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Childbirth

Please give me hope! Did anyone have an unfavourable cervix at 41 weeks and go into labour naturally?

33 replies

mummabubs · 14/10/2017 17:44

I'm 41 weeks today and have been for my second stretch and sweep. I had my first on Thursday, and the student midwife who performed it said that although my cervix was posterior and not effaced it was "very soft, 1cm dilated and definitely labourable". The midwife at the hospital today was surprised I'd been told this and said my cervix is definitely unfavourable. She said to be honest the chance of me going into labour in the next 48 hours is virtually zilch and fully expects me to need the two additional sweeps she's booked for Monday and Wednesday next week. (Induction booked for Friday).

I'm beyond gutted and have been very tearful since the appointment. Baby is well engaged and in the right place so feel like it's my body letting us down. I've been really hoping for a low-intervention water birth on the MLU so being induced is something I'd really, really like to avoid. I feel right now like I might as well kiss my original birth dream goodbye and accept I'll probably have to have a much longer, more intense stay in a very clinical hospital environment and need more interventions.

.... Can anyone brighten my day by telling me that they were told their cervix was unfavourable at 41 weeks but still went into labour naturally before 42 weeks? (After 42 weeks even if I go naturally I can't have my MLU birth). Thanks in advance!

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FlaviaAlbia · 14/10/2017 17:51

Yes, I did, I was told no chance at my first sweep, I'm not sure it was even low enough to check.

I had an induction booked for the last possible day they'd do it and went into labour the day before that.

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mummabubs · 14/10/2017 17:52

Thank you so much @FlaviaAlbia, I really needed to hear that it might not be as doom and gloom as that appointment left me feeling!

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sunshine8 · 14/10/2017 17:53

Yes I have. I had my second sweep at 41weeks and cried afterwards as I knew it wasnt going to do anything and I also didn't want to be induced.

After a few days of absoultely nothing I just made peace with the fact I was going to be induced. Then the night before I was due to go into hospital my contractions started. Baby eventually came out at 41 + 6.

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FlaviaAlbia · 14/10/2017 17:55

I hear you, I cried after my sweep, I hated it and then being told there was no hope was gutting.

I'd go though labour in a heartbeat rather than have a sweep again!

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Pootlebug · 14/10/2017 18:01

I have had 3 kids. For my first and third I was told they couldn't even attempt a sweep as my cervix was in no way ready. Both times babies arrived within 48 hours of said failed attempt at a sweep (at 41 weeks and 40+12 respectively). 2nd one arrived on due date.

All of my labours were characterised by cervix not doing much for ages then quickly dilating after lots of contractions. I'm obviously just made like that and you may well be too

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Pootlebug · 14/10/2017 18:03

On the third baby the midwife said 'this baby is not coming any time soon'. 16 hours later she had arrived

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mummabubs · 14/10/2017 18:17

Thank you ladies, this is exactly what I needed to hear. It seems that in general (i.e. My friends who (lucky buggers) all had favourable cervixes at this stage) people tend to go into labour the night before their induction dates... it's as if the body subconsciously knows but leaves it til the last nail-biting minute! I'm feeling now like there might still be some hope of things happening naturally, which would be amazing.

Have to say in fairness to the stretch and sweeps I'd heard horror stories beforehand and I didn't even feel the first one. Todays was definitely less comfortable but I wouldn't say painful... fingers crossed the next two are equally as tolerable if I need them!

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Lizardtoes · 15/10/2017 00:48

You do not have to be induced, they cannot make you! I home birthed my dd2 18 days late after refusing induction and opting for expectant management. They use language like "we won't let you go over" but you have rights. I suggest you read up on the aims website and the positive birth movement website about post dates babies if you would like to avoid induction.

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mummabubs · 15/10/2017 08:32

I completely hear you @Lizardtoes, I did Daisy Birthing Classes so am very aware that the language medical professionals use often indicates that we have no choice... but we do! (I've already declined an EVC at 36 weeks, which was documented in my notes as me "refusing" and then doctors said I'd "have" to be admitted, thankfully baby had turned of their own accord so I avoided that battle!) The choice for me feels a bit trickier after 42 weeks- I wouldn't be allowed to have a water birth or be midwife-led due to my trust's policy and I've got family history of stillbirth with both my grandmothers so after 42 weeks if it didn't look like baby was going to come soon I don't know how long over I'd feel comfortable waiting... hopefully it won't come to that!

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daisyrosie · 15/10/2017 17:15

Good luck mummabubs! I’m in a similar situation to you, 41+1 today and due my second sweep on Tuesday, so it’s comforting to know that it can happen naturally even if it feels like it’s taking forever!

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mummabubs · 15/10/2017 17:33

Aww so were you due on the 7th too then @daisyrosie? I keep trying to remind myself that up to 42 weeks is perfectly normal and that first time mums apparently can experience very quick changes to the cervix so it might look bad right up until labour starts! Plus I hadn't realised this at all, but I've learnt from reading that the term "unfavourable cervix" only relates to induction- so the changes of you being successfully induced are slim if your cervix is unfavourable... it has no bearing whatsoever on the likelihood of you going into labour naturally. As soon as I'd read that several times I felt much better. 😊 Hope you see some changes soon and have your little one out with you! X

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daisyrosie · 16/10/2017 09:19

Hi @mummabubs, yes I was due on 7th too! He’s still comfortable in there today so will see what my MW says tomorrow. That’s interesting to know about favourable/unfavourable cervix relating to induction, I always thought it was to do with labour. I will ask her if it’s worth postponing induction and having monitoring instead as I think Hospital may have got my dates wrong anyway. Either way, I can’t wait for bubs to be here!

Hope you’re feeling ok and don’t have to wait much longer! What is the plan for you? I guess your Hospital won’t want to wait much longer than Friday?

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daisyrosie · 16/10/2017 09:25

Just seen you have sweeps booked today and Wednesday- hope they work for you. Good luck 🙂

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mummabubs · 16/10/2017 09:28

You're right @daisyrosie, they don't! I've got to go in for s&s number 3 this morning, I want to ask them if there's any chance whatsoever that I could still give birth on the MLU if I go into labour naturally at 42 weeks or 42+1. (Apparently health board policy here is to "not let" you go over 40+13, which seems a tad silly to me given that anything up to 42 weeks is supposed to be completely within the remit of normal gestation right?) They've booked me in for induction on Friday despite me already saying that I'd rather give myself an extra couple of days with monitoring... they seem to adopt the approach here of 'doesn't matter if you don't consent now, we'll book you anyway and then you can refuse on the day'!! 🙈

I think a lot of people interpret the "unfavourable" term as being in relation to labour... I certainly did! Fingers crossed your MW appointment goes ok. 😊 X

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mummabubs · 16/10/2017 09:29

Meant to ask if they've already booked you in for induction too?

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Thishatisnotmine · 16/10/2017 09:35

Went for my second sweep (41+1) with dd2 and mw still could not reach my cervix, when she just about managed said it was closed and booked my inductuon. I gave birth about 12 hours later, completly spontaneous and very quickly!

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mummabubs · 16/10/2017 09:40

Loving your experience @Thishatisnotmine, I'm adding it to my optimism bank in my head that it might not come down to induction, thank you! 😊

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PsychoPumpkin · 16/10/2017 09:40

My second child. Two sweeps, nothing doing, but went into labour naturally at 41 + 5.

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PotteringAlong · 16/10/2017 09:42

I did! Induced with dc1 and 3 but dc2 I went into labour with naturally the morning I was meant to be induced at 41+5

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daisyrosie · 16/10/2017 10:14

@mummabubs yes, it’s definitely worth asking about the MLU if that’s where you’ll be most comfortable. I’ve been reading the Positive Birth book by Milli Hill, which I’ve found really useful. It basically emphasises that you do have choices in Birth. With induction they will offer it between 41-42 weeks due to the increased risk of stillbirth, but although they tell you the risk doubles after 42wks, the actual risk is very low - (around 1 in 1000 in Wk41 and 2 in 1000 in Wk43. Do you could ask for monitoring whilst waiting for your booked induction if you wanted to, for example.

My Midwife is planning to book my induction tomorrow, probably for Friday too unless the hospital is busy, so I’m going to discuss my concerns with her then regarding induction.

Whatever happens, we will have our babies soon! Good luck for your birth, I hope everything goes well for you x

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annlee3817 · 16/10/2017 22:07

My friend was told that hers was unfavourable and the midwife couldn't reach it. She was also told that baby wasn't engaged. Her waters broke naturally the following day and her DS arrived seven hours after that. Fingers crossed for you.

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goose1964 · 16/10/2017 22:35

At 41 + 3 I was induced, cervix high thick gave birth that afternoon

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daisyrosie · 22/10/2017 13:59

Just a quick update for anyone interested...I ended up going into labour the evening of 17th October following the second sweep. I had the first contractions around 5pm, went to MLU at around 1am. Baby boy was born by EMCS weighing 8lb 9oz at 2037 on 18th October following failure to progress as baby had turned transverse. My labour was manageable throughout and I managed on Tens and g&a until I was given the spinal for c section. So although it didn’t go to plan it was a good experience, and the staff were all brilliant.

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PsychoPumpkin · 22/10/2017 23:41

Oh how lovely, congratulations Flowers

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daisyrosie · 28/10/2017 21:51

How are you doing @mummabubs? I hope your birth went well xx

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