Midwife said at sweep…

[Sleepdeprivedmamma]

Hello!

Im 37+3
i have to be induced next weekend as i suddenly have really high blood pressure and my placenta has started to slow down (they knew this from a blood test and then a scan that confirmed the placenta is starting to calcify).

terrified of an induction after two really good very very quick births with my first two, they were both a week overdue i feel like thats just when my body is ready so to force it at 39 weeks feels scary - but obviously whatever is safest for baby !

anyway went for a sweep today - as i suspected she said she couldnt really do it as i wasnt ready but that my cervix was soft and shortening ‘only has about 2cm left’ - what does that actually mean?

any positive induction stories?

Wasn't induced myself but couple of friends were and had good experiences - one said it was all fine and the other said it got very intense very quickly (you might be used to that though with quick births)

I've had two positive induction experiences, done for different reasons.

Wishing you and your baby all the best for a safe delivery and happy homecoming

My first was a fast birth at 39+4. Induced at 38+2 with my second and I didn't even have time to read my trashy mags that I'd brought with me. Only had the pessary, 40 mins from 2cm to holding my baby. Six hours form when pessary went in. Consultant said to pack for five days but if first birth was fast it wouldn't take long. Best of luck.

Oh and when the pessary went in I was a bishop score of 3 and very unfavourable!

thank you all so so much for replying! @Mandylovescandy @JollyGreenSnake @Redplenty

i really really really hope this is the case @Redplenty !

@Sleepdeprivedmamma I think odds are good - your body knows what to do and it's not super early!

I had an induction after a natural easy home birth and it was absolutely fine. I still felt on control, was given choices etc and had a straightforward birth with no interventions besides the pessary.
I wasn't very dilated (1cm) when I had it but had my baby 12 hours later.
Best wishes to you :-)

I had induction with all 4, with the last 3 my Bishops Score was 1 6 hours after the first pessary 🙄

All my deliveries were straightforward and unassisted.

I had an induction both times, very postive! you feel in control - take the relief if you feel you need it. Exciting times x

My induction was brilliant. I also had a sweep at a similar stage and when they put the pessary in said I was already dilated. I was holding my baby within hours.

You are classified as in labour from 4cm so I wonder if she means 2cm from being into 4cm

either way, good luck

First pessary did nothing
Contractions started about an hour or 2 after second pessary.
2 paracetamol, 2 codine, and 1 long hot bath, 1 baby 30mins after getting out the bath.

Sounds like your body is ready for labour anyway and since you have had quick labours before you are probably best to be in hospital.

Like @Redplenty, with DC2 I only had the pessary and things moved super quick from there.

I don't think so. Your cervix literally gets shorter as labour approaches, and once short also then dilates to leave a space in the middle (4cm diameter is active labour).

She maybe means your cervix is high up / closed still but coming down so it won't be long till it's "ripe" for labour.

If you see her again, ask her what that meant to be sure

DD1 was 12 days late.

DD2 was induced a week before my due date because of low amniotic fluid. The induction took a long time to get going. But... I went from doing puzzles with the odd sharp contraction (conversation stopping but not hugely painful) to baby in less than 2 hours. With DD1 I had been left in a room on my own with regular contractions - with DD2 there was always a midwife there and I was really supported. It was a much more positive experience.

Just remember to take a book (or books) to entertain you if it is a slow start.

All the best OP, hope everything goes well.

Another one here, waters broke at 38+2 but no contractions came so I went in for induction. The pessary was enough and I gave birth within 6 hours with no epidural or drip.

No sorry the induced labour is terrible labour don’t do it unless you have to.

She does have to so that's not helpful, is it? Engage your brain.

Sorry that you are going through this, I have had similar, my first 3 were natural born late but relatively quick labours (i.e. 40w, 41w, 40w) and my next two were induced. DC4 at 41w, high blood pressure, no signs of coming, 11lb baby. DC5 at 37w, already at 10lbs and was lying across womb with no sign of getting ready for being born and a concern due to "fast labour" and hypertension. Yep, ultimately, and unfortunately, I think you have to go in and just do it - get in a place where they can monitor everything and take good care of you. My two main problems were a) it hurts, and unfortunately, it sort of hurts continually (and differently) rather than the waves of pain from labour so I was not ready for it b) nobody believed I was in labour with DC4 - because I was in agony with the induction and had already called out for help many times with the pain ("crying wolf"), was not examined and then taken very late to the birthing suite (born 10 minutes later with zero chance of any pain intervention, not that I particularly needed it at that point). With DC5, they took me in when he was (finally) head down 37+4. I did at least know that it was going to hurt like that, struggled through it, and was taken in earlier to the birthing suite, and had an epidural and all sorts of interventions before he was born 3 weeks early, covered in vernix, and 9lb 2oz, but it was a better labour experience. My advice is, accept they have to do it, your safety and for your baby. Prepare that it is going to hurt a bit more, do whatever you can with pain relief, have an birthing partner there who will be patient, understands the situation, and will speak for you. (my OH was not that patient 🙄given I had already done it 3 times, and did not understand the difference) but most of all, don't be worried. I am sorry this isn't a more positive overall story, but DC5 was a lot better than DC4, and some sail through it, I am sure there will be other posters who will put your mind at rest. It will be fine in the end, wishing you the best xxxx

To help things keep going in the right direction, try and do plenty of low squats (every hour if possible) to get baby right down into the pelvis as often as possible.

Also walk as much as you can (even round the house!)

Also take plenty of dark relaxation time, warm baths if you like them, and stroke your belly and tell baby you’re ready now. I know it sounds mumbo jumbo but it helps to give your body encouragement/permission to start the birthing processes.

Be kind to yourself in whatever ways you need - I’m so excited for you, it’s going to be a beautiful birth, you’ve got this x

2 inductions here.
First- 42 weeks. A day of pessaries, nothing happening. New pessary inserted at about 11pm, my cervix was high and closed, no signs of labour, told to get some sleep and I'd have the drip the next day. An hour later I was 3cm, five hours later LO was here.

Second induction - a couple of days before due date as my placenta was calcifying and LO's movements slowed down. Pessaries, nothing happening. 1cm dilated on arrival but when I was checked in the night it had closed 😅. The next morning things for going and labour was less than an hour.

My longest/most painful delivery was my middle child, the only one I wasn't induced with.

2 inductions here. Both relatively straightforward and unassisted births. For the second one I got the balloon rather than the pessary and it was an absolute breeze so go for this if you have the option!

Been reading the great stories from OPs here, and I'm sorry mine was a bit negative (if realistic for me) xx.

Induction with dc1. Had my waters broken, contractions started, baby born 7 hours later.
My induced labour was completely straightforward.
Good luck!