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Childbirth

pessary

19 replies

themumfairy · 08/01/2016 14:44

I'm having a sweep Monday at 37 weeks as baby is not growing as well as before.
If nothing the following Monday I'll be going in for a pessary. I've been told It lasts 24 hours but I can't have another after so due to section with ds1 so I'll then be put on the drip. I had the drip with ds2 and it worked a dream so that is my preference.
Does anyone want to share their stories of the pessary? I wish I was having the drip first instead but never mind.

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3littlebadgers · 08/01/2016 15:19

If you have had the drip before, can't they just start you with the drip?
I am going for a sweep at 37 weeks and then induction the following week and they have said the plan of action will be to try and break the waters first, if not then pessary and then drip. Hope it all goes well for you (and the sweep just does the trick on it's own). Flowers

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themumfairy · 08/01/2016 17:35

That would make more sense. Confused
Sounds like we have almost the same plan. I don't know anyone who's had a pessary so I'm not really sure of its effectiveness. I've got to be at the hospital for 10 am and won't be coming home until baby is here. I really wanted to labour at home but I doubt I'll get to now unless this first sweep works. Fingers crossed. How many weeks are you

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Littlemissjt · 08/01/2016 17:45

I had it and it didn't work for me. I actually had 3 rounds, one every 6 hours, but my friend who's a midwife in a different NHS trust didn't know if this as hers is a one off 24 hr one. I ended up getting my waters broke and the drip. Sorry, not particularly helpful post.

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Littlemissjt · 08/01/2016 17:48

Forgot to say, hope you both have nice quick inductions Smile

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YouBastardSockBalls · 08/01/2016 17:55

I had 2 pessaries, also had a previous section. I didn't want to go straight to the drip not dilated at all, the pessary starts you more gently.
I just told them that's what I wanted, they said no, then the doctor came round and said yes.

Neither pessary did anything though, I was still only 1cm. They then said I could either have my waters broken or go on the drip. After much talking with doctors and midwives I went straight to section instead.

If the first methods of induction fail, there's a reason. I did SO MUCH research and I wanted a vbac so badly, but my body just was not responding at all and I felt it would be unwise to force an unnatural labour which would then have a high chance of ending in section anyway.

Hope it works for you though! I know a few people who've had it with good results.

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3littlebadgers · 08/01/2016 18:12

Hi thefairymum I'm 35+3 I have my 36 week scan on Tuesday. I'm being induced early because of a full term stillbirth in March. My anxiety is rising by the day so I'm hoping come Tuesday they'll decide to move it forward a little.

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Melmam · 08/01/2016 19:23

Hi I had pissary 7 weeks ago and it worked for me I got the pissary at 11.30 am and got my first contraction at 14.00 gave birth to my son at 21.51. I think it all depends on the woman and if baby is ready I was 40+4. Hope all goes well for you both ladies keep us updated x

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Looserella · 08/01/2016 19:28

I had a pessary at 11am, baby born 8:30pm. I was almost 38 weeks with first child.

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Littlef00t · 08/01/2016 19:51

Pessary is good because they can take it out if it starts the contractions. I had one and started quickly. They took it out and my contractions became less full-on a while after.

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Doublebubblebubble · 08/01/2016 19:57

I had a pessary "propess" with ds (12 weeks)as he was 12 days late. it got me to 4cms (put in at 3:30 - 4cms by 11ish, contractions started at about 8pm) I eventually got to 7cms in l&d but regressed back to 5cms (apparently quite common with it) so I ended up with an emcs x I found the contractions with it to be very much more intense than the contractions with DD6 who's birth was very much spontaneous and easy.

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themumfairy · 08/01/2016 20:46

Thankyou all, fingers crossed it works for me. The drip with ds2 took me 6 hours to reach 10 cm so that would be my choice but I've got to trust my consultant.
They said 24 hours and in that time they will try and break my waters. I'll keep you updated but I'm hoping labor will start before

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wanderingwondering · 08/01/2016 20:51

First time I had the pessary it did fuck all apart from hurting more than the actual labour. It was horrible
2nd time it kick started the labour within a couple of hours and didn't notice as much discomfort.

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Shootingstar2289 · 08/01/2016 21:53

Wow, I was told I could not be induced at all after a previous c-section. Bizarre how all hospitals have different rules.

Anyway, the drip can only be given without a pessary first if you are already progressing yourself.

The pessary starts things off by ripening and thinning your cervix.. I think.

I had it with my first. Not a lot happened in the 24 hours but it can start of labour for some ladies. Especially if you have given birth before.

I had the pessary then waters broke/drip and ended up with a c-section as my son was a stubborn monkey and still is lol

With my second. I was told either start on my own or another c-section. Daughter didn't want to come out naturally either so another c-section.

Good luck with it all! Smile

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themumfairy · 09/01/2016 09:41

I think every hospital is different star.
I was induced using the drip 2 years after emergency section. They didn't even seem concerned then. I never refused another section that time, in fact they pushed me towards the vbac (which I'm glad they did)
It's been nearly 9 years since my section now. I'd prefer to go in and have the drip instead of pessary but I've been having a few twinges since last night so I'm hoping labour will start on its own or with the help of the sweep Monday.

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Julieb85 · 11/01/2016 20:52

I had the pessary at 6pm and was in labour by 8pm...fully dilated by midnight! Sound like I was lucky!

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frangipani13 · 15/01/2016 21:03

I had the pessary and started contractions within an hour! They came very hard and fast so they took it out after a few hours. However my cervix dialated vv slowly and I was put on the drip... it was too much for me pain wise so after 17 hours I opted for an epi. Baby was born by forceps 21 hours from start to finish.

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Leighmarie123 · 18/01/2016 17:40

My hosp had a new policy of early induction for women of 40. I'd turned 40 6 weeks before my due date so was pestered to have it. I managed to avoid it (with monitoring) until week 40 at which point I had the pessary. It hurt like hell!!!! I must've been close to going into labour naturally as I had the pessary at 7.30am and was in labour and waters had broken within the hour. Got my husband to get the midwife, who said "I don't think so, it's awfully quick!" Then a consultant came and said I should be in the delivery room! The contractions were almost unbearable because she'd not removed the pessary and I was being over stimulated. Due second child in 4 weeks. They're pushing for induction again, I really don't want it 😟

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scoobydooagain · 18/01/2016 17:48

I had pessary back of 9am, baby 11.30am, but I thought I was having contractions when I got the pessary. Only other intervention was morphine (they did not realise how close the baby was), no stitches, so my experience positive but not convinced it would not have been the same without the pessary. I was 40 + 13

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Mummymidwife87 · 20/01/2016 21:18

It's highly unlikely that they will start the drip without breaking your waters first as it tends to be ineffective. The pessarybis there to favour your cervix for labour.. Thins it out, softens it, makes the position for favourable.

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