How long must I be 2cms dilated and oozing goo before this child comes out???

[Flowermum]

I'm so frustrated. Had a visit from midwife on Thursday and she did a sweep. I was 2cms dilated and ready to go, she could feel the baby's head through the fluid and everything! So I settled in for a restful day expecting to go that night.

Now it's Saturday night and still nothing! Have had a fair bit of mucousy discharge all day today and yesterday but not blood streaked. Had a couple of strong pains last night too but they stopped after a while. I've been sleeping like a log, went for a long walk today and was wrecked after so slept for an hour. And now I could go to bed again and sleep all night! With loo breaks obviously...

Am 40+3 now and went to 40+5 with DD. Can anyone shed any light on this? I feel indecent walking around half dilated!

Go to bed! You'll need the rest. It'll propbably all kick off at 2am.

Good luck - how exciting.

ummm, not wanting to worry you but I had a little while of this.

BUT, when it did happen I was 6cm dialated without really knowing it, and when I did go, it was very quick and very easy.

so try to relax.

and no, I'm not going to tell you how much longer I went over but it will happen for you, that much I can guarentee

I understood that if you've already had a child you're never less than 2cm again

Tell me how long!!!! TELL ME!!!
Was it ages? Did you have to be induced or anything in the end.
TBH, aside from the sodding annoying constant texts and phonecalls asking have I had it yet I'm worried that I might have to be induced. We're aiming for a homebirth and I really don't want to have to transfer now, though obviously I will if I must.

I had a sweep at 1 day over and DD was born exactly a week late. I was getting slime for the whole week after having the sweep.

Star1ightExpress that's just gross... Anything could fall out of there! (Obviously not my baby...)
We were expecting a fast labour anyway, DD was out in 7/8 hours from first twinge. So I reckon this is going to be lightening. Just hope the midwives get here on time. IF I think it's coming out and there's no time they'll get a police escort, which is exciting!!! Plus, they're quiet tonight they said so I'd really like it to come soon!

Forgot to add that I was 1cm for that sweep and it was my 2nd.

Oh sweet jesus! A week? That's four more days of this messing around! What can I do to move things along??? Will take more EPO capsules.

This thread is too flowery!!

lol!

13 days

Well, you did ask!

Like you I wanted a homebirth, and got myself in a right state about it.

I went for 40+ monitoring at the hospital, and they weren't too accommodating about me asking for expectant monitoring (I think its called) at the hospital. I knew I would have to fight my corner on that one. Thankfully my MW team were more helpful.

I was due to go in for induction on the Friday. I had a MW appointment on Thursday (day 13). I cried that morning in utter despair. I really, really didn't want to be induced and lose my HB. We agreed to wait until Monday, then they would let me have a side room off the labour ward and leave me to it as much as possible. I thought this was a fair compromise.

Anyway, she then did a sweep (5th one) and I was 6 cms. This was at 8am. (Then I went to the childrens sports day - probably the most stupid thing to do!) I went into labour properly at 6pm. Baby was born at 7.30 at home.

So, take it easy, and hope for a slow burner. The despair of going so far overdue was worth the easy birth IMHO! Good luck!

Fuck! OK then. Am trying positive thinking, visualisation, sitting with my legs wide open! But I'm a bit strung out. And I think it's the constant pressure from people. I just want to hibernate. Maybe I should just turn the phone off tomorrow.
Would it be wrong to try the tens machine to get a few contractions going?

Flowermum, can I ask what exactly you're doing WITH the EPO capsules????

Please don't listen to what other people say THEIR experiences were, everyone is different. SLE is correct that once you have had a baby vaginally before then your cervix will never go completely closed again. 2cm is hardly gonna let anything major fall out though!! LOL. Also a point about the mucous plug - it's not always blood streaked, so if you're losing "mucousy goo" at this stage then it's highly likely to be your mucous plug, ie "show"

Just try to chill and relax and let it all happen in it's own good time. Stress hormones will interfere with your body's ability to labour so go do some relaxation stuff.

Howdie, I'm just knocking them back. Read somewhere here that they help ripen the cervix. I wish something would fall out (again, this bloody baby!)

I just assumed that the plug had to be bloody. There was a good bit today, especially after the walk. And this morning, took a few wipes (yes, I know, TMI!).

Heading to bed now, which seems to be the only place I can chill out and switch off, which doesn't exactly do much for gravity but at least I'm calm!

I'm betting that you don't even get a chance to phone the midswives, you'll think "I need a poo" and think oh no I need to push.....

Probably on Thursday though....

Howdie, I was sharing my experience because I went overdue but it was very positive ultimately.

Cargirl that has crossed my mind... The other day I was sitting on the loo and felt like I was going to burst, there was just so much pressure from the head pushing down.

Thursday is very far away! Baby having a huge big wriggle at the moment, so probably just getting comfy for the night. ARGH!!!

Think calm thoughts.... CALM!!!

Lots of sex???

Dp won't put out. The head is too far down and so he's a bit freaked, which is fair. Even the midwife stopped the sweep as she felt if she went any further my waters would go. Bitch! she should have just done it!

I was 2cm on the Monday before I had a sweep. Had the sweep that day and , like you, settled in for an arrival before the New Year. Toasted the New Year the next night to contractions and a lot of wishful thinking. 5 1/2 days after the sweep, I finally went into labour proper and was 6cm on arriving at hospital.

Oh dear Flowermum. The cervix is "ripened" by EPO by placing the capsules internally against your cervix, not by swallowing them!

Where the EPO is actually meant to be useful is as an aid to induction by placing prostaglandin receptors on the cervix so that induction methods are potentially more successful.

Ohforfoxsake I didn't mean to say that people shouldn't share their similar experiences, positive or negative but just that flowermum should not feel that her experience will be the same.

Flowermum, how about suggesting DP gives you a nice massage instead with some nice aromatherapy oils and then perhaps a little of the "other" type of romantic induction.

TMI alert - foreplay is just as good as sex for helping things along as Oxytocin (the hormone that gives you contractions) is released when you orgasm. The sex will put prostaglandins from semen on your cervis so if you really want a double whammy home induction attempt - get DP to place some EPO on your cervix, then once they've dissolved, have some sex and then make sure you get your orgasm too!!!

Apologies to those who are of the more faint hearted nature!

as you know, i am fond of recommending sex and nipple stim. also a warm bath and a visualisation of your baby moving down and your cervix opening up ..2 cms dilated is two fingertips or so open, so nothing much can fall out , not least your baby

Probably should try sex at this stage. Will try to convince DP it's for the best.

WEnt for a long walk earlier, we were out for over two hours. I assumed I'd have loads of discharge when I came home, as it seems to be there after standing or walking for any length of time, but there was none. So maybe that's all gone now?

Bump has been going rock hard then softening all day, but with no regularity. Constantly going to the loo though, and some mild period type pains.

Am also trying the visualisation, imagining having my baby, breastfeeding, etc.

Maybe I'm an elephant and have another year of being pregnant?

All sounds positive Flowermum - keep that positive thinking going!

Positivity is waning at this stage. More trying not to think about not having had baby by now!
Pains have subsided but maybe it's just the way I'm sitting. I can pretty much guarantee that as soon as I go to bed it'll all stop! Typical! Though it would be handy if I went tonight... DP has college tomorrow so wouldn't be missing a work day, giving him an extra day at home!
COME ON BABY!!!