41 Weeks Pregnant and Still Waiting: Here’s Exactly What to Do (and What Doctors Don’t Tell You) | 206

41 Weeks Pregnant and Still Waiting: Here’s Exactly What to Do (and What Doctors Don’t Tell You) | 206

Author: Trish Ware, RN September 24, 2025 Duration: 10:43

Hey, mama! You’re 41 weeks pregnant, and I know you’re exhausted, maybe even a little scared, but you are NOT failing. In this episode of Pregnancy Unpacked, Trish is breaking down why your due date isn’t a deadline, giving you a calm, practical plan to nudge labor naturally, and sharing the exact scripts to keep you in control when talking to your provider. Trish has got your back with evidence-based tips to increase your chances of a vaginal birth - whether labor starts on its own or you choose a medical induction. Let’s do this, queen!

What’s Inside This Episode:

  • Why 41 weeks is still normal: Due dates are just estimates, and most first-time mamas deliver around 40 weeks and 5 days. Your body knows what it’s doing!
  • Safety checklist for you and baby: Learn why fetal movement counts, non-stress tests (NSTs), and biophysical profiles (BPPs) are key to ensuring baby’s doing great.
  • Three evidence-based nudges to try: From purposeful movement (hello, Miles Circuit!) to controlled nipple stimulation and membrane sweeps, Trish shares safe ways to encourage labor naturally.
  • Provider scripts to stay in control: Get the exact words to advocate for yourself and avoid being pressured into an induction you’re not ready for.
  • Your 48-hour action plan: A screenshot-ready roadmap you can start tonight to gently kickstart labor or prep for a medical induction.
  • Bonus deal alert: Grab the Balanced Labor Induction Workshop (normally $97) for just $17 with code POD at labornursemama.com/induction. It’s the full playbook to prep your body for labor!
  • Mindset matters: Stop negative self-talk, guard your peace, and remind yourself - you’re a birth queen, and your body’s got this!

Join the Calm Mama Membership:  labornursemama.com/cms

Leave a review and include your Instagram username for a chance to win our monthly raffle!

More from this episode:


Share this episode with another mama who’s past her due date and needs a boost. Hit subscribe, leave a review, or drop a comment to let me know where you’re at in your pregnancy journey - we read every single one! You’ve got this, and I’m so proud of you!

Helpful Timestamps:

  • 00:59 41 Weeks Pregnant: Staying Calm and Informed
  • 01:11 Creating a Practical Plan for Labor
  • 02:12 Evidence-Based Nudges to Start Labor
  • 04:30 Rights and Decisions in Late Pregnancy
  • 05:11 Encouraging Natural Labor: Techniques and Tips
  • 07:27 Changing the Power Dynamics: Positive Mindset
  • 08:00 Real-Life Success Story: Claire's Journey
  • 09:03 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Resources:

Join our 5 Days to A Fearless Birth Experience and watch 5 Online Birth Classes FOR FREE!!

Join the #1 Birth Course for Confident Birth!

Over 15,000 women have used our classes to prepare for birth with the knowledge and tools provided by a Labor Nurse.

💻 Self-paced and lifetime access

👩🏻‍⚕️ Perfect for all births- hospital, birth center, or home!

🎧 Includes birth meditations and prayers.

🌍 Women all over the world have loved our classes.

✅ Start now

Join The Birthpod ™ course

Join The Calm Labor Confident Birth Course

Connect w/ Trish:

On Instagram

On YouTube

For more pregnancy & birth education, subscribe to The Birth Experience on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Produced and Edited by Vaden Podcast Services


Ever find yourself scrolling through endless forums late at night, wondering about the real, unfiltered details of childbirth that no one seems to talk about plainly? The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama is here to change that. Hosted by Trish Ware, RN, this podcast draws directly from her years in the delivery room, where she’s helped bring thousands of newborns into the world. She knows the questions that keep you up at night, from the logistical-like how to effectively push or what Pitocin actually does-to the vulnerable fears about epidurals, VBACs, or those embarrassing but totally normal moments. Trish moves beyond clinical jargon to offer honest, compassionate, and evidence-based insights that feel like a conversation with a trusted friend who’s seen it all. Each episode tackles a specific aspect of pregnancy, labor, and early parenting, like navigating breastfeeding challenges or figuring out newborn care, with the goal of replacing anxiety with practical knowledge. Tuning into this podcast means getting a seasoned labor nurse’s perspective delivered with warmth and a deep understanding of what you’re going through, helping you feel more prepared and empowered for your own journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Birth Experience with Labor Nurse Mama
Podcast Episodes
Baby Sleep Tips Without Guilt, Pressure, or “Cry It Out” Method [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:19
If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “how do I get my baby to sleep?” at 2 AM… this episode is for you. Because let’s be honest - baby sleep advice is LOUD, conflicting, and overwhelming. One expert says cry it out, an…
What I Tell Moms Who Are Terrified of Labor | 251 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:40
If the thought of labor makes your stomach drop and your heart race… this episode is for you, mama.Hey girl, I see you. The midnight Google spirals, the dramatic birth stories that left you spiraling, and that voice in y…
From 3cm to 10cm in One Hour: Our Student Gabi’s Birth Story | 250 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:06
Hey mamas! I am SO excited to share this episode with you. Today I’m chatting with Gabi, one of my Calm Labor Confident Birth students who also activated her Labor Bat Signal. She’s here to tell the raw, real story of br…
Baby Reflux Is Not Normal: What Every New Mom Needs to Know | 248 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:12
I got to sit down with Áine, the Baby Reflux Lady - a leading holistic expert in infant reflux, colic, and digestive discomfort. Drawing from her background in Traditional Chinese Medicine, nutrition, and her own journey…
Epidural or Unmedicated? How to Decide Without Regret | 245 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:03
Hey Mama! Ever caught yourself making a birth choice out of straight-up fear? Yeah, me too - with my first baby, needles had me running unmedicated without a clue. But here's the real talk: it's not about the pain or the…