Can I just say I'm fucking fucked off.

[Badgerina]

I'm 40+11 have had my 2nd sweep and FUCK ALL IS HAPPENING.

This will be my 2nd baby. At this point in my previous pregnancy my waters had gone and I was having contractions. All I'm getting right now is gross mucous, pelvic pressure and the occasional PATHETIC cramp.

I REALLY want a home birth and have so far been able to stay zen-like and serene about all this. However after tramping around London with DH today in an attempt to nudge things along after the sweep, and NOTHING happening, I am feeling fucking ANGRY and DYSFUNCTIONAL. HELP.

[Dorisday13]

have faith x

[NimChimpsky]

Oh you're having a baby. How lovely.

I know that doesn't help at all but congratulations. It's going to be marvellous. Seeing your big one meet your little one. Ohhhhhhhh.

[getoffthecoffeetable]

Have you tried reflexology to bring it on. Tis very good.
Good luck with the birth - which won't be long!

[cbeebiesatemybrain]

This was me a few months ago, I finally went into labour at +12 and had a lovely homebirth. My second labour started exactly as you are describing things now but I didn't realise for ages as it wasn't as painful as my first.

It's no wonder you're fucked off, being overdue sucks balls but have faith

[golemmings]

This time last year I was 40+11 too. Had induction booked for 11.30 in the morning of 40+14. Took myself on at 10 that morning at 4cm. Nothing like cutting it fine!
I assume you've tried curry, pineapple, raspberry leaf tea and sex?
Hang in there. Dc will be here soon enough. It's bloody hard though.

[Limelight]

It's a pain in the arse frankly. I have a huge amount of sympathy and understand completely!! I was induced in the end. Mostly I was annoyed because my first DC was on time and everyone always bloody tells you that first babies are always late, not sodding second ones.

Chin up my love. Have faith and go for a waddle round the block. And have an actual rather than a metaphorical biscuit . In fact, have two

[NimChimpsky]

I'd advise doing whatever helps even remotely to help you feel relaxed and comfortable. None of the old wives tales work, pineapple, curry, sex etc (in fact I'm not sure when raspberry leaf tea started being lumped in with them, it's a uterine tonic meant to make your 2nd stage more efficient) and a lot of them make you exhausted or indigestion ridden. And as they don't work, what you end up doing is making yourself feel even more demoralised. As you're finding out, babies come when they're ready and some babies are ready later. You're not technically overdue yet, your baby's just finishing off. Possibly sleeping a lot in readiness for, er, not doing so once here.

Best of luck. Nobody can push you into an induction or start making decisions for you. Congratulations again. Best of luck.

[Badgerina]

Thank you women. It's good to read some similar experiences and empathetic advice. I'm currently wallowing in a Clary Sage and Lavender bath

[imustbepatient]

You have my complete sympathy and I'm crossing my fingers that you get the home birth you are hoping for. Best of luck and hang in there!

[YoullLaughAboutItOneDay]

I didn't quite get to your point, but I was +8 with DD2, and that was later than DD1. So I feel your pain.

I had a 'failed' sweep. MW couldn't even reach my cervix. DD2 arrived 36 hours later. In labour 24 hours later. Try and keep positive - you could still have a baby by tomorrow morning!

[Rockchick1984]

If still no sign of anything, I swear nipple stimulation worked for me - sat watching a film tweaking them the whole time about 12 hours before I went into labour bloody painful though :)

[blooblies]

It took 3 sweeps and 16 days for my no. 2 to arrive, and like you got lots of mucus after the 1st 2 but nothing else. The 3rd one was done by a registrar and was very thorough. I got contractions overnight after that. For 3 nights. Then labour. Where babies are concerned, patience is a virtue and they Shall Not Be Hurried. Is there a deadline for your HB?

[Badgerina]

blooblies My trust has a policy of recommending going in to hospital after 42 weeks, but my caseload midwife team have said its my call. I live VERY close to St Thomas' Hospital, so am happy to stay at home.

[blooblies]

Even better. No deadline = no worries. Other than hormones. Which are deadly in themselves. 41+3 here (according to scan, which consultant says she 'has' to go by) and still waiting. Got a cramp tonight which is the first good sign. But given #2's performance, not anything to get excited about yet.

[Badgerina]

Good luck to you! Hope both our babies decide to come and meet us soon

[Iggly]

How accurate are your dates?

[Flisspaps]

Everything that NimChimpsky says, with bells on.

[discrete]

sex always did it for me

[margerykemp]

If you are very stressed your body will not go into labour because it will think you are in danger.

Try to relax. Are your dates definitely correct?

[Badgerina]

I think I'm beginning to recapture some zen. I'm going by scan dates, which give me 3 days longer than my dates IYSWIM. My dates are based on LMP only, not OV.

[PollyIndia]

Good luck badgerina and blooblies. I am 8 days over, know my dates are right (LMP matches scan) but as mum went to 42 weeks with me and sis, I think maybe we just need a bit longer to grow a baby. So I want to try and wait as long as baby is healthy rather than go for induction.

Anyway, hope you both go naturally very shortly xx

[blooblies]

All cramps gone as predicted once I lay down and baby popped out of my pelvis And as Badgerina gained her zen I lost mine. I was SO grumpy last night, not helped by the news from a friend of a refused induction resulting in a stillbirth for one of her mates last week. Utterly tragic but absolutely not what I needed to hear having made my peace with my decision. Struggling to regain my chilled composure. And it's a manky day today.

[PollyIndia]

Oh god, that is awful blooblies. What a terrible thing. And as you say, not really what any of us want to hear right now. That poor girl.

This bit is bloody hard. It has surprised me how hard. I am feeling a bit fed up today I have to say. Obviously I know the baby will come, but it's hard to see how or when at the moment. And yes, the weather does not help.

I have the midwife coming in an hour or so. Baby has been quiet today and yesterday - it's moved but not as much. So am looking forward to hearing the heartbeat. I suppose you really need to be vigilant on movement post 41 weeks...

[Badgerina]

Yes definitely count the kicks and be mindful of your baby's "daily timetable".

Bear in mind that complications in post dates pregnancy are more likely with babies who have congenital conditions and low expected birth weight.

[blooblies]

Mine has days, especially if I have a full bowel or lots of tightenings, where it doesn't appear to move a muscle until the kids go to bed. Then has a scrummage. But some days even that is half hearted. Then like yesterday and today it has very active days. So hard.