Pessary induction removed and no more contractions

[RubyGraceSza]

First time poster here, long time voyeur.

I’m 41 + 1 today with first baby. Had planned a natural home birth but basically not going into spontaneous Labour despite baby being super low and cervix being ripe and front facing. Have had 3 sweeps and yesterday I had a pessary inserted at lunch time. This brought on strong contractions by about 10pm and had to go in for monitoring at 2am, then they said I was hyper stimulated, so the pessary was removed. I had a few more hours of cramping until 5am and managed to sleep but now nothing - contractions are over. Feel like I’m back to square 1 having lost 24 hours with Christmas just around the corner. On a waiting list to have waters broken, which they are saying could be hours or days depending on availability. Looks like a miserable Christmas in hospital for me, which I had desperately wanted to avoid. Also worrying that having waters broken now will lead me down a very medicalised path. Feeling really unsure of what to do. They all say I can’t go past 40 + 12, which gives me just 4 days to go into a natural Labour before they induce me anyway. That would be the day before Christmas Day. Why isn’t my body doing what it’s supposed to do and going into contractions? Feels like I’m failing when I’ve had such a straight forward, low risk pregnancy.

That is a long list of wants. I say this with the nicest intentions but you are unlikely to get your list of wants all ticked off. Not saying it won't happen but of the 10 first-births I know this year including myself half were c-sections and half were assisted forceps deliveries.

I would put Xmas aside as unfortunately your baby is due around Xmas and just focus on the birth of your baby otherwise you will just give yourself additional stress. Which also doesn't help with bringing on natural labour. Jump in the bath, watch a Xmas film, light a candle and relax.

Best of luck with your birth x

Also...please don't use words like "I am failing". You are NOT failing, you seem to be putting so much unreasonable pressure on yourself. I had the most straight-forward, enjoyable pregnancy and had a traumatic and chaotic birth. Unfortunately births can be unpredictable.

Walk, walk, walk.

I had hyper stimulation and had pessary removed. I marched the corridors for hours and achieved spontaneous labour. Get moving!

But meant nicely, you can’t control this. You may get the birth you have planned or it may be nothing like it. Just accept you aren’t in control here and try to remember that before New Year it will not matter how they got here.

I was very scared of having my waters broken, and scared of being put on the drip. Scared of the 'cascade of interventions' and possible birth injuries following my antenatal classes.

And actually it was okay. Breaking the waters was a bit uncomfortable, but I had no other interventions, and no tears etc. Baby was born 12 hours after waters were broken, and I was up ten minutes after the birth. I did have to wait the best part of a week to get my waters broken, which was by far the worst bit, all of the waiting around and worrying.

I'm just trying to say (in a very longwinded way) that it could still be a positive birthing experience and not lead to all sorts of painful interventions. It's very scary when we have no control, and no idea of how birth will be

It's rotten when it's all going to plan, until it's not. I never even got to 38 weeks without being induced, so I can't speak with experience about going overdue.

But two FTM I know, they had lovely pregnancies, then got to their due dates. And waited and waited and waited. With nary a niggle of a contraction. One got all the way to 42 weeks before having a pessary. Nothing. The second one went in, and within a few hours, boom, labour. The second got right up to 41+6. Then the evening before induction, boom, labour. Both had regular unassisted births of a 9lb 13, and 10lb 2 baby respectively.

But most importantly you haven't failed. It's entirely out of your hands at this point. I know it's miserable waiting around in hospital. But with experience I can honestly say, moping doesn't help. First, get it all out. Have a cry. Then find some joy. No matter how small. Eat some chocolate. Read some books. Watch something that'll make you smile. Get out and about for a walk! Fresh air works wonders for me.

With my own inductions, I didn't have a sniff of a contraction until the drip was started. First baby was a regular delivery. Second was a C-section, but nothing to do with the induction. Baby was badly positioned and got stuck. Still a lovely birth.

Hoping things get going for you soon, and you'll be home before long. ❤

Thank you all so much for your wise words. Sometimes you just need to have a moan to women who have been through it; what a wonderful platform this is. You’re all right of course and I am now tying to “let go” of Christmas and focus of big picture. If it happens on its own whilst I wait - amazing. But if not, as many of you have said, induction doesn’t have to be a horrible nightmare. Just a safe way of meeting my baby. In the end that’s the most important thing.
Thanks again for all your comments. They have really helped me!

I hope things have sped up for you now op, I am due soon also and anxious about Christmas. I don't celebrate it as I am a revert Muslim but my friends who have offered to look after my other children are all Christians celebrating Christmas and am worrying that i go into labour on Xmas and the kids have to go and be confused or we ruin my friends Xmas as she is planning a big family get together and then I am just like you know what calm down, trust in God, it will be fine. If he's not or he is born on Christmas, its not the end of the world.

Keep us all updated and wish you the very best!

When did you have your baby op? X