by Teresa Redmond
Your belly is huge, your due date has passed, and yet little Susie or Johnny has shown no interest in moving out of his or her cozy home. Your due date is calculated by counting forward 280 days from the start of your last menstrual period. Your due date is only an estimate of when your baby should come and is often off by a number of days if not weeks. It is very common to deliver past your due date particularly if you are a first time mom. Knowing that it is common provides little comfort when you are the one overdue. Below are our best tips for surviving an overdue pregnancy.
1. Talk to your doctor.
Women have varying opinions on labor and childbirth. Some prefer a natural, wait and see approach, while others are very anxious and eagerly interested in induction. In our mother’s generation it was not uncommon to deliver at 42 or even 43 weeks. Presently many doctors will induce at 40 or 41 weeks if your cervix is favorable. If you would prefer the wait and see approach, or your cervix is unfavorable for induction, your doctor or midwife will monitor you and baby closely. You will likely have a non stress test or biophysical profile done once or even twice a week if you are overdue. By 42 weeks your doctor will most likely choose to induce regardless of whether you cervix is favorable or not.
2. Get lots of rest.
The last month of pregnancy is exhausting. You may not be sleeping well due to discomfort and anxiety about your approaching labor. Remember to keep taking your prenatal vitamins and rest as much as you can. Lack of sleep and fatigue can war on your mood. Use a body pillow at night to help you sleep. Take an afternoon nap if you are not sleeping well or just rest with you feet up if sleep is not possible.
3. Finish up preparations for baby.
Now is a good time to finish up those last minute things you need for baby. You may have packed your hospital bag weeks earlier and finished the nursery what seems like ages ago, so here are a few ideas you might not have thought of to keep yourself busy. Install your car seat and have it checked for safety. Many hospitals and insurance companies will do car seat safety checks. Purchase a lullaby CD and set up a rocking chair nearby to rock your baby to sleep.
4. Try relaxation and meditation.
If you’ve never done relaxation exercises or meditation this probably sounds a bit corny, but it can’t hurt to try it. Purchase a CD if you don’t have one already with relaxing music or sounds from the rainforest or beach. Try slow deep breaths relaxing your muscles one at a time. Alternatively, you can purchase a CD or video that gives specific instructions on relaxation exercises. Now would also be a good time to practice relaxation and breathing exercises form your child birth class.
5. Try natural labor inducers.
There are a few things you can try to induce labor naturally. Foods such as pineapple and eggplant have been suggested as labor inducers. Cooked in a yummy recipe, it’s certainly worth a shot. Cinnamon tea made from cinnamon sticks steeped in hot water is another thing you can try. Walking is something else you can try. The verdict is still out as to whether walking actually helps, but a little exercise is good for the body and soul regardless of effectiveness in inducing labor. There are many other tips, tricks, and old wives tales you can try naturally induce labor. Check with your doctor or midwife before trying anything to naturally induce labor.
6. Check fetal movements.
It is very important when you are overdue to keep a close eye on fetal movements. There are variations on how to keep track of fetal kick counts, so talk to your doctor about how to track and monitor your baby’s movements. If you notice a decrease or change in your baby’s activity call your doctor.
7. Observe for signs of labor.
For some women keeping track of signs of labor will bring comfort and others it is plain out discouraging. As you pregnancy comes to an end your body will show sings or readiness for labor. Increasing Braxton Hicks contractions, pelvic achiness, backache, and increasing vaginal secretions are all early signs or labor. Early labor symptoms can begin weeks before labor, but all these signs are reassuring that your body is indeed getting ready for birth.
8. Keep busy.
Keeping busy will help keep your mind off of things. Here are a few suggestions to keep yourself busy. Take this time to freeze up a few meals for after baby’s birth. This will allow you a little extra time and rest when baby is home. Make a belly cast of your pregnant tummy to commemorate your pregnancy. Start a scrapbook album for your baby. You can include mementos from your pregnancy and prepare pages for after baby’s birth. Knitting, crocheting, or other hobbies can also be distracting.
9. Ask for help.
If you are having a hard time physically or emotionally ask for support from your family, friends, or health care provider. You may be shouting from the inside, but unless you tell someone they may not know how you feel. If you are having feelings of anxiety or depression talk to your doctor.
10. Do something nice for yourself.
A massage, manicure, or trip to the hair salon are all good ideas to treat yourself at the end of pregnancy. If you can’t convince baby to come out and play, at least mommy should have a good time.
About the Author:
Teresa Redmond is a wife and mother to 6 children. She is the co-owner of Justmommies.com. Stop by to find great articles including baby names, http://www.justmommies.com/pregnancy/babyname.shtml
Sheryl’s comment:
If your baby has not come out yet there is a reason for it. When your baby is fully developed and ready to live outside the womb, labor will start on its own. Somthing about blasting a baby from its uterine home with chemicals before it is fully developed strikes me as particularly barbaric.
If you are really interested in getting things started, please avoid cow hormones (Pitocin) or pig sperm (Cervidil) at all costs (unless you happen to have a cow or pig uterus). Try nipple stimulation, give him oral sex (which is supposed to be the best way to induce labor) and the real mc coy. Then have a nice walk. Funny that midwives and doctors will tell you to avoid nipple stimulation because the contractions it brings on are too strong, yet for a couple of bucks they won’t hesitate to give you bovine strength contractions.
Buy Getting Labor Started
Image Source: http://flickr.com/photos/ericasimone/2284700222/
I think some women need to suck it up, pregnancy is not at all bad, I am 42 weeks along and still farming, putting up fence, had an interview, got a job and start my job 2 weeks after the baby is born. I think pregnancy is just an excuse for some women.
Posted by Amanda | May 7, 2008, 12:31 amThanks for writing Amanda. It is a shame that the current culture calls for ending pregnancy prematurely. It is such a precious time with your child, I don’t see what the rush is. Kudos to you for enjoying it and acting like a healthy human being, not a victim or a person with a handicap.
Posted by naturalchildbirth | May 10, 2008, 6:26 pmFrom a male perspective, I think a pregnant woman exudes femininity and beauty. This is the highlight of life and should be enjoyed to its utmost by both parents.
Posted by George | August 3, 2008, 12:57 amPregnancy is different for everyone and it is tragic that women can be so hard on other women with difficult pregnancies.
My mother’s and one sister’s pregnancies were a breeze while my other sister ended up quite ill and incapacitated at the end of her pregnancy. I can’t imagine how she would have felt if we all said she should suck it up and continue to work, instead of providing support and care for her and her other child.
Everyone is different so I would hate to judge women that have difficult pregnancies or bodies that can’t handle the changes. Less than a century ago they may not have survived.
Posted by Angela | September 7, 2008, 10:08 amPS. My mother went over 44 weeks for her four “easy” pregnancies.
Posted by Angela | September 7, 2008, 10:10 amI personally delivered mine before time, but I can imagine how madening it must be to wait after the due date.
Posted by Ann Arbor @Web Site Marketing | December 30, 2008, 6:57 amI think women who have easy pregnancies should have a think about their silly comments suggesting that we should all feel the same or “suck it up”. Everybody is very very different. I think that narrow minded pregnant women should open up their minds a bit and realise we are all individuals. My pregnancy has been a rollercoaster; some parts awful and some parts much easier. Don’t be upset by silly women ladies! U r ur own person and will cope in ur own way! xxxx
Posted by Rachel | June 19, 2009, 7:30 amI can’t believe I have just read this rubbish. Every pregnancy is different and the last thing any pregnant lady needs is someone downplaying what they are going through. It is also a good thing if your body ‘responds’ to pregnancy and doesn’t just carry on as normal and for a lot of women ‘sucking it up’ doesn’t actually have an effect on how awful some parts can be. I think some people should be darn grateful that they had it easy. I’ve been as active as I can during my pregnancy, but sometimes it is impossible to just ‘get on with things’. People who think pregnancy is ‘not an illnes’ and just an ‘excuse’ should think about the actual physical and emotional aspects involved, which would have a non-pregnant person at the Doctors every five minutes!
Posted by Emily | March 2, 2010, 2:15 amSuck it up? Wow that’s really a very harsh thing to say. Because your pregnancy was so carefree doesn’t mean it’s like that with everyone. This is my 2nd pregnancy and it has been so extremely painful. My 1st wasn’t too bad, I was able to stay pretty active. But oh no not this time. I can barely walk and I have an almost 3 yr old I have to keep up with. I try to “suck it up” but unfortunately the pain is so horrible (even with meds) that I cry infront of my poor lil guy. Oh and not many people will hire pregnant women. Getting a job is MUCH easier said than done. Shut it, like your poo doesn’t stink.
Posted by Randi | March 12, 2010, 12:42 amGeesssh, I came to this site for support as I am 41 weeks and can barely walk. This is my 3rd pregnancy and my hip has been popping out since I was 4 months pregnant. For the last 2 months I have been sleeping in a recliner to keep my hip still moving. Boy do I ever wish I could still be farming and putting up fences. I have 6-8 hour labor/deliveries and would very much like to keep to that and not be induced but lack of sleep, chasing a 1 1/2 yr old and the uncomfortable pain of the hip as well as being 5’2″ and delivering 10 lb babies is really wearing on me. I found the article good to re-focus me but the 1st comment was very judgemental.
Posted by Kim | May 5, 2010, 8:34 amIt is so true that each woman experiences her pregnancy differently. It is a wonderful time and important to have patience with oneself and with others. Relax and think positive. As I await to hear if my daughter has gone into labor, she is approaching 3 weeks over due date, I cannot help but worry. This is her 1st pregnancy and she has her heart set on birthing at home. I am on the west coast, she on the east. These comments are helpful to hear that women have been 42, 43 and 44 weeks before going into labor. It is a comfort to know and I will relax myself and keep busy while waiting!
Posted by karin lynch | July 26, 2010, 10:34 amWow…..that fist comment…I’m happy for you that you’ve had such an easy pregnancy, really, but maybe its just not that stressful for you right now because it means basically nothing to you? Just a thought…I dont think pregnant women need to “suck it up”, some of us have very painful, hard pregnancies, and not just physically, but emotionally as well. But, I guess it would be somewhat nice to be able to just put it out of your mind that you’ve got a baby in your tummy you havent met yet and carry on with life as though it’s nothing. I for one am overly anxious to be able to hold mine and make sure she’s safe, and so yes, it IS depressing to be overdue and go to bed everynight disappointed
Posted by Christy | August 12, 2010, 5:48 pmBefore I became pregnant I always thought that pregnant women should continue to be active and do the things they usually do, within reason of course. I could never understand why they would even have special parking spaces for expectant mothers. Before I was pregnant I was a fitness competitor and was always very active. My pregnancy has been a real eye opener as I went from being constantly on the go to having chronic debilitating pain and sickness. I was so embarrassed when I was the only woman in the group for the hospital tour who had to be carted around in a wheel chair. I can’t tell you how humiliating that was for me with my fitness background! So yes, in the past I would always tell myself to suck it up and keep going. And for some women pregnancy is a breeze but for others it can be extremely challenging. Everyone’s situation is different.
Posted by Kim B | September 10, 2010, 2:30 pmI’m not even too far over due yet since they say that 70% of first time Moms go at least a few days past their due dates, and sometimes even a few weeks! But wow, what an impact this has on your mental and emotional state! I’ve been trying acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy, homeopathic remedies, walking, bouncing and sex! And still, nothing! Not even a hint of labor staring any time soon. I’ve been trying to keep busy and spend some quality time for myself, with friends and with my hubby, since we will have little time once baby comes. I’ve also found that it helps to cry! When you’re feeling frustrated and so desperately want to meet, see and hold your new baby a good hardy cry into your pillow can be the best remedy! We are often told to put on a brave face in life and so call “suck it up” but as a psychotherapist I can honestly say crying can be such a release of those pent up uncomfortable emotions. Good luck ladies, I’m wishing for all of us a happy healthy baby really really soon!
Posted by Kimberley | September 10, 2010, 2:45 pmI’m not even too far over due yet since they say that 70% of first time Moms go at least a few days past their due dates, and sometimes even a few weeks! But wow, what an impact this has on your mental and emotional state when you are here waiting, thinking that you would have your new little one home with you by now! I’ve been trying acupuncture, cranial sacral therapy, homeopathic remedies, walking, bouncing and sex! And still, nothing! Not even a hint of labor staring any time soon. I’ve been trying to keep busy and spend some quality time for myself, with friends and with my hubby, since there will be little time once baby comes. I’ve also found that it helps to cry! When you’re feeling frustrated and so desperately want to meet, see and hold your new baby, a good hardy cry into your pillow can be the best remedy! We are often told to put on a brave face in life and so call “suck it up” but as a psychotherapist I can honestly say crying can be such a release of those pent up uncomfortable emotions. Just try to remember that often things do happen for a reason and if baby hasn’t arrived just yet it may just simply be that she/he isn’t quite ready yet and needs a little more time to develop their little organs, especially their digestive system. Baby will be here soon and in the mean time be sure to baby and pamper yourself for a little while.
Posted by Kimberley | September 10, 2010, 2:54 pmSurely the first commenter was just trying to provoke a reaction – nobody can be that narrowminded surely? I’m on my second baby (third pregnancy) and I have hyperemesis. I’ve had it with all three. It is a living hell. I spent the first 4 months of this pregnancy in hospital on oxygen and hooked up to a drip. I have a 2 year old to look after, a husband who works long hours, and no family nearby. It has been so hard. I vomited for 41 weeks and a day with my daughter and had undiagnosed gallstones. I ‘sucked it up’ and worked til 37 weeks. I was ill, physically and emotionally and paid the penalty for it once my baby arrived. I ended up with PND and anxiety, had major abdominal surgery at 9 weeks post partum, I was diagnosed with a pituitary malfunction after I failed to produce any colostrum or milk.
This pregnancy has been hard. I’ve had to resign as I’m too sick and exhausted to work (I can barely get out of bed most days). I also have a hip that pops out of joint. So I hardly think that hoping for an ‘on-time’ baby this time makes me some kind of excuse for a mum.
Perhaps the first commenter should thank her lucky stars that she’s had such an easy time of it, rather than knocking others who haven’t.
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