This is mostly a ranty post to get my frustration out but please feel free to give me some advice or perspective if you want 
I'm at 40+4 and had my bloody show 8 days ago, but still no labour. The midwife said it would be 'very very soon'. Before that, I was told at my 36 week appointment that the baby was fully engaged and in position and it would happen soon and to just hang on until 37 weeks so I could deliver in the birth centre (in retrospect: LOL). I've been excited and thinking 'any day now' since then :(
I've also had constant Braxton Hicks for weeks and three episodes of actually painful contractions in a pattern that went on for a few hours and then turned out to be nothing. I keep getting my hopes up and it turns out to be absolutely nothing.
I'm getting worried now as I need to spontaneously go into labour before 42 weeks to give birth at the birth centre but nothing has been happening since the bloody show. I really want to avoid induction or a labour ward birth if possible as I have serious issues with anxiety and feel I would find it harder to keep calm in the medicalised setting. I know it's not necessarily that bad but I don't really want to get into all my thoughts around it all at the moment.
It's also clear that none of the old wives' tales have any merit! I've used clary sage, a birthing ball and long walks since 38 weeks and sex, curries and pineapple (separately 
) since 39. I've been trying nipple stimulation since hitting 40 weeks as there's actually a bit of clinical evidence for that one but now I just have sore and chapped nipples! It's been hard to walk since 36 weeks due to the baby's position in the pelvis and PGP but I've been trying my best. I'm uncomfortable and can barely sleep as well :(
Midwife wouldn't do a sweep at 40 weeks but hopefully will give me one at 41.
Please feel free to share your stories or rant away!