42 weeks pregnant

[Maxwell20]

Hi guys,

Me and my wife are currently in the birthing unit at the hospital and she’s currently 42 weeks pregnant. We have tried the sweep 3 times and the pessary and she’s still only 1cm dilated. They want to try the gel or other things, but me and my wife feel a c section is more appropriate based on the lack in changes. What would you do?

Hi @Maxwell20 There is a pregnancy forum where you would be best pasting the above! This is for people trying to get pregnant. Good luck!

Sweeps only work if labour is already imminent. The pessaries often isn't enough to get things going either.

I'd say they have only barely started trying to induce. But totally your wife's choice about c-section or not.

Next steps would likely be gel, trying to break waters, drip etc... many inductions take days to eat things going. But there are more options to try than have already been tried.

But if your wife wants the c-section (with informed consent) then that's what should happen.

I know not everyones experience is the same but if I could go back and choose an elective c section over induction for my DS1 then I would in a heartbeat! After being put on the drip and having my waters broken, I was still only 4cm dilated almost 16 hours later and in so much pain even with an epidural. They whipped me in for an emergency c section in the end and the recovery was awful. I had an elective c section with DS2 and the whole thing was a breeze. As long as your wife is fully informed of all facts then it's up to her, but she may need to be assertive. Best of luck to you both

That’s really useful, I really appreciate your in-depth response.

I was induced with my second, I got to 3 cm then the midwife broke my waters, in my experience they will do everything drips ect before a c section. If there is no sign of dialation after 48 hours and your wife is exhausted or baby distressed they will get her in for the section. Either way by the end of the week you will soon be meeting your new baby! Good luck xx

In my last labour I had 3 pessary's, my waters broken and a drip, I would say she is still at the beginning phase of an induction, it did take me a while and I would recommend she gets an epidural especially if it gets to the drip.

In my first labour had two pessary's and gave birth 6 hours after the second one , so I would still give it a bit more time if she feels she can and would like to.

I would second not starting the drip without an epidural. Some people manage fine but the contractions ramp up very quickly. There's also a lot of monitoring of baby so mum is generally confined to the bed and it can be very difficult to manage contractions in that position. Once the epidural started working, it was a really lovely, chilled afternoon chatting with midwives until I was ready to push.
I went in at 42 weeks too and baby born 42+1 after 31 hours in hospital, two lots of gels and hormone drip. Your wife will likely be classed as high risk after it passes midnight but don't worry they'll likely just keep more of an eye on her. Good luck!

Thank you for telling me your story, really appreciate it. We’re having her waters done soon, so hopefully we get further down the line. Her cervix has really thinned now, so they don’t need to do the gel anymore which is a positive x

The goal is to have a happy and healthy mum and baby at the end of it all- it really doesn't matter how you get there.

(I had a failed induction which led to an EMCS and the two elective sections after that- world of difference between the first and the second two experiences).