Throwing away birth plan. Meh.

[FlossyCat]

Apologies I just need to whinge, don't know what I expect from this thread. For months I have imagined having a natural birth, in the MLU with minimal intervention. I'm now 40+5, went for a sweep today which was unsuccessful because midwife could barely reach my 'very posterior' cervix, baby's head is not engaged and not in a position to get hormones going. Feeling deflated and need a little sympathy! Has anyone had an unsuccessful sweep or been told baby is not coming anytime soon, then gone into labour soon after spontaneously? Wasn't expecting to end up being induced and now feel like ripping my naive birth plan out my notes.

I had a sweep at 42+1 which they could do. Begrudgingly booked in for induction but went into labour naturally at 42+3. Yes very late but I was very comfortable and happy to let nature take it course

That should say at 42+1 they COULDNT do it

A lot can happen in the 9 days you have before you're "overdue".
There used to be a "10 Month Mamas" website somewhere that I know friends who went to 42 weeks and beyond found helpful, but I can't find it... there's quite a lot here though (equally relevant to MLU as to home): www.homebirth.org.uk/overdue.htm

Poor you though, that must have felt very deflating.

Thanks for your replies and for the link. I know there are ladies who are much further over than me and 5 days is nothing really, I'm just feeling sorry for myself. If they recommend induction I will agree, but at the same time feel frustrated about things being medicalised. I couldn't forgive myself if I declined being induced and then something bad happened, but also respect people who do decide to wait it out.

Can I just hijack and say I was induced with both my DCs and it was fine. Both times I was deemed 'unfavourable' and was told it would probably take a few attempts to get things moving. I had the 'gel' at about 4pm, and both times the contractions started about 3am that night/morning: DC1 was born 15hrs later, and DC2 was a 4hr labour. Both times were totally manageable, no interventions required. I'm telling you this because I think induction gets a lot of bad press and you don't often hear the good, or straightforward stories about it.

Best of luck with whatever way it happens!!

This was me 2 and a half weeks ago! My minimal intervention, natural waterbirth went down the plug hole when I went two weeks overdue.

It really is gutting, everything you want just seems to be snatched away at a time you really could do with feeling a little bit of control!

I had a sweep a week before my induction but had no joy there. Went in for my induction and I was dreading it. I'd read so much negative stuff and was so upset about the monitoring that would be part of it.
I started my labour about 4 hours after my first pessary. The monitoring really wasn't that bad, and I was still fairly mobile. I managed to have a bath and was left mostly alone (with DP) until I had to request some pain meds when I went straight from induction ward to labour ward (This was about 7 hours after the orginal pessary) From there I admit I did change my attitude to pain relief andI had gas and air and a shot of pethadine. I laboured until about 5am pushed for about an hour when they became concerned that my little man wasn't in the right position and was struggling. I was taken to surgery where I had a spinal, and forceps assisted delivery with episiotomy (all things I was TERRIFIED of happening).

It sounds horrible and like I say it was a million miles away from my original birth plan, (which I read after and laughed at ruefully), but at the time I didn't care and barely noticed any monitoring, in fact watching the numbers go up with each contraction became was quite a fun game, kept hearing DP say 'oooh that was the biggest one yet' ! I made sure I insisted on delayed cord clamping and asked (as long as he was ok) for my son to be delivered onto my chest and was allowed both of these things which I took as small victories.

I'm two and a half weeks pp now and feel great physically, my baby fed straight away and was alert following delivery so the pain relief didn't have a marked impact on him, I have to say the surgical team were great and so was my midwife.

I would keep the mindset of anything could happen and intervention could always have been a possibility even if you had gone spot in your due date. I know it doesn't really help people telling you to think that way as you will obviously worry but I would say despite not being what I WANTED, my induction and intervention birth was a largely positive experience, so even when things don't go to plan it can still be ok.

In the meantime I am sending you uncorking thoughts and hoping that you go, the way you want to before it comes to induction. Good luck and congratulations!

Your little one will be with you so soon!

Thanks Piff and Everything, it has really helped cheer me up hearing some positive induction experiences :) thanks for taking the time to share x

I hate birth plans, they just set women up for failure. I didn't make one with any of my three because from what I'd read they just go straight out the window as soon as labour gets going. Or I should say my only 'plan' was that myself and baby would come out of it alive and well.

Good luck, however your baby's born.

I had a textbook natural water birth in the MLU with minimal intervention after going into labour at 40+6. You've still got loads of time.

That was me, 2 1/2 years ago. The MLU I wanted to give birth in would only accept me up to 41 weeks, and I did not want to give birth in the hospital at all. I declined induction, and went in for monitoring every other day until 43 weeks, hoping that labour would somehow start spontaneously.

I also made an appointment to meet with the Supervisor of Midwives. She helped me to write up an induction birth plan so that we could retain as many elements of my original birth plan as possible.

I ended up being induced at 43 weeks. 30 hours on the drip, and still only 3cm dilated I had an EMCS. It wasn't the birth I planned, but I was at peace with what happened because I hadn't just gone along with what I was told would happen to me. I tried to buy time, the midwives at the hospital left me alone and didn't make me feel rushed or under pressure, and the experience was pretty ok.

Don't rip up your birth plan, meet with someone senior and edit it.

In the meantime, hang about in John Lewis, Mothercare or M&S. I heard you got lots of freebies if you went into labour in their stores!

An induction doesn't mean you have to go down a set route. You still have choices in labour.

I was offered induction and dd arrived 12 hours later.

With my first I was offered a sweep and ds arrived without one being needed.

OP, plan a big day. Book an appt for you to get your done, book a table at a fancy Restuarant, book some cinema tickets. Best laid plans...

I don't know if this helps but I felt the same with our first pfb ds. I was 40 +12 (three months before I felt pregnant I had lost our first pregnancy three months in - point being that in fifteen months I had been pregnant for twelve of them - and I still hadn't met my baby!!!) and on the morning our induction was book labour started naturally.

You will meet your baby soon!

I went in to labour the day after midwife said baby was in no way engaged and I was definitely looking at over a week before it might happen! It does happen

Good thinking with the making plans, on thurs I will be loitering around John Lewis with intent, which is 25 mins drive from home :)

Mameulah - that does help, I had a mmc last jan which was found at the 12 week scan, so almost feels like I've been pregnant since Nov 2012! That said, even though we started trying for our baby May 2011, it still doesn't feel real and that I'm ever really going to be a mum.

I am feeling better since reading all your messages ladies, thanks x

Wanted of add a couple of things.

I had sweeps from 39+6 but went into labour at about 41+3. what I found helpful was to remind myself that overdue doesn't really start until 42 and that other countries count overdue as 43 weeks.

I allowed them to book an induction for me at 41+5 but only so they would stop pressuring me.

If you have another exam before going into labour ask them about your bishop score and how this relates to the favoriability for induction. High bishop scores indicate that the body is getting ready to go into labour. Having a high bishop score also means that an induction is likely to go to plan.

With regards to your birth plan, re writing it or thinking about it in new lights is a good idea. I had a few key things that I knew I wanted however the baby came. 1) that they say my name properly and 2) baby had skin to skin contact with a) me or failing that b) other half.

good luck

With my first( 18 years ago) sweeps wernt even routinely done.
I was checked at 41 weeks and 4 days and found to be totally closed, high cervix and baby would need inducing in 3 days.
The next day I woke in the night with no pains just pressure and feeling
Like I needed a wee constantly.
Went to labour ward because I felt like my bladder was going to burst, was found to be 6 cms dilated , so in less than 10 hours a lot changed down there .

I had a waterbirth with DC1(dd) at 10 days over, and a good, natural birth (on dry land alas!) with DC2(ds) at 8 days over (dates more accurate with him I think) (& just some G&A for the tricky bits!)

I always thought I'd never say I threw out my birth plan (which you hear so much talk of) as I had something in it for every contingency/situation. I think it's important to hold on to the idea and reality of your choices throughout being so important whatever happens

• so, yes, you could say to yourself .... if I go x days over my due date and induction is recommended I will choose that (even if reluctantly!)

Good luck, so much can happen in a week!

You can still have a birth plan. When I was induced I put in active labour and intermittent monitoring so I wasn't in bed all the way through, though they wanted me to be.

You also need to specify things like cord cutting, clamping, vit K. What position you want to birth in.

Induction doesn't have to mean total medicalisation and control.

But you will probably go into labour anyway.

I'm in same position op. some reassuring answers on here. Diff not to get downhearted. I'm seeing my mw again this week (41+4) so will ask her all about what choices I still have. I like the idea of revising bp not throwing it out window. And there is still time! X

At 41 wks I went for obstetrician appointment - couldn't do a sweep, couldn't reach the cervix. Booked induction for 2 days time. Overnight that night my waters broke, laboured from about lunchtime the next day and DD was born about half 1 in the morning. So she was born (just!) on the day I was supposed to be induced. Lots can change in a very short period! Good luck!

Sorry just want to add a rant. I'm fed up with people saying 'baby will come when he/she is ready'. Well if u are induced baby is not ready! They don't get it rant over

Anotherbitofcake - yep exactly my thoughts :)

Right, I'm going to be positive and revise my birth plan. I'm also going to try to stop thinking of it as being overdue when it's perfectly normal! I think i must be a bit of a control freak (I'm always punctual or early) and am not used to life being led by nature :)

I went for a sweep at 40+4 with DD and MW wouldn't even attempt as she wasn't engaged at all. She arrived all my herself at 40+10. I won't lie though, those last few days seemed like the longest ever! Hope things kick off soon :)

Don't give up hope. It could happen tonight

I was 40+8 with ds. I was planning on holding out past 42 weeks but went for acupuncture induction at 40+7, also had sweep the same day. One of them worked!

Worth a go?