Induction booked but want labour to start before

[pebble82]

I am overdue and went for a sweep this morning. Unfortunately cervix is unfavourable, baby's head is only 2/3 engaged and is back to back. I've got an induction booked for 9 days time. Does anyone have a similar experience but going into labour naturally before induction date and baby turning the right way. I know it's possible I just need some idea of how likely it could be based on others' experiences. Really don't want to be induced, especially with a back to back delivery.

Posterior cervix here at my sweep, 1-2cm dilated but basically unfavourable. She did what she could because I was desperate. Hurt a lot. But basically took from lunch time Friday to early Sunday to labour/ contract to a favourable and 3cm dilated. So, was long winded anyway. At the sweep the midwife wrote down back to back, but I thought LOA as she'd been for weeks. I came home and spent the weekend on my hands and knees or leaning forward over the back of the sofa. By the time I was in hospital it was LOA. Still felt the labour in my back though - especially after 5cm dilated. Lots of pressure from boyfriend's hands helped.

Thanks for sharing. My midwife was kind and told me she wouldn't hurt me unnecessarily as it probably would be pointless. She didn't mention anything about dilatation so I assume I was zero. I've tried being in "good positions" all day but my PGP and massive tender boobs make leaning on a birthing ball or being on all fours uncomfortable. I bet I've caused this by lounging on the sofa too much! Her suggestion of long walks made me laugh. I can't manage walking from room to room very well. Another bit of advice was going up and down stairs. Difficult in a ground floor flat and contradictory to my physio's advice to NOT take stairs or move my pelvis too much.

Snap
Overdue sweep today well attempted no mention of dilated so assume zero
Baby back to back, both previous labours were back to back so no surprise there

Now looking forward to bad back as it will be a means to a end,
Booked in for induction and another sweep in a weeks time

She told me to have lots of sex hmmm not sure how desperate I am yet lol

Good luck keep us posted

DS 1 I was induced - nothing would shift that child!

DS 2 I had an induction booked for 40+13 and went into labour naturally at 40+12

Meant to add - both of them were back to back but DS2 shifted himself early in Labour the right way around.

Good to know there's still hope. Back to back scares me as it's meant to make labour slower and more painful. But I suppose as this is my first then I have nothing to compare it to.

Good luck littlehelp. The thought of sex right now is less than appealing for me. PGP makes everything near impossible! I can barely roll over in bed nevermind do anything more energetic.

If there is a Bowen Method practitioner in your area this is great for moving along overdue babies and also for balancing the pelvis/ any pain. I had quite a lot during pregnancy and am sure it helped. It is very gentle so can't do any harm. Good luck, I'm sure that baby will come! Sometimes labour is delayed if you are holding onto any anxieties about birth - you could try a Natal Hypnotherapy download (might not have time to wait for the post!) - the effective birth preparation one. Again, I have heard good things from mums who have had a good birth after seemingly completely stalled labour after using this - and can do no harm. x

Tbh I have nothing to compare either as both mine back to back I wouldn't say it wast hat bad just get your birthing partner to rub lower back HARD eases pain through contraction not sure about length as soon as they broke waters dd was in the world within a hr
So wasn't as and because contractions are strong I back pushing was a pleasure wasn't as painful was a relief in a werid way lol

Manage to dtd last night made sure it was over very quickly lol the romance is defo not there lol

And still pregnant this morning grrrr

Haha. Well done on dtd. You never know, might kick start things this afternoon.

I've calmed down a bit now. Think the initial disappointment just got to me yesterday. DP and I are off out on a bumpy car ride to a country pub for lunch. Will try a bit of a stroll but not sure how I'll manage yet.

I have the hypnotherapy book and cd. The problem I find with it is that it's geared towards a calm natural birth. Mentions of baby being in the perfect position, body doing exactly what it should etc. Well as mine isn't that's what's thrown me. But I realise I should apply some of the other techniques to the situation I end up with. It doesn't help that one of the nhs hypnobirthing instructors said to us at the end of a session that all that we'd learnt would "go out of the window" if induced as it's "far more difficult and almost impossible to just breathe through contractions". I know she was trying to prepare us and be honest but I wish she hadn't!

Ahh pebble what a crappy thing for birth instructor to say! I am in same boat as you pretty much, have had sweep - no joy - now being induced in a few days if no spontaneous labour.

I have had babies before, all spontaneous deliveries, one b2b labour - but she did turn during 1st stage so birth itself was pretty fast. You could try going hands and knees for a few hrs a day (comfy!) and make sure you don't recline on sofa or bed too much, use ball for a bit - keep knees lower than hips. All these increase the width of pelvic cavity meaning baby could wriggle round! To be honest though my b2b labour wasn't so different to the others - more back ache, but not more pain altogether. I found water very helpful and went in bath for ages.

You have over a week left to go into labour, so I reckon there's a good chance you can avoid induction and even if you don't you don't absolutely have to do it, you could just see how you are, try another sweep, opt for monitoring etc.

If you do go for it though, I know it is not ideal, but I have heard so many positive stories - just as many as the negative ones we worry about - so it seems to me to be as unpredictable as spontaneous birth, so no better or worse. If you can go into your birth - whatever the situation is - feeling positive and ready to go with your body and take each bit as it comes, then you will be as prepared as anyone can be. Good luck (and enjoy your pub lunch...!!)

Did you manage the bumpy road? I swore by doing that first time round lol

Been for a walk at lunch just getting Braxton hicks boo!!!

Looks like super hot curry for tea lol

DD1 was due to be induced a week early (small for dates, low fluid level and seemed have stopped growing).

The night before we decided it would be a while until we could have sex again so we might as well.

She was born naturally 26 hrs later.

(She's 16, she still doesn't move very quickly)

devoncreamtea thanks, that makes me feel much better. Hope the sweep does something for you.

Elephantsneverforgive haha, I think that's just all 16yos these days.

littlehelp we've just got home. Managed to get some good speed bumps in and up and down a cobbled street a few times. We even stopped for a stroll although I didn't manage more than half a mile. Still, hopefully it helped. Just being out and about did wonders for my mental state anyway. Curry for tea (using birthing ball to sit at the table). Pineapple for dessert and I'm about to make myself a raspberry leaf tea now.

Let these natural labours commence.

Haha good luck, my Braxton hicks have gotten really uncomfortable so hopefully in for a long night (well not too long)

Keep me updated on any progress

Will do. That's a good sign. Fingers are crossed for you.

Just been on my hands and knees and rocking for a while watching tv. Now I've stood up I got stabby pains in my nether region so here's hoping my cervix is opening a bit or baby's head is turning. Do you know how long we're supposed to spend on all fours? I'm hardly skinny so my arms and knees ache after a while. Wish I could just go back to slobbing on the sofa.

Well she made appearance at 4am this morning

Didn't get chance to eat my curry

Contractions were pretty manageable at home got to hospital at was 7cm lol was expecting to be sent home 1-2cm

Good luck with your birth updates please xx

Ahhhh! Well done little!!!! Fab news.

pebble - I think as long as you are comfy for, you could do it a few times a day to maximise opportunity! In my b2b labour my baby did turn during contractions so was born easily, hopefully that will happen for you too. If you've got a ball you might be a bit comfier on that, I think that is good for positioning too. Good luck!

DS1 was back to back and I went into labour at 41 weeks naturally - induction was booked for 41+4. He's now 8 weeks.

I had 2 sweeps before he was born, both unfavourable and was told there was no way I would go into labour naturally and to prepare for induction. My labour started with no previous signs at all.

He was born after I laboured at home with TENs machine, few hours in the pool and pushed out with gas and air only. No one at the birth centre batted an eyelid when I arrived with a back to back baby. I never realised it was such a big deal until after the birth when all the midwives congratulated me on pushing out a back to back baby when he was my first. I have nothing to compare it to but out of my NCT group, I'm the only one who had an assistance free birth...stay positive!

Ah littlehelp that's wonderful news. Congratulations.

No updates from me yet. Been on hands and knees for a few hours on and off this morning alternating with birthing ball bouncing and rotations. Had more stabby cervix pains when I got up but no other pains yet. Had to then sit with my feet up in the afternoon as they got so fluid filled being upright I could barely walk!

I'm now viewing it as a bonus if she's born before next Sunday and trying to embrace the idea of induction. At least the end is in sight.

Thank you everyone for your support and kindness. It's nice to have moral support

You'll have baby before induction but like you said either way the end is very much in sight!!!!

Keep mobile and all the best xx

How you getting on pebble

Hi littlehelp. Thanks so much for asking. Nothing to update yet. Had a little cry about it all this morning. Currently back on my ball trying to visualise my cervix opening. Desperate I know!

I was feeling ok about induction until a friend sent me loads of information yesterday saying how horrible, unnatural and unnecessary it is. Pair that with advice that the risk of stillbirth increases if not induced and I'm back to being a confused mess!

Just got to keep hoping it happens before Sunday. Booked for a sweep tomorrow, lets just hope there's been some sort of progression so they can perform it.

Any news pebbles x