39 weeks & NO SIGN OF LABOUR!!

[pinkrosexxoxxx]

The title says it all... I am 39 weeks and showing absolutely no sign of labour ! Really concerned I am going to go overdue and have to be induced as I really wanted as natural a birth as possible. Is there still a chance I could go into labour naturally by next week or should I prepare to go overdue ? what are other people's experiences ?

I went into labour naturally at 40+10 and 40+9. Definitely no signs at 39 weeks with either of them. You can still have a natural labour and birth if you go overdue, most NHS trusts don't induce until you are 12-14 days over. Plenty of time left!

I gave birth at 40+6 and 40+4, both naturally and had no sign of labour at 39 weeks. Don't worry just yet OP.

Ime most people go 'overdue'. 40 weeks is a rough guideline, not a limit. I have three DC and every one of them was over 40 weeks, by varying amounts. Not one was induced due to going overdue- induction is offered but it's entirely up to you if you accept it or choose to wait (in which case you should be offered routine scans/monitoring according to NICE guidelines)

40 weeks is the middle of the due date period you can be a couple of weeks before it or a couple of weeks after it as no one knows exactly when conception occurred.

Loads of time for it to happen yet x

I had my baby at 39+6. On 39+5 I had exactly zero signs that anything was going to happen soon.

I had mine at 40+3 and 40+10 and no signs with either until about half an hour before labour started. (Show followed immediately by contractions with both).

Try to enjoy your time. Your baby is currently quiet, at the right temperature, "fed" and happy. You could read a book or watch a whole film! Make the most of it!

You are not considered overdue until 42 weeks. Anything from 37_42 weeks is called as term. Prior to that is premature and 42 and above is overdue.

If you want a natural delivery then you would honestly be better off trying to avoid induction. This is statistically more likely to lead to further interventions with each one more likely to lead to another. It's called the cascade of intervention.

If your body is not currently initiating Labour it is because it's not yet ready. A natural birth is most likely when Labour begins spontaneously.

Don't worry, I had three children all three weeks early and no signs of labour until the first contraction. It will happen. Good luck.

Don't worry - they won't plan to induce you (barring any problems) until about 42 weeks. You've got tonnes of time 😊. I had my son at 40+5, went into labour spontaneously. Have you got a birthing ball? I spent a lot of time bouncing on mine!

Firstly, you can go from nothing to full on labour pretty quickly so not having any signs at 39 weeks isn't anything to worry about. Most people are 'overdue' with their first (I am assuming it's your first) and bear in mind that 40 weeks is a NHS guideline - other countries think 41 weeks is normal!

Secondly I was exactly the same as you, I really wanted a natural birth, I had a pool home birth planned. I went overdue, I had a breech baby then a back to back baby, both of which tend to extend gestation time. If you are concerned get them to double check the lie of your baby - ask how engaged the head is. If it's not engaged push to make sure they are sure the baby is in the correct position. I say this as I only found out at 41 weeks that my baby was breech - no one thought it remotely odd that until that point that my baby hadn't engaged at all and were all happily convinced she was head down.

Anyway, without those complications I think I'd have gone into labour naturally. But I didn't, ended up being induced and it wasn't all I'd hoped for. But we did as much as we could to make the experience like I wanted (music, low light etc on the labour ward) and at the end of the day once your sungly newborn is here, it won't matter how they arrived!

Also if they do talk about induction, you can push it back, I waited as long as possible before starting mine. I ended up having my DD at 40+15. Don't forget that at 40 weeks they offer sweeps and that will give you an indication of how ready your cervix is etc.

Two early (not preemie) births and one breech overdue and all my labours came on quick. Literally one minute I was fine, the next I knew it was happening. Try not to worry xxx

You don't have to be induced even if you get to 42 weeks. You can opt for daily monitoring instead.

Your baby will come when it is ready. Try not to worry about it. Like others have said, the majority of babies arrive after their EDD.

Oh, and I had no signs of labour at 39 weeks. No signs at 40 weeks either. Started to lose my plug a few days after my EDD and then early labour (regular contractions etc) started at 40+4, and DD was born bang on 41 weeks.

You don't normally show signs of labour until the day it starts in my experience (4 DCs). Could be any day in the next 3 weeks. Unless you're considered high risk, they'll let you go at least a week over before discussing induction.

Can I join you pinkrose? I'm 39+5 and no signs of anything. Feeling pretty good and trying to make the most of it but also feeling worried that I'll have to be induced even though I know there is still lots of time left to go!

With one baby I had no signs till it started 40+4. With the other I had 2 weeks of latent labour, finally born 40+ a few days. So it does just vary. I'd much prefer no signs then straight in, than latent labour which is rather demoralising.

Thanks everyone - i think i'm just so impatient at this point especially because I knew from only 4 weeks so it's been a loooong road

DomesticAnarchist I guess I should be trying to make the most of it

minijoeyjojo yes mine is head down but she is also back to back i'm confused on if she's engaged or not because at 37 weeks i was told that she is 3/5 engaged then last week i was told she isn't engaged . either way i think she's very comfortable in there and has no plans to leave any time soon lol

AprilShowers16 thats exactly how i feel, i'm glad I feel okay at this point (apart from the swollen feet & ankles and if i sit or lay for too long i can't get up very easily lol). hopefully we won't have to be induced though from what the other ladies are saying our LO's might just take us by surprise!!

Normal pregnancy term is up to 42 weeks.

Do make the most of it.
I went to the cinema every day before DS1's arrival at T+15

Stop counting down the minutes and make the most of these next few days. Seriously! Go out for dinner, to the cinema, whatever. I know you feel big and miserable and uncomfortable, but soon you will literally not be able to do any of that stuff - or even have a bath by yourself in peace.

Anyway, back to the point of the thread. Most people don't have signs at 39 weeks, especially with their first. With my first, I was very grumpy at 10pm on my due date as I'd had no signs at all. But then I got the worst backache ever...and 24hrs later he was in my arms.

Don't worry about induction yet, they probably won't even discuss the prospect with you for another fortnight!

I am 39 weeks today too, and I have been having endless signs of labour for the past two weeks that mean nothing at all. I've had contractions 10 minutes apart for hours at at time that disappear. Backache, cramps, etc. For my other two pregnancies labour just started and there was no doubt. I am not putting any hope in signs at all anymore as I just get myself ready and then let down.

Many women forget the pain of childbirth and the difficulties of pregnancy. Mother nature is clever that way. Many women also forget how bloody hard it is to navigate these last few weeks: maybe today I will have a massive physical experience and a life changing event, or maybe not today. One is required to stay in a state of high readiness (especially if there are other children to sort) while simultaneously "relaxing." It is a psychologically awkward time. I agree that you should try not to worry, but I disagree that this is an enjoyable time that should be savoured. I know it looks like that from the other side, but it damn near impossible (at least for me). I think late pregnancy prepares you for having a baby, it is time now.

Here is hoping we both don't need to wait too much longer.

I think back to back babies can take a little longer to come out. Have you tried doing some of the positions on spinning babies? It might help get her to turn. Most babies turn during labour, but if yours is stubborn (like my DD) she'll come out back to back all I can say is try to keep an open mind. I wanted everything natural, but got so bloody exhausted I ended up having an epidural. Was a fabulous decision, I am certain I wouldn't have been able to have a vaginal birth without it. They'd have c-sectioned her out.

malvinandhobbes that would drive me insane ! There have been moments like that for me but nothing consistent just one off. I totally agree it is an awkward time u have to be 'on standby' incase u go into labour

minijoeyjojo I have tried leaning forward more etc to get her to turn around and she does but then she goes right back to back to back lol so I think she is stubborn !! I really want to keep an open mind but epi is like my worst fear so that's one thing I'm not open to lol

I wouldn't worry about signs of labour I had loads of signs with ds everyone kept saying I would go early he was born at 40+8. This time I'm just turned 35 weeks and his head is engaged already people are making the same noises as before I don't believe a word of it.

I went into labour naturally at 40+13. First I knew about it was my waters breaking. She kept me waiting, but totally worth it. As others have said, try to relax and enjoy these last few days, hard as it is whilst heavily pregnant I know!