39 weeks and nothing happening!

[volvocowgirl]

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow and so far I've had no Braxton hicks, no change to babies movements, no new pains or feelings, no signs that this baby is planning on leaving my over stretched uterus anytime at all!!

I've had an unrelated (to pregnancy) medical condition for a few months and need a few procedures after the birth so have been told I'll be induced if she's not made her appearance within the next 8 days.

So two questions really...

1. is it normal to not feel any different this late on and not have any 'signs'?
   
2. is being induced an okay experience?!!
   
   Thanx for your replies in advance

[Pinkbell123]

Just marking my place as I'm exactly the same as you - induction booked for 17th if baby's a no show. Have you had a sweep? Might be worth booking one. I had one Monday and lost my mucus plug but nothing else. I hope it's done a little bit though, I have another on Monday.

Good luck!

[Cariad007]

I'm 39 weeks tomorrow too, though I'm convinced the hospital got my dates wrong. I'll see what happened in the next couple of weeks but I'm determined to resist induction in favour of expectant management until 42 weeks.

[volvocowgirl]

No sweep. It's not even been mentioned as an option, might ask midwife at appt on Monday. Does it hurt?

Sorry if that's a bit naive - first baby, and all four antenatal courses I've been booked on have been cancelled! Read a lot but there's so much conflicting info - and then it always ends with saying each hospital trust area is different as to what's on offer.

[Cariad007]

Tbh I think a hospital suggesting an induction on the 17th when you're only due on the 15th is a bit premature unless there are some underlying problems. My hospital only suggests sweeps after 41 weeks but I'm even resistant to that as I've heard they can be painful. Unfortunately all my friends who've been induced have ended up with either c-sections or instrumental deliveries, both of which I want to avoid.

[Pinkbell123]

Well sometimes inductions are necessary for medical reasons which is why Volvo has said she's booked in for one. I have a serious autoimmune disease so it's balancing my health against wanting to let the baby come in its own time. I will have lasted til my due date which I think is pretty good.

Volvo - sweep itself didn't hurt but I did bleed a bit and have some period like pains after. It hopefully did something as I had a show so hopefully it's made me a bit more favourable. It's the first step in the induction process so might be worth trying to get one to give you a soft start so to speak. I just hope I go naturally in the next week. Fingers crossed.

[volvocowgirl]

I'm not booked in for one. I was just told I would be! I was told I wouldn't be allowed to go over my EDD by two different consultants (for my other medical problem) and I was changed to consultant led care for my pregnancy (just because of the other problem) but they haven't actually given me a date for anything else to be done. I've just got an appt with the midwife on Monday. Asked the community midwife last week and she said she didn't know what was going on and I'd be better off ringing the hospital, rang the hospital, they said to talk it through with midwife at the appt on Monday!

Hopefully babs will just make an appearance on her due date and i won't have to worry about no one seeming to know what's going on!

Thanx for the info about the sweep, Pinkbell123. Hope your little one decides to make an appearance soon too!

[volvocowgirl]

Well...

This weeks community midwife looked over my notes, rang a consultant, and booked me in on the 17th for a 'possible induction', she said I'd be examined first but to 'take my bags' as I'll probably 'have to stay in'.

I've not been offered a sweep or anything first, but she did tell me to have as much sex as possible this week as "SPERM IS THE SOLUTION to getting babies out!"