What to expect at a post dates appointment

[naughtymummy]

Hi i am 40+3 weeks with no 2 and despite huge amounts of walking and sex therre is absolutely no sign. I saw midwife on tues and she has booked me for an appointment at the hospital for next friday I will be 41+4 .

However she could n't tell me what they would do at this appt eg; sweep/scan/induction/whatever . Whether this would be done there and then or over the weekend or monday. Now I am panicking about being imobilised on a drip, I do n't think I will cope very well with labour if i am unable to move around.DS came naturally at 40+4 very positive experience.

Has anyone had one of these appointments, should I bring a bag ? Thanking all you mumsnetters in advance.

Ring the hospital and ask them. Don't waste anxiety worrying about it. Also, remember you can refuse anything they suggest.

I wouldn't have thought they'd just do a sweep, because your community midwife could have done that. They might want a discussion with you about when to induce you. I went to the hosptial at about this time (for an unrelated matter - skin condition), and a doctor examined my cervix to see if he could do an induction then and there, but decided not to as it was "unfavourable". He booked me in to come back for an induction in 5 days time.

thanks thought i would ring next week if nothing happened to get the low down . My MW was pretty useless really and said she did n't do sweeps. But i think this is surely a better idea than having to go into hospital and have a drip, but she said even if a came back next week which i suggested she wouldn't do a sweep then. I just feel like i am not being given a fair chance to have the natural birth i want.

This is my experience, and I'm sure it's different in every hospital. Consultant recommended a scan to check if there is enough water around the baby, and to check if the placenta is working well, which was done on the spot. They might also put you on a monitor for some time (30 minutes ish) to check the baby's heartbeat, which was done during the same appointment as well.

It is very unlikely that they will 'do' an induction there and then, but they might book you in for an induction, usually 40 weeks + 10 days, or + 12 days (I think every hospital has a different policy).

For me, when I saw the consultant at 40+5 (if I remember well) we discussed a swipe and he explained what it would do, and I agreed to it but I could have easily said no. There is no guarantee that a swipe will work, or that they can actually do it (he tried but couldn't do it as cervix wasn't 'ripe' enough) but if done successfully it can bring on labour within 48 hours ish but no guarantee there either.

Moral of the story: have your bag ready at home, because I'm sure contractions will start spontaneously, or just in case the swipe will work (if you decide to go with it). Also bring lots of food/snacks/something to read!!! I got a bit fed up with 3 year old copy of Hello...

Mine was similar to pancakes...

Sat on monitor for a while - lots of graph printouts of baby's heartbeat and my (unfelt) BH contractions
Had a scan which looked at fluid, approx size of baby, state of placenta
Had an exam of belly, was offered a sweep (I declined)
Got date booked in for induction (4 days later)
Baby arrived of his own accord 2 days later

Thanks all so may take a while. But not likely to be admitted and stuck on drip, which is what i am scared of. Will stop worrying and take some snacks and something to read, labour bag is packed and DH is going to come home to get DS from nursery so if things start moving can bring bag to hospital for me.Hope things get going before then but as i say no sign, no braxton hicks nada.

I doubt they will induce you unless there is an immediate problem (v unlikely)

Good luck

When I had my post dates appointment with Ds we were
put on machine to check contractions and heartbeat monitored for about 30mins.
Had blood pressure and urine checked
Had a quick scan to check position of baby
Then was booked in for induction 2 days later.

Havent read all posts, my experience:
scan to check baby
scan of cervix (2cm yay!!!)
asked to take part in clinical trial induction versus no induction
membrane sweep (ouch, but i had regular contractions for over a week so i requested it)
told baby will be born that day or next (arrived 3.27 am next day)

Thanks again now feeling much more chill which is obviously more likely to help babe to come. Had some v. mild period type pains last night. Went to bed and nothing this am. Having mates round for hot curry tonight, just had hot bath. Hot sex tonight DH has been warned.