Due Date

What's your due date?

Possibly one of the most common questions you are asked when pregnant.

So much anticipation hangs on the date given at your date scan. You build yourself up for months. You feel ready to give birth. You have had Braxton Hicks (practice contractions). The date comes. And Nothing. The date goes. And you are left feeling...

Flat? Impatient? Disappointed?

Did someone suggest 'Induction'?

If birth is left to unfold naturally, most baby's will arrive when they are ready. Sometimes earlier & sometimes later than your expected due date, but rarely on the "Due Date". The NCT quote only 5% of baby's arriving "on time".

As your due date comes and goes you might start to feel pressure to consider means of induction. If this is happening to you just be aware of the implications of induction if you truly want a natural birth.

Implications of Induction

 

If birth starts naturally, as opposed to induction, it means "the baby has adequately developed pituitary and adrenal glands and is mature enough to cope with the rigours of labour and birth"
So the baby is ready to be born.

If you are hoping for a natural birth you need to be aware of the knock on effect of induction.

"The induction of labour by drugs produces a more difficult, painful, and protracted labour and is thus frequently the prelude to caesarean section. So is the artificial rupture of the membranes, which may cause a prolapsed umbilical cord....Drugs that accelerate labour may also interfere with the baby's oxygen supply, since the baby is deprived of oxygen during contractions, and artificial pitocin induced contractions are stronger and more frequent than spontaneous ones".

"Generally speaking, conventional hospital procedures - the insertion of electronic monitors, the vaginal examinations, the intravenous drips - may all inhibit women in labour. Fear stops her labour: a caesarean is judged necessary. It is alarming, but true that the more medicine gets involved with childbirth, the more complex and difficult everything becomes".

Extracts taken from Birth Reborn by Michel Odent.

So what should I do?

The due date is an estimate. Most baby's arrive between 37 and 41 weeks. Medical professionals tend to want to induce before the 42 week mark as post maturity can result in still birth. The problem for pregnant women is experts don't agree on the best time to induce.

So, what can you do if you go past your 'due date' and still want a natural birth?

As with all birthing decisions you need to make the right choice for you, your birth partner and your family.

• You could let nature take its course.
• In the days after your due date you could look into natural approaches to induction.
• You may have a Membrane Sweep (This is an internal examination where your midwife inserts her finger into the cervix to disturb membranes and hopefully trigger labour).
• Don't feel pressured into induction if you don't want it.
• Consider medical induction - explaining to your midwife that you wish to have a normal birth with as little intervention as possible.
• Whatever decision you make - know its an informed decision.

Always discuss your decisions with your midwife, who can advise the best course of action for your unique pregnancy and birth.