Failed sweep today advice needed

[Kittiwake]

Any advice/experiences gratefully received by worried first timer.

I am 41 weeks today saw midwife for sweep earlier and she could not reach to do it as my cervix was 'very posterior' Has anyone else had this and then gone on to have their baby soon afterwards?

Midwife is going to try again on Thursday and I am now booked in for induction for a week today which I really want to avoid. I was hoping for a natural birth at my MLU and now am looking at induction at a general hospital. Obviously a healthy baby is all I really want but I am now worried that my cervix is not going to ripen and I am going to end up with a failed induction and a CS. I have not felt any BH at all this preganancy. Is it is possible to have a cervix that just doesn't want to contract?

I have tried all the usual suggestions sex/nipplestim/orgasm/walks/bouncing on ball/baths/visualising positive birth etc.etc. just get the feeling either the baby or my body not ready and these things are not making a blind bit of difference

Foosfan, if you don't want an induction you are allowed to cancel and ask for Expectant Management instead. It's your body, your birth and your baby!

I cancelled induction booked for 42wks, they didn't drag me in! But I was booked for Expectant management every day after that, had my only successful sweep at the cons appt I asked for instead of the induction and went into labour that night. Next time, I won't bother with sweeps!

Check out this link about induction and ask about a Bishops Score (see link further down) before any induction is started, if you accept one. They are offered, not compulsory!

Hi foosfan I have tried most things but not that don't think I could reach!!!!

41+3 today went to see midwife this morning and cervix is still closed and 'very posterior' so am still hoping something happens before Monday..... Midwife said she managed to touch the edge of cervix so there is a possibility it could do something. Have stomach ache now but that's all. Have been drinking raspberry leaf tea, bouncing on ball, eating pineapple, having sex. I am thinking of going to a firework display on Saturday! maybe that will do it.

I am in exactly the same boat re; MLU which is 10 mins away but main hospital is in a different county 45 mins away - I live in middle of nowhere in Wales!

I actually feel okay about possibility of induction now, think I will see how I feel on Monday thanks for info Klaw it is good to know that I have a choice.

I didnt reaalise that I had a choice re induction as I thought that they wont let you go over 14 days from DD.Thanks for letting me know I will ring my maternity unit and ask about it.
I guess its a case of weighing up the risks.

remember that 45% of first inductions end up in an emergency section.

Don't know what the stats are for the remaining 55% in terms of brutal forceps/ventouse deliveries. yuk

Yes Foosfan, ask them to give you all the pros and cons of induction, versus waiting with expectant management.

They will stress the risks of stillbirth. But although the risks start rising they are still tiny in comparison to other risks, which is why I think it important to make your own informed decision rather than blindly following a set protocol. There is not enough research and certaily not enough on 42+ weeks gestation because mums have been induced already

I also would stress listening to your instincts. Mums very often 'know' something isn't right and that is when to insist on being checked.

I'm not for one minute saying that you should refuse induction at all costs, just that it should be your own decision based on weighing up all pros and cons and with full information to hand!

foosfan.. if you can reach your own cervix, it feels like eitehr

the tip of your nose if it is not ripe

and like a softly pursed mouth if it is

sex helps to ripen it

Highlander my consultant said that the figures for 'instrumental birth' were 1/3.

Which when you compare to Ina May Gaskin's stats at The Farm you realise that there is something FAR wrong with our system!

Less than 2% transfer for CS rate in 30 years and less than 1% for instrumental deliveries. The huge difference between The Farm and NHS maternity services would be the fact that they don't meddle with childbirth unless medically necessary.

Actually, they do perform Rupture of Membranes far more than I would like....

And from what I can gather, reading her books, she does not turn women away on the basis of risk.

Maybe a little late with this but have you tried accupunture. We are in Southampton & there is a lady who specialises in obsetrics accupunture is marvellous, got my labour off just as I was coming up to 42 weeks. You could ask your midwife if she knows anyone who can help? Our community mw are now starting to recomend it as opposed to booking an induction.