Coping with being overdue

[FHNick]

I am 40+3 today. Just been to midwife for a sweep but it turns out the baby isn't engaged at all and my cervix was too high. Looks like it's not going to happen anytime soon. I could moan all day about how rubbish I feel (but I won't!). The only really unbearable thing is lack of sleep. As soon as I lie down my hips hurt so much I could actually cry. Anyone have any tips?

@Thishatisnotmine Yay this gives me hope. :)

@FHNick I eat spicy food near enough everyday anyway, so I reckon it would never set off my labour unfortunately.

Tomorrow is another day, so there is still hope! I'm also having a sweep tomorrow.

@UrgentExitRequired we do a lot too to be fair 😂 weirdly I always sort of assume babies don't come at the weekend so I am waiting till Monday now xx

@harrietm87 so nice to hear a positive induction story for once! I'm hoping to have a water birth too and wasn't sure if they would let me if I was induced! I've a midwife appointment on Monday so will check with her then.

@Smurfybubbles at my hospital you could still give birth in the birth centre if induced provided you'd only had the gel/pessary and were pre-42 weeks. If you were on the drip/post 42 weeks it had to be in delivery suite. I imagine it would be hard to have a water birth with the drip in but worth checking.

40+1 here, lots of signs for a week or so now but nothing manifested into actual labour! First born at 33 weeks so this is all new territory to me!

Oh Bettydraper yeah you are a lot more than 33 weeks now bless you. We expected a early baby throughout this pregnancy due to bleeding. AND here I am 40+11. Baby growing well and as much as I moan currently declining induction until next week at least.

40+3 here

Getting thoroughly sick of the 'is she here yet?' Messages, or people assuming I've gone in to labour if I don't reply within 5 minutes 🙄

I declined a sweep on Thursday and will probably decline again this week - no signs at all as yet and I figure she'll come when she's ready!

I won't agree to induction unless there's a risk to baby, so I'm hoping she does make an appearance soon so I don't have to deal with the arguments!

Those who aren't going to have induction, how have the hospital been about it? I was told I'd be induced at 40+10 but I asked for +12 instead (currently +8). I defo believe in letting the baby come when it's ready but for me 42 weeks is bang on bh weekend and I'm worried about staffing etc - really annoying but feel I need to consider it. Hoping of course that in the next 4 days baby will decide to come out!!

Ah also like @Harriet if induction is needed I'd want to have a go at the pessary and then hopefully going in the birth centre if it works, so that is also influencing my thinking, as in my trust you can't go in the birth centre after 42 weeks either (prob the same in most places?)

Don’t have a birth centre so can still use the pool regardless. You can’t use the pool if on hormone drip but with baby no. 1 I would be headed for epidural if needed the drip anyway.

Hospital have been fine. Will have a chat at 42 weeks about what to do next. Have had two sweeps I am 2-3cm so don’t see the point in having anymore as cervix obviously ready. I doubt I could handle still being pregnant next weekend though. I am thoroughly fed up now. So will prob max to 42 +2/3 days.

@Ninjamilo For these exact reasons i have just started ignoring people now. I know that they are asking because they care, but it's very very annoying! I would rather be left in peace and them wait for me to let them know, rather than what feels like them pestering me.

@Loosemoose28 I have just had my third sweep today, was accompanied by a bloody show so I am slightly more hopeful now. Like you said though, this time next weekend I can't imagine still being preggers, so I will just take the induction (reluctantly) early next week at 40+12/13 if the baby isn't out :(

@loosemoose that's great you're 2-3cm, obviously nearly ready! Yeah I would find it very hard to still be preg next weekend 🙈

@urgent bloody show is very promising, sure it won't be long for you now!

@Ninjamilo @UrgentExitRequired I don't know why people constantly ask! Surely they know you will tell them when baby comes, also they don't ask so they can say 'ahh she'll come when she is ready' like you haven't already heard that 🙄 Every day when my husband goes into work everyone says 'no news?' He's like 'do you really think I would be here if there was?' 😂

So very true! Like we're going to have the baby and then carry on as normal, keeping her in hiding....

If we ever have another, I won't be telling anyone the due date!

I'm with the homebirth team and they admitted they can't refuse to come out after 42 weeks, I haven't spoken to anyone at the hospital around induction or a sweep as I don't plan on a hospital birth. I'm probably their worst nightmare though, as I've read up on the stats and risks and question everything 🙈

I'm finding hat I only get the "any signs" calls, texts, emails during the week when people have nothing better to do with their time, I was left alone all weekend it was bliss!

Midwife at 9.30 hopefully she can do a sweep and we can get this baby on the move! My husband is starting to crawl the walls too waiting which is driving me slightly nuts

We're nearly there ladies we just need to hang in there. Come on babies we are all well and truly fed up!

I think my waters are slowly going. It's definitely not discharge and just seems to sort of leak out. Will keep an eye out during the day...hopefully I can avoid this induction!

My community midwife told me her latest ever homebirth was 40+17, although this was about 20 years ago apparently.

I'm also planning a homebirth as DC1 was a HB at 40+11. Community mw asked that I see the hospital consultant at 40+10 just to check everything was ok. Was happy to go as an a consultant myself (different specialty) so felt comfortable with my stats and putting forward my case to refuse induction. Went into labour just before apt thankfully so didn't need to go in!

I'm only just 38 weeks now and the thought of being pregnant for another 4 weeks gives me nightmares. I've been contracting on and off for a week now. Going to request a sweep next week at 39 weeks.

@UrgentExitRequired oohhh fingers crossed things ramp up for you!!

@UrgentExitRequired that sounds promising!! Keep us updated.

@MyNameIsTotoro hopefully they will give you an early sweep. I went in at 39+6 and they said I couldn't have one till past 40 weeks. I cried!

No sweep for me until Thursday, midwife has said baby is really low and finally fully engaged so to leave it a few more days. Back to bouncing on my ball like a mad woman

Good luck @urgent! Are you going to go in and get them to check whether it's your waters?

My baby isn't even engaged, who knows what it's up to! I've decided to accept the fact I'll be induced and then if I'm not it's a bonus.

@olicat same x

FHNick they offer sweeps from 38 weeks round here, and my mw seems keen to do them 🙏🏻 I'm tempted to see if I can sneak one in on Wednesday if I can get an apt

40+2 here. MW said she can do a sweep if I want one on Thursday at my next appointment. Not sure whether to accept though or leave it a few more days! I’ve heard they are very uncomfortable.