Yet again it looks like I am going to miss out on a spontaneous labour and need an induction. Please cheer me with your "no signs of action, to established labour within hours" stories.

[artichokes]

I really, really do not want another induction after my horrendous induction and labour with DD1. However, I am booked in on Saturday and due to health and practical constraints I cannot put it off anymore.

Today I had my third sweep. The doctor said I have a Bishop's Score of 6 but that she expects I will not have had the baby by Saturday. I am a little confused by that as I thought a score of 6 was pretty promising. However, I am not having any tightenings and I do not feel like anything is happening.

Please tell me that some people manage to go from nothing to everything really quickly. I can't stand the idea of another long, monitored labour and I really wanted a "going into labour" story. For some reason that is really important to me.

[FrannyandZooey]

i would have another sweep on thurs
don't see why you can't go into labour by sat - doctor is just guessing

good luck
would you try anything alternative? reflexology etc?
raspberry leaf extract - stronger than the tea - from alternative health shop

[clayre]

when i was overdue with dc2 the midwife done a sweep at 1 pm in the afternoon and said i was nowhere near labour and she booked me in for an induction 48 hours later, at midnight that night my waters broke, contractions started 45 mins later then ds was born 45 mins after contractions started, hope that helps

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

'due to health and practical constraints'

What are they?

[StopSittingOnTheTinselPlease]

Can't help on this thread but I'm lined up for the "Got to have induction - anyone got any positive stories?" one.

[AndaGrouchyBahHumbugtoyou]

Reflexology worked for me with DS

HTH and good luck and all the best

[artichokes]

Thats the kind of story Clayre - thanks!

Alternative remedies are a good idea. Is reflexology the best option? More effective than acupucture?

The constraints that mean I will have to be induced on Saturday (40+10 according to Dr, 40+8 according to me) are:

Health constraints - I had pre-eclampsia last time. Although I have avoided it this time my BP is creeping up and making the doctors jumpy.

Practical constraints - christmas. It is the first christmas that DD1 has been properly conscious of. She is soooo excited and if I am hospitalised or in labour over christmas she will be very sad (and might resent the baby?).

[goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh]

no real advice (although I miracously went into spontaneous labour 3rd time round - never done it before lol).

However you don't have to be montiroed heavily - I wasn't for DS3's a labour - they just checked regularly with a doppler (so totally non-instrusive) to listen to him, and that was despite the fact I've had a previous CS, and that DS2's birth was a VBAC - but induced so heavily monitored.

I told them no, and I'm certain that was the reason his birth was 1000000's time better than my previous two.

[ThreeShipsComesailingin]

I had an awful induction first time. Was booked in for induction at 8am for dc2 - had sex the evening before, started contractions at 4.30 am and dd2 popped out out 10.20am. Home for lunch. It can happen to you too!

Best of luck...

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

LOL Fair enough. You do know that stress can inhibit the onset of labour?

Is your DD young enough to pretend to her that christmas is a couple of days later than it is if necessary?

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

Stick an evening primrose oil capsule close to your cervix, let it disolve, then have sex with lots of nipple stimulation.

Good luck.

[whyme2]

The consultant who tried to send me home because my cervix was tight and posterior (sp), apparently means labour is a long way off. DS was born 6 hours later. The midwife examined me on a Friday when i was already 6 days late and said she couldn't reach to do a sweep. DD was born 2 days later in a rush.
Does this help??
Was also booked in for induction with DD2, she was born 24 hours before my appt.

Good luck.

[LazyLinePainterJane]

I saw a consultant at 41+1, cervix posterior. Had a sweep. Had not experienced anything at all until then. Baby born that night after 3 hours start to finish labour.

[orangehead]

Apparently eating pineapple is supposed to be good. But it has to be fresh not canned because it is the enzyme in it. With ds2 I ate a whole pineapple,(was nearly sick)then went into labour that night. I friend of mine was also booked in for an induction and the day before as a last resort ate a pineapple and again she went into labour that night. Also sex and nipple stimulation

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

My cervix was VERY posterior when I was in labour in th the mlu screaming my head off being chased around by a mw with a pethidine injection.

I was 3/5 palpable 45 before dd was born. (probably had posterior cervix then too, but since internal examinations for previous birth only led to not being taken seriously I refused them for second)

hth

[needmorecoffee]

I went to 42 weeks and went into labour when I'd go into the hospital to have the placenta scanned to check everything was ok. No sweep or poking. 7 hours labour.

[artichokes]

Keep these stories coming! They are very encouraging.

Why was the doctor so pessimistic when my cervix is 2cm dilated, less than 1cm long and midway between anterior and posterior??? (I think maybe because it was in a similar state 7 days ago - although it was totally posterior then).

Have tried sex and we just can't work out how to make it work at this stage .

I have some evening primrose capsules so will try one of them. Is there any risk of infection from the capsule going up there?

[SixSpotBurnet]

artichokes, can you try acupuncture?

If it helps, my experience with DS2 was as follows:

Saturday - 5 days overdue, feel fine, nothing happening, no signs of labour, go shopping to John Lewis on Oxford St. Come home on joggly routemaster bus carrying vast amounts of new bedding (surprisingly heavy, bedding)

4.30 p.m. - waters break all over kitchen floor

6.30 p.m. - in established labour

8.17 p.m. - DS2 born

[StarlightWonderStarlightBright]

Apparently the capsules soften the cervix and make it more open to receiving the chemicals in the sperm. So you should do the two together if you can. No idea if it is true.

[FrannyandZooey]

i would only think of your health and the baby's health tbh
don't second guess the christmas thing
i gave birth at home but later ds2 and i were hospitalised for 10 days - i would imagine induction more likely to lead to longer hospital stay for both of you
allow this pg to take its course if you are able to do that safely

[tibni]

ds was 12 days overdue. I was booked for induction (dd was induced due to pre -eclampsia) on day 14. Woke up feeling rather ratty, refused any offers of help with dd or babysitting for me! Felt constipated, pushed on toilet and waters broke - had to 999, I was fully dilated and head had crowned by the time I reached hospital.

I was so convinced it wouldn't happen that I had sent dh to introduce himself to his team at his new job an hours drive away be- nearly missed the birth!

[tibni]

ds was 12 days overdue. I was booked for induction (dd was induced due to pre -eclampsia) on day 14. Woke up feeling rather ratty, refused any offers of help with dd or babysitting for me! Felt constipated, pushed on toilet and waters broke - had to 999, I was fully dilated and head had crowned by the time I reached hospital.

I was so convinced it wouldn't happen that I had sent dh to introduce himself to his team at his new job an hours drive away be- nearly missed the birth!

[VinoEsmeralda]

Would second acupuncture- With DS my waters broke but no contractions and was booked in for induction 12 hours later. Acupuncturist came to our house and set the needles and everytime she turned them a contraction would start, half an hour of her arriving I was in labour, DS born 8 hours later at home

Where about are you?

[tibni]

Oh my first double post! Feel like i'm a real mumsnetter now

[artichokes]

I am in London. Do you know a good acupucturist or reflexologist in London? I just called my local natural health clinic but they did not fill me with confidence.

[FrannyandZooey]

you have probably been told oral sex more effective to induce labour?

i did have a positive story i suppose - had a sweep on monday (40 + 10)- nothing doing - all closed
another on wednesday (40+12) - midwife told dp not to go to work the next day! ds2 born friday morning