage some action. If I had my time again, I would have put off coming into the hossy for another 24 hrs to really give my body a chance to labour on its own and I would have told them to sodd off with the continuous monitoring!

Hon, I know it is stressful and I know it is frustrating; but try to relax and think positive vibes. This baby will be here soon. Look forward to hearing your big news.

MG

I've never had a mum who has waited for labour go past 42 weeks...there are women that do but most of us will labour before then. I've had quite a few that have gone at 41+, but always before the 42 wk mark.

Odds are that you'll go in the next week...and if you don't you still have options ;)

Hang in there it's such a headgame huh. x

I was induced at 42 weeks - it sucked and I won't do it again without a good medical reason. Like others have said, next time I'll push forward my 'due date' by 2 weeks. It is hard, all the waiting and the physical discomforts & exhaustion....Definitely get DH to spoil you!

Ren - My first hadnt even engaged the week I was due to have him, they had told me that I may not have the baby for at least another couple of weeks time. The following night after DTD my waters broke, got to the hospital to only find out that the baby still hadnt engaged so they induced me at 7am and didnt have him until 8.55pm. I had the gas then the gas bumped up then the pethadine with the gas then the epi and gas. ( I was such a sook and still am) hehehe. I also had to be cut and they needed to get him out with the vacuum. He was only 5pd 7 ounces. He was due on the 21st, I had him on the 20th.

Sending you lots of labour vibes your way hun. hugs

9 days over here and I didnt do anything differently ds was just slow to start I guess

Hey Ren. I really feel for you with this rash. It is hard enough going over that EDD even when you don't have to contend with such terrible discomfort.
I went 7 days over with Natty. At 6 days over I was really restless and moved around a lot. In fact, during prelabour the next morning I was encouraged to move, walk etc and it really got things going for me.
In that week, there was nothing said about inductions, other than we'll talk about it around 41 weeks, so there wasn't any pressure on me (other than what I put on myself of course), which I think really helped.
One thing I've read and been told about by midwives is that babies often arrive once the mother has come to a kind of 'peace' about things. I was so upset to go past my due date and cried a fair bit. But as the days carried on I found myself realising that birth was closer than ever, and I suppose I did find a certain peace in that.
I really hope it happens soon for you, mate, and that you don't have to think about inductions at all. (Even though not every induction is terrible.) Take care, mate.

Thanks everyone for your posts.

Having this PUPPPS rash is making it extremely uncomfortable for me as I'm constantly itchy and that makes me really irritable whereas if I didn't have it, I would be coping ALOT better I'm sure. I don't feel that uncomfortable being heavily pregnant but when I'm itching it's just hard.... and anyone who has experienced it will know what i mean.... :(

Had an Acupuncture appointment yesterday and found I had a few contractions during it! So that was something very positive. I've also had alot of prelabour pains the last 2 weeks so my body is close I'm sure..... I hope!

I actually haven't focused much on my EDD and I knew that it was only an "estimate" and have always told family and friends that our baby would be due end of jan/early feb, and never really gave a date to anyone (except here on BB) as I knew the statistics of first time mothers usually having babies later.....however its still easy to get hung up on an EDD date especially when mine was "Australia Day" :rolleyes: lol

I just wanted to start this thread to hear others stories and now I feel alot better reading them, so thank you. I don't feel so "alienated" if that makes sense and I know that it's quite normal for your baby to be 6 or more days late..... lots of late babies stories in here by the looks of it.....

And thank you for the induction stories it's good to hear that not all inductions end badly. :)
And yep, DH is spoiling me.... he spoils me daily so i really can't ask for much more ;)

i don't want to scare you with my story, but here goes:

i went 13 days over, cervix wasn't ripe so i got the gels, this got things moving for 2 days i was in pre labour, no sleep cause it was soooo annoying, they broke waters and full on contractions started pretty much straight away, didn't need the synto. 13 hours later ds was in severe distress and his birth ended in emergency c/s, turned out the cord was wrapped tightly around his neck and with each contraction it was getting tighter and tighter, he couldn't decend, so therefore couldn't be born normally, i have no idea if this had anything to do with the induction, but he almost didn't make it :(

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One thing I've read and been told about by midwives is that babies often arrive once the mother has come to a kind of 'peace' about things.

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I really believe that this is true in many cases. I had so much on my plate the months before DD was born. We had planned to build an extension onto our home. The extra room was supposed to be the office while what was already the office was then to be the baby's room. Well, the builders were slack and all they did was dig a hole in the garden. We were constantly arguing with them until they finally said they'd start on DD's due date. WTF It was meant to be finished long before then? No way was I having builders in the house with a new baby. On the Friday DH and I went to see a lawyer about getting out of the contract and getting our deposit back. So that issue was dealt with.
On the Sunday was a family member's 60th birthday. I was asked last minute to create a multimedia presentation slideshow with millions of photos. All had to be scanned first. It was sooooo much work. I finished it on Sunday morning at 1am (only hours before the birthday party). It was such a relief to have finished that adn a huge weight off my shoulder. 3 hours later, I woke up for a pee and had bloody show. Then I felt the first contraction. DD was born 12 hours after that.
I really do think that having all those issues dealt with helped get things started. And as a bonus, I didn't have to go to the birthday party (really wasn't looking forward to it) ;)

Hope things will happen for you soon, hun!
Saša

OMG! I second, third and fourth that!

No2 - I refused to have bubs until I had THE perfect labour outfit. NO crappy ole t-shirt for me, I wanted GLAM. After a big day of shopping and thrilled to have the perfect frock I went into labour that very night.

No3 - I refused to have this one until I had a new couch. Just REFUSED. I wasn't having visitors coming to see the baby and sitting on my ratty old number. I signed off on a fabulous couch, had my final team meeting and wrapped everything up for mat leave......and went into labour 10 minutes later. And 3 weeks early so baby and I were home before the bloody couch was delivered anyway.

Think girl, think - what may be stopping you??? :D

Ren I can't sympathise with bub being late but I can about the PUPPS. I had it for 2 weeks before DD came and it was awful. I spent heaps of time in the bath and kept slathering on the moisturiser. The good news is that as soon as I went into labour the itching stopped and the rash was completely gone within a couple of weeks.

Best of luck hun. Remember that every day is getting closer to the one when you will meet your baby - he/she can't stay in there forever!

Sangie - thanks hun :hug: the itching is terrible huh!!! No relief except a cool shower helps.... and aloe vera plant rubbed on every hour!! Creams etc don't help me. I'm dealing with it better now anyway than i was 2 days ago!

Yes girls I agree..... when you say "babies arrive when you feel at peace with it all etc" I really do believe that to be true from what i've read and heard from others also.

As for anything keeping me back? I have no idea what could be :dunno: I am one of the most organised people you can imagine (possibly too organised :lol:) and the nursery has been completed for ages, all clothes/MCNs washed and put away, everything is ready to go.... I think bub is just not ready yet!! Likes to keep us waiting :lol:

I do feel today though, and possibly this thread helped, that I've come to a sort of peace with being overdue and I've ACCEPTED it now. I really have. I mean, each day i wake up and think "oh damn I'm still here!" but it's not as bad now..... I've accepted it. Bub will come when ready.

I am a naturally very "like to be in control" sort of person, highly organised person so that probably doesn't help with being overdue...... I'm a Gemini :lol: I love to know when things are going to happen too.... so it's hard when I feel I can't control this lol and I know labour will be the same too....but I'm prepared for that part ;)

Hi Renstar!
If you are still at home and not in hospital ;);)...my story goes ..

Due 26th Nov - saw my OB 27th (1 day over EDD) and without asking me booked me in for the following Wed for an induction -7 days over it would have been - anyway of course nothing happened in that 7 days despite being 2cm dialated at my OB appointment 1 day over!!!
Anyway went to the hospital a week overdue ready for the induction- got cold feet -just didnt feel ready and wanted to hopefully let my body go into labour itself and left the hospital and went home - OB rebooked me for 8th Dec and I was sooo sure I would go into labour myself by then!!!and :rolleyes: I didnt go into labour grrrrrrr!!! 12days over EDD!!
In short (not done my birth story yet)
12 days over EDD
Gel at about 7am - nothing much happened walked around etc.. few pains here and there -
Reapplied more Gel at 3pm as it was thought that i wasnt ready for waters to be broken...
9pm that night - OB broke my waters (not much came out and a little bit of meconium - which had them concerned that a whole heap more was behind bub's head)
That was probably the worst bit for me having the waters broken as it made me throw up afterwards - I think OB also moved bubs around a bit as he was a bit posterior??
Got an epidural sometime around 10pm or 10.30pm ( i thought just get the epiduarl cause it will help and it really did - i didnt even know when contractions were happening and then also if i needed a c/s all they needed to do was top me up - you see i must have known what was going to happen!!)
6cm dialated by 1am/ 1.30am
However - Bubs heartbeat dropping and not rising well after contractions
OB called back in and c/section done at 2 am.

If you like Renstar you can look up my previous posts and you may see a similar post I put out there just before my due date asking about induction and you will see all the wonderful advice given to me -hope it helps you.

In summary I( felt I gave it my best shot - Ithought 6cm was a great effort in just 4 hours but it just didnt go our way - OB said bub was only 3/5ths engaged ???
I know bub was dfinately over done cause my scans said EDD was 20th Nov and my LMP date was 26th and he was born 9th Dec - he was covered in meconium and had peeling skin everywhere.

I see my OB next week so it will be interesting to hear what will be said.

Thinking of you hun.
Anna :hug:

I was overdue with DS. I postponed my induction from Friday to Monday (good thing too as I wouldn't have avoided a section if I'd have gone in on Friday!), but I think I wasn't that overdue but my lying dates, which weren't true at all, said otherwise. I think DS was due the day before my induction (which didn't work because I was in labour at the time but anyway...) but the hospital said I was 13 days over.

Um. Just cancel your induction in the morning. Baby knows when baby wants to come out. Who cares about hospital dates?

ETA: I was soooo at peace I'm amazed I didn't give birth at 30w then! But next time (if there is one) I'm going glam too. Lulu, just an outfit? No body hair sequins? That's what I'm doing!

Hi Renstar, I went 14 days over with DS, I was booked in for an induction on the monday, went into labour myself on sat afternoon and he arrived at 10.30am Sunday.
DD was 1 week over, I went into labour at about 3am on a Wednesday and she arrived at 1 minute past midday. I was 2 cm dilated for 1 week and had a S&S on the friday before. I also had 2 acupuncture appointments a couple of days earlier but I didn't feel they helped at all.
P.S Both my bubs had very meconium stained waters and DD had to have quite a bit of "work" done to get her breathing. 1st APGAR was 2 and 5 and then 9. I had been pushing for 2 hours and she ended up a forceps assissted VBAC delivery.

Renstar, I'm glad to hear that you're feeling better.

Just a thought, have you tried coolish baths with oatmeal. It is meant to relieve the itching of things like Psoriasis and Chicken Pocks. Oh, I just remembered, I think the stuff is called Dermaveen.

Oh, and seeing that you're so extremely organised... maybe so is your baby. And it needs to sort a few things out before moving out???? :)
Or maybe s/he wants to be in control, too and this is your first battle of wills?

Lots of easy labour vibes your way!

Saša
xoxo

Ren, glad to hear you are feeling a bit more at peace about it all! I think you'll go soon... :D

My experience, well not mine but my sister - she went into spontaneous labour at 10 days over. The Obs she saw at 41wks said he didn't want to talk about induction as she was happy, bubs was happy, placenta good, cord good, so why induce? He was an older Obs and said that some of the other Obs at the hossy (public) wouldn't agree but he was happy to let her wait it out a bit longer if she was happy.

At her 42 week appt he said they might start discussing it - and she went naturally at 41+3.

Bubs was large (4.25kg), long nails and meconium in the waters so she was definitely ready!

Good luck - thinking of you!