attention labor gurus! Is it safe to go past 42 weeks? I'm 40+3, and only 1cm dilated. Hardly effaced. Today my midwife…

Good luck! Hope baby makes their appearance soon. ☺️

I made it to 41w6d before mine arrived, so fingers crossed he makes it before 42!

Your stillbirth rates go from 1 in 2000 at 37 weeks to 1 in 500 at 42 weeks and 1 in 200 at 43 weeks. Best to deliver before 42 wks in most docs/midwives opinions! Baby can't stand the stress of labor when your placenta isn't providing full blood flow anymore.

Thank you sparkling and littlebeebs! I'm honestly trying to be calm and patient and at the same time panicking lol.

41+4 today. Luckily the baby is very healthy in there.

I went to 42+1 with zero signs of labor coming up! No contractions, no bloody show....baby appeared on her own, healthy, happy and perfect :) my midwife would've done a BPP in my second week and if all was well I would've gone to 43 weeks.

Hope you're doing okay mama. I know going over can get to you!

At 41 weeks +1 I drank tones of sage leaves infusion (I followed my midwife advices) I gave birth the day after but I don't know if it has something to do with the infusions..

Some people suggests squats and cleaning the house lol. Idk doesn't hurt to try and hey you will have a clean house and a tight butt lol

At 40 weeks I was 1cm dilated and that didn't budge until 41+2 when I was 4cm at the bottom of my cervix and only about 1cm at the top. Lots of walking, sex, crazy foods, acupressure and even acupuncture. Finally at 41+4 (while in labor) I was 4cm fully through. I had him at 41+5. If I hadn't had him that day my midwife would have given me herbs to help jump start labor. Give it time. But at 42 weeks I would get induced. My midwife told me at 42 weeks it was induction or they could no longer see me as a patient because my state changed the laws about providing care at 42 weeks. (The law used to say 'after 42 weeks' so midwived took it as they could go through the 42nd week, now it says 'at 42 weeks')

No it is no safe according to what Doctors have told me hardly any Doctor will allow you to go after 42 weeks walk a lot go up and down stairs can they do a membrane sweep to naturally put you in labor?

Lol I just want her to come as safely as possible. I know induction puts more stress on her than a spontaneous labor - but if she's unwell then induction may be safer. In the end it's about my baby coming safe and healthy.

My stomach is already torn up with stretch marks so I'm no longer worried about my body lol!

You're a better woman than me! Come 40+1 in ready for induction to get baby out! Haha

I've been trying everything - pineapple, sex, red raspberry tea, evening primrose oil capsules, walking.... Idk.

I think 42 weeks is a good time for an induction because of reasons other ladies have pointed out. Are you trying anything to soften your cervix? Raspberry leaf tea? Pineapple?

I would do what your midwife suggests. There's no point in having a natural birth if your baby doesn't make it out alive. Midwives are generally against intervention so if they're suggesting it, I would listen

I was scheduled to be induced at 42 weeks and I ended up going into labor the night before but I had placenta abrubtion which is when it separates from wall and is pretty much dead and anomic fluid was filled with blood . (Ended up in emergency c) won't always happen but that's why they usually start pushing induction after 41 weeks. I say whatever you AND your Dr agree on cuz let's face it we're not doctors and there's no reason to put baby at risk just to have a natural birth

Eta: I'm not for induction for unnecessary reasons but if nst says so then it's necessary. Also ask your Dr about your Bishop score before hand (:

I went 42 and 5 with my first. He wouldn't budge and i didn't want a c section. They did sweeps, Foley bulb and a pill i cant remember the name of before i went into labor. He was fine( i had nsts every day tho) he came out super wrinkly and old looking haha with super long nails

I planned on getting to 42 weeks without intervention. My water broke at 41+3 after having a check up earlier in the day (during which my cervix was closed) so I'm glad I planned to wait until the last minute.

Whether or not it's safe to carry past 42 weeks may be controversial, but there's nothing wrong with planning on waiting until then because labor could literally begin ANY minute now.

Good luck and God bless!

after 42 weeks amniotic fluid levels can drop and your placenta has potential to not work as well..that's why its safest to have ur lo before 42 weeks.

One of the complications you can run into is that the placenta can get old and start to fail. As long as you're being monitored they should be able to look out for signs of this. I'm not sure of other risks but that's the one I am aware of. As long as you're being monitored and both of you are fine, I see no reason not to wait to go into labor naturally

There is an increased risk from bot mom and baby to go past. MIL went 43 and a half weeks over with DH. He lost two pounds and had the cord wrapped around his neck twice. She ended up with an emergency c section. They said it could have been avoided had her doctor induced by 42 weeks. That's why now, they try to stick to that. That don't mean anything bad will happen to you or your baby, it's just a personal experience. Just wanted to share for you :)

I'm definitely not a guru of anything (sadly.. cuz it would be so coool?) but I gave birth at 41 weeks 2 days and I wasn't dilated at all (not even one finger) the day before giving birth

Edit : and I had no sign of pre labor until 2 days before

With proper monitoring, it is generally safe.

I'm by no means a guru but there's an article titled "I was pregnant for 10 months" on the guardian.com. Very insightful and goes with what I've read that unless your doctor finds an issue its fine to go past 42 weeks.