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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Unfavourable cervix

12 replies

Ohwhatacrapmasfear · 21/01/2010 11:53

I'm 41 weeks today, just seen midwife who tried to do a sweep but was unsuccessful as cervix still firm and unfavourable.

Has anyone gone on to have a natural labour following something like this as late as this? Am so fed up of being pregnant and want to have my baby in my arms now. Am booked for induction on Monday but am very keen to avoid this.

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Ohwhatacrapmasfear · 21/01/2010 11:54

Sorry, meant to put that this is first baby

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CrystalQueen · 21/01/2010 11:56

The exact same thing happened to me - I had an appointment at 41 weeks, couldn't have a sweep. That was on a Thursday. I had a bit of show over the weekend and woke up early on the Tuesday morning in labour (the day before I was scheduled for induction). You don't have to go for induction yet, the WHO define normal term as 37-42 weeks.

Ohwhatacrapmasfear · 21/01/2010 11:59

That's good to know, thanks - did you do anything to get things moving (other than sex, I just can't face it)

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ronshar · 21/01/2010 12:02

Child number two was 10 days over due. I had two sweeps. The first was unfavourable. After the second sweep I went for a really long walk with some hills included and went into labour the next night.

Child number one was 15 days over and I ended up being induced. Hold out for as long as you can.

Baby will come out when it's ready.
Good luck to you. It will all be ok and you get to meet your beautiful baby very soon.

mommymeggie · 21/01/2010 12:13

I'm 41 wks today too. I'm trying to get a hold of my midwife to see if she would do a sweep for me today. I'm so fed up too!! I know how you feel! I'm also booked in on Monday to the day unit but I don't know if they will induce me or just give me a sweep so I'm trying to jump the gun and get it done now so if I go in Monday I can have them try something else. Hubby works away and weekend is best for him too b/c he will be here so I hope I get that sweep today. Oh, this is my second pregnancy.

SelinaDoula · 21/01/2010 12:43

It must be hard to keep waiting, I think we should have a due 'month' like they do in Europe not a due 'date' its too much to focus on!
Remember, the World health organisation define a normal pregnancy as 37-42 weeks. Which means neither of you are overdue till next friday!
Although it may seem better to get your baby out as soon as possible, dating of pregnancies is not always reliable (the earlier you had your first scan the better for dating) and induction can lead to more intervention (more anxiety, less able to move around, more painful, more chance of needing an epidual and assisted delivery) and can effect how easy you find things like breastfeeding (if thats what you are planning on doing).
You can ask for 'expectant management' where they check your babies blood flow in the placenta etc every few days, and wait to go into labour naturally.
More info here-
www.homebirth.org.uk/overdue.htm

Sometimes babies position can delay labour so could have a go at this-
spinningbabies.blogspot.com/2008/02/alternative-to-induction.html

In the meantime, hope this poem might make you feel a little better!
Selina x

My baby's not a library book,
so she's not overdue.
My baby don't take long to cook,
coz she's not veggie stew.

My baby's not an elephant,
and I'm not fit to burst.
The time and date aren't relevant,
we're blessed with days, not cursed.

My baby can't read dates as yet,
because she's very new.
So there's no cause to fuss and fret,
if she don't come on cue.

So stop your worry,
stop your asking,
there's no hurry
we're relaxing
in this golden pregnant time,
this pause, which is just hers and mine.

You leave us be, we are just fine.

©Rachel P (Wales)

Ohwhatacrapmasfear · 21/01/2010 13:20

Thanks Selina, will read that whenever I am feeling bloated and uncomfortable It is really hard to stay positive when you have a date in mind - it's like a goal isn't it - you reach it and think yes, I made it and then little one is far too comfy to do the next bit and actually make a move!

I know my dates are spot on as we had to have IVF to conceive so I think some part of me was thinking that it should therefore be exactly on time Will keep my chin up and relax!

Good luck to you as well mommymeggie.

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mommymeggie · 22/01/2010 00:13

Lovely poem Selina, made me smile I agree about the date thing. I am starting to think I'm not due yet but then I guess dating scans wouldn't mean anything. With my first baby, she started naturally by me having a high water break but I had to be induced in the long run b/c the contractions weren't coming along. I'm hoping to go naturally this time without being induced. I'm getting a sweep tomorrow so wish me luck.

verylittlecarrot · 22/01/2010 01:28

Good luck OP - it surely won't be very long now for you. They all come out eventually and you are days, maybe hours from having your baby. (And as other have pointed out, you don't need to have that induction on Monday if you choose not to).
My MW seems quite keen to offer me a sweep in the near future - I'm only 38 + 2 so I'm not ready for that yet.

Lovely poem Selina!

(little hijack) I think you may be the Selina doula I put on my doula shortlist when I was still considering a doula for this birth, although I'm quite a schlep from Liverpool. My last doula was wonderful but we've moved house and distance now too great.

As it turns out I haven't booked a doula this time so DH will have to step up to the plate. But if I post a live birth thread in a couple of weeks I'm expecting several MN virtual doulas to cheer me on!

twinklegreen · 22/01/2010 08:17

With my third I saw the midwife on the Tuesday lunchtime, baby was back to back, head was free and she was unable to do a sweep. Felt a bit glum, was preparing for the inevitable induction (was induced with my second child). By Wednesday morning (5am) I had had my baby after a quick easy labour.

When I was overdue with my second loads of midwives told me that they see women alot who are 'unfavourable' then have their babies in the next 24hrs. I didn't believe them, just thought they were trying to make me feel better! Well I was proved wrong to doubt them

Good luck, hope it happens for you soon

totalmisfit · 22/01/2010 10:00

aw this thread is actually lifting my spirits a little, esp thanks to Selina's post. Lots of sympathy to all you ladies in waiting as i'm now 40+2 and feeling dispirited.

I just wish, for the love of god, people would stop asking me about it! It was bad enough before my due date, but at 2 days over, i'm getting a bit sick of all the 'still here?'s and 'wow, we thought you'd have had it by now!'.

Will be eating pineapple into the early hours tonight...

Ohwhatacrapmasfear · 22/01/2010 10:13

I know people seem to think that I will keep it a big secret once baby arrives, with the'any news?' questions That's good to know twinklegreen, with keep chin up for this weekend.
Good luck with your sweep mommymeggie, will keep things crossed for you.

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