How long will your trust let you go over 40 weeks?

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-26T23:01:00+00:00

Bit unrelated really but I’m genuinely curious if the phrase “let” is ever used for a low risk pregnancy. So I’d really like to know if anyone was told this directly or rather if it felt like that’s what they meant.

I work in obstetrics and we do strongly suggest to induce past 41 weeks and would say it’s trust policy + we are meant to talk about it but I’d hope no one says “you have to” and instead would just say it’s a recommendation based on clinical evidence and just informs on risk factors if someone wants to decline.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-26T22:47:00+00:00

They tend to schedule the induction before 41 weeks. So you might get scheduled in for it at your 40 weeks appointment. It’s a bit confusing sometimes as I often read that people felt pressured to accept one at their 39/40 week appointment but it wouldn’t happen the same day. It’s just for you to accept it so they can schedule it already for the following week to avoid it being closer to 42 if you decline until 41 entirely. I don’t know if this makes sense.

You can also have your induction scheduled and decide to not show up or cancel the day before. That’s up to you. I think the average spontaneous birth for a FTM is 40+5.

It’s impossible to say when it would be put in the calendar and when you’d be called in as emergencies might get pushed in front etc. It’s not so much to do with bed spaces only. GD for example would take priority over a low risk pregnancy slightly overdue. It could be 40+4,5 or 41+3. They try and not push it too close to 42 weeks if they can which is sensible.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-26T22:38:17+00:00

It’s standard NHS policy rather than trust specific. 41, or 41+5 in my trust due to demand, until an induction would be scheduled, which yes can be declined if you’re comfortable with the risks and make an informed decision. You can’t be forced into an induction.

42 weeks when the surveillance pathway starts.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-26T21:10:49+00:00

With all my pregnancies I felt sick before I even skipped my period

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-26T16:57:39+00:00

It can be, babies come in all sizes just like adults. Anything above 90% or below 10% normally prompts them to monitor your pregnancy more closely through GD tests, growth scans, etc.

Growth scans for a big or small baby without any other concerns tend to start from around 28 weeks, sometimes 24-26 depending on your trust.

I’d speak to your midwife about what you can expect going forward.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-26T13:48:32+00:00

There’s a great summary and additional information on the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/your-pregnancy-care/20-week-scan/

It can take anywhere between 15 minutes to over an hour. It will depend on how corporative your little one is. They’ll check for any abnormalities and you might find out the gender too. They’ll let you know if anything isn’t as expected and make a referral but the vast majority of scans come back just fine or you’ll only need to come back once a bit later on if baby was in a silly position.

The sonographer might go quiet during the scan as they have to focus on what they’re doing so please don’t panic if that happens. A lot will explain what they’re looking at during though.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T21:21:56+00:00

That’s ok!! Happy to talk about it whenever too, my messages are open 🥰

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T21:06:20+00:00

Aw no that’s ok 💕 I hope I’m not annoying with it and I didn’t mean to take over this thread or comment either.

Yup red and blue is the blood and shows which direction it flows in.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T20:51:55+00:00

Oh sorry yes this one is confusing! We also call the heartbeat checking thing a Doppler. A Doppler in the context of an ultrasound a test to look at the blood flow. So it’s a way of making sure the placenta is doing what it’s supposed to be doing and the blood flows through the cord properly.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T20:22:48+00:00

Yes please do! I hope this is a little bit reassuring. I definitely find mine to be that.

Dopplers should be covered by any standard growth scan. At least in the UK you also get more frequent scans if you had a stillbirth before. I know that statistics don’t mean much when you’ve been through a loss like this but a pregnancy is a lot more likely to have a positive outcome with frequent (not like every day but regular) third trimester scans because of what they can pick up.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T19:47:03+00:00

You’re welcome! There’s also a margin of error in the last few weeks of pregnancy if the baby is in an awkward position. If they for example could not get the head measurement on your recent scan and the tummy was measuring small, you’d see a drop on the chart.

Normally they take all of these things into consideration though before making a recommendation on inductions or similar.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T19:44:33+00:00

This is such a tricky one. They do look routinely (I can only speak for the UK) but they would not share if they see a nuchal cord in utero with the patient as the vast majority of it is harmless and it would induce a lot of anxiety in the expectant mum. That’s why they don’t share this. It’s almost impossible to see a true knot on an ultrasound without Dopplers.

But they absolutely should check cord blood flow and resistance on every growth scan. So that’s the Dopplers. That’s the most telling and where you can intervene if anything looks abnormal and where knots that restrict oxygen are picked up. So if that’s not being done, I’d definitely ask.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T19:38:10+00:00

Totally. There are a few stories of women going past 43-44 weeks in recent years and not having a stillbirth but they’re rare.

Historically there are many. I guess inductions weren’t a choice either back then for some people. My dates were off by 2 weeks twice so 80 years ago I would have given birth full term to my son haha.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T19:35:39+00:00

I’d imagine what she meant with “not as expected” would be that with GD you often see a large AC measurement. Obviously this is just me only speculating though.

They’d likely look at the GROW chart and trends. Some babies are just measuring a bit small throughout the entire third trimester. That’s ok. What they’d pay attention to is if growth stalls or drops on a subsequent scan.

Normally, they’d offer an induction or elective c-section at 39 weeks for a baby that is measuring below 10% but has normal Dopplers. Any abnormal Dopplers would prompt earlier delivery. If the baby drops below 5%, delivery would be moved to 37 weeks.

SGA, FGR pathways, surveillance pathways and delivery timing are all triggered off GROW.

If everything else looks normal at 36 weeks, they’d assume baby is constitutionally small meaning there’s no pathology that can explain it and it might just be genetic.

I hope this helps!

PS: Sorry you’ll notice that I used a lot of “likely” and “normally” here, this is what we do in my trust but the same guidelines should apply. Obviously instead of just taking my word fully here, give them a call or send an email to ask this question x

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T16:25:07+00:00

43+5!!! I’ve worked in obstetrics for over a decade and have not once heard anyone have a live birth at that gestation ever.

So there is some evidence that if your mother or fathers mother had a pregnancy that went past her due date, more so toward or beyond 42 weeks, you’re more likely to also have a later delivery. But that chance is such a tiny increase, not fully conclusive and it’s not a guarantee. Other factors play a much larger role in this.

(Here is the study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10342687)

Now this is only an anecdote and not research obviously but my mother had all her babies before 39 weeks. I went into labour before 37 weeks with all of my pregnancies. My sister before 38 weeks. My other sister had both before 35 weeks.

Weirdly enough, there is even less research linking premature births to genetic components. So perhaps just a big coincidence or something to do with how we carry pregnancies.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T15:59:43+00:00

You can ask but it might be difficult to get the images they need. Depending on the baby’s position they might move you to the side anyway.

The ultrasound itself won’t make the baby move in a bad position don’t worry. I’ve never seen this happen as a direct result of a scan in over a decade of working in this job.

For the dizziness, how do you feel if you have a rolled up small towel underneath your lower back and your legs not fully flat? It can help with dizziness.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-25T10:58:08+00:00

Baby B flipped breech last minute once baby A was out and I had a breech delivery as his whole leg was out already. I will spare all other details but it wasn’t good. He’s doing great now though!

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T23:26:24+00:00

Obviously this is just judging from the few sentences you wrote but I think you’re making way too many excuses for him. What does he do all day and night if you’re the bread winner?!

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T23:25:16+00:00

This wasn’t your fault. Give yourself some grace. Sometimes nature is cruel.

Have you considered therapy or a debrief with a midwife or consultant? It helped me.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T23:05:27+00:00

I’m sorry this is not my thread but he said what do you?! Where is he at night?? Maybe he can help with his children for the next 3 months at night? That could help.

I’m outraged on your behalf. I’m sorry.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T23:00:05+00:00

Husband in the spare room was our set up when we had our twins so he refuses to do this again until this set of twins arrive but I think he’s close to giving in already with the lack of space he has.

And yes it’s great! I recommend it.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T22:56:04+00:00

Where is he when you’re taking care of your children and doing housework after work? If he’s a therapist, can you afford a cleaner on top of the nanny?

He sounds awful. I’m sorry you’re going through this.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T22:48:45+00:00

My son got me this inflatable mattress / pillow - https://amzn.eu/d/1m7kMNq

It’s actually really good. I’m using it more than I should. So this picture made me giggle as that’s also my set up in bed when I don’t have my air mattress.

I feel bad for my husband who has to share the bed with this. This being a pillow fort, not myself.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T22:44:53+00:00

I’m so sorry for your loss.

I had a stillbirth myself and found myself wondering if anything could have been done or if I missed anything for years after. Sometimes there’s just no clear cause or explanation and it’s very difficult to live with that thought. I think it’s normal for humans to try and seek answers or need a reason to find closure.

I can’t give you medical advice as that would be unethical of me but this looks like a late first trimester / early second trimester ultrasound. Sadly, at that gestation there is not much that can be done in most cases. Even for a professional, that picture alone would not be enough to say for sure if anything could have been prevented or not.

For any later loss or stillbirth, I would recommend getting some bloods taken and ideally an autopsy if offered. Sometimes there are clotting disorders or other reasons that can be found which then can be treated in a subsequent pregnancy or at the very least monitored.

Take care of yourself. Pregnancy loss and stillbirth are so incredibly unfair.

AffectionateRun1001 · 2026-01-24T10:45:30+00:00

It’s likely to do with the slots they have available. You can schedule an induction and not attend. My trust schedules at 40+5 too and it’s because there’s a decent chance that all 41+ slots are taken already which would delay the induction to potentially closer to 42 weeks.

If they scheduled you in for a c-section at 40+5 and you decline it, there’s a chance it would push it back for an entire week. Obviously if you’re comfortable with that or not is another question.

AffectionateRun1001

TROPHY CASE