Getting fed up now its 40 + 3days and no sign of baby had one stretch and sweep...

[Scruffyhound]

Im 40 + 3 days and had one stretch and sweep due to have another on Tuesday. Tried everything to bring this on. My son was oveedue by about 3 days. I was born on the 11th he was born on the 11th so Im hoping this one is born on the 11th!! (Tommorow) But then also tommorow is the day my DP mum gave birth and she lost her baby a day later due to problems.
All that a side im fed up of contractions coming and going twinges and just general lack of sleep due to contractions in the night. There must be something that I can do?! I was hoping the stretch and sweep would not have to happen on Tues. The one last week seemed to work loads of cramps and got worse thought I was off to hospital but then no it subsided. Getting annoyed with people texting messaging "any news?" I know there are just excited but really I feel pressured to get this baby out!!!!

Hello sleepywombat I have had a pineapple a day for a week had curry (I cant do sex!!) and so far nothing!! Just fed up as keep getting contractions and my DP does not know what to do. I was up at 1am with contractions rang the labour ward only to be told to get some rest and take a paracetamol. I was like WTF!!!! Hes now taken another day off work and I feel bad for all the running up and down he is doing and each time he takes time off there is no baby!!! Its getting frustrating and Im sure people think yeh right she thinks she is going into labour?! I dont know when its going to happen! I cant help it I only feel what I feel. Its making me very peed off!!! I will try another pineapple or 3 I think! Thanks for your reply

Hi I'm the same as you then, my baby was due on the 9th and still isn't here!
I've eaten pineapples, curries, chilli's and even had sex last night lol! Went for a long walk on friday, saturday and sunday too!
Poor hubby is constantly asking me if anything is happening and is now working from home.

Hope your baby comes soon xx

A normal pregnancy is 37-42 weeks so you're not even overdue. I know it's not what you want to hear but 'due dates' add so much pressure when realistically you could go another 2 weeks and still be within normal gestation.

None of the old wives tales have ever been shown to work, as you've found. The pineapple thing for example. To replicate the enzyme you want, you'd have to eat 8 pineapples at least in one sitting, including leaves and peel. You physically can't do it. And for every 1 that coincidentally ate pineapple and went into labour immediately, I can find you hundreds that ate a pineapple and didn't. It's coincidence.

The start of labour is a chemical thing between you and your baby and happens when your body is ready. You can't force it short of chemical induction and you really wouldn't want to.

I know it's miserable but really the only way through it is to spend these last few days doing whatever makes you even remotely happy.

nipple tweaking (half an hour at least of it)
go for a walk (good for position too)
sex. (if you can get in the mood whilst having contx!)

This probably isn't helpful but I am now 40+9 and think I'm going to need a stick of dynamite! Tried all the old wives tales, nothing! Been for 2 sweeps but mw couldn't do them either time. First time baby's head wasn't engaged enough, this morning my cervix was posterior so mw couldn't reach it. No contractions at all. Can't see baby coming anytime soon x

Noooooo. Don't sit around tweaking on your nipples unless you want to.

Honestly, nothing has every been shown to work. It might make you feel better to try but walking miles and twiddling your nipples might just make you sore and tired. Do it if you wish but not under the illusion that it will help.

Sit. Bath. Cake. Tea. Telly. Chocolate. Those sorts of things.

I think there is something to be said for staying active- ie, slouching on the sofa and eating cake, as appealing as it may be- isn't really going to help put pressure on the cervix, get baby into a good position for birth and help baby to engage etc...

Maybe try and find a balance- rest up when you feel the need, but go for a gentle walk, some bouncing on the birth ball or a gentle swim also [all these things will get your body moving and hopefully encourage your baby to make an appearance soon!!]

Good-luck...

Am SOH, but have namechanged...

I think you do what you want. Most people won't want to be idle entirely but I was merely advising against long walks, sex and bouncing around when really your body's screaming to sit down for a bit. Because, if you're doing it all in the pursuit of inducing labour, it will not work. You should always listen to your body or you end up exhausted and sore and having to labour through it. You do what you want.

When pregnant with dd, I was so set on a homebirth that I did everything to get dd into a good position. I walked plenty, swam, was upright (no slouching) etc etc. DD engaged nice and early, pregnancy was trouble free. I had a terribly traumatic labour with a severely malpositioned baby and emergency surgery. I suffered ptsd and was so convinced I had done something wrong or failed that when I finally sought help, a birth trauma specialist (who is now my named obstetric consultant) very firmly assured me that all the gentle positioning in the world sometimes doesn't counteract luck and that he saw it every day, women convinced that they didn't do enough, didn't read enough, didn't do enough towards the end and it was their fault their babies were late/induced/malpositioned. He said he was all for gently encouraging babies and bodies to work in harmony but that somewhere along the way not listening to our bodies became accepted in the pursuit of the 'ideal'. When ideal is what's right for you.

I now view labour as something I can work towards and gently encourage to be the way I would like. But I learnt the hard way that it's not something I have full control over.

Well some serious messages there!! Suppose was hoping for some good or funny stories?! I know an EDD is just that and that the scans can be out as well. I could only be 39 weeks I dont know but when your given an EDD and stupid me have told people its sometimes the people who keep ringing and texting and asking all the time that get on your nerves!! As for DP he off today I did not ask him but seen as we were up till about 4am not sure what to do last night as they were resonable contractions we were up quite a while. hes getting fed up of going into work then coming back sometimes we have had 3 false alarms now. its not so much me waiting for baby to come out but other people and DP. They get like anything happening? I would say if something was. But from thier point of view they cant do much I suppose. And this time around its different as I have to sort childcare out for my 5 yr old son. So I dont want to be going to hospital unless I need/have to.
I think the point about walking and pineapples and stuff not working maybe they dont but at least people are trying something. I have just been out for a walk with DP and the dog (scruffyhound or Sasha) it was nice to get out in the fresh air and have soomeone there just in case anything happens. I spoke to my midwife and she advised a walk it does not have to be a hike!! I just went to the local park since I have been come back and sat down Im having mild contractions so Im not sure? I also had them after walking around the garden center on Saturday with my mum. So each time I walk then rest I do have something happening. Could be it was going to happen anyways?

I think going for a walk is just a nice thing to do anyway. And getting on with things and enjoying the sunshine is pleasant.

Sorry I was so serious. It drove me potty, the constant ringing and texting, like I wouldn't tell them if it had happened. Or like I could control it or something. You just don't need that pressure. I'm 17wks with dc2 and have told people I'm due 'in September'. I refuse to be more specific because I'm not having the ringing/texting again.

I'll tell you how I went into labour if you want to try it? I was sitting on the sofa eating chilli and watching Kill Bill. The cat was curled up on my feet. My waters popped. The dog might do as a substitute.

Hi, you're not overdue until 42 weeks, and then even if a baby is born at 43 weeks I think its statistically safer than having babe at 37 weeks. Just a thought about sweeps though, you can't push your body into a labour that its not ready for, so unless you're lucky that the sweep coincided with you being about to start anyway either nothing will happen or you'll get days of uncomfortable niggles, they're also a great way of introducing infection. I really sympathise with you, I was 40+11 with dc3 and the silly comments drove me to distraction, this time round I've told everybody my 42 week date is my due date! Hope you see your baby soon, its always worth the wait in the end isn't it.

Ha ha would love the dog in my lap! Think that would deffo bring on labour she is a greyhound/wolfhound! Think maybe if she sat on me the baby would shoot out like toothpaste!! Ha ha. Same as you have said though baby will come whne it comes I get that think sometimes you can read too much stuff and with this baby being the 2nd and you hear people saying owww the 2nd one comes quicker and wontn be long now. Also with first DS he was only 3 days over so I suppose its a bit of a shock really when nowt has happened! But each one is different and best to look at it that way me thinks! I dont remember getting texts and stuff with DS as I was in hospital for 1 week before he came I dont know why I was kept in but hey there you go only have an underactive thyroid so maybe the ex husband got all the messages so I did not notice it?! where as this time its every hour or so!! DP is excited its his first and think people were thinking today as Im the 11th my DS is the 11th so they think oooww baby MUST be the 11th. Also today is the day my DP's sister should of been 18. She sadly passed away at a day old. So I think DP's mum is kinda hoping today as well so as it makes today a happy day not a sad one if that makes sense?!

Sorry repeated my self there, labour cant be far away Im going nuts!!! He he