Overdue, really shaken from painful internal exam and worried about induction next week.

[AhhYouWillYouWill]

I'm 41 weeks now and had a hospital appointment earlier where the midwife offered an internal exam and sweep if my cervix was favourable.

I said yes, expecting the actual sweep part to be painful, but the midwife couldn't reach my cervix to do a sweep. She said it's behind the baby's head so is unlikely to be dilated. The whole thing was excruciatingly painful. I was practically climbing the walls and in tears when I came out.

She said that to be induced they'd need to repeat it, but this time put the pessary in my cervix behind the baby's head.

I'm much more worried about the induction than the birth. I still feel really uncomfortable and shaken, I wish I'd refused the examination.

I know that being induced is not compulsory, but if I do get successfully induced I'll be able to have a water birth, which I wanted, otherwise I'll go to Dr led care and have to use the delivery suite which isn't what I wanted at all.

I'm not really sure what I'm asking, I feel a bit better just for typing it all out, but does anyone have any similar experiences of being told they're not dilated at all but have gone into labour before being induced?

I know I'm hormonal, but I'm really upset, I've had an easy pregnancy so far but now I feel like my body's let me down and I'm going to pay for having it so easy. I know this is rubbish, feel free to give me a virtual slap...

I'm so sorry you had such a horrible experience at your appointment. I think sometimes HCP are unaware of how much power their language/actions can carry, especially to a hormonal pregnant person! (Not that you are, just that I was)

Most importantly, you haven't failed, you have grown a beautiful baby! You are amazing. You don't have control over when your baby is born, the baby decides. There is an affirmation/meditation on a pregnancy yoga DVD that says something like 'your baby knows just what day to be born'. I think they do. Obviously some are too comfy and need helping out, but it doesn't sound like you are at that stage yet.

Is there a reason you need to be induced rather than see if you go into labour spontaneously?

If you would like a positive example, I had DD less than 4 hours after being told I was not dilated and my cervix was long and 'unfavourable' (such a disheartening word). So it does happen. Don't lose heart. You will have newborn snuggles soon

I wouldn't worry about being induced. If they advise it then it's usually for the best. I was induced ... Would have happily stayed pregnant for longer enjoying that precious sleep...and it all ended fine.

Hi OP,

I had a sweep experience similar to yours. I wasn't dialated at all, my Obs said I was "clamped shut". It was bloody sore. I ended up gripping the wall while he was having a prod around. I said to my DP afterwards that the doctor had worn me like a sock puppet and hadn't even had the decency to buy me dinner first! I was indignant.

Your body hasn't let you down. It's still doing it's thing. Maybe now's a good time to try all those old wives tales to try and kick start labour - having a hot curry etc. etc. if for no other reason than to distract yourself.

If you have to have another sweep and you're in hospital for it you can request gas and air. Are you a bit frustrated because you thought the sweep would be textbook like the rest of your pregnancy? Book a ton of stuff to do between now and your induction - preferably expensive and non-refundable - and no doubt your will be in labour soon.

Good luck!

Hi OP. I'm sorry you have had an awful day.

Why do you have to have Dr led care if you refuse an induction?

Thanks for the replies. I went to bed early and missed them so only replying now, sorry.

It's my hospitals policy to induce after 12 days overdue, if you decline an induction, then you're transferred from midwife to Dr led care and you have to attend the hospital every day to be monitored. I think I'll ring them to ask about it later, I just went along with the midwife in my appointment and didn't ask then. It might be worth giving up the water birth to avoid the induction.

AndIFeedEmGunpowder thanks and I'm glad to hear your story.

Solitude I'm sorry you had a similar experience, it's horrible. I didn't really know what to expect with a sweep so I think that made it seem worse. Stupidly, I thought it would be similar to a smear test, or at least the initial bit, so the pain was a hell of a shock. But I probably did get complacent and assume everything would be textbook. Gas and air will definetely be used if I have to go though it again.

Thanks again for the replies everyone

Hmm - could I just point out - if you decline induction after 12 days you are offered Dr led care, and you can say no. Same with having to attend the hospital each day for monitoring - it's an offer which you can say no to.

Can I just ask you to check whether you WILL be able to go for the water birth if you're induced. Some hospitals might not allowit.

Also, if it helps, examinations when your cervix is long, posterior and closed do tend to be more painful than when it's shortening and opening more.

If anyone is hurting you during an examination, tell them that it hurts and see if they can be more gentle. If they don't respond appropriately immediately say to them to STOP THAT RIGHT NOW!

I just had my baby on Tuesday, the Dr told me on Friday when I was overdue by a few days that my cervix isn't thinning and I am not showing any signs of starting labour naturally so if nothing happened by Weds they would be looking at bring me into hospital to be induced. I had an exercise class with the midwife on Monday and she told me to go have sex on Monday and Tuesday and try nipple stimulation on Wednesday and she predicted it will happen by Thursday. I went home, drank loads of raspberry leaf tea, ate pineapple, had sex, bounced on an exercise ball and on Monday night started labour naturally and had a great, straightforward birth. Which was wonderful as last time I had a bad experience.

Thanks all. I rang the hospital and talked to a midwife who moved my induction date to Thursday which is only a couple of days later but I I feel much better about it.

If it hurts as much, I'll take your advice DropYourSword and tell them to stop and decline the induction.

LaVolcan It's good to know I can turn down daily monitoring if I want, baby is really active so I'm not worried about him or her yet.

They do let you have a water birth if you're induced, as long as the baby's heartbeat etc is good, but they won't let you if you go past term+14 so I'm happy with this compromise I think.

Amber, that sounds good. I've been taking raspberry tea but not often enough and I haven't tried sex yet, so will have to surprise DH!

All in all, I feel much better, so thank you everyone for your advice

Best of luck to you OP. Am very envious of your soon to be newborn snuggles!

Can I just add, I hated my internal examinations. So unbelievably painful, I was writhing up the bed. I then managed to give birth without pain relief. What is all that about?? Those exams are horrible.

I'm the Op under my usual nn..

After all my stressing, I went into labour yesterday morning and didn't have to have an induction at all! I have a gorgeous baby boy

Thank you to everyone on this thread, I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to relaxed enough to go into labour without being able to talk it through here

Congratulations OP, really pleased for you that everything went well for you in the end. Enjoy those newborn snuggles

Congratulations

Congratulations. So happy for you that it all went well. Yay!

Just to mention, being “offered” doctor led care is different to being suitable for using a midwife led unit. There isn’t an obligation for midwives to take the responsibility for something that is high risk which isn’t suitable just because someone demands it. I.e, you can refuse care but you can’t demand something be done.