When your baby is overdue

Your expected due date has come and gone, and still no baby. Three mums talk about what happened when their babies were overdue.

HIS SKIN WAS RED AND FLAKY

My waters were broken when I was 10 days overdue as my doctor was concerned about my rising blood pressure.

I had a forceps delivery and there was a full medical team on standby to whisk Benjamin away to check his airways and make sure he hadn’t swallowed any meconium.

Because he was late, his skin was very dry, red and flaky, but otherwise he was absolutely perfect.’

Zara is mum to Benjamin, 13 months

A SCAN SHOWED HE WAS BREECH

At 41 weeks, it was discovered I had pre-eclampsia, but regular monitoring showed that my baby wasn't in distress.

However, a scan revealed he was breech and his bottom was engaged, not his head! As my blood pressure was also rising, it became urgent to get the baby out, and the safest way was by Caesarean.

After Jack was born, I was shown the placenta. It looked old and was starting to crumble away.

Jo is mum to Jack, six months

HIS HEAD WAS STILL VERY HIGH UP

When I was 14 days late, I was given a pessary to induce labour, but it didn’t work. The next day I was given a double dose and my contractions started.

As my baby’s head was still very high up, I had an epidural because it was going to be a long labour. The second stage lasted two hours and I had an episiotomy.

Damon’s finger and toenails were quite long, but he still had a good covering of vernix.

Vicky is mum to Damon, five months