FTM. Overdue and worried

[Greeb0]

I am hoping somebody can give me some personal experience or reassurance... I am a first time mum and currently 41+1 I am really hoping to be able to give birth at a local birth centre, but as time goes on I'm panicking that I will go over the 42wk criteria to birth there :( I had a midwife appointment today and asked about having a sweep, but she was reluctant as the baby's head wasn't far enough down (only 4/5 engaged) I'm petrified of having to have a hospital induction.
I've been having period like cramps on and off for the last couple of days. And this morning I noticed some brown discharge after I peed. The discharge has also been on and off today. Am I likely to go into labour on my own soon? Does it sound like it's starting, or am clutching at straws? TIA x

sounds like a 'show' - but call your local birthing centre for advice now - they will be there all night and can tell you when to come in.

:-)

They couldn't do a sweep at 4/5ths? That's odd. Because I've had two at 3/5ths. 🤔

I hope you get to have your natural labour. Sounds like the discharge is promising. Go for a nice long walk see if that helps 🤞😁 x

Yes sounds like a show but ask to be sure. How strange DD1 I was 2/5 engaged and had a sweep I was contracting but only 2-3 cm dilated had baby 9 hrs later.

Bounce on a ball and go for walks the more pressure the baby puts on the cervix the more you dilate and hopefully things will happen naturally x

I mentioned the discharge to my midwife and she didn't seem bothered by it. She just said "that's normal at this stage" I was all mentally prepared to have a sweep, but she said because the head was still high, she could risk breaking my waters? If I phone the birthing centre, will they be more likely to offer me a sweep? Although, the midwife today said that it wouldn't accomplish anything 🤷‍♀️

I'll make sure to go for a long waddle in the morning if nothing happens overnight!

The 5ths refer to how much of the head can be palpated so 1/5 is actually the further into the pelvis.

I went 11 days overdue and went into labour naturally, unfortunately there isn't anything you can do although walking and bouncing on your ball will help keep baby the right way round. Good luck

I'm in a slightly similar situation... Am going to be induced in 7 days if baby doesn't show up in the meantime... I'm really scared of induction too so know your feeling :-( I just keep telling myself 2 facts.... The vast majority of women don't need induction because baby comes naturally and that almost 2/3rds of inductions procede in a straight forward way (ie no instrument delivery or anything). Helps me try to be calm anyway!! Easier said than done!! Good luck and I hope baby turns up soon xx

Thank you everyone. I think I just needed to know that I wasn't alone x

get yourself a birthing ball and rotate, bounce, move your hips back and forward to hopefully help bubba move further down, just sit on it whilst you watch tv, whilst you eat, as for the discharge sounds like labour could be coming, and remember that you are under no obligation to have a hospital induction if you don't want one, however, from my experience a hospital induction is not as bad as everyone says it is, but every experience is different, my LG was born within 24 hours and my induction worked within 2 hours. Good luck mama, and just try not to panic, nice long walks, baths, bouncing on your ball, eating nice food and chilling out before your babe comes should keep your mind off it for now, you'll probably go into labour when you're least expecting it but do ask your midwife again for a sweep if you want one x