Just had a call from hospital, confused?

[ebby1108]

Hello everyone. I am 23 years old and 33+5 with my first baby. This was an IVF baby as we could not conceive with hubby for about 3-4 years. Today I got a call from the obstetrics team at my hospital. The lady explained to me that because I have conceived from ivf I should not go over my due date. She said my midwife can start to do a sweep after I am 37-38 weeks and I should book myself in to be induced with a balloon? So I was quite confused as I never heard about any of these and I couldn't ask her any questions that moment because I did not know what to ask. I got my midwife appointment next week so of course I will ask my midwife then but I wanted to ask for similar cases where you had a sweep and a balloon induction? Did anyone get into labour after a sweep? When you had a balloon induction how long did you have to wait for? I think the lady said about 12 hours and that my baby will be monitored at this time so I guess I would need to stay in hospital? What if that doesn't work? She said they will need to use tablets? What kind of tablets? I am so confused has anyone had this experience???

Hi , this post explains it all for you

mommylabornurse.com/how-to-prepare-for-labor-induction/

My personal experience (3 babies nearly 2 weeks overdue and several sweeps) is that sweeps just don't work........ if they did, well, my 3 babies wouldn't be overdue 🤷🏻‍♀️ so I would refuse it. It's painful and can cause infection

Just book the balloon I wanted to do the balloon but it wasn't recommended for me for some reason I don't know. But it is a natural way of inducing.

Best of luck!!! And congratulations

Hi OP, have you done any antenatal classes yet? I can recommend The Maternity Collective from personal experience as this will explain lots of the different options around childbirth. What the midwife is recommended is very common and many women including me have gone through the induction process.

I think healthcare providers often phrase things in a way that it makes you sound like you have no choice rather than make it clear is it a recommendation. It is important to remember that you always have a choice although I would take some time to research and learn so you know why things are being recommended in your best interests. All the best for the birth

I'm surprised you've only just been told about this but, as PP said, it is your choice. Read up about induction before your midwife appointment and prepare some questions. To start with, you could ask why it has been recommended for you.

If, after reading and finding out about induction, you decide to say no to it, your hospital will carefully monitor your baby to make sure everything is okay. And if you change your mind later on, that's fine. Nothing is set in stone.

If you're in the UK, there is NHS information here (but it doesn't talk about the balloon method): www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/inducing-labour/

I had an ivf baby and was told that I wouldn't be let to go past my due date. As it happened my waters broke the day before I was due to be induced. They gave me a leaflet that explains the induction process so I'm sure they will give you one too. He came bang on 39 weeks. Good luck 😀

[quote SaraKitty]Hi , this post explains it all for you

mommylabornurse.com/how-to-prepare-for-labor-induction/[/quote]
Thank you so much that is very helpful!

@grey12

My personal experience (3 babies nearly 2 weeks overdue and several sweeps) is that sweeps just don't work........ if they did, well, my 3 babies wouldn't be overdue 🤷🏻‍♀️ so I would refuse it. It's painful and can cause infection

Just book the balloon I wanted to do the balloon but it wasn't recommended for me for some reason I don't know. But it is a natural way of inducing.

Best of luck!!! And congratulations

Yes I will talk to my midwife about it and book the balloon induction date. Thanks for your help!

@Sapphirejane

Hi OP, have you done any antenatal classes yet? I can recommend The Maternity Collective from personal experience as this will explain lots of the different options around childbirth. What the midwife is recommended is very common and many women including me have gone through the induction process.

I think healthcare providers often phrase things in a way that it makes you sound like you have no choice rather than make it clear is it a recommendation. It is important to remember that you always have a choice although I would take some time to research and learn so you know why things are being recommended in your best interests. All the best for the birth

No I havent done any antenatal classes...

[quote Miller2021]I'm surprised you've only just been told about this but, as PP said, it is your choice. Read up about induction before your midwife appointment and prepare some questions. To start with, you could ask why it has been recommended for you.

If, after reading and finding out about induction, you decide to say no to it, your hospital will carefully monitor your baby to make sure everything is okay. And if you change your mind later on, that's fine. Nothing is set in stone.

If you're in the UK, there is NHS information here (but it doesn't talk about the balloon method): www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/inducing-labour/[/quote]
Yes so I had this telephone appointment booked since november but I never knew what it was about I even asked my midwife and she did not know so I received the call yesterday and only heard about all of this yesterday. I was quite surprised so I did not know what to ask but my midwife appointment is on Monday so I will ask everything there.

Thanks for your reply! :)

@Mrsmch123

I had an ivf baby and was told that I wouldn't be let to go past my due date. As it happened my waters broke the day before I was due to be induced. They gave me a leaflet that explains the induction process so I'm sure they will give you one too. He came bang on 39 weeks. Good luck 😀

Omg I hope my waters will break before too!😍

Everything is a suggestion which you can choose to consent to or not. There are no evidence that sweeps will working having said that with DD2 I had them from 36+6 as I wanted to avoid a csection at 39 week which I had agreed to. My consultant said balloon induction general has a low success rate and he wasn’t good at it.

@Duracellbunnywannabe

Everything is a suggestion which you can choose to consent to or not. There are no evidence that sweeps will working having said that with DD2 I had them from 36+6 as I wanted to avoid a csection at 39 week which I had agreed to. My consultant said balloon induction general has a low success rate and he wasn’t good at it.

Thanks for your reply! After reading about sweeps I did get quite scared as most of the people say that they hurt. I am not sure about the balloon induction either but that is what the lady said on the phone yesterday. I will talk to my midwife about it all and I hope baby will come before I need to have an induction!!

I would request an appointment with the consultant.
Ask the brains of each options
Benefits
Risks
Alternatives
Instinct (what you think as a Mum think)
Nothing. What happens if you want to do nothing? Eg increased monitoring

Remember you can refuse induction and request increased monitoring or opt for a c section instead. Induction generally had an increased risk of needing an emergency c section. C sections come in 3 category, 3 is planned and will be booked in advance, category 2 is normally you are in labour or have a medical issue and baby will need to be born in the next few hours, cat 1, is the rarest, Mum and/or baby or at risk and baby needs to be out within 30 mins but good hospitals aim for 10 mins from decision to baby out.

I would really recommend antenatal classes, the NHS provide free ones: www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/preparing-for-the-birth/antenatal-classes/

It will give you an idea of what is going to happen and what interventions might be recommended and why.

It’s interesting that different trusts have different recommendations. I’m pregnant with an IVF baby too and the midwife said they don’t induce or set deadlines on when IVF babies must be born by here.

As PPs have said, remember it is your choice.

On sweeps - I had one today at 38w and I would say it was uncomfortable but a sweep is worse discomfort . It wasn’t painful and I was 2cm and soft .

Definitely look into it and make an informed decision based on what you want. You don't have to have sweeps or induction if you don't want to.

www.sarawickham.com/articles-2/ten-things-i-wish-every-woman-knew-about-induction-of-labour-the-article/