I'm Overdue!!!

Hi B.,

I am a birth doula, so I am familiar with seveal midwives who won't get so bijiggity:-) If you are still interested you can give me at ring at ###-###-####.

Best of luck!
T. Nelson CD

I recommend Catherine Lowe, an acupuncturist and midwife, who works out of the Center for Vibrant Health in NE Portland, the Hollywood District, around 48th and Sandy. She treated me for a similar overdue issue, with much success narrowly avoiding induction!

I went 12 days over with my daughter (my due date was based on my LMP). Jennifer Steele, acupuncturist at Mississippi Health Center (http://www.mississippihealthcenter.com/jennifer.html) was my doula and did a couple of rounds of "induction" for me...including the day I actually went into labor! I think she's great, and I highly recommend her.

If you've had a recent ultrasound and are confident that the placenta is still healthy, I see no reason to push the process with chemical/med interventions. Good luck!

My husband is British so he suggested a spicy dish they eat often over the pond: Curry. I went into labor less than 5 hours after we had Indian food at Vindaloo in SE Portland. Worth a try if you like spicy foods anyway!

I'm sorry, I don't have any suggestions to "help you along". But I did want to tell you that I had my first son natural, and they induced me with my second. It's a long story. The part I want to share is that my second labor was extremely painful, much worse than the first. Very uncomfortable and not at all the same type of experience as a natural childbirth. I didn't have any pain medication either time; and I think it was the pitocin that made me so miserable the second time. Good luck!

I hear you, though I was begging to be induced, though I regret that decision, since I had an awful reaction to the petocin.

I tried pretty much everything, though rubbing the castor oil on my belly I would have rather tried than drinking it!

Anyway, have you tried a pregnancy massage? I have heard many women in my mom's group that this has worked for them. There are several places you can go. One of the places off the top of my head is Salon Nyla.

Good luck!

H.

Yes,-- Mary B. Grabowska at Helping Hands acu clinc on E Burnside, around 24th or so. (sorry, I don't have her #) I was ten days overdue and we did an acupuncture induction, which was successful. I don't know the details of what she needs in regard to your med info or availability, so do call.

Hi,

I drank raspberry leaf tea (avail at Fred Meyer's and most chain grocery stores) to help my labor along faster with my first daughter.

It didn't hurt her (she is now 4) or I in any way and it's natural. My doctor recommendeded it.

N.

I highly recommend Andaluz Waterbirth Center! They are totally awesome and the midwives probably have a ton of suggestions beyond everything you mentioned.

I gave birth to my daughter there and it was the most amazing, beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful birth. I could do it again 100 times over!

www.waterbirth.net is their website.

I know they take last minute patients all the time and they will even give you a free tour and consultation.

A.

How smart of you to want to avoid an induction, if your son is still doing well inside.

Kathleen Hensch-Fleming was my midwife. She makes every effort to make sure the kiddos come out when they want to, in a safe way. She works at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital in Vancouver. Not sure if you can make it up there, but I agree that your OB shouldn't be the one to pick the birthday... unless the biophysical profile shows signs of postmaturity syndrome.

I read that the incidence of this is about 1 in 200 for Moms who go past their due dates. But it is common in many areas to recommend induction as a routine thing when a woman goes 1 week past her due date. If a baby is showing signs of this, of course it is important that they be born right away. But the odds are that going up to 2 weeks past a due date is simply a miscalculation or a normal variance. Sometimes the effects of having an induced labor for those other 199 women and babies who are postdates are not explored in comparison to the one who needs to induce. I"m glad you won't be one of those moms. I'm sure you can find a care provider to wait for you, if you don't have Postmaturity Syndrome.

Congratulations and Good Luck!

Hi B.. I want to recommend one of my fellow acupuncturists, Jelena Stefanovic. Here is her website: http://redpeonyhealth.com/

She is experienced, very kind and has treated many pregnant women.

Take care and I wish you the best!

I've heard walking up Mt. Tabor is been pretty successful, my midwife had quite a few labors started climbing that steep hill. We were 9 days overdue and we ended up having our midwife sweep the membrane, which I didn't think was too invasive but also allowed my body to get there with just a little hint.
there are the spicy foods, lots of ginger and spending a good evening with friends. some how a relaxing evening laughing seems like a good stimulus, lets your body relax and your hormones start flowing.
anyways, good luck.

Here's hoping you're in labor already!

With that, you don't have to consent to an induction, especially if all tests are reassuring. 42 or 43 week gestations are not unusual at all.

I hear wonderful things about Andaluz Midwifery. I had considered transferring care to them when facing interventions that I didn't want and didn't seem to be necessary; many folks recommended them to me when I was panicking about it. If your doctor is pushing you I'd definitely contact them for some advice.

Oh and regarding natural induction, of course, nothing will work if you aren't on the edge of labor anyway. It sounds like you're doing everything you can, and the rest is up to your baby.

Good luck!

You can try acupuncture, but it usually takes a few sessions. There are some massage therapists who know the acupressure points to trigger, also, but you'd have to call around to find someone good.
I was induced, it was not fun. Don't let them use the miso. if they bring it up. It is not possible to control it, like pitocin,, so the contractions are extremely harsh. I felt like my insides were ripped and it took me an exceptionally long time to recover, worse than my friend who had a ceasarean.
Best wishes!

My chiropractor told me if I was overdue to come in & he would adjust me & there was a 90% plus chance I would have my baby within 24-48 hours. I got adjusted on a Saturday morning & had my son that evening. I would recommend if you have a good chiropractor. L. B.

Hello. I went over due with all 3 of my children. Castor oil helped me, but I didn't drink it. I rubbed it into my tummy. Its sticky but it sent me into labor the 2 times I did it. It was something my midwife suggested. Also nipple stimulation and everything else you have tried.

My 2 girls were 12 and 11 days overdue and my son was only 5 days.

Good luck and take care! Baby will be here soon!

S.

Question: What is the reason for your doctor wanting to induce? If there's no good medical reason then there are more risks from inducing than waiting to go into labor naturally. You are not actually overdue until you are past 42 weeks. And different babies "cook" at different rates. My first was one week past my due date and my second was 6 days before my due date. I was absolutely certain that my dates were correct so my second was just ready about 2 weeks earlier than my first. Labor starts by a complex conversation between your baby's hormones and your hormones, in other words, you go into labor when your baby and your body are ready. It's so not worth it to mess with that unless there is a danger to you or your baby. Simply being past your due date is not a danger (due dates are based on averages) and having a baby that measures large is not a danger either. Measurements done by ultrasound are accurate only to +/- 1 lb. (meaning a baby that measures 9 lbs could be anywhere from 8-10 lbs) and even if a baby is large there is no more danger to your or your son if he was small.

Oh goodness, looking back on your post, I think you know all this already. So try Working Class Acupuncture they are experience in cervical ripening and inducing labor and cheap too. Hopefully your OB will not get squirrelly on you. You should put the burden on him to prove it is necessary. He may try to scare you with the statistic that you are twice as likely to have a stillborn baby after 41 weeks than before, but that is a bit of a bogus statistic. Anyway, good luck. Respectfully hold your ground!