39 weeks +4 days/ no labor

[shilan]

Hi everyone,

I am in week 40 and there is no sign of labor. I don't want to be induced. I am really worried. 🥲🥲

I was the same. Start walking, it really helped get things going.

I am walking almost 4km every day and do ball exercises, but nothing seems to help. 🥲🥲🥹🥹

My sister says to walk up and down the stairs sideways like a crab or walk with one foot on the pavement and one on the road she swears by it

Will do that, too. Hopefully it helps. 🥲
Thank you.

Assuming there’s no medical signs that baby isn’t happy you don’t have to have an induction the second you hit 40 weeks. You could also ask your midwife at your next check how favourable your cervix looks before you decide if you want a stretch and sweep?

You’ve got another week or so before there would be a discussion about inducing labour. Lots of women go quite a bit past their due date with no signs at all.

I was 40+2 before even the smallest sign, waters went at 40+4 and labour started 44 hours later. DS arrived at 40+6. I think I ate a lot of pineapple!

I might not even need any induction, but I am just worried and want to feel sure I won't be induced. On Sunday I will see my midwife and I am hoping she will say I am at least a bit dilated. 🥲🥲🥲

The hypnobirthing course I did said 85% of first babies come after 40 weeks (if I remembered rightly). There's really no reason to be worrying yet 😊

If it makes you feel any better I didn't go into labour until 40+6 and baby was born at 41 weeks exactly. Natural labour though so try not to worry too much!

Like PP said lots of walking (and lots of rest cause you never know how quickly things can go!)

Thank you everyone. Very helpful info. 🤩

How are you doing op, any signs?

Thx for asking. Still nothing. 🥹

Try not to worry, you have plenty of time! Is it your first?

My 2 friends swore by walking up a hill at a fast pace to get things going. Said that they both went into labour within 24 hours. I did the same thing and my waters went the next morning. I believe that baby's come when they are ready but it felt good doing something to try and get things going

Have you tried colostrum harvesting/ nipple stimulation? I'm convinced it is what brought on my labour for DD at 38w (i was not prepared in anyway).

Yes to harvesting colostrum. It’s the only thing that you will be recommended not to do before 37w - because it can bring on labour.

Yes it is my first baby. A girl.

There is no hill close to me to walk up. 🥲

I did everything today. Steps, crab walk, ball exercises, squats, pineapple, date and etc. probably the last step is this nipple stimulation. 😐

This! Good luck OP

Sometimes they just don't want to come. I did colostrum harvesting from 36 weeks, had a breast pump attached once or twice a day from 40 weeks, walked up and down hills, stairs, kerbs, sideways, had sex, are curries, pineapples, a fuck ton of dates.

Nothing. Not one little niggle. He was forcibly removed 2 weeks over, so will see what happens this time around!

I did this for the last couple of weeks of my pregnancy, DH found it hilarious! I got to 41w and was utterly miserable, then DH promised the bump he'd buy them a crab if he or she arrived by the end of the weekend. Labour started that night and baby was born at 41+1! And yes, DH was true to his promise and bought baby a cuddly crab 😂

In my area they book inductions in at 40+13 so you’d have ages.

I had them booked in with both of mine and then went into labour on my own the night before.

I was overdue with both of my children and the strange thing is, I started going into labour with both of them at 41 weeks exactly and in the evening.
Ds arrived at 41+3
Dd arrived at 41+1
Neither had to be induced but ds was a 3 day labour.

I tried all of it, sex, spicy food, pineapple, walks... the only thing I can actually say worked was surrendering to what will be will be, accepting that I could be induced at some point and just going with the flow. I think that mindset helped me to relax and that possibly helped labour to start.

Don’t worry about being induced. If there’s still no sign of labour at 41+4 weeks you won’t care any more and will just want to meet your baby!
You can also refuse induction and opt for a C section if you’d prefer that.

I was worried about being induced for ds2. I found the below really helpful, had it written in my phone as I always forget to ask things when I'm in with the midwife:

Why do you feel I need to be induced?
Am I or my baby in imminent danger?
Specific benefits of induction in my case?
And the risks?
What percentage of women in this hospital who are induced go on to have caesarean or instrumental delivery?
What kind of monitoring? And how can you adapt it so I can move around?
Choices of induction?
Alternatives?
Can I have a think about it for a couple of days?

Thank you everyone. Amazing help and support here. ❤️