Exactly as it says really! Anyone have this, and if you did did the sweep work or not? Not had anything else apart from some period-cramping (which has been going on for days) and some light pains and backache last night on the way home - not even the show that the consultant said I would get!
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notnowbernard ·
21/07/2011 12:57
Sorry to hear that 
Sweep with DC2 wasn't painful at all - a bit uncomfortable, but definitely bearable. Mw said it was a "good sweep", that everything looked "favourable"
The sweeps with DC3 OMG - v v painful. I think I knew then that it wouldn't 'work', IYKWIM - things obviously weren't ready (though I managed to avoid an induction by the skin of my teeth 
). Gave me tremendous backache, and yes I did feel a bit shitty afterwards
How overdue are you? Period like pain is a good sign though!
notnowbernard ·
21/07/2011 13:04
Oh, you've got lots of time yet then! [positive]
Poor you having a sweep at that stage though - no wonder it was painful for you
Good luck with your VBAC . Walk, walk, walk and get on that birthing ball!
TrinaLuciusMalfoy ·
21/07/2011 13:19
- Can't walk, hip is completely buggered
- Spent the last week on hands and knees scrubbing and deep-cleaning floors
- Stairs - see walking
- Pineapple - ate the gross national output of ... wherever grows pineapples in the last week
- Curry - Like it's going out of fashion. With pineapple in it too
- Sex - see walking. Also, as 'D'H kept me awake ALL last night with his snoring, he's not getting ANY for at least the next 24 hours
- Birthing ball - don't have one. Don't think my hip could stand me sitting on one :(
Sorry, this wasn't meant to be a 'Poor Trina' thread
OP posts:
notnowbernard ·
21/07/2011 13:25
Tell you what, I'll send you some positive mental vibes
Don't apologise, the end of pg is horrible. I'll look out for your birth announcement
How exciting!
Catsycat ·
21/07/2011 13:35
Hi Trina. Did you have CS last time because you didn't go into labour / progress? I only ask because I didn't go into labour with DD1, had a failed induction and emcs. I wanted a VBAC with DD2, and had sweeps from 37 weeks, about 6 in total, as there is research that suggests early / repeated sweeps can be helpful for women who have previously had problems going into labour. The idea is that it works gradually, rather than being an instant fix. They won't do this in my local PCT, so I sneaked into the next county to have it done! I wondered if this might explain the early sweep?
I'm sorry it was so uncomfortable for you. I had one sweep with DD1 at 41wks, done by a horrid mw with very short fingers, on my very soft sofa. I was left shaking afterwards, (and she wrote a semi-pornographic and rather unprofessional description of the inside of my fanjo in my notes, which made the mw on my second pg laugh her head off!). In contrast, the mw I was under with DD2 was much more forceful (pressing down on my bump, really getting her hand in there ) but it was mildly uncomfortable rather than painful. I did go into labour at 42 weeks, but had major decelerations in DD2's heartrate, so went for another emcs -- her cord turned out to be round her neck. I didn't get a show until I started early labour 2 days before the birth, about 4 or 5 weeks after the first sweep (it was still coming out the next day - LOADS of it 
).
I was told to do anything to increase the baby's head pressing on my cervix - the mw even suggested star jumps! Would second the birth ball / walking advice (star jumps were not good with my pg G cups).
Do you think the back pain and cramps might be some very early signs that things are moving? Did they give you a score on the Bishop scale when they examined you before the sweep?
My first CS was really traumatic, but the second one was completely and utterly different, the recovery was much faster, and I would go so far as to say was the most positive hospital experience I have ever had, even though I had desperately wanted a VBAC and have a phobia regarding hospital procedures. Knowing what was what with it really did make a difference for me, it was much less frightening.
I can fully understand you wanting to avoid major surgery if you can reasonably do so (even if the first CS went well), so I hope things move along for you soon - you still have lots of time (and sorry for the long waffly post).
TrinaLuciusMalfoy ·
21/07/2011 16:19
Catsy no, not at all! I put the trauma in quote marks purely because I was quoting :)
Planned CS is because consultant has been very pro-VBAC from the get-go, but I did not want to be induced if I went over. I talked it over with him last night and he accepted my decision and was quite happy to agree to the date. It gives me enough time to go into labour naturally if I'm going to but also doesn't let me go far enough over that he's going to worry about the VBAC attempt. I'm just happy they're letting me go to term! Mum had me (her first) by EMCS and they absolutely point-blank refused to let her attempt natural birth, wouldn't let her go past 38 weeks for DD2. She had to fight every step of the way to have DD4 at just under 40 weeks, they were determined she couldn't carry to term (even though I was born at 40+11). They told her after section #4 that everything was in such good nick she could have carried another 6 to term... (not what she wanted to hear!)
Glad your experiences haven't put you off it for good - a friend of mine managed a natural birth a few months ago and has said never again! Funnily enough, one of the few things I remember saying within the first couple of hours after DD was born was something about 'next time' - odd how the brain works!
I've booked tickets for DH and I to go and see Harry Potter tomorrow night, at 7.45pm. I'm tempted to get a book going on how soon labour will start before/after the film starts
OP posts:
Catsycat ·
21/07/2011 16:50
Oh good (relieved)!!!
Enjoy the film - a bit of wizard-based excitement might start things off.... probably better than pineapple
TrinaLuciusMalfoy ·
21/07/2011 16:58
I'm going with the Sod's Law approach to induction: having laid out £20 to go to the cinema guaranteed I won't get to see the film
And if that doesn't work, DH has a dr's appointment on Tuesday he may end up cancelling. Considering doing an online shop for a day next week too...
OP posts:
TrinaLuciusMalfoy ·
21/07/2011 20:04
Haha! Might take some painkillers with me (or before I go in) just so I can tolerate anything that kicks off
OP posts:
DitaVonCheese ·
21/07/2011 20:25
Good luck! I had a sweep yesterday afternoon and felt really sick by the evening - I googled (obviously) and it can be a sign of early labour, but like all early labour signs can mean that labour is about to start within hours, days or weeks 
Felt rough as yesterday evening as well, though partly because I have mild PGP and had to run after escaping toddler DD then carry her back to the car then do supermarket shop - not a good combination on top of a sweep at 40+3.
Blowjobs are supposed to be at least as effective as sex for getting things going - I googled this quite extensively last time before um committing myself because it makes no sense at all but possibly worth a go? Nipple stimulation was about the only thing that had any effect for me last time though (went 12 days over :() though did set off random monster contractions rather than nice orderly regular ones.
TrinaLuciusMalfoy ·
21/07/2011 20:43
Dita Tried the bj idea last time, had no effect, DH's not getting that lucky again I'm contemplating getting the breast pump out and giving that a try - boobs are SO sore at the moment I leap out of my skin when I brush my nipples with my arm, so can't think that getting help in that department is going to be superhappyfuntime :(
OP posts:
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cupofteaplease ·
21/07/2011 20:48
I had a sweep with dd1 around 4pm. I got backache almost straight away followed by dark, bloody discharge. Can't remember feeling sick though. My waters broke at just gone midnight and dd1 was born (by EMCS after undiagnosed breech) 13 hours later. Good luck!
del1 ·
21/07/2011 21:02
I had a sweep with my 2nd when I was 2 days over due - at 4pm .
Midwife said my cervix was 'favourable'. I had some blood, and she said I might feel a bit crampy afterwards.
I spent the whole night feeling sick and just rough really!
Anyway, when I got up at 7am, I started getting contractions thick and fast.
DD was born than morning at 10am!!
I will defo be having one this time around
DitaVonCheese ·
21/07/2011 21:07
Tbh after everything I tried last time I'm now convinced that nothing works until the damn baby's ready. This time I'm not really bothering other than obsessing on the internet (which is what I was doing last time when my contractions finally started ). Otoh it did help pass the time last time ...
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