If cervix unfavourable, what's the shortest time that it realistically will become favourable??

[PutThatInYourPipeandSmokeIt]

A friend of mine had a sweep today as induction threatened on Monday BUT her cervix wasn't softened and was too high up to do a proper sweep. She's 41 and has been convinced by the medical teacm that she should really be unduced at 1 week overdue and I was wondering what the chances of her going in to labour naturally before then are. I've already given my pennies worth about delaying induction and I'm convinced that baby just isn't ready to come out yet but it is her decision and if in the awful even that anything went wrong, I wouldn't want to be responsible in any way and neither does she. She's fully aware of the likely consequences of being induced 'too early'.

Is it her first child? No-one really knows what kicks off labour and makes the cervix get soft and ready. It's thought it's either to do with the baby or the placenta but because it's biochemical there is little one can do to expedite matters I think.

She still has 24 hours for some walking sideways upstairs etc. Plus she can of course opt for monitoring instead of induction. What does she feel about it though - does she think labour is imminent or not.

An unripe cervix doesn't always respond well to induction - mine didn't and I ended up with a caesarian. I think if I'd been able to wait even 24 hours things would have resolved themselves.

Good luck to your friend!

Yes it is her first child and I agree with you totally - not my decision though!! She doesn't feel anything and the only thing that she's said is that she's been sleeping brilliantly for the past few days.

The only reason for induction is her age - her and baby otherwise in perfect nick. She can't get over the 'if it goes wrong' she would never be able to forgive herself. She won't have a chance at another baby and she's been desperate for years.

I'm told some women do sleep a lot in preparation for labour - personally I didn't sleep well for the whole of pregnancy and since but....

Well perhaps she could agree to have the prostaglandin pessaries but not to syntocin, or find some middle ground if she is really worried. At the end of the day inductions aren't always terrible and if she is worried about not going into labour - perhaps her body will shut off and not do it anyway - would it be so bad for her if she ended up with a caesarian? Is she tied to the idea of natural birth or is it something you think she'd accept as 'necessary to protect the baby'?

If she's willing to say, worst case scenario, the induction fails and I have a caesarian in twelve hours time, then she has very little to lose if she isn't that passionate either way IMHO.

My cervix was unfavourable with my 1st baby, at 10 days overdue. They gave me a prostin pessery anyway, and i was in labour within 2 hours

my cervix was unfavourable with all 4 of mine even dd2 who was induced at 42+2 I think it's just the way you're made!

Induced with sd1, early for eclampsia. Was told wuld take 4 days as cervix unfavourable- took less than 24 hours to be holding him! hence can happen really, really quickly. I just ahd the pessaries, btw.

ok so the pessaries just kick you off in to natural labour but the fun starts if they stick you on a drip is that right?