Stupid woman, that's nonsense! (I'm talking about the midwife, not you). Go to your GP. Ask to be referred to a physio - preferably a maternity physio but at this point take any kind. They can give you what they feel you need, be it exercises, support belt or crutches.
If you get crutches and you want a water birth make sure the hospital has a hoist. If it doesn't, leave the crutches at home!!!!!! Otherwise they won't let you use the pool
Take all the spare duvets in the house and put them on top of your mattress to cushion your hips at night. It won't stop the pain but it should mean you can stay in one position longer before waking up in pain. By the end I was waking up every 45 minutes and only getting a few hours sleep a night
On the plus side, once my baby was here I got loads more sleep
Look at this leaflet:
http://www.acpwh.org.uk/docs/ACPWH-PGP_Pat.pdf
It will give you all the information the phyio will (it's the leaflet the physio gave me).
After my 38 week appointment it took me 45 minutes to walk home on crutches - normally it's a 3 minute walk!!! Never has my flat seemed so far away and that was the last time I left the flat except to get to a car until I was in labour. The midwife wouldn't do a sweep until my next appointment which was at 40+4 which was a day earlier than they would usually do and they considered that to be a big favour and early. Baby didn't arrive for another 5 days though.
as for the sweep what about getting your o/h to do it for you 
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