Going over 40 weeks...safe?

[Ashley25]

I will be 40 weeks tomorrow, only dilated 1cm and baby still very high. No signs of labor ;(
My doctor said we can induce at 41+1 but I am very scared about this and want to try to ask to be induced at the end of this coming week.

I am mostly afraid of stillbirth risk. Should I be really worried? Is going past 41 weeks ok??

 

[Misscalais]

The risk is more increased when its 42 plus weeks. And no Dr would let you go that long. My 2nd son was born at 40+5 and 3rd son was born 41+1 absolutely healthy and happy. I was booked in for 41+3 the longest they will let you go over at my hospital. Just make sure you keep doing your movement counts and see your dr if you notice bub isn't moving as much as it normally would.

 

[shinona]

Totally agree with pp. Keep an eye on movements but chances are you'll be fine. Mine were born at 41+4, 41+5 and 41+6 and are healthy as can be xx

 

[RaquelDee]

Mine arrived at 41 and 3 on the date scheduled for her induction. I went into labour spontaneously the night before and she was delivered 35 minutes before the induction was supposed to start! We did end up with an EMCS, but it didn't have anything to do with being overdue and she is very healthy. If you're concerned perhaps ask for additional monitoring this week to set your mind at ease.

I wasn't dilated at all at 40 weeks (or even 41) and baby was high until about 40 and 5. I had a couple of sessions of accupuncture which I think got things moving.

 

[seaweed eater]

American doctors are pretty conservative about things like this. Just keep paying attention to movements, do any additional NSTs or fluid checks, you'll be totally fine.

 

[Twag]

I had my son at 40+10 (induced) and he was very healthy & happy - as everyone else said just keep an eye on movements etc

good luck

 

[MindUtopia]

As long as you and baby are healthy, absolutely. Actually, if you are healthy, there is probably greater risk to being induced at 40 weeks than letting nature take its course at 41 weeks, as induction carries risks of its own to baby and you. Sometimes those risks pale in comparison to letting baby stay inside when there are obvious medical complications (like pre-eclampsia), but if you and baby are healthy, then it's probably safest, statistically speaking, to leave things be for now. I had my daughter at 37 weeks (naturally, no induction) and there is technically more risk to giving birth at 37 weeks than at 41 weeks or even 42 weeks. There is a small heightened risk (again, statistically speaking) to going past 42 weeks. You more than likely won't have to wait that long though, but there are plenty of women who have babies safely at 42 or 43 or even 44 weeks. So I'd try not to worry. Enjoy the time you have left in your pregnancy and relax. It will likely happen very soon.

 

[BunnyN]

Try to remember 40 weeks is just an average. You are not actually late until 42 weeks.

Anything between 38 weeks and 42 weeks is normal. 1st time mums actually give birth at 40+5 on average so going until 41 weeks is very common.

In America and some other countries they like to induce at 41 weeks if the baby hasn't come by then but other countries like UK don't follow this policy and wait until 42 weeks or close to to induce (and in many ways UK actually has better statistics than US on outcomes for baby and mother) The reasons for inducing at 41 weeks is basically just because the risk of induction is lower by then and every week of being pregnant carries its own risks but the risk at 42 weeks is no higher than at 38 or 40. The risks only increases after 42 weeks but even then some mums choose to wait longer because they wish to avoid a medicalised birth.

 

[Larkspur]

It's really nothing to worry about.

My second child was born at 41+6 after being induced. Personally, I would have been okay with going a couple more days, but I was 38 years old and she had been measuring small throughout the pregnancy, so they decided to induce.

The irony was that after she was born, the midwife expressed strong doubts that the original dating scan was correct, saying she looked more like a big 39-week baby rather than a small almost-42 week baby (lots of vernix, etc). So your 'due date' is not a thing that's set in stone.

A friend of mine had her baby naturally at 42+6, she refused induction, and it all went completely smoothly. 40 weeks is not time to start worrying about induction.

Also, things can start very quickly. With my son, I had zero early signs of labour, no dilation, and no dropping. At 39+6, I went off to my usual evening yoga class, not expecting to have anything happen in the next week, went into labour that night, and had my baby by 10am on his due date!

 

[Ashley25]

thanks everyone! I went in today and still only dilated 1cm and she's high up The doctor said I will be induced at 41+1 and to not be surprised if they bump me until the next day. This is so frustrating and will be a very long week but I have to be positive.

 

[wishingonastar]

Both my first two were born at exactly 42 weeks. First had to be evicted, second arrived 4 hours before eviction due to commence. I agree with previous posts that you just need to monitor kicks and any of the changes and until you're over 42 weeks you're not overdue

 

[MummyToAmberx]

Good link to read ;
https://midwifethinking.com/2010/09/16/induction-of-labour-balancing-risks/

 

[Twag]

I hope all went well for you

 

[miana]

I would wait it out a bit longer. Due dates aren't completely accurate and while they don't like you to go too far over a week isn't usually too bad, they just don't like you to go into week 42 more than anything.

Like mentioned before, keep an eye out that the baby is still active throughout the day. You still want your 10-12 movements a day(they may not be as big or frequent as usual).

My Dr started to annoy me because he asked me before my due date if I wanted to be induced, TWICE! I have had a great pregnancy with no issue what so ever and bub is happy and healthy so there was no need for it. My Dr was going away for the weekend so I think that's why he wanted to do it.

I am currently only 2 days over which is fine by me as I feel good still I am booked in for an induction in case nothing happens by the time I hit 1 week over and that's alright

If there was a medical need to be induced then fine but I think it is best to let your body go through the process as naturally as possibly (that said I personally think I will want an Epidural ha ha and if I need to have a C-section, I need to)

I know some people who are induced are fine but sometimes it can hurry things along a bit too fast before everything and everyone is ready, making it more painful and ending in emergency C-sections.
Something to think about.