Funnel cervix?

[KabelFlowerBed]

I'm 40+10 today with my 3rd and booked in for hb. Although that's looking more and more doubtful now :( It was to be my 2nd hb after having my DD2 at home.

I'm apparently large for dates (growth scans have shown just above 97th centile, although each time - I've had 2, and with the same sonographer - it's been noted as a difficult scan to perform due to foetal lie so not sure how accurate they can have been) and the baby's head is still very high. MW tried to do a sweep this afternoon and said it was very difficult. My cervix is in a funnel shape, being about 1cm dilated at the bottom and 4cm at the top and the MW couldn't reach the baby's head at all. So I'm booked for induction thurs am now.

Feeling a bit despondent about it all at the moment. I know my perspective will shift soon and I'll feel a bit better about going into hospital, realising I'll be meeting my son soon no matter where he's born. But I guess I wanted to ask if anyone has had any similar experiences with cervix descriptions/lack of engagement and whether birthing happened without induction? I'm trying not to get my hopes up that something will happen in the 36 hours.

Thanks in advance for any advice

Bump

I think what your are describing is just a 'multips' os, the cervix is often very soft and often dilated as a result of your previous deliveries. The external os, the bit at the bottom can often be much more dilated than the internal os if the cervis is still long. Have to say from your description it sounds like you are quite favourable for labour. The fact that the head is high is neither here nor there with a 3rd baby, the head often doesn't engage until the contractions commence. As for the size of the baby, you don't say what size your previous DC's were, but with a 3rd DC, it often doesn't matter! You sound favourable for just an ARM if IOL is required, but fingers crossed the sweep will do the trick. HTH and good luck!

Also if you choose to, you can have expectant management rather than induction so a hospital birth isn't inevitable - it is up to you to weigh up what is best for you

Thanks so much for the replies :)

The MW said my cervix wasn't that favourable, and nothing's changed from yesterday with me since the sweep - except for a bit of a show which isn't particularly surprising considering the effort put in to try and do the sweep (ouchies).

Would they still do an ARM if the head is super free still tomorrow?

My other DC's were 7lb13 and 8lb6 so not massive but not dinky. Not like how big they keep saying this one is. Just wish I had a crystal ball to know how this is all going to pan out!

I did consider expectant management but to be honest it felt hard enough getting them to agree to 40+12 (generally induce at 40+10 here) and I dont feel emotionally strong enough to cope with trying to push any further. It was a big enough hassle getting all the still birth scare tactics I had with the SpR at an appt a couple of weeks ago.

Thanks again and keep your fingers crossed for me for tomorrow!

Damn & blast, forgot to check back.....hope things went to plan yesterday!

Thanks for checking back at all :)

Well things sort of went to plan....

Due to labour ward capacity issues I ended up getting to 40+14 before induction by gel started!

Only needed one lot of gel to get things cracking on but ended up very close to having emcs due to non progression - had an anterior lip that wouldn't shift for nearly an hour with a very back to back baby. As it was I did some contorting flip onto my left side just as they were getting things organised to go to theatre and began uncontrollably pushing. We'd tried all sorts of positions including that one before then to help, all to no avail. But baby managed to get into anterior position that time and be born 2 minutes later!

Oh and weighing 11lb

Not really sure still how I did it all on gas and air as it bloody hurt!! Hurrah for breathing techniques I guess! Minor PPH following but all good now and home with my beautiful 1 week old son :o

Massive congratulations