Overdue?

 

 

 

Maybe you’re tired of being pregnant and sick of being so uncomfortable. 9 months can seem like forever when you’ve been waiting for this amazing baby growing inside of you, and you really don’t want to wait any longer. Is induction crossing your mind? Is your care provider starting to suggest it for non medical reasons? Evidence that babies should be left well alone until they decide they should arrive continues to grow. This same evidence has led to the definition of 'full term" being changed from 37+ weeks to 38+ weeks and the definition of over-due or "post-term" to be moved to the full 42 weeks. What does this mean for you and your baby? Why did they bother changing the definition at all?

One recent study shows babies at 37 to 38 weeks are more likely than those born later to need time in the NICU, mechanical ventilation and IV fluids. In Australia 25% labours are induced, New Zealand's rate is very similar . The most cause for induction is a ‘post date pregnancy'.

What is a post dates pregnancy?

• Term (as in a ‘normal’ and healthy gestation period): is from 38 weeks to 42 weeks.
• Post dates: the pregnancy has continued beyond the decided due date ie. is over 40 weeks.
• Post term: the pregnancy has continued beyond term ie. 42+ weeks

Why don't we wait?

• Myth: After 42 weeks the placenta starts to "shut down" - there is no evidence to support this notion.
• Myth: Baby's head will grow too big to fit out - there is no evidence to support this theory and babies are pretty good at finding their way out of their mothers expandable pelvis.

However to pretend their are no risks associated with prolonged pregnancy is not helpful for women trying to make decisions about their options. These general risks should be part of the information a woman uses to decide what is best for her. Before labour begins the uterus and cervix need to make physiological changes ready to respond to contractions. It is now thought that the baby is the controller of the labour ‘on’ switch. So, the baby signals to the mother that he/she is ready, oxytocin is released and labour begins.

Before jumping at the chance of "getting this baby out of here" please do some reading, and find out the facts about induction first. I had and induced birth, and I had a natural one. I would take the natural one hands down every time. But there is a time and a place for induction (my first labour I was very unwell with pre-eclampsia) and they can be life saving, but they are not without risk.

Talk with your midwife and see what they suggest, there may be some more gentle natural options you can try first.

Take care,

For further reading on the subject