41+4 Arrrgh! Advice would be appreciated.....

[glittering]

Hi, first posting so would appreciate some advice from you.
I am now 11 days overdue and going crazy! Just as I think 'that was definitely a contraction' the same pain never reappears? I've mainly had sharp period type pains and the odd drawn out ache but nothing materialises into actual labour. I can't believe that I want to be in pain soooo much!
I had a sweep last Thursday where I was 1cm dilated and my cervix was described as soft and anterior! All good apparently! Since then I've been doing all the usual stuff to kick things off but I'm still waiting!
My induction is on Saturday (24th) but would much prefer to go into labour naturally - I am rapidly running out of time. Will labour just be a sudden thing? Although I've had pains I reluctant to think that they are anything but the baby jumping on my bladder.

Please Help!

Sorry, cant really add anything new,Have you already tried rosehip tea? long walks?hot curry? i went aweek over on my DD and the tea worked for me[i think].I know the waiting is awful but you WILL get there

You have my full sympathy - I went to 40 +11 and tried everything to bring on labour with DS1 - a vidaloo curry, a sweep, pineapple, BD, running, gym work, castor oil, clary sage oil - frankly nothing worked. In the end my midwife told me to go to the zoo - when I asked will it bring on labour she said no, but it will get you off the phone every 5 mins !

Re labour contractions, people kept telling me I would know when I had them which I didn't find very helpful ! A better way I have heard it explained is if you have got the opportunity to sit and think 'are these labour pains?' they will not be ! Labour pains are very strong and unmistakable. Believe me, you will know.

DS1 was eventually induced at 40 +11 which was not bad at all so please don't worry. Just had a pessary inserted and within an hour I had those unmistakable labour pains - straight to 2 mins apart- and 1 hour later DS was born.

Good luck. Sorry I can't be more help but If anything worked I would share it.

For what it is worth my DS was a very placid newborn and apparently this is common in late babies. So not all bad.

No magic solution I'm afraid. I went to 15 days overdue, so you have my full sympathy!!

Thanks for your advice - especially yours incy. You've made me feel a whole lot better, the Zoo thing made me laugh for the first time today! Thanks.

Quick question though, What would you suggest the pains I'm feeling now are? Do real contractions really start off that strong that there's no mistaking what they are straight away? I was expecting a gradual increase in strength from period type pains. Is this completley unrealistic?

Oooo poor you!
You have my sympathies too. I went 10 days over with my ds and it was horrid.
I had him 4 days after my sweep but I think I was in labour the days up to it.

The mw that did the sweep told me to have lots of sex, rock on those exercise balls to move the pelvis and walk up the stairs sideways
I'm sure it all must have helped.

The best of luck to you and hope it happens very very soon!

Glad I made you laugh - I really remember feeling very upset when DS was late (how could he do this to me !) so huge hugs.

Difficult for me to say re labour pains as I was induced and so not sure if these were stronger than normal as I went straight to every two minutes. For what it was worth I was doubled over with my actual contractions and couldn't catch my breath(and felt like I needed the loo which nobody told me was v common.) Even if I hadn't been in labour I would have gone to hospital as it felt like there was something seriously wrong.

I can remember keeping getting pains like mild, crampy period pains in my last couple of weeks which I kept wondering if was start of labour but these were nothing like my proper contractions when they started.

I know this is absolutely rubbish advice because people kept saying things like this to me ('OOh you'll know' ) and I still kept wondering if it was the start of labour.

Also everyone kept telling me to enjoy my time and rest up - frankly I was so bored and irritated that I won't say that to you either because by this stage you just want to give birth.

Good luck and you can always try eating lots of pineapple etc - if nothing else it keeps you occupied and away from the many 'have you not had it yet?' phone calls. grrr !

Hi- your cramps are probably braxton hicks- which are great- getting your body ready for the big thing. Your cervix will probably be getting more dilated too. I went 12 days overdue with my DD and had a date for induction. I had a sweep- then went home, had sex, and woke up the next day wih proper labour contrations.
Raspberry leaf tea is supposed to induce labour.
Go for a walk/ or up and down the stairs.

Have you had a sweep? I would recommend it. It wasnt painful at all.

Good luck

Ds was 13 days late, I think they just come when they feel like it to be honest. I had a second sweep though as was desperate to avoid induction. Would your midwife consider this?

I was induced at 40 plus 11, DD definitely very comfortable where she was. Consultant attempted membrane sweep at 40 plus 5 but couldn't actually manage one as cervix was still posterior and closed.

Induction started at 10am and DD was born by emergency C-section at 7:30 following morning. We had tried everything leading up to the induction to bring labour on naturally but nothing doing...was also totally fed up with the 'any day now' brigade, especially as people were saying this to me from 34 weeks.

I found myself the night before the induction up all night obsessively reading stories of other women's experience of induction on the Internet, big mistake as every experience is different, couldn't possibly have prepared me anyway and seriously regretted the lack of sleep later!!

I was also having period like pains which I would faithfully time only to have them fade to nothing...

All the best for Saturday!!

I went 42 weeks with DD, then spent 2 long days in the delivery room while they tried to induce, nothing worked so ended up with emergency C section. I'm so sorry for you - the waiting at the end is unbearable! Good luck for the weekend if nothing happens sooner.