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?

All 3 of my babies were induced around 37-38 weeks because of blood pressure problems. All fine. First one took a long time. Second baby they were able to break my waters straight away and he was born 20 minutes later. Dh missed it because he was at the shop, assuming it would take hours for anything to happen.

Good luck. I hope all goes well for you.

She does have to do it. Her placenta is failing

Exactly. And there is so much fear factor around inductions that it really doesn't help.
We are so used to medical interventions that we forget two of the most dangerous things you can do is be born, and give birth.

Op calm and all will be fine 🙂

DC 3 & 4 were both delivered quickly after waters went even though DC3 was ARM.

DC4 was 2 weeks overdue (DC3 induction on due date was I have naturally very long pregnancies I'd easy be a 43 weeker) my waters broke they checked straight away and I was 8cm, the crowned, then delivered so official labour was 1 minute 🤣

It means your body is showing signs of being ready but not ready enough to birth soon naturally. Although in reality it means absolutely nothing really. Nothing to say baby couldn't come soon.

I was told just before my due date at sweep that I was very favourable and she did the sweep, told me I'd probably be having a baby very soon maybe even that night/next day. Well over a week later I was well overdue and had to be induced!

Inductions aren't always slow, awful and painful. Yes mine was and ended up in emcs but my sil delivered within 5hrs start to finish!

DC3 was induced at 38w, after 2 SVD (DC1 was 9 days overdue and DC2 came day after due date).

I had niggles immediately after pessary went in but for 22 hours they were manageable. Then labour kicked off properly and baby arrived within an hour.

Due to timings - my induction didn't start until midnight in the end - I was away from my older 2 for two nights.

Best of luck!

I got induced 39+5 and she was out 12 hours later. Needed a blood transfusion but I was fine, probably cause my labour was really quick it shocked my body a bit they said. Not sure if this is different for second babies.

But she doesn't have to. Asking for a section is perfectly valid other option.

All that it is saying is that your cervix is about 2cm long at that time, and that's meaningless when trying to predict how quickly you will labour. A cervix can change quickly, and it's individual how you will react to the prostaglandins given during an induction.

On a.oersonal.note I've had three births, one spontaneous but I ended up being augmented, one spontaneous and quick and one induction. I didn't find the induction any more painful then the spontaneous labour.

I wish I could give you a positive vibe about being induced I went through it only 2wks ago and it was horrific. Emergency c section for me, my DS is well and thriving but deffo will not be doing it again.
good luck!! 🤞🏻

My third was induced. Best. Birth. Ever. Fast, easy and with a good epidural essentially pain free. I hate the induction horror stories. It's not always bad and in my case was by far my easiest birth.

DC1 induction was pretty hard and long; DC2 born in their own time; DC3 induction was much faster and easier, I think bcs I'd had previous births. Honestly the worst was DC2 - was huge and took forever. So I'd say you'll probably be ok, especially if your cervix is already softening. Good luck OP!

I had a horrific induction that ended in forceps and very serious life changing birth injuries. I wasn’t informed of any of the risks by the hospital, but if I had been informed I would have definitely chosen an elective c section over induction (I was young, fit and healthy now I’m severely disabled).

That being said, it was my first child so if your body has given birth before I think you are potentially more likely to have a better experience.

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I was induced and from the minute they started it until my child was born was 16.5 minutes

Sorry I haven’t read the whole thread so not sure if anyone else has had my experience. I was induced at 42 weeks with my son and it was a horrendous experience. Forceps, cord wrapped twice round his neck - emergency etc. So when I was pregnant with my daughter I was determined not to go through it again. When I got to 41 weeks and induction was again being mentioned, I went to an Acupuncturist at a well renowned clinic locally to me. It was amazing. Saw her twice and she told me to come back on the Monday if nothing had happened. Sunday morning labour started smoothly and gently and my baby was born that afternoon after a really manageable labour. If I had my time over again, I would 100% go the same route. Good luck - I hope everything works out wonderfully well for you!

I had an induction with my baby and it was a really positive experience they told me it could be upto 5days before baby appeared had some gel inserted and was told I’d be checked again a few hours later and they would see if they could break my waters but that I’d probably need the gel 4 times before anything happened and they could break my waters 4hrs later my waters broke and my little girl was born 7hrs after that. definitely do your research and make informed choices and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself too!

My second was induced two weeks early. The first had been very quick (they were huge, back to back and had shoulder distocia. I suffered a 3rd degree tear... but I digress). I was keen to not have a full term baby and was living in a country where mothers had some autonomy so had an indiction. The second was similarly fast after I swallowed the pill, but in a proper delivery room with full medical staff including a doctor.
Absolutely great, couldn't fault it. I was back gently walking the dog and pram 3 days later (obviously with my husband as well), unthinkable after the first one.

DD2 had an induction but only needed my waters broken in the end, arrived within 4 hours and contractions were no worse than with DD1 (to be fair that was also a quick birth around 4 hours so contractions were pretty intense anyway, but induction ones weren’t any worse). Good luck! X

Ask for a balloon induction or waters burst? I think they are better inductions. You’ve had two good births so quite possibly this will act in your favour. An induction early for a first time isn’t ideal but I think you’ll be ok.

3rd babies are easier to give birth to , your body knows what its doing. I was induced at 36 weeks with my 3rd baby due to preeclampsia, it was an amazing birth , very quick and pain free.
your body just knows !
good luck , take a nice bath, enjoy time with your family before heading to hospital, have nice meal, reeeelax and let us know how it went ! all best

2 inductions here & both positive experiences. 1st on my due date because my waters had broken the day before and labour hadn’t started. It was about 7 hours from induction to birth but not painful, I only used a tens machine until gas & air at the end. The birth then went pear shaped as my ds had shoulder dystopia & got stuck but this was nothing to do with being induced. With my 2nd I was induced because the issues with the 1st birth it needed to be managed and the registrar needed to be present for the birth. I therefore had a newly qualified midwife sit with me throughout labour. The birth was so quick and painless my dd was born within a hour. I said I need to push, she pushed the button for everyone to come running and dd literally shot out before the registrar and everyone had time to get to room.
Good luck 🤞

I was induced with #2 having had a spontaneous vaginal delivery with #1. Started drip about 1pm, contractions in full flow by 3pm, baby out by 8pm (actual delivery so quick it took midwife by surprise). Just gas and air with both labours (although they left it very late before I had it with #2 - I don’t think they expected it to move so quickly), and no interventions or stitches (I did the perineal massage thing in the lead up). I do feel fortunate, but it sounds from other messages on here that there are lots of equally positive stories, so please try not to worry too much!

Quick story here. After laboring 36 hours with my first, my NEW doctor promised I would not go through that again. I was induced, had THREE contractions over the course of half an hour, and gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy.

I was induced with my first at 39+6 for gestational diabetes.

6 hours on the drip from start to finish. Managed with the TENS machine and a bit of gas and air towards the end. No interventions. Was absolutely fine.

Second came at 41+5. Not induced. 9 hours from first contraction to birth. No pain relief, no interventions.

I preferred my induced birth as it felt more organised.