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Childbirth

Artificial Rupture of Membranes (ARM) to start labour - can anyone talk me through the process?

8 replies

Pixielady83 · 08/03/2014 10:49

I'm being induced tomorrow by ARM/breaking waters. I was assessed yesterday and they say the cervix is favourable for this although it's very far back at the moment. Due to it being so far back (dr could barely reach at first!) the examination yesterday was much more painful than those I've had in previous pregnancies and they ended up giving me gas and air for the sweep which was also pretty brutal.

I'm quite nervous about the ARM process, will they give me gas and air? I'm worried about them getting the hook in the right place if my cervix is so far back! (I know this sounds ridiculous!). I had difficulty understanding the Dr yesterday and they were so busy they didn't go into much detail about what the process will involve, just said, yes that's what we will do come back Sunday and I was feeling too traumatised by the sweep to remember to ask questions about the next bit. So if anyone can talk me through it I would be grateful! It would just be useful to know how much more uncomfortable it is going to be than sweep etc so I can brave myself.

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Pixielady83 · 08/03/2014 10:50

That should finish brace myself but brave probably applies also Grin

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Fluffalump · 08/03/2014 10:57

I had this with last dd. I went in first thing and just took my trousers off, doctor came in and popped them very easily I really didn't feel anything she used a little hook thing so it wasn't painful at all, nothing like the sweep I had had the week before that made me cry and was awful, there was a huge whoosh and she jumped off the bed....it went with a real wave effect. Midwife brought more towels and cleaned it up and then I got dressed and went for a coffee and a walk about.around two hours later my labour started and it really ramped up quite quickly.

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Pixielady83 · 08/03/2014 11:11

Thanks fluff- that doesn't sound as bad as I was expecting! I was surprised at just how bad I found the sweep yesterday, thought my pain threshold was higher than that so have been worried the waters breaking will be much worse.

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carrielou2007 · 08/03/2014 11:49

Mine just like that like a tidal wave Wink not painful at all nothing like a sweep shudders at memory had ARM for dc1 and dc3 dc2 they went about a minute before he shot out and literally soaked the midwife who was telling me off that I was pushing before she could examine me Grin

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SpinningFates · 08/03/2014 15:02

Pixielady83 - I am sorry you were treated so cruelly during your sweep. There is really no excuse for your treatment. A sweep should not be so painful that you need G&A. I am shocked by the doctor's callousness. If your cervix is so far back, I would reconsider ARM.

If you decide to go ahead and before you get yourself ready for the procedure, please talk to the MW or doctor. Don't be rushed into anything because they are "too busy".

Good luck.

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Pixielady83 · 08/03/2014 15:33

spinning that was my instinct - that if the cervix was that far back ARM wasn't appropriate but the Dr seems to think that the cervix is favourable in other ways. If I don't give this a go I'm straight to section for various other reasons though and I do want to try everything before section..

I did find the sweep quite violating to be honest, but I haven't had one before so I didn't know if they were always that horrible. Plus I've never had an examination by a male Dr so think that may have contributed to my discomfort, he didn't have a very good bedside manner to say the least. My examinations in my last labour were done by a female Dr or midwife and were no where near as painful. I was already in labour at that point though and my cervix was probably in a far more accessible location though.

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Pixielady83 · 14/03/2014 13:07

Just wanted to update- had the baby on Sunday Smile

On reflection I would not recommend ARM if your cervix is as far back/posterior as mine was, it was absolute agony. However it did establish my labour and the contractions were manageable for the most part. I didn't progress past 7cm however and ended up with an emergency section. I'm not sure if the failure to progress was influenced by the original position of the cervix or the baby's position or what. It could just be because I was on continuous monitoring after 7cm and they didn't let me move around as much because it affected the trace.

Don't regret trying vbac but if I were to face the same situation again I would opt for a nice calm planned section!

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SpinningFates · 14/03/2014 18:54

Congratulations Thanks

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