Why won't my body go into labour?

[mackchar]

I'm currently 40+8 with my second baby and really struggling to understand why I've not gone into labour yet. I've had two sweeps - first three days ago during which I had my bloody show and the second this afternoon during which the remains of the mucus plug came out. Neither have done anything - no contractions at all, just the very occasional Braxton Hicks and the mucus plug coming out. The midwife said the baby is low, my cervix is forward and soft and all I need are some contractions to get things going.

With DC1 I was induced early because of other issues so I have no experience of going into labour spontaneously. I really don't want to be induced again as I found it quite traumatic the first time, but I'm beginning to lose hope! I'm booked for an induction in a few days and dreading it.

Are there some women whose bodies simply do not go into labour on their own? I'm trying everything - guided meditations, walks, bouncing on the ball, nipple stimulation and not so much as a twinge to suggest labour is coming. I've reached the point where I just think my body is incapable! Any advice or words of encouragement would be gratefully received!

Have you thought about acupuncture?

My friend was induced at 40wks - was very difficult. Next baby, was 40wks+5. Had the peassary and baby was born 3 hrs later naturally. She told me the midwives were very clear she wasn’t allowed to leave the ward (unlike the first time with 24hr pessary where they encouraged going for a walk) because induction is generally much quicker 2nd time around. The body remembers.
It’s practically impossible but the only thing that really helps is oxcytocin. Which means not stressing or releasing adrenaline as much as possible. But if you need to be induced I suspect it will be a lot better than you expect. Think of the pessary as just a little something to tip you over the edge. You can have a ‘natural’ birth from there

Good luck. I longed for a spontaneous labour too. I know the feeling

I was induced early with my first, with my second I'd saw the midwife for a sweep on the morning of my due date and midwife said cervix was closed and that labour wasn't imminent and she couldn't do sweep, I was so fed up, but 7 hours later DS was born. To say I was shocked was an understatement. Good luck it will be any day now! Rest up

I sympathise. Ds1 and 2 were early (11 and 17 days), DS3 was 11 days late.

I went for lots of walks, tried to relax, did gardening, carried on as normally as I could.

You don't have to agree to induction if you don't want it. If you want reassurance you could agree to additional monitoring instead. The key thing is that you don't have to do or agree to anything you don't want regardless of how "pushy" some staff can be.

Have you tried pineapple?

You still have lots of time! I went into labour 40+10 with my first and had no signs before hand. Induced at 40+12 with #2 and pessary was enough to start labour as my body was pretty ready so a fairly intervention free induction.

Um.... I had doggy style sex at 40+4 and went into labour a couple of hours later. I genuinely believe the all fours position, prostaglandins and a good strong O got things going.

My other 2 labours were inductions and were actually great although they did take a long time to get going. I think induction is much easier if you are not getting induced early. At 40+8 I imagine it would be quite different to trying to get your body going well before your due date. Best of luck OP; it can't be too much longer for you, whichever way it happens!

Oh yes and with my spontaneous labour no signs before hand whatsoever. No plug loss, cramps, mood changes, anything. Just straight into pretty obvious contractions.

Check the baby hasn't pushed your abdomen cavity down or caused distended abdomen. Can you pee?

Problem is if you’re stressing about it, then the stress hormone is not good for natural labour… your body needs to feel it’s safe to give birth iyswim. Sex helps because it makes you relax…

Acupuncture sorted me, have a look in the yellow pages. It’s effective, but not nearly as harsh on your body as induction

I feel the same as you, I still wonder 2.5 years later whether my body even knew what to do! With my first I had no pregnancy symptoms, no sickness, no enlarged breasts, no cravings, no braxton hicks, no spontaneous labour. My waters broke but I didn't feel a twinge at all over the 24 hours that followed, so had to be induced the thought of which terrified me, but it worked out in the end (despite not going entirely to plan).

Good luck OP, I hope it happens for you soon.

I have 4 DC was induced well overdue with all of them.

Never even got a soft cervix was Bishops Score 1 even after he first pessary 🙄

Although the first labour was a long event to get me into labour the others were quicker, straight forward and no other assistance needed.

If you really don’t want another induction have you considered a c section? It’s not for everyone but it should be an option.

You don't have to agree to induction.
Both mine came at almost 42 weeks.
Nobody stays pregnant forever 😁

Remember your due date is just a guess! My due date is a week earlier than i KNOW i conceived. At scan they said you're due on X, i said that's funny as i didn't have sex until Y so wouldn't be due until Z haha

And some of us go days beyond 42 weeks and end up with meconium filled fluids and still need to be induced.

So many variables.