My friend’s baby was induced because she was overdue.
I am puzzled because I don’t understand the problem.
Surely the labour will start eventually without intervention?
Calculating the date of your baby’s birth is not
an exact science, and the conception date is usually just
approximate. So it is quite normal for a baby to be born
within a two week period either side of the due date. In
fact a very small percentage of babies are born on the due
date. So although you were expecting your baby on a certain
date, there is always the chance that your dates are slightly
wrong.
However, towards the end of your baby’s time in the
womb, growth is fast. Every day your baby gets bigger and
bigger, and this has a few implications. Your labour is
likely to be harder, the strain on your body increases as
the baby grows, and the placenta may struggle to adequately
nourish your baby. The placenta is an incredible organ and
does a miraculous job in supplying all your baby’s
needs, but it is not designed to go on forever, and its
function may be reduced towards the end of your pregnancy.
For these reasons your doctor will be keeping a close eye
on you as your due date passes. No matter how much you dislike
intervention, it is vital to co-operate with your doctor
if he wishes to test your urine, and monitor your baby using
ultrasound and a heart monitor. These are all important
parts of the puzzle that allows him to judge whether or
not your baby is still thriving in your uterus. It also
becomes increasingly important for you to keep an eye on
your baby’s movements and check that you are feeling
10 movements an hour.
You need to really take care of yourself during this time.
That does not mean do nothing. Try to listen to your body,
take rest when you feel tired, do some gentle walking if
you feel restless, and eat and drink carefully. This means
that due to the lack of space you may have to eat a snack
every few hours rather than a proper meal.
These last few days feel like forever. But your baby will
arrive any day now, so just try your best to be patient.
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