Late Pregnancy: What to Expect & When Labor Might Begin

Question
I'm 32, and this is my first pregnancy. 1st day of last cycle was 12/29/04. I passed my due date 5 days ago...Doc said my cervix is softening and something about being at least 50% effaced. I've had no contractions and no dilation. I'm scheduled to have an ultrasound  and fetal monitoring test in 2 days. When will I go into labor? Why's it taking so long? Will I have to be induced? Is there anything that's safe and effective I can do to stimulate labor? Or was my due date incorrect? I'm so ready to have this baby! Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer
Usually, for the first pregnancy, you may not go into labor until up to two weeks past your due date. As long as the fetal heartbeat remains good, and your non-stress tests and biophysical profile is O.K., you can safely wait until 42 weeks before you must be induced.  When you start to have contractions every 3 minutes (from the beginning of one contractiob to the beginning of the next contraction) at the level of your belly button, and each contraction remains hard for at least 45 seconds, then you are   considered to be in labor. Be patient. It will start.