going past your "due date"

There has been a lot of debate about how long a provider will "allow" the mom to stay pregnant. Fact of the matter is, every woman, every baby is different. For the same reason some babies come at 38 weeks, some might need to stay in their first home for 42 weeks.

It is very common for mom to be impatient and feel as if she has been and will be pregnant forever. But really, no one will be pregnant forever. Try to cherish your final days of being pregnant. Use this time to relax, sleep, and pamper yourself. Get a massage, go for a walk, read a book and if you are having trouble sleeping, drink a nice warm mug full of chamomile tea before bed time. Snuggle with and make love to your partner. Stay positive and open. Your baby WILL be born soon!

If you are thinking about induction because you are sick of being pregnant, consider the following:
-Being induced is a medical procedure
-As soon as your induced with prostaglandins or synthetic oxytocin (aka Pitocin), you are going to be monitored closely which means you will be at the hospital, with machines dictating your status and progress
-Research has shown that induction increases your chances of have a C-Section

Unless there is a REAL medical reason to be induced, try to avoid it. If your doctor suggests induction, ask why. Do your research and follow the BRAN model of intervention by asking:

-What are the BENEFITS
-What are the RISKS
-What are the ALTERNATIVES
-What if we do NOTHING