39+4 no signs of labour

[1990fran]

Hi all
This is my first pregnancy
I am 39 wks +4 days with no sign of labour as yet
Due date is 19th feb midwife said they dont offer sweeps until after this date, how successful are sweeps, do they hurt? I am worried i will go over and be induced i read they do this at 41 wks, also read some horror stories on how things go when being induced i know I have no control over my body and what will be will be just after some advice

I have a ball keeping active as i can cleaning etc, midwife said head is in pelvis but yeah as i said no signs as yet!
Thanks

You don't HAVE to be induced. Unless there are higher risks in your pregnancy or specific indications, induction tends to happen at more like 42 weeks. And even then, you can choose to have increased monitoring instead.

In France you aren't even classed as full term till 41 weeks.

Sweeps can be uncomfortable. They only work if you were basically ready to go into labour anyway.

I had four during my last pregnancy. The only one that 'worked' was when I'd already been in latent labour for three days and it broke my waters. And even then I still needed the drip to augment my labour (I come from a family of slow dilators). I don't think I'd have them if offered in this pregnancy (33 weeks at the moment).

I know it's scary when you don't know what to expect, but unless you really need this baby out for mental health/ safety reasons, just see how things go. Mild stress will stop you from going into labour.

Relax, have sex, keep as busy as you can and go with the flow.

As PP said. You don't have to be induced. They usually offer a sweep around your due date and then another a week after.
Sweeps have never worked for me and no, they don't hurt. I didn't even find them uncomfortable. Last 30 seconds and that was it.

You're better to presume to be closer to 42 weeks with your first pregnancy.

I had no signs Labour was imminent.... my waters didn't break until I was well into Labour, mucus plug was only few hours before, I just randomly started getting period pains that gradually got worse and then my symtoms after Labour had already started it that makes sense.

I think everyone gets this "movie" idea that it's a big dramatic waters breaking then you go into Labour but it just isn't that way 😀

It may start to happen with no "signs" before hand 😊

Exciting times... it will happen soon no doubt and when you don't expect. Good luck ❤️

I had no signs of labour until my waters broke at 38+6. They went at midnight, I went into labour at about 4 am she was born by lunchtime.

I was offered a sweep went I went in to be checked after my waters had gone but the ctg monitoring showed I was starting to have contractions even though I couldn't feel them so they said it wasn't necessary yet.

I was told that the experience of a sweep is similar to a smear test - if you find your smear painful the sweep probably will be but if that's OK the sweep is likely to be OK. I think I'm somewhere in the middle! Very much expecting this will be me in a few weeks as have all the risk factors for a late baby... I hope things get moving soon for you!

It's a bit frustrating waiting to meet baby, I was very impatient with our 1st not so much with the others lol.
Sweep didn't do much for me. Our 2nd I was examined at 39+6 and was 1cm dilated so they did a sweep and sent me on my way. I returned to hospital in the afternoon at 40+4 only 5cm dilated. They refused to break waters due to polyhydramnios but kept me on the ward, eventually agreed to break them the next evening and he arrived after 2hr 19mins (15mins pushing). He had meconium in his waters so should have been given more of a push earlier.

You may go into labour before 42 weeks but if you do need an induction they're honestly not that bad! I've had 2 and they've both been fine

My first baby was 8 days past the due date, no one mentioned induction. Good luck OP!

I had a sweep booked on my due date but the midwife tried and couldn't do it because it was a bit too early (can't remember why but something to do with baby not down enough)

Anyway, until that day I had no signs of imminent labour but later in the evening my contractions started. Still took 2 days for the baby to arrive though

I had induction at 42 weeks. They tend to leave us alone if no issues till then. Dont worry. That last month I couldn't get through doorways. By then was desperate to start off

You can decline induction

Also labour is so linked to oxytocin and feel good hormones. Do things you enjoy, things that relax you and things that make you happy.

Try not to worry, baby will come when they’re ready and when they’ve got themselves into the the best position.

I had many sweeps when pregnant with DD, I didnt ever think it was painful. Uncomfortable sometimes. But I was generally desperate for her to come to was happy to give it a go. She was born spontaneously at 40+9.
Sweep at 40.
Sweep at 41.
Sweeps on day on labour to get things moving more

Just a positive on induction, I was induced at 11 am and gave birth at 00:23 so just over 12 hours from start to finish, had no pain relief except for a couple of pumps on the gas and air as his head was coming out. Also was induce at 39 +3 as blood pressure had risen suddenly.

Hope you don't need a sweep or induction and the baby pops right out soon x

I had a sweep that was mildly uncomfortable and went into labour about an hour later. This was at 39+3 but was my 2nd baby (first came at 40+4 but I wasn't offered a sweep until 41 weeks with my first).

Lots of info on induction here.. www.sarawickham.com/topic-resources/post-term-pregnancy-and-induction-of-labour-resources/

Head in the pelvis is great news!!!!

Also worth reading the spinning babies website.