39w2d and no pre-labor symptoms

[Anonymous]

I'm 39w2d, taking evening primrose oil and drinking raspberry leaf tea, having sex, walking 2-3 miles/day. I have never felt a BH contraction, mucus plug still intact - in short - I'm starting to wonder how late my baby will be. Or did anyone out there just not have any pre-labor symptoms? Was early labor/labor a surprise for anyone? Does my complete lack of symptoms mean I have a long way to go?

[Anonymous]

You'll give birth sometime in the next three weeks. That's all anyone can tell you. No one knows what triggers labor. But you are doing good things. I'd add to the list the need to relax, avoid stress, sleep more. You want to keep your adreneline low so your oxytocin can flow. Try to enjoy these final quiet days before the baby comes. Best wishes!

[Anonymous]

I never felt BH either. I had to be induced at nearly 41 wks, my mucus plug was just starting to come out the day I went to the hospital. You may want to add eating Mexican food to your list, I've heard of a lot of babies resulting from a burrito (I tried this but it didn't work)

[Anonymous]

If this is your first, you are more likely to be later than your due date. The average first pregnancy is 40 weeks 5 days.

I know how eager you are to be done with pregnancy (I am 40 weeks, 6 days and no baby #2), but you likely have another week at least. Of course, there are people who have no symptoms of labor and then deliver the next day, just like there are people who are dilated 3 cm for weeks and no labor.


It's a total crap shoot and no one can tell you when you are going to deliver, not even your doctor. They check your dilation to have a baseline of where you started from when you finally do go into labor and to confirm the baby's presentation.

It is frustrating, I know. I have been saying lately that if men were the ones to get pregnant, we would know the exact physiological mechanisms and chemical changes that triggers labor and would be able to track it to the minute. Alas, Eve had to have that apple.....

Hang in there and get some rest. Don't tire yourself out too much with the walking--you'll need your strength for childbirth.

[Anonymous]

My first baby was born a week late. Nothing I did to bring baby on helped. I did enemas, spicy food, walks, sex, primrose oil, etc. Baby will come when baby will come, I hate to say.

Enjoy your last few days (or weeks) of pregnancy, as much as that is possible.

[Anonymous]

Are you dilated...even a little?

Unfortunately, there is no magical cure for naturally jump starting labor (unless you're talking about induction) - as you can see OP all the home remedies (walking, sex, primrose oil) are hit or miss.

Not to get personal, but if you have an O during sex it helps trigger some of those hormones needed for labor (plus, it'll be your last chance for at least the next 6 weeks!).

I think a few people before has posted castor oil? You may want to do a search in this forum to get more information on that.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP- I figured I'd post some hope. I had no signs of labor (no BH contractions, wasn't dilated, etc.) as of two days before my due date. I even went to the doctor's that day, and the OB told me that it probably wasn't going to happen "on time." They scheduled my induction, and I went back to work for the remainder of the day. Then, at about 7:00 p.m., I had the worst back ache ever, a half hour later, my water broke, and I had DD the next morning- one day early. So... it is possible

[Anonymous]

I had a similar experience to the PP. Absolutely no signs labor was imminent - no dilation, no BH, no mucus plug. Went into labor naturally 2 days before due date.

Relax and enjoy some movies and maybe dinner out before baby comes!

[Anonymous]

I had no symptoms until the day after my due date when I went into labor. Why are you trying to go into labor earlier than 40 weeks? Let the baby's lungs develop all the way and then start with the home induction remedies.