I just stumbled on this blog - very late I know - but after reading all the posts about being “over due” I just had to clear this up: normal pregnancy lasts from 37 to 42 weeks of pregnancy. “Over due” is more than 42 completed weeks of pregnancy. Even then I would be skeptical unless you’re 100% sure of your date of conception, especially if the pregnancy was dated using ultrasound — notoriously off by up to +/- 3 weeks!

Greetings from Alberta, Canada

We use Shonda Parker’s StartUp formula. We never use it unless we want the baby to come out now. It is a stimulant, so the heart concern (with high blood pressure) is a valid one. I’ll have to leave it up to you to compare to Polly Jean as I have never looked at that one. We also used Red Rasberry tea to ripen the cervix–definitely no danger at all with that. Shonda has some other formulas that are very helpful with births as well. ContractEaze is a must-have to greatly reduce the pain of the intense contractions after birth (uterus collapsing). Placenta-Out is also extremely effective–we always wait for the placenta to birth on its own as pulling it out causes damage to the uterus as well as extra bleeding. I hope this information is helpful to you.

I was not aware of this convention, but I’ll look into it. Your family could stay in one of our vacation rentals while there–we are just over an hour from Kissimmee.

Bye for now,
Jesse

With the baby born after this I also used the 5-W. She was stillborn, just 5 days after beginning this. I did not know I had high blood pressure. The cohoshes should not be taken if you have high blood pressure. Cohoshes should be used to start labor and get it going more - not earlier. I had a placenta abruption. I was on my way to taking another daughter for a doctor’s visit, thankfully, right next to the hospital. Had I not been that close to the hospital, I would not have lived either. I thought I was having normal contractions on the way to the office. Once I got in the office, I suddenly began to hemmorhage.

This was over 8 years ago, and I have since learned of other women who have also had problems with the 5-W including the loss of a little one as well. I have heard of other women having bad cramps, and when they stopped taking the 5-W, it stopped.

I am not at all familiar with the Polly Jean formula, but seeing the 5-W mentioned here, felt the need to give a warning with it. With any herbs and/or medicines, check up on them - know what they do. Watch your body. You may react differently. Most of all be prayerful. God has the day appointed for little ones to be born - with or without the 5-W!

So funny you mention your baby being born on Christmas and you least expect it.
My fourth baby was just born this past year on October 31st. He was a week late. None of mine have ever been that late. The Lord KNEW his appointed time. So hard to remember in those last weeks, though.

I had to pipe up because you failed to alienate me (male readership). This is a great subject and one that is dear to my heart. Cindy and I are having our fifth child late summer! I delivered all 4 four so far (2 at home) and am looking forward to more. Children are indeed a blessing from the Lord! All of our births have been pitocin-free thanks to blue and black cohash. Our son Isaiah was considered to be 5 weeks late (hence I had to deliver him in the hospital). We would not take Pitocin, the fundal (sp?) height was 39 cm. Cohash got the birth going. After the birth they said he was actually 1 week early. Let me know if you want the info on how to get what we used.

I am so happy for you on your upcoming birth. My family will be praying for you that your birth goes well…and pitocin-free :-).

Jesse