40+9 and still waiting

[Hpill]

Hi, I am 40+9 today and hoping for some positive stories of spontaneous labour this late in the game (I seem to have less hope everyday).
Had a second sweep 48hours ago (Tuesday), I was 1cm dilated with soft posterior long cervix, been loosing mucus plug since and having irregular tightenings (some times painful) but always disappear.

Hi @Hpill
I was 40+4 and no arrival of baby. The nurses kept saying to me to keep walking as much as possible but i didn't and really regret it. Try and stay on your feet as much as you can and walk about the house hopefully not long and your baby will arrive xx

I had spontaneous labour at 40+17, and I know plenty of others who have laboured on their own after that, don’t lose hope.

I didn’t have any sweeps or try anything to attempt to bring on labour, I just waited (very impatiently) so it already sounds like you are a way ahead of where I was at a similar time.

Keep going, good luck.

One of mine was natural at +10 and the other +12. It’s literally any hour now for you. Keep on your feet in case that’s what your body needs. Make sure there are times of the day when you’re extremely relaxed too, that’s what my body needed to feel safe enough to begin giving birth.

Went through this 10 years ago ironically around this time of the year. 40+9 and it was my birthday, got told off by obstetrician for refusing sweeps so far, and instructed to report to hospital daily from then on. Next day waters broke naturally and labour started, baby came out same day.

What's a sweep?

I had spontaneous labour at 40 + 9, following 2 sweeps, the last one about 72 hours before DD1 came. It's horrid I know, and I wish I'd been induced much earlier in the game. Induction isn't so bad - nothing to labour or being very overdue - so I'd try pushing for that as an option. Good luck x

@crosstalk Membrane sweep - when a midwife gives your insides a significant poke around to try and encourage baby to notice the exit! No one ever really knows if they work (baby might have come anyway), and a lot of the time they definitely don't, but it's a completely non "medical" way of trying to bring things on. Takes a few minutes and midwives will often do it at a general appointment about something else, upon request.