41 + 4 and induction tomorrow

Lowkeyloopy · 2022-02-14T07:37:10+00:00

So I had very mild “period pains” over a week ago, then an unsuccessful attempted sweep at 40+6. At 41+1 (Friday evening) I had a sweep and cervix was apparently soft and 2cm dilated. Had the bloody show (I think) Saturday morning and have been losing mucus plug in bits all weekend. BUT no contractions. Zilch. Nada. Not even mild period pains or backache. Baby is fully engaged apparently and last night I could really feel some pressure/head butting in my cervix! Was so sure something might happen overnight. Induction booked for tomorrow morning. Might call this morning and request another sweep today as a last ditch attempt to get things going. Feeling a bit of a failure tbh ☹️ I’ve been on the ball, walking, eating dates and spicy food etc etc. Does anyone have any experience with clary sage oil? I’d love to hear any positive experience of induction or spontaneous labour at this stage please!

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 14/02/2022 07:45

I was induced at 40+2. Pessary in at 10am. Bit uncomfortable. Mild contractions period type pain at 6pm. Bit more period type pain in back as well around 11pm. Had a bath and two paracetamol. 1am waters went spontaneously. 2am contractions started thick and fast. Called DH to come to labour ward (covid meant he could come once I was 4cm). Had had and air. 3am had diamorphine which was great but didn't last long. 5am asked for an epidural as struggling. Nope baby waS ready to come 5.30 pushing. 6.30 baby was born.

Good luck!

Donkeyinamanger · 14/02/2022 07:46

I was induced 10 days late, and felt like my labour was a fairly positive experience. I had the pessary in the evening, had mild pains overnight, but managed to get a reasonable nights sleep. Continued with manageable contractions in the morning, and did lots of walking round outside the hospital with DH to try and help things progress. I was 2cm dilated at 2 pm, and they broke my waters. It did get very intensely painful after that, and I panicked a bit, but had some gas and air and got on with it. By 5pm I was 10 cm and pushing. The pushing stage took me 2 hours as he got a bit stuck, so they had to assist with ventouse, when I asked for some help as I was getting tired. Baby was fine, and I recovered really quickly. Good luck with it all!

SheWolfOFFrancee · 14/02/2022 07:50

3 inductions here and all 3 were massively positive experiences for me.

Da1 I was 42 weeks so once they inserted the pessary it basically kicked off Labour straight away. Things did slow down so I still needed the drip but it didn’t take long and was an easy birth (no medical intervention and I didn’t tear)

Ds2 and DD were both. Induced at 37.5 weeks for medical reasons and they were also very positive! Had to have waters broke. And the drip with both but very quick births and again no tearing or medical interventions.

Hope it goes well for you OP! X

Pantheon · 14/02/2022 14:43

I was in almost exactly the same position as you. I had an outpatient induction in the end. It all went very quickly. Baby was definitely ready to be born!

Pantheon · 14/02/2022 14:43

I just had the pessary

Original poster

Lowkeyloopy · 14/02/2022 20:59

Thank you all! So helpful to hear positive experiences. I've done lots of reading up today and chatted with a friend about it and am feeling really quite positive going into the induction tomorrow. Had a successful sweep earlier and have some light cramping now so we'll see if that turns into anything, but I kinda feel like it won't progress spontaneously. But at least we're going to get the process going tomorrow. Could still be a few days and may be intense but I'm also excited!

Will try to remember to update for anyone else searching for stories in the future!

OP posts:

Notwithittoday · 14/02/2022 21:06

I think inductions tend to go better if you’re over 40 weeks because you’re less likely to need the drip but this is worth a read. www.aims.org.uk/pdfs/journal/400
Good luck

Kathleen995 · 06/10/2024 22:06

Lowkeyloopy · 14/02/2022 20:59

Thank you all! So helpful to hear positive experiences. I've done lots of reading up today and chatted with a friend about it and am feeling really quite positive going into the induction tomorrow. Had a successful sweep earlier and have some light cramping now so we'll see if that turns into anything, but I kinda feel like it won't progress spontaneously. But at least we're going to get the process going tomorrow. Could still be a few days and may be intense but I'm also excited!

Will try to remember to update for anyone else searching for stories in the future!

Hi! Any updates? I’m 41+3 with my second and really didn’t expect to go this late, starting to lose hope for a spontaneous labour :( have already had 3 sweeps, 2cm dilated for the last two and soft, low cervix. But that was last week and I’ve had no signs since apart from
belly tightenings/braxton hicks which I’ve been having for weeks now anyway

Original poster

Lowkeyloopy · 06/10/2024 22:25

Hiya, so funny to see this thread pop up now my DS is 2.5 years old! I had an induction in the end and it was such a positive experience. I feel like no-one shares the positive stories, particularly about induction, so I’m happy to!

41+ 5 I went in for the pessary but they examined me and said I was 1 or 2cm dilated I think, so just enough they could break my waters without it and they didn’t want to add interventions that were unnecessary. So went back the next day at 41+6, they broke my waters around 12pm (a mess, but totally not uncomfortable) and sent us on a walk! We hiked up and down a hill in a park, I did that crab walking thing but never got beyond mild period pain feeling after 4 hours so went onto the labour ward (I’d been in the birth centre). They hooked me up to continuous monitoring which was really reassuring actually, and started me on the oxytocin drip around 6pm. I did a lot of bouncing on the ball and playing wordle and watching friends.. Still had all my comforting things and candles etc around me! Then when contractions ramped up a bit they suggested pethidin to take the edge off which was SUCH a good idea - kept me relaxed. Then around 1am the contractions felt quite intense but that quickly turned into me pushing (helped with gas and air and breathing!) and lo and behold (and one painless episiotomy later..!) - baby!

Long story short - mine wasn’t a spontaneous labour in the end but it was really a very good one. And I was monitored and felt as comfortable and safe as I imagine it’s possible to be during labour…!

You have all my sympathy though - those final two weeks were lonnnnng! Sending you best wishes for a positive delivery and healthy baby, however it happens!

OP posts:

Kathleen995 · 07/10/2024 11:20

Lowkeyloopy · 06/10/2024 22:25

Hiya, so funny to see this thread pop up now my DS is 2.5 years old! I had an induction in the end and it was such a positive experience. I feel like no-one shares the positive stories, particularly about induction, so I’m happy to!

41+ 5 I went in for the pessary but they examined me and said I was 1 or 2cm dilated I think, so just enough they could break my waters without it and they didn’t want to add interventions that were unnecessary. So went back the next day at 41+6, they broke my waters around 12pm (a mess, but totally not uncomfortable) and sent us on a walk! We hiked up and down a hill in a park, I did that crab walking thing but never got beyond mild period pain feeling after 4 hours so went onto the labour ward (I’d been in the birth centre). They hooked me up to continuous monitoring which was really reassuring actually, and started me on the oxytocin drip around 6pm. I did a lot of bouncing on the ball and playing wordle and watching friends.. Still had all my comforting things and candles etc around me! Then when contractions ramped up a bit they suggested pethidin to take the edge off which was SUCH a good idea - kept me relaxed. Then around 1am the contractions felt quite intense but that quickly turned into me pushing (helped with gas and air and breathing!) and lo and behold (and one painless episiotomy later..!) - baby!

Long story short - mine wasn’t a spontaneous labour in the end but it was really a very good one. And I was monitored and felt as comfortable and safe as I imagine it’s possible to be during labour…!

You have all my sympathy though - those final two weeks were lonnnnng! Sending you best wishes for a positive delivery and healthy baby, however it happens!

Thank you so so much for updating me especially when it was so long ago for you now! That sounds like a really positive story, thank you for sharing. I just always assumed I’d go into spontaneous labour again since that’s what happened with my first, so I feel extra frustrated and not mentally prepared at all to be this pregnant 😭 it’s really starting to get me down (which I know won’t be helping my chances for a spontaneous labour) but really helpful to hear stories like yours xx