13 days overdue - cervix clamped shut but painful contractions - whats going on?

[BabyTooComfyIThink]

Hi
I am fed up! anyone had the same experience as me? if so please tell me I will be giving birth soon... Had contractions for over a week now but last night they were painful and increasing / regular every 10mins. Also, had lots of mucus (show?) yesterday too. Woke up at 4 with painful contractions every 8 mins til 6 but went back to sleep for a bit and they went. Saw midwife this morning and she said cervix not dilated and couldn't reach to do a sweep. Feel very frustrated, knackered etc. Going off to hospital tomorrow but really wanted a home birth - they are only going to scan me but probly will want to induce?

sounds a little bit like my experience - I think most of my early contractions were trying to turn DD round as she had gone back to back, so I wasn't really dilating, although I did get to have a sweep at 7 days overdue (and 8 days, and 9 days...). We started out as a home birth but transferred to hospital as it went on so long. By the end I was just thankful to have a healthy baby at the end of it all.
So not much help I'm afraid but fingers crossed things start moving soon!

Sounds like things are moving along and hopefully it won't be too long now. You could try some evening primrose oil - I think that's good for preparing the cervix. I think there was a post on it recently either in this topic or in childbirth.

I'm 41+1 today and just come back from the hospital. Also planning a home birth so trying to hold out from any intervention for as long as I feel comfortable with. Have had a scan and 2 ctg and baby is fine so happy for it to stay in there a little longer despite living in this weird limbo. There are things like clary sage you can use for strengthening contractions, but I'm not really sure if that would be advisable if your cerxix isn't ready or if that would help things along in that regard as well.

But I'd have thought if you've had your show and are getting regular contractions you're almost there - you might not even make it to the hosptial tomorrow!

Hope so - my mum keeps rushing down in the middle of the night (she lives 3 hours away) cos she doesn't want to miss the birth, only for the contractions to go and hide for 2 days. Still, it has to come out sometime soon surely... haven't eaten this much curry / pineapple in my life before. will look into the evening primrose and clary sage, they are both new to me!

Yes, we went for a strong curry at about a week overdue. I've never seen so many concerned, attentive waiters at one table .
Have you tried raspberry leaf tea? Not that I think it made a blind bit of difference to me but SIL swears by it.

Yes been drinking that since 36 weeks. Not sure any of those old wives tales work actually, have tried loads of stuff - sex, walking, acupuncture. Not brave enough for castor oil mind....

Oh well, good luck for your hospital appointment today!

Sounds like your body trying to get baby into the right position. Have you tried doing OFP stuff? (Eg scrubbing floors)

This happened to me although I was induced... My contractions were very strong and every 2 minutes and my cervix hadn't even 'softened' when they examined me upon moving to the delivery room!

I'd suggest trying a nice warm bath to relax you, as once I got in the birth pool 4 hours later DS was born.. I swear it was because I had fully relaxed and felt I was in the right place for the job! LOL