Being 'favourable'

[manyhatson]

I've just got back from my last midwife appointment before I'm handed over to my hospital consultant. I'm 39+5 with #2 and asked the midwife for a sweep as I'm hoping for a VBAC and our hospital's policy is c/s at 41 weeks, and inductions only under very specific circumstances - I'd like to avoid both of those so I don't want to leave anything to chance more than I have to at the moment.

Anyway, my internal showed a high, closed, posterior cervix i.e. totally not ripe and her diagnosis was 'not favourable'. I can't hardly believe this as I've been waddling with baby's head part engaged for a good few weeks now. I've got piles and a sore tailbone so I can't hardly sit down and my pelvis creaks if I so much as stand up, so I kinda presumed that I would at least be ripening

Which gets me to wondering... How long did it take you from being 'unfavourable' (if you ever had an examination showing that) to being 'favourable' or even going into labour.

[chaya5738]

I am not at this stage yet to can't really answer (it is my first) but I am shocked that your hospital would automatically give you a C/S at 41 weeks and give you a C/S before an induction.

[manyhatson]

It's because I'm a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarian) and going overdue/induction causes extra strain on the scar and increases the liklihood of it rupturing. Policies vary from hospital to hospital, but mine's kinda standard from what I can gather.

[chaya5738]

Oh ok, I am a complete novice at this. Anyway, I hope things work out for you and that someone can give you some good advice.

[MrsHappy]

At 41 weeks they couldn't get a finger in to give me a sweep. At 41+4 I went into labour spontaneously.

TBH if I were you I would be asking them for stats on the increased risk of going past 41 weeks. This time I am a VBAC too and, since babies in my family take 41 weeks to cook (which is not unusual), I would be very concerned about that sort of blanket policy being applied to me.