Omlet cube and run

[miffy]

no.....not mine

 

ES girlfriend is almost 2 weeks overdue, I know its a long time since I last had a baby (21 years) but they have said today they may induce her middle of next week, is this normal ??? it seems a long time to me. She has had a "sweep" whats that??? they say the baby weighs 8.5lb now....give it another week it will be even bigger!!!! as you can no doubt tell I am feeling rather anxious.

 

The daft thing is its not my sons baby and I've never even spoken to her, never mind met her......

[The Dogmother]

I think they usually induce if it's 2 weeks overdue these days. A sweep is when they sweep the membranes just inside the cervix to see if they can start labour off.

 

There are a few nurses and midwives on here who will be better placed to advise though.

[whoopsie]

Yep that's what a sweep is - she can have more than one if she wants too, as being induced isn't very nice.

 

Ignore the 'weight' issue - they're usually wrong and also how a birth goes has absolutely nothing to do with how big the baby is, it's what position it gets itself into, which is largely unpredictable.

 

Your son is very admirable taking on a child that isn't even born yet.

[The Dogmother]

Whoopsie is right about the size thing - they underestimated Rosie by a whole pound!

[miffy]

thanks for the explanation of "sweep" and reassurance of size. I thought there were very real dangers in letting the pregnancy going on too long??? well thats what I was told way back when dinosaurs roamed the earth

[Snowy]

They are much less keen to induce labour these days - 19 years ago I was induced at 4 days overdue! With No3, 5 years ago it had all changed and they let me go all the way - he was exactly 2 weeks over, but arrived with no help! She will need regular checks on the baby to ensure that the placenta is still doing it's job properly though.

[Aunty e]

She can have another sweep or two - I wouldn't want to be induced, it hurts! I was four days overdue (by the scan EDD, which was WRONG) and I would have been induced after ten days. But a friend of mine had her baby two weeks overdue and he was fine, not induced or anything.

 

Bouncing on a birthing/exercise ball is good, as is lots of physical exercise. I lumped a few sacks of chicken feed around the day before I had Mog and went for a VERY long walk. Nipple stimulation does work, but it's SO boring. I spent hours sat in front of the telly in early labour tweaking the wretched things to encourage the contractions along. BORING. You honestly have to keep it up for hours to start labour off (it gets your body producing oxytocin, which causes contractions).

[bronze]

I wouldn't choose to induced either

 

Even if that weights right they tend to put on about half a pound a week at this stage so it still wouldn't be a huge baby

[PurpleTree]

Oliver was 2 weeks overdue and I was induced. I didn't find it any worse than having Danny - I started naturally with him. If anything it was better because it went along quicker. Olly was 9lb 10oz, no one had any idea he was going to be so big, or if they did they didn't tell me.

 

Good luck to her. I think the waiting's the worst part.

[The_eggwards_family]

Induction isnt necessary - its only an option All of mine have been "overdue" as I always decline induction (unless there was a medical reason for it to be necessary) and my latest babe was born 27 days late.

 

Induction comes with a whole host of risks which are much better avoided. I hope its soon for her, from a btdt

[sage]

They tried to induce me for a week ended up with 8 sweeps but DD was having none of it. She was coming out on her terms and ignored everyone else (nothing has changed). By the size I was they thought DD was going to be over 10lb. She was only 6lb7oz.

Hope all goes well.

Sage

[Valkyrie]

Sounds just like my DD! The day I went into hospital to be induced (she was 4 weeks overdue by their records) she decided to rock the boat and was born just after midnight. She's been a stubborn minx ever since. Not heard of a sweep before. But I also hope it all goes smoothly.

[bluekarin]

I was booked in to be induced when my ED was 2 weeks late. Luckily for me, the worry about actually being induced was enough for her to arrive naturally 4 days before it *phew*

[whoopsie]

It's only theory that the placenta 'stops working' 2 weeks over. I never 'force' anyone to be induced but we have a sensible conversation about making sure the baby is moving and having regular monitoring after 2 weeks have passed. My colleagues and I have got into the habit of arranging a 'wellbeing scan' at 42 weeks to get a good picture of what is going on, and monitoring from there.

 

It's worked well so far and most of the women have laboured naturally.

 

Induction generally takes much longer and is more painful, especially as it is a first baby. There are other risks associated too, but any decisions should be made on an individual basis with a suitably qualified professional. Many of my women have also found that reflexology and acupuncture have been helpful.

Edited August 30, 2010 by Guest

[miffy]

wow things have really changed, I was induced with 2 and had elective LSCS for 1. Never had a "natural" labour...waters burst..then ..nothing happened, so cant compare.

 

She is having another sweep today.

Thank you for the reassurance

[Krysia]

Miffy, mt friend recently had a baby 18days over! the midwife really wanted to do a sweep but she said no!!

 

after 14 days she went to hospital daily for monitoring but as long as all was ok with both baby and mum they were happy to let her carry on.

 

Can't believe you havent met her? is it because of distance or will he just not bring her round?

[miffy]

Had a text, this morning, from ES to say his girlfriend has been delivered, she had a baby girl. He just said they had a difficult couple of days...her waters broke a couple of days ago. But sounds like all is ok now.

We havent met her, mainly because of them living so far away, I dont think they have much money, and its difficult for us to get away with dog, chickens and MiL to organise.

Thank you all for your support when I was so anxious

[LuckyChickenLover-]

Congratulations!

[Egluntyne]

Congratulations.

[whoopsie]

I'm glad everything has turned out well, Congratulations Grandma!x

[sage]

Congrats Granny

 

Glad all went well

 

Sage

[Lewis]

Congratulations!

[Snowy]

Good news!

Glad all has gone well.

[chicken bark]

Congratulations. Now the hard work begins!

[miffy]

Baby, was 9lb!! unwell and taken to scbu for 36 hrs but now ok. Mum lost a lot of blood, but on the mend now. My son says he had evry emotion going in that 36hours, even thought he could be going home alone as first a team of paediatricians arrived for baby as it was unresponsive and then loads of people when mum bled so badly......Ithey have been through hell really, thank God for the NHS..there when you need it.

I'm not old enough to be a Grandma