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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

40+3 weeks and no sign of labour

35 replies

CAMU1 · 30/12/2023 18:04

Hi all

Looking for some stories/reassurance! I’m 40+3 weeks pregnant - first baby - and have been told by my midwife that when I hit 41 weeks I’ll have to book an induction. (For context - I’m under midwife-led care, with no pregnancy or health complications.) As someone who wants a water birth with as little medical intervention as possible, this has really upset me and I’m now anxiously counting down the days until I hit 41 weeks. My midwife has also told me that ‘because it’s my first baby, my body doesn’t know what to do’ - am I deluded in thinking I could have a spontaneous labour?

I’ve read lots of stories about first babies, with people saying they ‘knew’ several days in advance that labour was going to start - various symptoms etc. So far I’ve had a couple of niggles over the past 2 days, usually at night - mild back pain/mild occasional BH (maybe a couple of times a day), and two nights ago I felt a little nauseous as if I was coming onto my period, but then it just went away, and I feel completely fine - full of energy in fact. No mucus plug/show, ‘clearing out of bowels’ etc so far either.

I want to hear some stories of first babies, and whether you had these early signs, or whether everything happened out of the blue? Basically, am I beyond hope to give birth by 41 weeks at this point?!

OP posts:
Katherina02837 · 30/12/2023 18:14

I was induced at 41 weeks- overdue with your first is very common.
I also had no symptoms that would have suggested the start of the labour. I think I lost some of the mucus plug but I'm not sure.
I think when it comes to labour, you have to do whatever is the safest and best for the baby and you. Loads of people will say here that you don't have to choose induction: it's true. However, NhS push induction over 41 weeks because it reduces stillbirth.
I had a very good experience with induction.

Original poster
CAMU1 · 30/12/2023 18:41

Can I ask what kind of induction you went for? I’ve been offered a pessary which would require constant hospital monitoring, or a ‘balloon’ where I could go home for 24 hours

OP posts:
Originalusername89 · 30/12/2023 18:57

Really shocked that your midwife is sowing the seeds of doubt in your head. You need to be feeling positive and confident in these final weeks!

I'd really encourage you to read The Positive Birth Book. You absolutely do not 'have' to have an induction at 41 weeks. Especially not in an uncomplicated, straightforward pregnancy. Mine came spontaneously at 41+5 and 41+6

Believe in yourself and you body. We were made to birth babies. You can do it! X

Katherina02837 · 30/12/2023 19:03

I had a pessary- went to the hospital at 5 pm and they put the pessary in at 6 pm. By midnight I was dilated enough so they could break my waters. Contractions started straight after- they took me to the delivery room. 7 hours later I had my baby in my arms. (I was pushing for a little bit over two hours).
Things might have happened even faster but I was on an epidural which I believe slowed things down a little bit.

SouthwestSis · 30/12/2023 19:04

I was scheduled for an induction on 40/40 exactly cos I had gestational diabetes (diet controlled) but I went into labour naturally the night before luckily! The only sign was losing my mucus plug about 15hrs before cramps/early contractions started.
I was booked to have a balloon induction which I was very happy to have arranged. I know the risks start rising after a certain point so was happy to trust the professionals on their advice

sweetdreams23 · 30/12/2023 19:06

Slightly different as I was 39 weeks but I had no signs at all. I went to bed fine, woke up at 2:30 with mild tummy ache. Then suddenly everything happened at once! Bowl movements, contractions, mucus plug. Gave birth 4 hours later in the water after going to
hospital fully dilated! So it can happen all of sudden with no gradual lead up. That was also my first baby!

Katherina02837 · 30/12/2023 19:10

Originalusername89 · 30/12/2023 18:57

Really shocked that your midwife is sowing the seeds of doubt in your head. You need to be feeling positive and confident in these final weeks!

I'd really encourage you to read The Positive Birth Book. You absolutely do not 'have' to have an induction at 41 weeks. Especially not in an uncomplicated, straightforward pregnancy. Mine came spontaneously at 41+5 and 41+6

Believe in yourself and you body. We were made to birth babies. You can do it! X

Yes, our body is made for delivering babies. Please read about the history of how many babies and women didn't survive labour until the 20th century. Today we don't have to worry about this because we can have c-sections and inductions.
You can go against this and risk it, but it's not something you should tell others to do.

OurfriendsintheNE · 30/12/2023 19:10

Of course you could still go into labour spontaneously and all that about your body not knowing what it’s doing is nonsense. 40+3 is still really early days. I had both of mine at 40+13. First by induction, second spontaneously, with induction booked for that day. It’s up to you when you want to accept an induction, just make sure you are informed about the relative risks and benefits.

FriedasCarLoad · 30/12/2023 19:10

My first was came naturally at 40+5, after a looooong walk forward by lack of movements which led to a sleepless night in hospital. We got home at 4am. I'd had a few sweeps over the previous week.

At 5:30am my waters broke suddenly, walking me up with quite a shock and soaking my husband and I!

Baby was born in the pool at home 1:16pm.

My others have come earlier, and the trick always seems to have been giving up waiting and booking something really nice to make myself feel better. That and being in places where I'll feel mortified if my waters break...

Hope it all goes beautifully

Katherina02837 · 30/12/2023 19:13

*the key is to be open minded

BingBongBoo86 · 30/12/2023 19:21

My first came at 41+5 after a very very aggressive sweep.

Second came at 42+2. Had induction, gel and then waters broken. Induction was very simple and went much better than I thought. I preferred it to my first experience. .

BingBongBoo86 · 30/12/2023 19:24

Just wanted to add I had no signs at all for both of mine. I’m sort of convinced I either have really long pregnancies or my body doesn’t know how to do spontaneous!

2Old2Tango · 30/12/2023 19:26

I went a full week overdue with my first. No real early symptoms apart from back ache. Waters never broke. I remember taking some dry cleaning in on a Friday and them saying it would be ready on Monday. I joked that I would be there providing baby didn't put in an appearance. My labour pains began on the Sunday morning and I was trying to manage them with a TENS machine (while having lunch with the in-laws). DD put in an appearance around 9am on the Monday.

User9088 · 30/12/2023 19:27

I ended up having my first child the day before my booked induction. Even if you reach the point of getting the appintment booked in you might still have spontaneous labour

troppibambini6 · 30/12/2023 19:31

No signs at all with my first. I was exactly a week overdue. I woke up from a nap flicked the kettle on and contractions started they were every ten minutes to start. Started at 3pm and she was born at 4.45am.
Next two briths were inductions then last one I went into labour naturally on due date.

HBGKC · 30/12/2023 19:38

No, you do not 'have' to book an induction at 41 weeks.

Yes, of course women's bodies know how to birth their first babies 🙄

Ridiculous of your midwife to suggest or even imply otherwise.

'Full term' in this country refers to babies born anywhere between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy. Some babies just need longer to 'cook' than others; my sister (3 kids), like her mother-in-law before her (7 kids), is always almost 42 weeks before her babies arrive (the picture of health, placentas absolutely fine).

If your midwife is pressuring you into an induction, making out that you have no choice in the matter, and sowing doubts that your body can't go into spontaneous labour by itself simply because this is your first baby, I'd be putting in a complaint and requesting a different midwife, tbh.

I hope you have a wonderful birth, and meet your baby very soon. There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have a normal, physiological birth. Feeling calm and confident will help you to labour; feeling doubt and panic will not. Your midwife should know this.

HBGKC · 30/12/2023 19:42

And to answer your other question - with my first I went into labour at 39&6 having had no niggles/mucus plug/other classic signs of impending labour. Gave birth 9 hours later.

I'd suggest you keep living your normal life, stay active, get out of the house each day even if just for a walk around, and try not to calendar-watch (easier said than done though, I know!) Best of luck xx

Original poster
CAMU1 · 30/12/2023 20:20

Unfortunately my past 3 appointments have been at an overflow clinic - different midwife each time, and all very busy, and seemingly little time to offer any positivity!

Thanks for the encouragement and the book recommendation - will absolutely look into that x

OP posts:
MakeItToTheMoon · 30/12/2023 20:25

I had my baby at 42 weeks, with contractions starting the day before. At 40 weeks I was offered a sweep, but it was NEVER pushed... neither was induction. I find it odd that the midwife is telling you this.

From what I've heard/ read, some people have good experiences with an induction and others not so much, but I personally never wanted one so refused until I went for a cervical sweep at 41+5 (my cervix was closed. The midwife said I looked really big and I started worrying so booked in for induction the next day. Luckily my contractions started the next day.

I had no symptoms at all until contractions started. I just woke up in the morning with period pains and a loss of the mucus plug.

To be fair, I wanted a water birth, but like for many women the birthing plan went out of the window when I went in to the hospital, and tbh at that time I couldn't even think straight, let alone go in the pool!

Don't feel pushed into doing anything you aren't comfortable with. Also, both my mum and mother in law both had babies at 42 weeks. So it can happen even if it's uncommon.

DuploTrain · 30/12/2023 20:30

I had my DS at 41+2. No signs or symptoms before I went into labour.

I was going to have an induction at 41+5 if he didn’t arrive on his own before then.

You can always book the induction in so you know the date and then see how you feel as it gets closer to the time.

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 30/12/2023 20:32

My first I went in to spontaneous labour at 40+2. The day before felt absolutely fine, did a 4 mile walk and felt funny after that. Went in to labour that night.

My midwife told me recently (when I had my second) that induction was 41+5 (also midwife lead care) x

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 30/12/2023 20:33

Should also have mentioned when I had my second I was texting my friend saying there was no sign, went to the toilet and had a bloody show, DD2 was born the next day. Up until then no signs at all apart from odd Braxton hicks x

Lizzieregina · 30/12/2023 20:38

I went into labour spontaneously at 40+3 with my first. No signs until it started.

I was 42+1 with my second. Also spontaneous and no signs until it started.

Clemfandango95 · 30/12/2023 20:40

Had my first baby in April this year

Exactly the same as you no concerns, hoped for water birth etc. Declined 2 sweeps and had an induction booked for 41+2

On the day of 40+6 I had zero symptoms and

went for a walk (well a waddle!) that evening contractions started - though they were in my back so I just thought I had back ache....

Baby was here 24hrs later, hope this is reassuring

Also - I got to go in the pool however decided I actually didn't like it! X

MargotBamborough · 30/12/2023 20:40

Have you been offered a sweep?

I had a sweep at 40 weeks, felt a few irregular contractions that evening, then the next day I had sex and then a long brisk walk and was in labour a few hours later.