40 weeks and failed sweep

Don't be disheartened! I had a failed sweep yesterday (at over 41 weeks!) because my cervix was slammed shut and today I had another one and was just about enough dilated (maybe 1cm) for the midwife to do somethingn (in her words, she couldn't quite do a membrane sweep but she did a stretch). Things can change really quickly.
And if you end up going to 41+5 you don't have to be induced either. I provisionally agreed to an induction at 42+3 (which is 42 weeks going by my dates) even though my hospitals policy is to induce at 41 weeks.

Similarly, with my first, I had two failed sweeps, one on my due date, one a couple of days later and then a successful one at 41 weeks.

Thank you for sharing your experiences. I guess there is no sure way to get the labor started. I always thought of a due date as the last possible date to have the baby. Been ready with everything for weeks now so just got very disappointed to learn i was no where near the labor. Still hoping for a miracle to happen before my induction date. Lets hang in there real tight and good luck to you both 🍀🤞🏻

Oh no, due date is definitely not your last possible date! In fact, for first time mums having no interventions the *average* is 40+5! Which means it's completely normal to go into labour much later!
In the UK, we've completely medicalised the process but generally speaking lots of countries (for example, lots of Scandinavian ones) won't induce you until you're 42 weeks because it's generally considered that anything up to 42 is completely normal!

Here's an interesting article on due dates:
https://evidencebasedbirth.com/evidence-on-due-dates/

Hoping your baby comes soon! Xx

I completely understand how you feel right now. I was due on 16th, I’ve had two sweeps which gave all the positive signs but still no baby.
Dilation can happen very suddenly so don’t let that dishearten you. I was only slightly dilated at first sweep with a second baby at 40 weeks, so they were only just able to do it. First time mums on average are likely to have their babies at 40 +5 so don’t worry too much yet. I’m on my second at 40+4 atm with no signs. You have good odds of having baby between 40 and 41 weeks.

Try and relax now and do things you enjoy or may not be able to as much once baby is here 💕 and just take it one day at a time, that’s how I’m coping

I had the exact same as you, I had a failed sweep and was told my cervix is soft but no sign of dilating I’m currently 40+3 and still no signs 😣really don’t want to be induced!