Nervous Husband Not Wanting To Stress Wife

[BrickiBarthez]

Hi

My wife is now 40+5 and this morning been to the hospital for a check up. The very unhelpful and frankly robotic consultant examined my wife and said there was no signs and it was 'unfavourable' so now booked in to be induced next monday. we have a mw appointment on thursday where she was due to do a sweep but consultant said 'if she even can' when we mentioned this.

My wife has also had to have her blood taken as she has a rash that came up in last week or so and consultant said if it comes back positive she'd have to be induced straightaway.

I don't want to worry my wife but now im very panicky and concerned something will go wrong?!

Try not to panic. It's quite normal for nothing to be happening down there, even if your wife is overdue. My DS head was engaged for weeks but he still didn't come out!
They might not be able to do a sweep if her cervix is far back. I had two attempted sweeps, neither of which worked because they couldn't even reach my cervix. I was induced at 12 days over and it was fine.
Have they said what the rash might be?

Thank you Millie.
They have suggested it could be something to do with her liver but she has ecxema anyway and is prone to skin complaints anyway so hopeful it isnt. It's not very itchy anyway only mildly annoying.

Induction is quite a regular, common, procedure which generally is done to ensure baby arrives before the quality of the placenta starts to deteriorate.

It usually starts with a pessary and or gel applied to the cervix area, and ypur DW will be monitored to see if that gets things going. If that doesnt work, they will try and pop her Waters which would be the next step.to try and get thw body to naturally go into labour.

The final step is a hormonal drip which willartificially bring on the contractions. This part can be quite painful, so id encourage or support an epidural if that is available.

Induction itself can take a matter of hours or a couple of days. Try and be prepared for the long haul - snacks, deodorant, maybe a deck of cards for you both to playa few games etc.

The rash could be harmless, viral or maybe not connected to the pregnancy at all, but she is in safe hands and they will know what they are doing when the time comes.

I found consultants I dealt with quite technical/robotic too but it comes down to their jobs roles - all the MWs I dealt with were warm and friendly.

Id suggest having a read through your wifes Labour Plan so you are able to fight her corner if theres any "non negotiables" on it.

When do you get the blood test results? If it's obstetric cholestatis (which can affect liver function and which causes itching but not usually a rash) they will induce because the only thing that gets rid of it is giving birth. However, I think OC is pretty rare. Please don't panic!

A sweep might get things started but if baby's head is very low or if your wife's cervix is very far back they may not be able to do a sweep at all. It's nothing to panic about, just means induction is more likely as there won't be that opportunity to help get things going.
My induction was fine. I liked that I was in hospital the whole time so had none of this worrying about when was the right time to call/go in.
I think it's hard for dads generally in your kind of situation. You worry like crazy but daren't say anything to your wife as you don't want to worry her but equally the midwives/doctors tend to forget that you're there too and focus on your wife only.
Try to stay calm. Everyone worries about the what ifs (even if they don't appear to) but it really won't do you any good! Hopefully you won't have to wait too much longer to meet your little one

I can completely see why you are worried and well done for not letting on to your wife.

Don't really have any advice to add apart from she will be looked after well now and just keep her spirits up as she must be feeling pretty fed up with having this baby still inside her ;-)

Hope all goes well