You are 41 weeks pregnant.

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Born & Birth stories

If your labor is induced, there are a number of ways this can be done:

1 - breaking your waters - puncturing the amniotic sac, which means your waters leak out. This can often stimulate contractions. This procedure is sometimes known as ARM, for Artificial Rupture of the Membranes, or amniotomy;

2 - giving you a peccary of hormone gel in your vagina, which delivers labor-inducing hormones to the cervix; or

3 - giving you a drip of oxytocin which puts the hormone directly into your bloodstream to stimulate labor.

Induced labor can sometimes mean your contractions come on quickly and intensively, and this may make it harder to cope with. So when deciding whether this option is for you, you may want to take this into account. You may end up needing more pain relief as a result.

A baby that's gone more than a week or so over the 'official' due date may have dryer skin which tends to flake. This is because the vernix that would normally cover the skin has stopped being produced.

`Up to 10% of pregnancies are not delivered by 42 weeks... and only a small number of pregnancies that go past 42 weeks have problems. In fact, about 95% of post term babies are born without problems.` --American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG, 2005)

Almost there! Did you know that we also have a month by month calendar for babies? You can find it in the menu under `Babies`: Month by month

Would you like to announce the birth of your new baby? Do so by clicking this link: I gave birth!

Comments on week 41

Comments 1-49 of about 115 from week 41
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sarebear - 13.5 hours ago
good luck brooke, congrats lou :)

brookeecookee - 13.8 hours ago
14 days past due! What is going on??? Please come out little buddy! We induce tomorrow night, 10pm. I've had horrific contractions since yesterday afternoon, but they keep slowing back down to 20-30 mins before I can get anywhere near going into full on labor. Its exhausting. 4-6 contractions per hour all night long laat night, so it makes for a very tired day the next day. I'm scared of what tonight will bring. Unless the flood gates open and it brings me my baby!

tlittle1982 - 22.8 hours ago
Congratulations Lou!!! :)

tlittle1982 - 22.9 hours ago
DragonsocceRmom, Thats super close together for you and your sister and pretty awesome! Well what made me decide on a water birth was because it helps A TON with pain. Also, when you soak in water your skin is softer and I believe thats why I did not tear one little bit! You should try soaking in water when your laboring before you go to the hospital and that might prevent you from tearing or having to get cut. (I personally would say no to the scissors because a natural tear heals WAY faster!) My birth was amazing. I will never forget how I felt after she came out. My body created chemicals I never knew existed and I actually felt like I was high in a good way! lol It was incredible. She came out so peacefully that she didnt even cry and she was breathing just fine!!! I never even knew that happened. lol- I even asked my midwife and she she said yes, it happens all the time with her home water births. :) I will never give birth in a hospital unless I have an emergency and need to go. :) I have a a few labor videos and a video of her a min after she was born also if you would like to see it. :) There isn't really any nudity and my friend accidently did not tape the actual birth. It happened so fast, I only pushed 4 times and she was out...

Dragonsoccermom*teamblue* - 5 days ago
Lou- congrats! We'll miss you!

brookeecookee - 5 days ago
Congrats lou! That's fantastic! And amazing about the 1 hour later. Get some rest.

lou-li-ro - 5 days ago
had our baby may 16th at half one in morning 8lb, 11 days overdue. was 10cm on arrival to hospital pushed him out an hr later

brookeecookee - 7 days ago
Today is the first day I'm starting to feel a little weary. I'm finally starting to get tired of waiting! But just while writing that I reminded myself that when he gets here I'll be on 24/7, up all night feeding a baby, and that is making me feel better. Good gosh my hormones/emotions are all over the place. Poor DH had to deal with one bitchy lady today!

Lou-Li-Ro - 7 days ago
irishgirl it would seem so!!! Thanks for thinkin of me! Things started happening last night I was getting pains that were keeping me awake all night but they stopped this morning. Started again during the day but they are irregular. Still no 'show'. Ten days over now, like I was on Rowan...... Argh I am half dying for this to happen and half terrified!!!

irishgirl44 - 7 days ago
lou you like to hold on to your babies dont you? will be thinking of you x

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 7 days ago
Brookee- it worked for several people I know. Usually within hours. With my daughter I was 39 weeks & scrubbed the kitchen & then the bathroom. I stood up when I was done & my water broke all over the bathroom floor. I was so mad & so happy at the same time. I recommended it to someone else on the site & she went the following morning at 3am. One of my friends went before she even finished.

brookeecookee - 7 days ago
What's this about hand scrubbing floors? Maybe I need to get to cleaning! A few more days and I'll have to re-nest clean my house for a third time.

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 8 days ago
Lou- yes. They told us at 14 weeks they thought girl, but they'll confirm tomorrow. 23 hours to go! On your side, sounds like you need to hand-scrub the floors. works every time!

Lou-Li-Ro - 8 days ago
yay brookeecookee we're in it together! I'm 9 days past the guess-date now, went ten days last time wondering if that'll be the magic number for this little man too! Dragonsoccermom good luck at your scan! Are you finding out the sex? I had to find out so we could tell my daughter because she was very insistent that she wanted a sister!! i thought she'd get her hopes up too high if we let it be a surprise and it turned out to be a boy. Of course it is our third boy, I knew it would be! So at least we could prepare her. poor little woman she'd've loved a sis!

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 8 days ago
I'm hanging out too. :) lou- if it's any consolation I'm counting the minutes to my sono tomorrow. I'm thinking I'm having a boy but we'll see. remember your anatomy scan? Doesn't it seem like decades ago? Lol.

brookeecookee - 8 days ago
I made it here, lou. So you aren't alone.

Lou-Li-Ro - 8 days ago
anyone here with me?!? Am 9 days over my guess-date now. Was due may 5th, Went 10 days over last time so I am hoping I won't go much longer than that!

lisamarie29 - 12 days ago
Please share and vote to help him win a handicap assessable van...Hunter was born early ar 24 weeks..He is now 15 years old and has to undergo lots of therapy and doctors appointments..He suffers alot of hip and joint pain and getting lifted from wheel chair to vehicle and back for all these appointments hurts him greatly so he is praying to be one of 3 to win a van with a wheelchair lift so being picked up and lifted will no longer be necessary..So please take a moment to vote and help make his dream come true.This boy has had a hard life already but always has a smile on his face please help make it just a little bit easier on him by voting..Thanks again for your time and help..! http://www.mobilityawarenessmonth.com/entrant/hunter-darlage-north-vernon-in/

SecondTimeMamma** - 12 days ago
Hi ladies im from 24 weeks but i was going throught some of your posts and oh my word Juicy u made me laugh soooo much!!!that was so funny. but it goes to show you cannot plan these things!!!these babies know when what and how they wanna come out hahahahahaha

sugarbaby1980teamblue - 13 days ago
Juicy spice you made me laugh out loud too! I'm worried about my vagina being normal again too.

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 13 days ago
Juicy- you made me pee myself laughing. In fact I was laughing so hard that my daughter started laughing. Sounds very similar to the way I deliver except I would have told him to turn the drugs UP

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 13 days ago
Tlittle- wow! Sounds pretty cool. I should convince my sister to have one both we're both chickens & like our pain meds. (she's due the 19tg, I'm due the 6th). I'm just glad you don't have to clean up. I'd like to watch one, but not mine. Next question- why the water? Can you 'home birth' without the water?

Juicyspice - 13 days ago
Ha - love reading through all these posts I missed. So here are some more details on my experience. I was 4 cm dilated and 50% effaced when I came in for my induction. The monitor was showing that I was having decent sized contractions already too, that I just couldn't feel. Very similar to when I was induced with my son, it seems my body is really good at getting prepped for labor and delivery, it just doesn't know how to take that final step unassisted. So they started the pitocin and about 4 hours later I was at a pain level of about 8 and contractions coming every 2 minutes. I was hooked up to a wireless monitor which allowed me to be mobile and walk through the contractions and the pain. I did this for a few hours and when the pain was intolerable, I asked to be checked. I was at 6 cms so my options were to break my water and things would happen fast or to get an epi, I opted for the epi. The anesthesiologist had a lot of trouble getting the needle in. He was a great doctor and talked me through it all so I was never worried, and it made me remember that they had the same problem when I got the epi for my son. He thinks my spine is twisted slightly so it makes it difficult to figure out how to get the needle in. So for 30 minutes I had to sit completely still, while he is poking around my spine with a needle and contractions at a maximum pain level coming every 2 minutes. That was hard. Then once I finally started to feel some relief from the epi, they checked me again and I was at a 10. My doc had to perform a c-section on someone and she didn't want to break my water before then because she thought I would deliver while she was in surgery, so she said to relax and when she came back from surgery she'd break my water. Now with the epidural I had with my son, it was a very mild dose and I could still feel the contractions, they were just tolerable, which is what I wanted and I was easily able to push him out with 3 pushes. This time around it was much stronger and I started to get concerned that I wasn't going to be able to successfully push out the baby, since all the places that I needed to use to push were numb. My fear was I'd end up pushing and pushing with no progress and exhaust myself to the point where I had to have a c-section. I voiced these concerns to the anesthesiologist and he scaled back my epi, but said it would take 45 minutes to take effect. The doc broke my water, wanted to feel me push and didn't feel much, so I asked to wait the 45 minutes before pushing. The nurse came and checked me at 30 minutes and asked me to push, and then said STOP, I'M ABOUT TO DELIVER YOUR BABY. She was surprised and nervous laughing a bit, which made me laugh which she immediately told me to stop doing as I was pushing out the baby. My husband says I laughed out the baby. So with one hand she is holding in the head, and with the other phoning the doc and nurses to get in there ASAP. The doc didn't even have her fingers in the gloves all the way before Jocey slid out. It was crazy. My vagina must be some kind of cavern because she practically fell out. Hoping I can Kegel that back into shape and sex won't be like throwing a hot dog down a hallway.

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 13 days ago
Oh juicy!!! So happy to hear from you! Congrats & glad you & lil Jocelyn are doing well!

tlittle1982 - 13 days ago
Dragonsoccermom, Our bathtub was too small. Our Midwife had a pool she loaned to us. You put a disposable liner in it and blow it up with a pump. It wasnt har for my boyfriend to set it up. then we fill it with the hose and used giant pots of boiling water when the hot water ran out. The midwife and her assistand did the clean up after the birth. The midwife is a certified nurse midwife and she does the screening and takes the blood and everything.

Juicyspice - 13 days ago
Hi Ladies, just wanted to let you know that Jocelyn Renee was born on May 4th at 8 lbs 5 oz. My induction was pushed back a day and a half because the hospital didn't have room for us, the wait was excruciating. When we finally got to the hospital everything went very smoothly without any complications. We even left the hospital a day early because we were both doing so well and there wasn't any reason to stay. She is so calm and happy and very easy compared to how my son was at this age. So far so good. Hope you are all doing well.

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 15 days ago
Tlittle- wow. A little pool set up in your house? Why not the tub? Did you have to blow it up in advance? Was it messy? What happens after as far as testing & prescreening for baby?

tlittle1982 - 15 days ago
Congratulations letitbe and blondiemom84!!!! looks like we got our April babies afterall :) blondiemom84 how cool is that! Two little girls born on the same day! What time was your sweetie born? Mine was at 9:27am :) Waterbiths are soooooo awesome and I didnt tear at all! I had such an amazing experience! Im having a hrad time posting pics on here though! I would love to see baby pics from you too if you can post them. haha I dont know why its being so difficult! :)

tlittle1982 - 15 days ago
Dragonsoccermom, Thank you! I loved my homebirth!!! I went into labor on wednesday but it wasnt full blown labor till thursday night... when the contractions got bad we called my doula and midwife. My Doula helped me so much with relaxing and breathing through contractions. It was a night and day difference! I think everyone should have a doula! :) then I started to feel a little pushy so I got in the pool. I wasnt in the pool 20 minutes and my pushing got way more intense. I felt her head and pushed 4 more times and she was out. I couldnt believe how fast it was! My midwife told me she hadnt seen a first time mom give birth that fast in 17 years. lol :) I was happy though! I'm so proud of myself. I did it all by myself! I feel like I can do anything in the world now!

ScarsMomma - 16 days ago
BTW I swelled up so bad after my legs looked like tree trunks I'm still swollen from the IV's and the pit. I wish I could have had a water birth but my body forgot how to woman :(

ScarsMomma - 16 days ago
Letitbe- I'm roflmao at you. Your such a trooper. I wish mine went that fast. I was begging for the epi too after 24 hours of contractions from everything they could shove in me. I was not dialating at all till the pit. 36.5 hours I gave birth to Scarlet Rose DeRidder at 7lbs 13oz 20 inches long. May 1st at 8:38pm. Now I have all may babies. I wonder how juciey is

blondiemom84 - 18 days ago
Tlittle...we gave birth the same day to girls!!! Congrats!! I had a water birth in the hospital with my 2 year old and it was amazing. I want to do it at home next time!!!

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 19 days ago
Tlittle- they were looking for you! So glad to hear you a your family are well! Congrats! Seems there are alot of home births planned this go round. I had no idea they were so popular. Please share more about your experience. I'm intrigued by it. (although I would NEVER)

tlittle1982 - 19 days ago
I just wanted to share our surprise sex baby was born on 4-26-13 :) And was a girl! Her name is Kathy Joy Rutt (named after my mother and Boyfriends grandmother) I had a wonderful homebirth in water and it was the most amazing experience of my life! Nothing will ever compare <3

tlittle1982 - 19 days ago
Wow I havent been on in a while. Looks like a bunch of us had our babies. :) Congratulations to everyone!

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 19 days ago
I get that stuff at the dentist. It doesn't work!

letitbe - 19 days ago
Congrats blondie! little monkey flipping over, but glad she is happy and healthy :D. Gas and air is basically laughing gas, nitrous oxide, it just makes you a bit waffy and makes contractions a bit more bearable.. well.. that's the idea lol

blondiemom84 - 20 days ago
Well ladies, sorry Ive been mia for so long but i feel ive been hit by a mack truck. Our little Grace Emily arrived on April 26th, 9 days past her due date via c-section. It all began the morning of the 24th when we went in for our scheduled induction and to everyones surprise she had turned breech!!! So we scheduled the c-section for the next morning of the 25th. We went home and I tried everything to turn that little girl. I guess the trick is to get on all fours and put your butt up in the air and babys will sometimes flip over. So I tried that and bounced on my ball and when we went in that next morning she had turned AGAIN!!! So instead of going ahead with our c-section, we decide to go to another facility where they would try and manually turn the baby(my hospital wouldnt do it). So we went there and after that whole escapade(which hurts like bloody hell without an epidural by the way), had no luck because doc said she was too big since I was so overdue. So we left and went home and scheduled ANOTHER c-section which we did follow through with on the next day. And all went well and she arrived weighing 10lbs7oz. and 22 inches long!!!! It was all worth it because our little girl is perfect and healthy and we are all in love with her!! I hope i never have to do a c-section again though just because the healing time is way longer and with this many kids I need to heal fast!!!! So I definately plan on a v-bac next time around!! Id take labor over this any day. Hope all you new mommies are loving life as much as me right now!!

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 20 days ago
Letitbe- wow, so exciting! I am such a wuss. I hear you guys mentioning 'gas & air' all the time.... What is it? We don't have that here... I was starting to get worried about you. Juicy is in today & we're waiting to hear from her.

ShameegahW - 20 days ago
lol letitbe I come on here from time to time my baby is almost 7 months old but I have been following u guys for a few weeks! I think u hilarious I would have loved to have had a birth experience like the that:D congratulations!

letitbe - 20 days ago
Hi Ladies! Sorry for my absence! Iris Summer Baskcomb arrived 30th April at 16:06, 8lb 7 1/2 oz (they told me 8lb 6oz at first as they were working out conversions lol) 60cms long. Induction wise i had prostatin (i think) the pessary. That went in at 11am, period pain for an hour and mild building up to moderate contractions between 12 and 13:00. Rang hubby to come in because I was getting uncomfy and feeling like i wouldn't cope as when i was checked i was still two, she said it was pain from the medication and usually subsides a bit in intensity, went in the bath and breathed through contractions quite ok. Got out of the bath about two, found a spot outside to focus on and just said "there there there there" repeatedly through each contraction.. weirdly it helped so much lol. At about half 3 they'd started getting stronger and i was having to say ohhhhhhhh through them. Midwife came in and felt my stomach and said she didn't think that these were contractions and were probably head baring pains or the prostatin (i'm quite slim so you can feel my uterus easy) I was telling her that if these aren't contractions then i will never manage labour and i'm really sorry but i would not make it to ten and i would need an epidural, she thought i was panicing and was really trying to reassure me, next contraction i'm saying ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!! and she's looking at my face and says.. "i'm putting the monitor on" after the next contraction she says, i'm going to check you, checked me and i was four, bulging waters and going to 6 with the contractions. She called in her colleague they checked babies heartrate and said it was increasing and breaking my waters was the best thing. I'm saying "please can i have an epidural first i won't manage labour without", they said it really needed to be done now but they would call the anaesthetist and give me some gas and air to help until he got there. So here's me thinking omg 5 more hours at least and the pain will get worse than this when they break my water and i don't have an epidural! So they gave me the gas and air and i inhaled it whilst i had the contraction when they broke my water, next contraction came real quick and strong and i shouted "I need an epidural now!" at the start of the contraction followed by a huge "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" and shouted at the end of the contraction "I NEED TO PUSH NOW!" Another contraction started straight away and I shouted "aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" without taking a breath for what seemed an eternity. Through all this i can hear them shouting to get gloves on and i'm saying "why haven't you broke my waters yet and their saying "her head's out" I'm shouting "it can't be i'm not meant to have her til may 1st!" (my dad betted may 1st lol) Last contraction came straight away and she was born!! So just about 10 minutes before she was born they didn't even think i was in labour and the only pain relief i got was gas and air on the contraction when they broke my water (I didn't breath on the final three lmao!) Everyone was in total disbelief, it was absolutely insane but amazing. The midwives were great and i think i must've been an unusual specimen, they were so supportive the whole time though and just surprised that i dilated that quick i think. I am still a firm advocate of the epidural!!!

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 22 days ago
Oh letitbeeeeeeeeeee, come out come out wherever you are......

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 22 days ago
They are ALL perfect. :) juicy- excited & nervous for you as well. Most memorable life changing event ever. You're going to be fine. :) now, why the heck hasn't letitbe checked in? How rude to leave us waiting. Lol. J/k. You would think she's busy or something!

yvette89 - 22 days ago
I hated that bit when others cant tell your pregnant and movement can come and go. It can make u paranoid ! I love it. He doesnt sleep much through the night so having to nap in an afternoon. Dreading his dad going back to work next week. Be hes perfect :)

Juicyspice - 22 days ago
Thinking about you letitbe. Hope the labor is progressing quickly and smoothly.

Juicyspice - 22 days ago
Hi Ladies, tests today showed my fluids are getting low, so moving forward with induction on Thursday. 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced, so dilated another cm since last week. She did another membrane sweep so maybe, just maybe, things will start to happen on their own today or tomorrow.

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 22 days ago
How is life as a mum?

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 22 days ago
Actually, I wantEd it to drag in the beginning & I am in no hurry to get this baby out & add more chaos to my life. I am anxious to enjoy the next milestone. I'm at the fat, blubbery stage with slight inconsistent movements. They will 'confirm' the sex on 5/18

yvette89 - 22 days ago
Id tell u what everyone told me 'oh it will fly by' but it doesnt! It use to just annoy me. Hang in there!

Dragonsoccermom*teamBLUE* - 22 days ago
22.5 weeks.... *sigh*

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Members in week 41:

blackraven935 - 13 May 2013
irishgirl44 - 13 May 2013
KristynJ - 13 May 2013
symmanithia - 14 May 2013

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